Ezekiel 13
Woe to False Prophets
1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,†
2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel. You shall prophesy and say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Lord.
3 ‘Thus says the Lord: “Woe to those who prophesy from their hearts, but who see nothing at all!
4 O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts.†
5 They do not stand in a firm place, and they gather flocks in the house of Israel. They will not stand up who say, ‘In the day of the Lord.’
6 They see lies and prophesy vain things. They say, ‘The Lord says,’ but the Lord did not send them; yet they begin to establish the word.
7 Have you not seen a false vision, and spoken worthless prophecies?’ ”
8 “Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Because your words are lies and your prophecies are worthless, therefore I am against you,” says the Lord.
9 “I shall stretch out My hand against the prophets who see lies and utter worthless things. They will not exist for the instruction of My people, neither shall they be written down in the record of the house of Israel, nor enter the land of Israel. They shall know that I am the Lord.
10 Because they have deceived My people, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ and there is no peace; and one builds a wall, and they plaster it—it shall certainly fall.†
11 Say to those who plaster it, ‘It will fall,’ for there shall be flooding rain; and I will send hailstones against its joints, and it shall fall; and a wind will rise up and break it down.
12 Behold, the wall has fallen, and will not they say to you, ‘Where is the mortar you used to plaster it?’ ”
13 Therefore thus says the Lord: “I will also bring forth a driving and furious wind, and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger. They shall be swept away in anger, and there shall be a flooding rain in My wrath; and I shall bring down hailstones in My anger for complete destruction.
14 So I will break down the wall you plastered, and it shall fall. I shall lay it on the ground, and its foundations will be revealed; and you will be consumed with rebukes. You shall know that I am the Lord.
15 Thus will I accomplish My anger on the wall and on those who plastered it—it shall fall.” So I said to you, “The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it;
16 even so are the prophets of Israel who prophesy over Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,” says the Lord.’
17 “As for you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy from their own heart, and prophesy against them.
18 You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Woe to the women who sew pillows under every elbow, and make coverings for every head of every age, to mislead souls! The souls of my people are turned aside, and they keep alive souls for themselves.
19 They desecrated My people for the sake of a handful of barley and for pieces of bread, so as to kill souls which should not die, and to keep souls alive which should not live, while you prophesy to a people who listen to worthless speeches.”
20 ‘Therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am against your pillows whereby you conspire against souls. I will tear them from your arms and free their souls, which you turned aside so as to scatter them.
21 I will tear away your coverings and deliver My people out of your hand. They shall no longer be in your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.
22 Because you have turned aside the heart of the righteous man unjustly—whom I did not turn aside—so as to strengthen the hands of the lawless man, that he should not completely turn from his evil way and live;
23 therefore, you shall no longer see false visions, nor utter prophecies; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
Psalms 117
17 I shall not die, but live, And tell of the Lord’s works.
18 The Lord chastened and corrected me, But He did not give me up to death.
19 Open the gates of righteousness to me; I will enter therein and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; The righteous shall go in through it.
21 I will give thanks to You, for You heard me, And You became my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected, the same became the head of the corner;
23 And this came about from the Lord, And it is wonderful in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord made; Let us greatly rejoice, and be glad therein.
25 O Lord, save us now; O Lord, prosper us now.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; We blessed you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord, and He revealed Himself to us; Appoint a feast for yourselves, decked with branches, Even to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God, and I shall exalt You; I will give thanks to You, for You heard me; And You became my salvation.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His mercy endures forever.
Proverbs of Solomon 25
12 Grace and friendship free a man; Keep these for yourself, that you may not be reproached, But guard your ways peaceably.
13 As a golden apple in a small necklace of sardius stone, Thus it is to speak a wise word.
14 As a very expensive sardius stone set in a golden earring, So is a wise word to an obedient ear.
15 As the falling of snow in harvest is beneficial against the heat, So is a faithful messenger to those who send him; For he benefits the souls of those who use him.
16 As winds, clouds, and rains are evident, So are those who boast in a false gift.
James 3
The Work of Faith: Controlling What We Say
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.†
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Godly Counsel
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.†
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.