17. The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
18. “Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.
19. “Tell the people of this land, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says about the people who live in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will be worried as they eat their food and terrified as they drink their water. Their country will be stripped of everything because everyone who lives there is violent.
20. The cities where people live will be destroyed, and the country will become a wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
21. The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
22. “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: ‘Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?
23. “Tell the people, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Instead, tell them, ‘The time is near when every vision will come true.
24. There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people.
25. I, the Lord, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”
26. The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
27. “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees won’t happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.’