Then He saidto me, "Sonof man,do you seewhatthe eldersof the houseof Israelare committingin the dark,eachmanin the roomof his carvedimages?For they say,The LORDdoes not seeus; the LORDhas forsakenthe land.'"
The sonsof Israeldidthingssecretlywhichwere not rightagainstthe LORDtheir God.Moreover, they builtfor themselves highplacesin alltheir towns,from watchtowerto fortifiedcity.
He saysto himself,"Godhas forgotten;He has hiddenHis face;He will neverseeit."
The foolhas saidin his heart,"Thereis noGod."They are corrupt,they have committedabominabledeeds;Thereis noonewho doesgood.
They say,"Howdoes Godknow?And is thereknowledgewith the MostHigh?"
Woeto those who deeplyhidetheir plansfrom the LORD,And whose deedsare [done] in a darkplace,And they say,"Whoseesus?" or "Whoknowsus?"
"You feltsecurein your wickednessand said,Nooneseesme,' Your wisdomand your knowledge,they have deludedyou; For you have saidin your heart,I am, and thereis noonebesidesme.'
Then someeldersof Israelcameto me and satdownbeforeme.
Now in the seventhyear,in the fifth[month], on the tenthof the month,certainof the eldersof Israelcameto inquireof the LORD,and satbeforeme.
Standingin frontof them were seventyeldersof the houseof Israel,with Jaazaniahthe sonof Shaphanstandingamongthem, eachmanwith his censerin his handand the fragranceof the cloudof incenserising.
And He saidto me, "Yetyou will seestillgreaterabominationswhichthey are committing."
He saidto me, "Do you see[this], sonof man?Yetyou will seestillgreaterabominationsthanthese."
He saidto me, "Do you see[this], sonof man?Is it too lighta thingfor the houseof Judahto committhe abominationswhichthey have committedhere,that they have filledthe landwith violenceand provokedMe repeatedly?For behold,they are puttingthe twigto their nose.
Then He saidto me, "The iniquityof the houseof Israeland Judahis very,verygreat,and the landis filledwith bloodand the cityis fullof perversion;for they say,'The LORDhas forsakenthe land,and the LORDdoes not see!'
"It will comeabout at that timeThat I will searchJerusalemwith lamps,And I will punishthe menWho are stagnantin spirit,Who sayin their hearts,'The LORDwill not dogoodor evil!'
for it is disgracefulevento speakof the things which are doneby them in secret.
Cursedis the manwhomakesan idolor a moltenimage,an abominationto the LORD,the workof the handsof the craftsman,and sets[it] up in secret.'And allthe peopleshall answerand say,'Amen.'
