Then some of the elders of Israel came - - and sat down before me.
And the word of the LORD came to me , saying ,
“ Son of man , these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult in any way ?
Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says : ‘ When any ... vvv Israelite sets up - idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face , and then comes to the prophet , I the LORD will answer according to his great idolatry ,
so that I may take hold - of the hearts of the (people) of Israel. For because of their idols , they are all estranged from Me. ’
Therefore tell ... the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says : ‘ Repent and turn away from your idols ; turn your faces away from all your abominations.
For when any ... vvv Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me , sets up idols in his heart , and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face , and then comes to the prophet to inquire I the LORD will answer
I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb ; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message , then it was I the LORD who enticed - him ... , and I will stretch out - My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
They will bear their punishment — the punishment of the inquirer will be the same as that of the prophet —
in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be people and I will be God , declares the Lord GOD. ’”
And the word of the LORD came to me , saying ,
“ Son of man , if a land sins by acting unfaithfully ... , and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off supply of food , to send famine and to cut off from it both man and beast ,
then even if these three men — Noah , Daniel - , and Job - — were in it , vvv their righteousness could deliver only themselves , declares the Lord GOD.
Or if I send wild ... beasts through the land to leave it childless (and) desolate , with no man passing through it for fear of the beasts ,
then as surely as I live , declares the Lord GOD , even if these three men were in it , they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered , but the land would be desolate.
Or if I bring a sword against that land and say , ‘ Let a sword pass through it , ’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast ,
then as surely as I live , declares the Lord GOD , even if these three men were in it , they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. - They alone would be delivered.
Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed , cutting off from it both man and beast ,
then as surely as I live , declares the Lord GOD , even if Noah , Daniel - , and Job - were in it , they could not deliver (their own) sons or daughters. vvv Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.
For this is what the Lord GOD says : ‘ How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments — sword , famine , wild beasts , and plague — in order to cut off from it both man and beast ?
Yet , behold , some survivors will be left sons and daughters ... who will be brought out. They will come out to you , and when you see - their conduct - and actions , you will be comforted regarding the disaster - I have brought upon Jerusalem — - all that I have brought upon it.
They will bring you consolation - when you see - their conduct - and actions , and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done - all (these things) - declares the Lord GOD. ”