14 One day some of the Israeli elders came and sat down to talk, 2 and Yahweh gave me this message: 3 “Humanity’s child, these men have taken their idols to be their gods, and their choice to disobey makes it very difficult for them to relate to me. Should I even let them ask me anything?

4 Therefore tell them that the master Yahweh says this: ‘Every Israeli person who makes their idols their priority, or who allows their disobedience to separate them from me, and who then comes to a prophet, I, Yahweh, will answer them according to how many idols they have. 5 I’ll do that so that I can reclaim the Israeli people whose values are now far from mine due to their idols.

6 Therefore tell the Israeli people that the master Yahweh says this: ‘Change your behaviour and turn away from your idols. Make a decision to stop disobeying me by doing those evil things.

7 Any Israeli person or any foreigner residing in Yisrael who deserts me, who takes idols to be their gods and allows their disobedience to separate them from me, and who then comes to a prophet to request my guidance, I, Yahweh, will answer that person myself. 8 I’ll clearly show my disapproval and make that person into a sign for others and into a talking point, and they’ll be isolated from the rest of my people, and you people will know that I am Yahweh.

9 If a prophet is deceived and speaks a message, then I, Yahweh, will deceive that prophet. I’ll take action against him and destroy him to remove him from among the Israeli people. 10 Both the prophet and the one who asks him for advice will be guilty, and I’ll punish both of them for their disobedience. 11 Because of that, the Israeli people will no longer wander away from following me, nor defile themselves any longer through all their disobedience. They’ll be my people, and I’ll be their god. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”