13. I will spread out my net to catch him. He will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylonia. It is the land where the Chaldeans live. But he will not see it. He will die there.
14. I will scatter to the winds all those who are around him. I will scatter his officials and all of his troops. And I will chase them with a sword that is ready to strike them down.
15. "They will know that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations. I will send them to other countries.
16. But I will spare a few of them. I will save them from war, hunger and plague. In those countries they will admit they have done all kinds of evil things. I hate those things. They will know that I am the Lord."
17. A message came to me from the Lord. He said,
18. "Son of man, tremble with fear as you eat your food. Tremble as you drink your water.
19. Speak to the people of the land. Say to them, 'Here is what the Lord and King says about those who live in Jerusalem and Israel. He tells them, "They will be worried as they eat their food. They will not have any hope as they drink their water. Their land will be stripped of everything in it because all those who live there are harming one another.
20. The towns where people live will be completely destroyed. The land will become a dry and empty desert. Then you will know that I am the Lord." ' "
21. A message came to me from the Lord. He said,
22. "Son of man, you have a proverb in the land of Israel. It says, 'The days go by, and not even one vision comes true.'
23. Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "I am going to put an end to that proverb. They will not use that saying in Israel anymore." ' Tell them, 'The days are coming soon when every vision will come true.
24. There will be no more false visions. People will no longer use magic to find out whether good things are going to happen in Israel.
25. I am the Lord. So I will say what I want to. And it will come true when I want it to. In your days I will do everything I say I will. But you people always refuse to obey me,' announces the Lord and King."
26. A message came to me from the Lord. He said,