"Thereforespeakto them and tellthem, 'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Anymanof the houseof Israelwhosetsup his idolsin his heart,putsrightbeforehis facethe stumblingblockof his iniquity,and [then] comesto the prophet,I the LORDwill be broughtto givehim an answerin the matter in view of the multitudeof his idols,
Then he saidto him, "Thussaysthe LORD,'Becauseyou have sentmessengersto inquireof Baal-zebub,the godof Ekron--is it becausethereis noGodin Israelto inquireof His word?--thereforeyou shall not comedownfrom the bedwhereyou have goneup, but shall surelydie.'"
Woeto the wicked![It will go] badly[with him], For whathe deserveswill be doneto him.
SoI will choosetheir punishmentsAnd will bringon them whatthey dread.BecauseI called,but nooneanswered;I spoke,but they did not listen.And they didevilin My sightAnd chosethat in whichI did not delight."
"Sonof man,thesemenhave setup their idolsin their heartsand have putrightbeforetheir facesthe stumblingblockof their iniquity.Should I be consultedby them at all?
"Thereforesayto the houseof Israel,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Repentand turnawayfrom your idolsand turnyour facesawayfrom allyour abominations.
"For anyoneof the houseof Israelor of the immigrantswhostayin Israelwho separateshimself from Me, setsup his idolsin his heart,putsrightbeforehis facethe stumblingblockof his iniquity,and [then] comesto the prophetto inquireof Me for himself, I the LORDwill be broughtto answerhim in My own person.
"But you shall speakMy wordsto them whetherthey listenornot, for they are rebellious.
Then He saidto me, "Sonof man,goto the houseof Israeland speakwith My wordsto them.
"Becausethey ministeredto them beforetheir idolsand becamea stumblingblockof iniquityto the houseof Israel,thereforeI have swornagainstthem," declaresthe LordGOD,"that they shall bear[the punishmentfor] their iniquity.
"I will removemanand beast;I will removethe birdsof the skyAnd the fishof the sea,And the ruinsalongwith the wicked;And I will cutoffmanfrom the faceof the earth,"declaresthe LORD.
