Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.x 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their heartsy and put wicked stumbling blocksz before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?a 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. 5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all desertedb me for their idols.’c

6 “Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent!d Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!e

7 “ ‘When any of the Israelites or any foreignerf residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling blockg before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquireh of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. 8 I will set my face againsti them and make them an examplej and a byword.k I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.l

9 “ ‘And if the prophetm is enticedn to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.o 10 They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. 11 Then the people of Israel will no longer strayp from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people,q and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.r’ ”