18. When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he will even die therein.
19. When the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, he will live thereby.
20. Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is not fair.” House of Israel, I will judge every one of you after his ways.’”
21. In the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, one who had escaped out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, “The city has been defeated!”
22. Now the Lord’s hand had been on me in the evening, before he who had escaped came; and he had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute.
23. the Lord’s word came to me, saying,
24. “Son of man, those who inhabit the waste places in Eretz-Israel speak, saying, ‘Abraham was one, and he inherited the land; but we are many. The land is given us for inheritance.’
25. Therefore tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “You eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. So should you possess the land?
26. You stand on your sword, you work abomination, and every one of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. So should you possess the land?”’
27. “You shall tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “As I live, surely those who are in the waste places will fall by the sword. I will give he who is in the open field to the animals to be devoured; and those who are in the strongholds and in the caves will die of the pestilence.
28. I will make the land a desolation and an astonishment. The pride of her power will cease. The mountains of Israel will be desolate, so that no one will pass through.
29. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolation and an astonishment, because of all their abominations which they have committed.”’
30. “As for you, son of man, the children of your people talk about you by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak to one another, everyone to his brother, saying, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes out from the Lord.’
31. They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
32. Behold, you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they don’t do them.
33. “When this comes to pass—behold, it comes—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”