3. “Mortal man,” he said, “these men have given their hearts to idols and are letting idols lead them into sin. Do they think I will give them an answer?
4. “Now speak to them and tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them: every Israelite who has given his heart to idols and lets them lead him into sin and who then comes to consult a prophet, will get an answer from me — the answer that his many idols deserve!
5. All those idols have turned the Israelites away from me, but by my answer I hope to win back their loyalty.
6. “Now then, tell the Israelites what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: turn back and leave your disgusting idols.
7. “Whenever one of the Israelites or one of the foreigners who live in the Israelite community turns away from me and worships idols, and then goes to consult a prophet, I, the Lord, will give him his answer!
8. I will oppose him. I will make an example of him. I will remove him from the community of my people, so that you will know that I am the Lord.
9. “If a prophet is deceived into giving a false answer, it is because I, the Lord, have deceived him. I will remove him from the people of Israel.
10. Both the prophet and the one who consults him will get the same punishment.
11. I will do this to keep the Israelites from deserting me and defiling themselves by their sins. They are to be my people, and I will be their God.” The Sovereign Lord has spoken.
12. The Lord spoke to me.
13. “Mortal man,” he said, “if a country sins and is unfaithful to me, I will stretch out my hand and destroy its supply of food. I will send a famine and kill people and animals alike.