5. so I may take hold of the house of Israel in their hearts. For they have all become estranged from Me through their idols.’”
6. Therefore say to the house of Israel, thus says Adonai Elohim: “Return, turn away from your idols; turn your faces from all your abominations.
7. For anyone from the house of Israel or the outsiders who dwell in Israel who breaks himself away from Me takes idols into his heart, puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me through him—I, Adonai, will answer him Myself.
8. I will set My face against that man. I will make him a sign and a proverb and cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am Adonai.
9. “When the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, Adonai, have deceived that prophet. I will stretch out My hand against him. I will destroy him from among My people Israel.
10. They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the prophet will be the same as the punishment of the inquirer—
11. so that the house of Israel will not wander again from Me or defile themselves again with all their transgressions. They will be My people and I will be their God.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
12. The word of Adonai came to me saying,
13. “Son of man, suppose a land sins against Me by trespassing grievously and I stretch out My hand over it, break off its staff of bread, send famine upon it and cut it off from man and beast.
14. Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—be in it, they would only deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
15. “If I cause evil beasts to pass through the land and they ravage it and make it a wasteland, so that no one would pass through because of the beasts,
16. even if these three men were in it, as I live, says Adonai, they will not deliver sons or daughters. They would only deliver themselves, but the land will be desolate.
17. Or if I bring a sword on that land and say: ‘Let the sword go through the land,’ so that I cut off man and beast from it;
18. though these three men were in it, as I live, says Adonai, they will not deliver sons or daughters, for they will only deliver themselves.