1The spirit lifted me and brought me to the eastern gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. Behold, at the entrance of the gate stood twenty-five men. I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, rulers of the people.2He said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise evil and give wicked counsel in this city."3They say, "The time is not near for building houses; it is the pot, and we are the flesh."4Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man.5The spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, "Speak: Thus says the LORD: This is what you have said, O house of Israel, and I know the thoughts of your spirit."6You have multiplied your slain in this city and filled its streets with the slain.7Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: The slain whom you placed in her midst are the flesh, and she is the pot; but you, he brought out from her midst.8You feared the sword, yet I will bring a sword upon you, declares the Lord GOD.9I will bring you out from her midst and hand you over to foreigners and execute judgments against you.10You will fall by the sword; I will judge you on the border of Israel, and you will know that I am the LORD.11She will not be a pot for you, and you will be flesh in her midst; I will judge you at the border of Israel.12You will know that I am the LORD, for you have not walked in my statutes or kept my judgments, but have followed the customs of the nations around you.13While I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. I fell on my face, cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Alas, Lord GOD, you are destroying the remnant of Israel."14Then the word of the LORD came to me:15Son of man, your brothers, your kinsmen, the men of your redemption, and the whole house of Israel—all of them—the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said to them, Stay away from the LORD; the land has been given to us as a possession.