1. Then the Ruach lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of Adonai’s House, facing east. Behold, at the door of the gate, were 25 men. I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.
2. He said to me, “Son of man, these are the men that devise sin and give wicked counsel in this city,
3. who say, ‘This is not the time to build houses! This city is the cooking pot and we are the meat!’
4. Therefore, prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man.”
5. Then the Ruach Adonai fell upon me and said to me, “Speak! Thus Adonai says: So you are thinking, house of Israel—for I know the thoughts that come into your mind.
6. You have multiplied your slain in this city and you filled the streets with corpses.”
7. Therefore, thus says Adonai Elohim, “Your corpses you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat and this city is the cooking pot! But I will bring you out of it.
8. You feared the sword, so I will bring the sword against you.” It is a declaration of Adonai Elohim.
9. “I will bring you out of the midst of it, give you into the hands of strangers and execute judgments against you.
10. You will fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel. So you will know that I am Adonai.
11. This city will not be your cooking pot nor will you be the meat in the midst of it—I will judge you at Israel’s border.
12. So you will know that I am Adonai, whose laws you did not follow and whose ordinances you did not obey. Instead, you have acted in accord with the ordinances of the nations around you.”
13. As I prophesied, Pelatiah son of Benaiah dropped dead. I fell upon my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “Ah, Adonai! Are you going to completely eradicate the remnant of Israel?”
14. The word of Adonai came to me saying: