17
"Yet the children of your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' But it is their way which is not fair!
18
When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it.
19
But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is lawful and right, he shall live because of it.
20
Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair.' O house of Israel, I will judge every one of you according to his own ways."
21
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, that one who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, "The city has been captured!"
22
Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the evening before the man came who had escaped. And He had opened my mouth; so when he came to me in the morning, my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.
23
Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
24
"Son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.'
25
Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "You eat meat with blood, you lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood. Should you then possess the land?
26
You rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and you defile one another's wives. Should you then possess the land?" '
27
Say thus to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword, and the one who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and caves shall die of the pestilence.
28
For I will make the land most desolate, her arrogant strength shall cease, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will pass through.
29
Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed." '
30
"As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, 'Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.'
31
So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.
32
Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.
33
And when this comes to pass--surely it will come--then they will know that a prophet has been among them."