“They come to you
As people come.
They sit before you
As my people.
They hear your words.
But they will not
Obey them.
Flattery
Is on their lips.
But their heart
Is set on their own gain.
You are
Like a singer
Of love songs
To them.
You are
Like one who has
A beautiful voice.
You play well
On an instrument.
They hear
What you say,
But they will not do it.
When this comes!
Come it will!
Then they shall know
That a prophet has been
Among them.”
Yahweh said that the people would come to sit before Ezekiel. They would hear his words, but they would not obey them. Flattery would be on their lips, but their heart would be set on their own material gain. Ezekiel would be like a singer of love songs to them with a beautiful voice and a well-played instrument. They would hear what he said, but they would not do it. When all this happened, they would know that Ezekiel had been a prophet among them.