Stop Worshiping Idols

14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. ² Then the ·Lord spoke his word [^Lword of the Lord came] to me, saying: ³ “·Human [^TSon of man; 2:1], these people ·want to worship idols [^Lhave set up idols in their hearts]. They put up ·evil things that cause people to sin [^Lwicked stumbling blocks/obstacles before their faces]. Should I allow them to ·ask me for help [consult me]? ⁴ So speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: When any of the ·people [^Lhouse] of Israel ·want to worship idols [sets up idols in their heart] and put up ·evil things that cause people to sin [^Lwicked stumbling blocks/obstacles before their faces] and then ·come to the [consult a] prophet, I, the Lord, will answer them myself ·for worshiping idols [^Lin accordance with the multitude of their idols]. ⁵ Then I will ·win back [take hold of/recapture the hearts of] my people Israel, who have left me because of all their idols.’

⁶ “So say to the ·people [^Lhouse] of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·Change your hearts and lives [Repent], and ·stop worshiping [^Lturn from your] idols. ·Stop doing [^LTurn your faces from] all ·the things I hate [your abominations/detestable practices]. ⁷ Any of the Israelites or foreigners in Israel can separate themselves from me by ·wanting to worship idols [^Lsetting up idols in their hearts] or by putting ·up things that cause people to sin [^Lbefore their face a wicked stumbling block/obstacle]. Then if they come to the prophet to ·ask me questions [consult me], I, the Lord, will answer them myself. ⁸ I will ·reject [^Lset my face against] them. I will make them a sign and an ·example [proverb; byword], and I will ·separate them [^Lcut them off] from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

⁹ “‘But if the prophet is ·tricked [deceived; or enticed] into giving a prophecy, it is because I, the Lord, have ·tricked [deceived; or enticed] that prophet to speak. Then I will ·use my power [^Lstretch out my hand] against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. ¹⁰ The prophet will be ·as guilty [or punished the same] as the one who asks him for help; both will ·be responsible [or bear the punishment] for their guilt. ¹¹ Then the ·nation [^Lhouse] of Israel will ·not leave me anymore [no longer go astray] or ·make themselves unclean [defile themselves; ^Critually] anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord God.’”

Jerusalem Will Not Be Spared

¹² The ·Lord spoke his word [^Lword of the Lord came] to me, saying: ¹³ “·Human [^TSon of man; 2:1], if ·the people of a country [^La country/land] sin against me by not being ·loyal [faithful], I will ·use my power [^Lstretch out my hand] against them. I will cut off their supply of ·food [bread] and send ·a time of hunger [famine], destroying both people and animals. ¹⁴ Even if three great men like Noah, Daniel [^Ceither the prophet Daniel (who was still a young man at this time) or an ancient Canaanite hero known for his wisdom and justice], and Job were in that country, their ·goodness [righteousness] could save only themselves, says the Lord God.

¹⁵ “Or I might send wild animals into that land, leaving the land ·empty [desolate] and ·without children [bereaved]. Then no one would pass through it because of the ·animals [beasts]. ¹⁶ As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if ·Noah, Daniel, and Job [^Lthese three men; v. 14] were in the land, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They could save only themselves, but that country would become ·empty [desolate].

¹⁷ “Or I might bring a ·war [^Lsword] against that ·country [land]. I might say, ‘Let a ·war be fought in [^Lsword pass through] that land,’ in this way ·destroying [cutting off] its people and its animals. ¹⁸ As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if those three men were in the land, they could not save their sons or daughters. They could save only themselves.

¹⁹ “Or I might cause a ·disease [plague; pestilence] to spread in that country. I might pour out my ·anger [^Lrage/wrath with blood] against it, destroying and killing people and animals. ²⁰ As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if Noah, Daniel [v. 14], and Job were in the land, they could not save their son or daughter. They could save only themselves ·because they did what was right [by their righteousness].

²¹ “This is what the Lord God says: ·My plans for Jerusalem are much worse [^LHow much more for Jerusalem]! I will send my four terrible punishments against it—·war [^Lsword], ·hunger [famine], wild animals, and ·disease [pestilence; plague]—to destroy its people and animals. ²² But [^Llook; ^Tbehold] some ·people will escape [survivors will be left]; some sons and daughters will be led out. They will come out to you, and you will see ·what happens to people who live as they did [^Ltheir ways and deeds]. Then you will be ·comforted [consoled] after the disasters I have brought against Jerusalem, after all the things I have brought against it. ²³ ·You will be comforted [They will console you] when you see ·what happens to them for living as they did [^Ltheir ways and deeds], because you will know ·there was a good reason for [it was not without cause that I did] what I did to Jerusalem, says the Lord God.”