Ezekiel 14:1-23 GNT

[1] Some of the leaders of the Israelites came to consult me about the LORD's will. [2] Then the LORD spoke to me. [3] "Mortal man," he said, "these men have given their hearts to idols and are letting idols lead them into sin. Do they think I will give them an answer? [4] "Now speak to them and tell them what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to them: Each of you Israelites who have given your heart to idols and let them lead you into sin and who then come to consult a prophet, will get an answer from me-the answer that your many idols deserve! [5] All those idols have turned the Israelites away from me, but by my answer I hope to win back their loyalty. [6] "Now then, tell the Israelites what I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying: Turn back and leave your disgusting idols. [7] "Whenever one of you Israelites or one of you foreigners who live in the Israelite community turn away from me and worship idols, and then go to consult a prophet, I, the LORD, will give you your answer! [8] I will oppose you. I will make an example of you. I will remove you from the community of my people, so that all of you will know that I am the LORD. [9] "If any prophets are deceived into giving a false answer, it is because I, the LORD, have deceived them. I will remove them from the people of Israel. [10] Both prophets and anyone who consults them will get the same punishment. [11] I will do this to keep the Israelites from deserting me and defiling themselves by their sins. They are to be my people, and I will be their God." The Sovereign LORD has spoken. [12] The LORD spoke to me. [13] "Mortal man," he said, "if a country sins and is unfaithful to me, I will reach out and destroy its supply of food. I will send a famine and kill people and animals alike. [14] Even if those three men, Noah, Danel, and Job, were living there, their goodness would save only their own lives." The Sovereign LORD has spoken. [15] "Or I might send wild animals to kill the people, making the land so dangerous that no one could travel through it, [16] and even if those three men lived there-as surely as I, the Sovereign LORD, am the living God-they would not be able to save even their own children. They would save only their own lives, and the land would become a wilderness. [17] "Or I might bring war on that country and send destructive weapons to wipe out people and animals alike, [18] and even if those three men lived there-as surely as I, the Sovereign LORD, am the living God-they would not be able to save even their children, but only their own lives. [19] "If I send an epidemic on that country and in my anger take many lives, killing people and animals, [20] even if Noah, Danel, and Job lived there-as surely as I, the Sovereign LORD, am the living God-they would not be able to save even their own children. Their goodness would save only their own lives." [21] This is what the Sovereign LORD is saying: "I will send my four worst punishments on Jerusalem-war, famine, wild animals, and disease-to destroy people and animals alike. [22] If some survive and save their children, look at them when they come to you. See how evil they are, and be convinced that the punishment I am bringing on Jerusalem is justified; [23] then you will know that there was good reason for everything I did." The Sovereign LORD has spoken.