Then the kingof Israelassembledthe prophets,fourhundredmen,and saidto them, "Shall we goagainstRamoth-gileadto battle,orshall I refrain?"And they said,"Goup, for Godwill give[it] into the handof the king."
So he saidto them, "Whatcounseldo you givethat we may answerthispeoplewhohave spokento me, saying,'Lightenthe yokewhichyour fatherputon us'?"
"Nowthen send[and] gatherto me allIsraelat MountCarmel,[together] with 450prophetsof Baaland 400prophetsof the Asherah,who eatat Jezebel'stable."
Ben-geber,in Ramoth-gilead(the townsof Jair,the sonof Manasseh,whichare in Gileadwere his: the regionof Argob,whichis in Bashan,sixtygreatcitieswith wallsand bronzebars[were] his);
Now Elishasaidto the kingof Israel,"Whatdo I have to do with you? Goto the prophetsof your fatherand to the prophetsof your mother."And the kingof Israelsaidto him, "No,for the LORDhas calledthesethreekings[together] to givethem into the handof Moab."
When he cameto the king,the kingsaidto him, "Micaiah,shall we goto Ramoth-gileadto battle,orshall I refrain?"He said,"Goup and succeed,for they will be giveninto your hand."
Moreover, Jehoshaphatsaidto the kingof Israel,"Pleaseinquirefirstfor the wordof the LORD."
But Jehoshaphatsaid,"Is therenot yeta prophetof the LORDherethat we may inquireof him?"
"Also among the prophetsof JerusalemI have seena horriblething:The committingof adulteryand walkingin falsehood;And they strengthenthe handsof evildoers,So that noonehas turnedbackfrom his wickedness.Allof them have becometo Me like Sodom,And her inhabitantslike Gomorrah.
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"Do not listento the wordsof the prophetswho are prophesyingto you. They are leadingyou into futility;They speaka visionof their own imagination,Not from the mouthof the LORD.
"They keep sayingto those who despiseMe, 'The LORDhas said,"You will havepeace"'; And as for everyonewho walksin the stubbornnessof his own heart,They say,Calamitywill not comeupon you.'
For you have [only] deceivedyourselves;for it is you who sentme to the LORDyour God,saying,"Prayfor us to the LORDour God;and whateverthe LORDour Godsays,tellus so,and we will doit."
"Becauseyou disheartenedthe righteouswith falsehoodwhen I did not causehim grief,but have encouragedthe wickednot to turnfrom his wickedway[and] preservehis life,
"Ifa manwalkingafter windand falsehoodHad toldlies[and said], 'I will speakout to you concerning wineand liquor,'He would be spokesmanto thispeople.
Her leaderspronouncejudgmentfor a bribe,Her priestsinstructfor a priceAnd her prophetsdivinefor money.Yet they leanon the LORDsaying,"Is not the LORDin our midst?Calamitywill not comeupon us."
For the timewill comewhenthey will not enduresounddoctrine;but [wanting] to have their earstickled,they will accumulatefor themselvesteachersin accordanceto their owndesires,
And the beastwas seized,and with him the false prophetwho performedthe signsin his presence,by whichhe deceivedthosewho had receivedthe markof the beastand thosewho worshipedhis image;thesetwowere thrownaliveinto the lakeof firewhich burnswith brimstone.
