1. Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east-gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold, at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
2. Then said he to me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
3. Who say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.
4. Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
5. And the spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
6. Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled its streets with the slain.
7. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
8. Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.
9. And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
10. Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
11. This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst of it; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:
12. And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are around you.
13. And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
14. Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
15. Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Retire far from the LORD: to us is this land given in possession.