Ezekiel 33:17-33

17“‘But your people say, “The Lord’s way isn’t fair,” even though it is their own way that isn’t fair.

18When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will die for it.

19But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of it.

20Yet you say, “The Lord’s way isn’t fair.” I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.’”

21In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!”

22Now the hand of the Lord had been on me the evening before the fugitive arrived, and he opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.

23Then the word of the Lord came to me:

24“Son of man, those who live in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person, yet he received possession of the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’

25Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: You eat meat with blood in it, you look to your idols, and you shed blood. Should you then receive possession of the land?

26You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor’s wife. Should you then receive possession of the land? ’

27“Tell them this: ‘This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I have given to wild animals to be devoured, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague.

28I will make the land a desolate waste, and its proud strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will become desolate, with no one passing through.

29They will know that I am the Lord when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable acts they have committed.’

30“As for you, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear what the message is that comes from the Lord!’

31So my people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.

32Yes, to them you are like a singer of passionate songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them.

33Yet when all this comes true  — and it definitely will — then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”