18 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms [a]on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you (A)hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive? 19 And will you profane Me among My people (B)for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”

20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like [b]birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. (C)Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

22 “Because with (D)lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have (E)strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life. 23 Therefore (F)you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 13:18 Lit. over all the joints of My hands; Vg. under every elbow; LXX, Tg. on all elbows of the hands
  2. Ezekiel 13:20 Lit. flying ones

18 and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? 19 You have profaned(A) me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread.(B) By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.(C)

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds.(D) 21 I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(E) 22 Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies,(F) when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives,(G) 23 therefore you will no longer see false visions(H) or practice divination.(I) I will save(J) my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.(K)’”

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