19. But if the wicked turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful and right, he shall live by them.
20. Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is not right.” O house of Israel, I will judge you, every one according to his ways.
21. In the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, one who had escaped out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, “The city is taken.”
22. Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, before those who escaped came. And He opened my mouth at the time they came to me in the morning. Therefore my mouth was opened and I was speechless no more.
23. Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
24. Son of man, those who inhabit these wastes in the land of Israel are saying, “Abraham was one, yet he inherited the land. But to us who are many, the land has been given for an inheritance.”
25. Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: You eat meat with the blood in it and lift up your eyes toward your idols as you shed blood. Should you then possess the land?
26. You rely upon your sword, you work abominations, and every one of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?
27. Thus you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword, and him who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the forts and in the caves shall die of pestilence.
28. For I will make the land a desolation and a waste, and the pomp of her strength shall cease. And the mountains of Israel shall be desolate so that none shall pass through.
29. Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I make the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have committed.
30. As for you, son of man, the sons of your people are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses; and they speak to one another, each saying to his brother, “Come now, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.”
31. They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words; but they will not do them. For they do the lustful desires in their mouth, and their heart goes after their covetousness.
32. You are to them as a sensual 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. When this comes to pass, and it is coming to pass, then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.