23 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’z 25 There is a conspiracya of her princesb within her like a roaring lionb tearing its prey; they devour people,c take treasures and precious things and make many widowsd within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my lawe and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common;f they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;g and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profanedh among them.i 27 Her officialsj within her are like wolvesk tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill peoplel to make unjust gain.m 28 Her prophets whitewashn these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations.o They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken.p 29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery;q they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner,r denying them justice.s

30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wallt and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.u