19. Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign lord says concerning those living in Israel and Jerusalem: They will eat their food with trembling and sip their water in despair, for their land will be stripped bare because of their violence.
20. The cities will be destroyed and the farmland made desolate. Then you will know that I am the lord.’”
21. Again a message came to me from the lord:
22. “Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’
23. Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign lord says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!’
24. “There will be no more false visions and flattering predictions in Israel.