19. You must say this to the common people: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says to the people living in Jerusalem and in the other parts of Israel. You will be very worried while you eat your food. You will be terrified while you drink your water, because everything in your country will be destroyed! This will happen because the people living there are so violent.
20. Many people live in your cities now, but those cities will be ruined. Your whole country will be destroyed! Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
21. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said,
22. “Son of man, why do people quote this saying about the land of Israel: ‘Trouble will not come soon; what is seen in visions will not come’?
23. “Tell the people that the Lord GOD will end that saying. They will not say that about Israel anymore. Now they will quote this saying: ‘Trouble will come soon; what is seen in visions will happen.’
24. “There will not be any more false visions in Israel. There will not be any more magicians telling things that don’t come true.
25. That’s because I am the Lord, and if I say something will happen, it will happen! I will not wait any longer. Those troubles are coming soon—in your own lifetime. Hear me, you people who always refuse to obey! When I say something, I make it happen.” This is what the Lord GOD said.
26. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said,
27. “Son of man, the people of Israel think that the visions I give you are for a time far in the future. They think you are talking about things that will happen many years from now.
28. So you must tell them this: ‘The Lord GOD says, I will not delay any longer. If I say something will happen, it will happen!’” This is what the Lord GOD said.