23. The word of the Lord came to me:
24. “Son of man, the ones living in these ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land, but we are many; surely the land has been given to us for a possession.’
25. Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: You eat the meat with the blood still in it, pray to your idols, and shed blood. Do you really think you will possess the land?
26. You rely on your swords and commit abominable deeds; each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Will you possess the land?’
27. “This is what you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword, those in the open field I will give to the wild beasts for food, and those who are in the strongholds and caves will die of disease.
28. I will turn the land into a desolate ruin; her confident pride will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so desolate no one will pass through them.
29. Then they will know that I am the Lord when I turn the land into a desolate ruin because of all the abominable deeds they have committed.’
30. “But as for you, son of man, your people (who are talking about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses) say to one another, ‘Come hear the word that comes from the Lord.’
31. They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage.
32. Realize that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. They hear your words, but they do not obey them.
33. When all this comes true – and it certainly will – then they will know that a prophet was among them.”