The people of Israel are under the spell of idols. Let them go their own way.

and constant arguments from people whose minds do not function and who no longer have the truth. They think that religion is a way to become rich.

"How terrible for you, blind guides! You teach, 'If someone swears by the Temple, he isn't bound by his vow; but if he swears by the gold in the Temple, he is bound.'

You also teach, 'If someone swears by the altar, he isn't bound by his vow; but if he swears by the gift on the altar, he is bound.'

So then, when a person swears by the altar, he is swearing by it and by all the gifts on it;

and when someone swears by heaven, he is swearing by God's throne and by him who sits on it.

Blind guides! You strain a fly out of your drink, but swallow a camel!

Those who lead these people have misled them and totally confused them.

Is anyone more blind than my servant, more deaf than the messenger I send?

He says, "All the leaders, who are supposed to warn my people, are blind! They know nothing. They are like watch dogs that don't bark---they only lie around and dream. How they love to sleep!

"But now you priests have turned away from the right path. Your teaching has led many to do wrong. You have broken the covenant I made with you.

And Jesus told them this parable: "One blind man cannot lead another one; if he does, both will fall into a ditch.

prophets speak nothing but lies; priests rule as the prophets command, and my people offer no objections. But what will they do when it all comes to an end?"

Were they ashamed because they did these disgusting things? No, they were not at all ashamed; they don't even know how to blush. And so they will fall as others have fallen; when I punish them, that will be the end of them. I, the LORD, have spoken."

My people, were you ashamed because you did these disgusting things? No, you were not ashamed at all; you don't even know how to blush! And so you will fall as others have fallen; when I punish you, that will be the end of you. I, the LORD, have spoken.

"If any prophets are deceived into giving a false answer, it is because I, the LORD, have deceived them. I will remove them from the people of Israel.

Both prophets and anyone who consults them will get the same punishment.

"Prophets, your day is almost over; the sun is going down on you. Because you mislead my people, you will have no more prophetic visions, and you will not be able to predict anything."

Those who predict the future will be disgraced by their failure. They will all be humiliated because God does not answer them.

False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction.

These people are like dried-up springs, like clouds blown along by a storm; God has reserved a place for them in the deepest darkness.

The beast was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had performed miracles in his presence. (It was by those miracles that he had deceived those who had the mark of the beast and those who had worshiped the image of the beast.) The beast and the false prophet were both thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.

But outside the city are the perverts and those who practice magic, the immoral and the murderers, those who worship idols and those who are liars both in words and deeds.