1Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.2The word of the LORD came to me, saying:3Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart and have put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face. Shall I indeed be inquired of by them?4Therefore speak to them and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: Every man of the house of Israel who sets up his idol in his heart, puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet—I the LORD have answered him according to the multitude of his idols.5In order to seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they have become estranged from me through all their idols.6Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: Return and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.7For every man of the house of Israel or of the sojourner who sojourns in Israel, who separates himself from following me, causes his idol to ascend to his heart, sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet to inquire of him concerning me—I the LORD will answer him myself.8I will set my face against that man, make him a sign and a proverb, cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the LORD.9And if the prophet is enticed and speaks a word, I the LORD have enticed that prophet; I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.10They shall bear their iniquity; the iniquity of the inquirer shall be like the iniquity of the prophet.11So that the house of Israel may no longer go astray from following me or defile themselves any longer with all their transgressions, but may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord GOD.