1883 Haydock Douay Rheims Bible

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Ezekiel 13:1 And *the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

Year of the World 3411.
Ezekiel 13:2 Son of man, prophesy thou against the prophets of Israel that prophesy: and thou shalt say to them that prophesy out of their own heart: Hear ye the word of the Lord:

Heart; what pleases them, (Haydock) without being inspired. There were always such impostors. These deluded the people at Jerusalem, (Calmet) or at Babylon, ver. 9. (Sanctius) --- They might be distinguished by the sincere: yet caused irreparable injury to the ignorant people. (Haydock)
Ezekiel 13:3 Thus saith the Lord God: *Woe to the foolish prophets that follow their own spirit, and see nothing.

Jeremias 23:1.; Ezechiel 4:9.; Ezechiel 14:9.; Ezechiel 34:2.
Nothing. Yet would lead the blind, though they are not directed by God.
Ezekiel 13:4 Thy prophets, O Israel, were like foxes in the deserts.

Deserts, or ruins. They sought only to gratify themselves.
Ezekiel 13:5 You have not gone up to face the enemy, nor have you set up a wall for the house of Israel, to stand in battle in the day of the Lord.

Enemy. You do not admonish sinners of their evil ways, nor strive to avert God's indignation, in imitation of true prophets, (Exodus 32:10.) but rather undermine the wall like foxes.
Ezekiel 13:6 They see vain things, and they foretell lies, saying: The Lord saith: whereas the Lord hath not sent them: and they have persisted to confirm what they have said.

Ezekiel 13:7 Have you not seen a vain vision, and spoken a lying divination: and you say: The Lord saith: whereas I have not spoken.

Ezekiel 13:8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have spoken vain things, and have seen lies: therefore, behold I come against you, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 13:9 And my hand shall be upon the prophets that see vain things, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord God.

Upon, to punish. --- Counsel. They shall not be consulted, or have any credit. --- Writing. They shall perish in the city, or in banishment. (Calmet) --- Their works shall not be accounted canonical. (Sixt. Bib. 2:2.)
Ezekiel 13:10 Because they have deceived my people, saying: Peace, and there is no peace: and the people built up a wall, and they daubed it with dirt without straw.

Straw. Iniquity ruins my people, (Calmet) and these do not endeavour to reform their manners. (Haydock) --- They ought to demolish such a work, and not daub it over. (Theodoret) --- One false prophet builds, and another strives to support his authority; (Junius) or God has given the people his law, but these people corrupt it. (St. Jerome) --- A wall built without proper mortar, will easily be washed down: so vain hopes of security, without amendment, deceive the people. (Worthington)
Ezekiel 13:11 Say to them that daub without tempering, that it shall fall: for there shall be an overflowing shower, and I will cause great hailstones to fall violently from above, and a stormy wind to throw it down.

Hailstones. Literally, "stones," like those which fell on the enemies of Josue, 10:11.; (Haydock) or thunderbolts. (Grotius) (Calmet) --- Such will be the fate of all the buildings of the wicked, Matthew 7:27. (Haydock) --- None can resist the judgments of God, who will employ the Chaldeans. (Menochius)
Ezekiel 13:12 Behold, when the wall is fallen: shall it not be said to you: Where is the daubing wherewith you have daubed it?

Ezekiel 13:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Lo, I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in my indignation, and there shall be an overflowing shower in my anger: and great hailstones in my wrath to consume.

Ezekiel 13:14 And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar: and I will make it even with the ground, and the foundation thereof shall be laid bare: and it shall fall, and shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and you shall know that I am the Lord.

You. Literally, "it." But Hebrew and Septuagint have, "ye." (Haydock) --- The wall and the inhabitants shall perish. (Calmet)
Ezekiel 13:15 And I will accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that daub it without tempering the mortar, and I will say to you: The wall is no more, and they that daub it are no more.

Ezekiel 13:16 Even the prophets of Israel that prophesy to Jerusalem, and that see visions of peace for her: and there is no peace, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 13:17 And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people that prophesy out of their own heart: and do thou prophesy against them.

Daughters: so false prophets are styled in scorn, (Vatable) or witches; (Rabbins) though it seems rather that there were false prophetesses as well as true ones. Such were Prisca and Maximilla among the Montanists. Women have commonly fostered heresies. (Calmet) --- These pretended to be illuminated, like Debora and Holda; but flattered the people in their sins, instead of reclaiming them. (Worthington)
Ezekiel 13:18 And say: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to them that sew cushions under every elbow: and make pillows for the heads of persons of every age to catch souls: and when they caught the souls of my people, they gave life to their souls.

Cushions, by making people easy in their sins, and promising them impunity, (Challoner) by disguising the truth, or not admonishing people of their danger, Ezechiel 3:17. He alludes to the cushions used on sofas. --- Pillows. Symmachus, "veils;" (Septuagint and Kimchi) or "nets" designed "to take" the unwary; as mispachot may be properly rendered, ver. 20, 21., and Isaias 5:7. (Calmet) --- Souls. That is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security. (Challoner) (Worthington) --- People are often said to do what they only announce, Leviticus 13:11. These impostors pretended to save, while they really destroyed. They shewed a cruel mercy, detaining the people in captivity, or rather Hebrew, "shall you catch?" etc. Do you expect to pass unpunished? (Calmet) --- We might read the Vulgate, "Did they give?" etc. Protestants, "Will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?" (Haydock)
Ezekiel 13:19 And they violated me among my people, for a handful of barley, and a piece of bread, to kill souls which should not die, and to save souls alive which should not live, telling lies to my people that believe lies.

Violated me. That is, dishonoured and discredited me. (Challoner) --- Protestants, "and will ye pollute?" etc. (Haydock) --- They employed the name of God to give credit to their lies, for the smallest advantage. --- Souls, etc. That is, to sentence souls to death, which are not to die: and to promise life to them who are not to live. (Challoner) --- They contradicted Jeremias, who exhorted the people to surrender. (Calmet)
Ezekiel 13:20 Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I declare against your cushions, wherewith you catch flying souls: and I will tear them off from your arms; and I will let go the souls that you catch, the souls that should fly.

Catch. Hebrew also, "hunt the souls to make them into gardens, (Haydock) or flourishing." Septuagint, "you gather souls there." The original seems to be incorrect, ver. 18.
Ezekiel 13:21 And I will tear your pillows, and will deliver my people out of your hand, neither shall they be any more in your hands to be a prey: and you shall know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 13:22 Because with lies you have made the heart of the just to mourn, whom I have not made sorrowful; and have strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his evil way, and live.

Just. Jeremias, or any other, particularly the more simple, who were easily seduced and filled with apprehensions. You shall therefore die, (ver. 23.) and your imposture shall be made known. (Calmet)
Ezekiel 13:23 Therefore, you shall not see vain things, nor divine divinations any more, and I will deliver my people out of your hand; and you shall know that I am the Lord.