18. “Human, tremble as you eat your food, and shake with fear as you drink your water.
19. Then say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people who live in Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their food with fear and drink their water in shock, because their land will be stripped bare because of the violence of the people who live in it.
20. The cities where people live will become ruins, and the land will become empty. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
21. The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
22. “Human, what is this saying you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?
23. So say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will make them stop saying this, and nobody in Israel will use this saying anymore.’ But tell them, ‘The time is near when every vision will come true.
24. There will be no more false visions or pleasing prophecies inside the nation of Israel,
25. but I, the Lord, will speak. What I say will be done, and it will not be delayed. You refuse to obey, but in your time I will say the word and do it, says the Lord God.’ ”
26. The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
27. “Human, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees is for a time many years from now. He is prophesying about times far away.’
28. “So say to them: ‘The Lord God says this: None of my words will be delayed anymore. What I have said will be done, says the Lord God.’ ”