Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision
1In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exilesa by the Kebar River,b the heavens were openedc and I saw visionsd of God.
2On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachine— 3the word of the LORD came to Ezekielf the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians.1 There the hand of the LORD was on him.g
4I looked, and I saw a windstormh coming out of the northi—an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal,j 5and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.k In appearance their form was human,l 6but each of them had four facesm and four wings. 7Their legs were straight; their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished bronze.n 8Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands.o All four of them had faces and wings, 9and the wings of one touched the wings of another. Each one went straight ahead; they did not turn as they moved.p
10Their faces looked like this: Each of the four had the face of a human being, and on the right side each had the face of a lion, and on the left the face of an ox; each also had the face of an eagle.q 11Such were their faces. They each had two wingsr spreading out upward, each wing touching that of the creature on either side; and each had two other wings covering its body. 12Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, without turning as they went.s 13The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coalst of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightningu flashed out of it. 14The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning.v
15As I looked at the living creatures,w I saw a wheelx on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. 16This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz,y and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 17As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change directionz as the creatures went. 18Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyesa all around.
19When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. 20Wherever the spirit would go, they would go,b and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.c
22Spread out above the heads of the living creatures was what looked something like a vault,d sparkling like crystal, and awesome. 23Under the vault their wings were stretched out one toward the other, and each had two wings covering its body. 24When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of rushinge waters, like the voicef of the Almighty,2 like the tumult of an army.g When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25Then there came a voice from above the vault over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. 26Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throneh of lapis lazuli,i and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.j 27I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.k 28Like the appearance of a rainbowl in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.m
This was the appearance of the likeness of the gloryn of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown,o and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Ezekiel’s Call to Be a Prophet
1He said to me, “Son of man,1a standb up on your feet and I will speak to you.c” 2As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised med to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
3He said: “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.e 4The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn.f Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’g 5And whether they listen or fail to listenh—for they are a rebellious peoplei—they will know that a prophet has been among them.j 6And you, son of man, do not be afraidk of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thornsl are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.m 7You must speakn my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.o 8But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebelp like that rebellious people;q open your mouth and eatr what I give you.”
9Then I looked, and I saw a hands stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,t 10which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.u
1And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I atea it, and it tasted as sweet as honeyb in my mouth.
4He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.c 5You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language,d but to the people of Israel— 6not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.e 7But the people of Israel are not willing to listenf to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.g 8But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.h 9I will make your foreheadi like the hardest stone, harder than flint.j Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.k”
10And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heartl all the words I speak to you. 11Gom now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’n whether they listen or fail to listen.o”
12Then the Spirit lifted me up,p and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the LORD rose from the place where it was standing.1 13It was the sound of the wings of the living creaturesq brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.r 14The Spirits then lifted me upt and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORDu on me. 15I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River.v And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven daysw—deeply distressed.
Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman
16At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me:x 17“Son of man, I have made you a watchmany for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.z 18When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,a’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for2 their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.b 19But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turnc from their wickednessd or from their evil ways, they will diee for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.f
20“Again, when a righteous person turnsg from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling blockh before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.i 21But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.j”
22The hand of the LORDk was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and gol out to the plain,m and there I will speak to you.” 23So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River,n and I fell facedown.o
24Then the Spirit came into me and raised mep to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.q 25And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.r 26I will make your tongue stick to the roofs of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people.t 27But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’u Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.v
Siege of Jerusalem Symbolized
1“Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. 2Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a rampa up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it.b 3Then take an iron pan,c place it as an iron wall between you and the city and turn your face towardd it. It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it. This will be a signe to the people of Israel.f
4“Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself.1 You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. 5I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel.
6“After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sing of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.h 7Turn your facei toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her. 8I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.j
9“Take wheat and barley, beans and lentils, millet and spelt;k put them in a storage jar and use them to make bread for yourself. You are to eat it during the 390 days you lie on your side. 10Weigh out twenty shekels2l of food to eat each day and eat it at set times. 11Also measure out a sixth of a hin3 of water and drink it at set times.m 12Eat the food as you would a loaf of barley bread; bake it in the sight of the people, using human excrementn for fuel.” 13The LORD said, “In this way the people of Israel will eat defiled food among the nations where I will drive them.”o
14Then I said, “Not so, Sovereign LORD!p I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found deadq or torn by wild animals. No impure meat has ever entered my mouth.r”
15“Very well,” he said, “I will let you bake your bread over cow dung instead of human excrement.”
16He then said to me: “Son of man, I am about to cut offs the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair,t 17for food and water will be scarce.u They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of4 their sin.v
God’s Razor of Judgment
1“Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razora to shaveb your head and your beard.c Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair. 2When the days of your siege come to an end, burnd a thirde of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind.f For I will pursue them with drawn sword.g 3But take a few hairs and tuck them away in the folds of your garment.h 4Again, take a few of these and throw them into the firei and burn them up. A fire will spread from there to all Israel.
5“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This is Jerusalem, which I have set in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.j 6Yet in her wickedness she has rebelled against my laws and decrees more than the nations and countries around her. She has rejected my laws and has not followed my decrees.k
7“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you and have not followed my decrees or kept my laws. You have not even1 conformed to the standards of the nations around you.l
8“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself am against you, Jerusalem, and I will inflict punishment on you in the sight of the nations.m 9Because of all your detestable idols, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.n 10Therefore in your midst parents will eat their children, and children will eat their parents.o I will inflict punishment on you and will scatter all your survivors to the winds.p 11Therefore as surely as I live,q declares the Sovereignr LORD, because you have defiled my sanctuarys with all your vile imagest and detestable practices,u I myself will shave you; I will not look on you with pity or spare you.v 12A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the windsw and pursue with drawn sword.x
13“Then my anger will cease and my wrathy against them will subside, and I will be avenged.z And when I have spent my wrath on them, they will know that I the LORD have spoken in my zeal.a
14“I will make you a ruin and a reproach among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by.b 15You will be a reproachc and a taunt, a warningd and an object of horror to the nations around you when I inflict punishment on you in anger and in wrath and with stinging rebuke.e I the LORD have spoken.f 16When I shoot at you with my deadly and destructive arrows of famine, I will shoot to destroy you. I will bring more and more famine upon you and cut off your supply of food.g 17I will send famine and wild beastsh against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshedi will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I the LORD have spoken.j”
Doom for the Mountains of Israel
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, set your facea against the mountainsb of Israel; prophesy against themc 3and say: ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys:d I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.e 4Your altars will be demolished and your incense altarsf will be smashed; and I will slay your people in front of your idols.g 5I will lay the dead bodies of the Israelites in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bonesh around your altars.i 6Wherever you live,j the towns will be laid waste and the high placesk demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and devastated, your idolsl smashed and ruined, your incense altarsm broken down, and what you have made wiped out.n 7Your people will fall slaino among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.p Photo
8“ ‘But I will spare some, for some of you will escapeq the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations.r 9Then in the nations where they have been carried captive, those who escape will remembers me—how I have been grievedt by their adulterous hearts, which have turned away from me, and by their eyes, which have lusted after their idols.u They will loathe themselves for the evilv they have done and for all their detestable practices.w 10And they will know that I am the LORD;x I did not threaten in vain to bring this calamity on them.y
11“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Strike your hands together and stamp your feet and cry out “Alas!” because of all the wicked and detestable practices of the people of Israel, for they will fall by the sword, famine and plague.z 12One who is far away will die of the plague, and one who is near will fall by the sword, and anyone who survives and is spared will die of famine. So will I pour out my wratha on them.b 13And they will know that I am the LORD, when their people lie slain among their idolsc around their altars, on every high hill and on all the mountaintops, under every spreading tree and every leafy oakd—places where they offered fragrant incense to all their idols.e 14And I will stretch out my handf against them and make the land a desolate waste from the desert to Diblah1—wherever they live. Then they will know that I am the LORD.g’ ”
The End Has Come
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, this is what the Sovereign LORD says to the land of Israel:
“ ‘The end!a The end has come
upon the four cornersb of the land!
3The end is now upon you,
and I will unleash my anger against you.
I will judge you according to your conductc
and repay you for all your detestable practices.d
4I will not look on you with pity;e
I will not spare you.
I will surely repay you for your conduct
and for the detestable practices among you.
“ ‘Then you will know that I am the LORD.’f
5“This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘Disaster!g Unheard-of1 disaster!
See, it comes!
6The endh has come!
The end has come!
It has roused itself against you.
See, it comes!
7Doom has come upon you,
upon you who dwell in the land.
The time has come! The dayi is near!j
There is panic, not joy, on the mountains.
8I am about to pour out my wrathk on you
and spend my anger against you.
I will judge you according to your conduct
and repay you for all your detestable practices.l
9I will not look on you with pity;
I will not spare you.m
I will repay you for your conduct
and for the detestable practices among you.n
“ ‘Then you will know that it is I the LORD who strikes you.o
10“ ‘See, the day!
See, it comes!
Doom has burst forth,
the rodp has budded,
arrogance has blossomed!
a rod to punish the wicked.
None of the people will be left,
none of that crowd—
none of their wealth,
nothing of value.r
12The time has come!
The day has arrived!
Let not the buyers rejoice
nor the seller grieve,
for my wrath is on the whole crowd.t
13The seller will not recover
the property that was sold—
as long as both buyer and seller live.
For the vision concerning the whole crowd
will not be reversed.
Because of their sins, not one of them
will preserve their life.u
14“ ‘They have blown the trumpet,v
they have made all things ready,
but no one will go into battle,
for my wrathw is on the whole crowd.
15Outside is the sword;
inside are plague and famine.
Those in the country
will die by the sword;
those in the city
will be devoured by famine and plague.x
16The fugitivesy who escape
will flee to the mountains.
Like dovesz of the valleys,
they will all moan,
each for their own sins.a
17Every hand will go limp;b
every leg will be wet with urine.c
and be clothed with terror.e
Every face will be covered with shame,
and every head will be shaved.f
19“ ‘They will throw their silver into the streets,g
and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean.
Their silver and gold
will not be able to deliver them
in the day of the LORD’s wrath.h
It will not satisfyi their hunger
or fill their stomachs,
for it has caused them to stumblej into sin.k
20They took pride in their beautiful jewelry
and used it to makel their detestable idols.
They made it into vile images;m
therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them.n
21I will give their wealth as plundero to foreigners
and as loot to the wicked of the earth,
who will defile it.p
22I will turn my faceq away from the people,
and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure.
They will enter it
and will defile it.r
23“ ‘Prepare chains!
For the land is full of bloodshed,s
and the city is full of violence.t
24I will bring the most wicked of nations
to take possession of their houses.
I will put an end to the pride of the mighty,
and their sanctuariesu will be desecrated.v
25When terror comes,
they will seek peace in vain.w
26Calamity upon calamityx will come,
and rumor upon rumor.
They will go searching for a vision from the prophet,y
priestly instruction in the law will cease,
the counsel of the elders will come to an end.z
27The king will mourn,
the prince will be clothed with despair,a
and the hands of the people of the land will tremble.
I will deal with them according to their conduct,b
and by their own standards I will judge them.
“ ‘Then they will know that I am the LORD.c’ ”
Idolatry in the Temple
1In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the eldersa of Judah were sitting beforeb me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came on me there.c 2I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man.1 From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal.d 3He stretched out what looked like a hande and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me upf between earth and heaven and in visionsg of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court,h where the idol that provokes to jealousyi stood. 4And there before me was the gloryj of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.k
5Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idoll of jealousy.
6And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestablem things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary?n But you will see things that are even more detestable.”
7Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. 8He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.
9And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.” 10So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the wallso all kinds of crawling things and uncleanp animals and all the idols of Israel.q 11In front of them stood seventy eldersr of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censers in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incenset was rising.u
12He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness,v each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The LORD does not seew us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ” 13Again, he said, “You will see them doing things that are even more detestable.”
14Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz.x 15He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.”
16He then brought me into the inner courty of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar,z were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the suna in the east.b
17He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable thingsc they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violenced and continually arouse my anger?e Look at them putting the branch to their nose! 18Therefore I will deal with them in anger;f I will not look on them with pityg or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listenh to them.”
Judgment on the Idolaters
1Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” 2And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linena who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3Now the gloryb of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim,c where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the LORD called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalemd and put a marke on the foreheads of those who grieve and lamentf over all the detestable things that are done in it.g”
5As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pityh or compassion.i 6Slaughterj the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children,k but do not touch anyone who has the mark.l Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old menm who were in front of the temple.n
7Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.o Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. 8While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown,p crying out, “Alas, Sovereign LORD!q Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrathr on Jerusalem?s”
9He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice.t They say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’u 10So I will not look on them with pityv or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.w”
11Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”
God’s Glory Departs From the Temple
1I looked, and I saw the likeness of a thronea of lapis lazulib above the vaultc that was over the heads of the cherubim.d 2The LORD said to the man clothed in linen,e “Go in among the wheelsf beneath the cherubim. Fillg your hands with burning coalsh from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in. Photo
3Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. 4Then the glory of the LORDi rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the LORD. 5The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voicej of God Almighty1 when he speaks.k
6When the LORD commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels,l from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. 7Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the firem that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. 8(Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.)n
9I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.o 10As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 11As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about2 as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. 12Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes,p as were their four wheels.q 13I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” 14Each of the cherubimr had four faces:s One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion,t and the fourth the face of an eagle.u
15Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creaturesv I had seen by the Kebar River.w 16When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. 17When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.x
18Then the gloryy of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.z 19While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.a They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD’s house, and the gloryb of the God of Israel was above them.
20These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River,c and I realized that they were cherubim. 21Each had four facesd and four wings,e and under their wings was what looked like human hands. 22Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River.f Each one went straight ahead.
God’s Sure Judgment on Jerusalem
1Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. There at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiaha son of Benaiah, leadersb of the people.c 2The LORD said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evild and giving wicked advice in this city.e 3They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot,f and we are the meat in it.’g 4Therefore prophesyh against them; prophesy, son of man.”
5Then the Spirit of the LORD came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the LORD says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.i 6You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead.j
7“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot,k but I will drive you out of it.l 8You fear the sword,m and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign LORD.n 9I will drive you out of the city and deliver you into the handso of foreigners and inflict punishment on you.p 10You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.q Then you will know that I am the LORD. 11This city will not be a potr for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. 12And you will know that I am the LORD,s for you have not followed my decreest or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.u”
13Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiahv son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Alas, Sovereign LORD! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?w”
The Promise of Israel’s Return
14The word of the LORD came to me: 15“Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the LORD; this land was given to us as our possession.’x
16“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuaryy for them in the countries where they have gone.’
17“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’z
18“They will return to it and remove all its vile imagesa and detestable idols.b 19I will give them an undivided heartc and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stoned and give them a heart of flesh.e 20Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.f They will be my people,g and I will be their God.h 21But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols,i I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.j”
22Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the gloryk of the God of Israel was above them.l 23The glorym of the LORD went up from within the city and stopped above the mountainn east of it. 24The Spirito lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia1 in the visionp given by the Spirit of God.
Then the vision I had seen went up from me, 25and I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.q
The Exile Symbolized
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.a They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.b
3“Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhapsc they will understand,d though they are a rebellious people.e 4During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.f 5While they watch, dig through the wallg and take your belongings out through it. 6Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a signh to the Israelites.”
7So I did as I was commanded.i During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
8In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: 9“Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’j
10“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ 11Say to them, ‘I am a signk to you.’
“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.l
12“The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at duskm and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.n 13I will spread my neto for him, and he will be caught in my snare;p I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,q but he will not seer it, and there he will die.s 14I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.t
15“They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nationsu and scatter them through the countries. 16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the LORD.v”
17The word of the LORD came to me: 18“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,w and shudder in fear as you drink your water. 19Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everythingx in it because of the violence of all who live there.y 20The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.z’ ”
There Will Be No Delay
21The word of the LORD came to me: 22“Son of man, what is this proverba you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?b 23Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are nearc when every vision will be fulfilled.d 24For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinationse among the people of Israel. 25But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.f For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfillg whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD.h’ ”
26The word of the LORD came to me: 27“Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’i
28“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”
False Prophets Condemned
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophetsa of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:b ‘Hear the word of the LORD!c 3This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish1 prophetsd who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!e 4Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repairf it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD.g 6Their visions are falseh and their divinations a lie. Even though the LORD has not senti them, they say, “The LORD declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words.j 7Have you not seen false visionsk and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The LORD declares,” though I have not spoken?
8“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you,l declares the Sovereign LORD. 9My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lyingm divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the recordsn of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.o
10“ ‘Because they lead my people astray,p saying, “Peace,”q when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash,r 11therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstoness hurtling down,t and violent winds will burst forth.u 12When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?”
13“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstonesv and torrents of rainw will fall with destructive fury.x 14I will tear down the wally you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundationz will be laid bare. When it2 falls,a you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the LORD. 15So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign LORD.b” ’
17“Now, son of man, set your facec against the daughtersd of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against theme 18and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the women who sew magic charms on all their wrists and make veils of various lengths for their heads in order to ensnare people. Will you ensnare the lives of my people but preserve your own? 19You have profanedf me among my people for a few handfuls of barley and scraps of bread.g By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have killed those who should not have died and have spared those who should not live.h Photo
20“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds.i 21I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD.j 22Because you disheartened the righteous with your lies,k when I had brought them no grief, and because you encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways and so save their lives,l 23therefore you will no longer see false visionsm or practice divination.n I will saveo my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the LORD.p’ ”
Idolaters Condemned
1Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.a 2Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their heartsb and put wicked stumbling blocksc before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?d 4Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the LORD will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. 5I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all desertede me for their idols.’f
6“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent!g Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!h
7“ ‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigneri residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling blockj before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquirek of me, I the LORD will answer them myself. 8I will set my face againstl them and make them an examplem and a byword.n I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.o
9“ ‘And if the prophetp is enticedq to utter a prophecy, I the LORD have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.r 10They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. 11Then the people of Israel will no longer strays from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people,t and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign LORD.u’ ”
Jerusalem’s Judgment Inescapable
12The word of the LORD came to me: 13“Son of man, if a country sinsv against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supplyw and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals,x 14even if these three men—Noah,y Daniel1z and Joba—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,b declares the Sovereign LORD.
15“Or if I send wild beastsc through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts,d 16as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.e
17“Or if I bring a swordf against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its people and their animals,g 18as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.
19“Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrathh on it through bloodshed,i killing its people and their animals,j 20as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.k
21“For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgmentsl—swordm and faminen and wild beasts and plagueo—to kill its men and their animals!p 22Yet there will be some survivorsq—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it.r They will come to you, and when you see their conducts and their actions, you will be consoledt regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. 23You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign LORD.u”
Jerusalem as a Useless Vine
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, how is the wood of a vinea different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? 3Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?b Do they make pegsc from it to hang things on? 4And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?d 5If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?
6“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. 7I will set my face againste them. Although they have come out of the firef, the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.g 8I will make the land desolateh because they have been unfaithful,i declares the Sovereign LORD.”
Jerusalem as an Adulterous Wife
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, confronta Jerusalem with her detestable practicesb 3and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Jerusalem: Your ancestryc and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your fatherd was an Amoritee and your mother a Hittite.f 4On the day you were borng your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. 5No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.
6“ ‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”1h 7I made you growi like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked.j
8“ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garmentk over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenantl with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine.m
9“ ‘I bathed you with water and washedn the blood from you and put ointments on you. 10I clothed you with an embroideredo dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linenp and covered you with costly garments.q 11I adorned you with jewelry:r I put braceletss on your arms and a necklacet around your neck, 12and I put a ring on your nose,u earringsv on your ears and a beautiful crownw on your head.x 13So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothesy were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oilz and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.a 14And your fameb spread among the nations on account of your beauty,c because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.d
15“ ‘But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed bye and your beauty became his.f 16You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places,g where you carried on your prostitution.h You went to him, and he possessed your beauty.2 17You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them.i 18And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incensej before them. 19Also the food I provided for you—the flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat—you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign LORD.k
20“ ‘And you took your sons and daughtersl whom you bore to mem and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough?n 21You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols.o 22In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth,p when you were naked and bare,q kicking about in your blood.r
23“ ‘Woe!s Woe to you, declares the Sovereign LORD. In addition to all your other wickedness, 24you built a mound for yourself and made a lofty shrinet in every public square.u 25At every street cornerv you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty, spreading your legs with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by.w 26You engaged in prostitutionx with the Egyptians,y your neighbors with large genitals, and aroused my angerz with your increasing promiscuity.a 27So I stretched out my handb against you and reduced your territory; I gave you overc to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines,d who were shocked by your lewd conduct. 28You engaged in prostitution with the Assyrianse too, because you were insatiable; and even after that, you still were not satisfied.f 29Then you increased your promiscuity to include Babylonia,3g a land of merchants, but even with this you were not satisfied.h
30“ ‘I am filled with fury against you,4 declares the Sovereign LORD, when you do all these things, acting like a brazen prostitute!i 31When you built your mounds at every street corner and made your lofty shrinesj in every public square, you were unlike a prostitute, because you scorned payment.
32“ ‘You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband! 33All prostitutes receive gifts,k but you give giftsl to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.m 34So in your prostitution you are the opposite of others; no one runs after you for your favors. You are the very opposite, for you give payment and none is given to you.
35“ ‘Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the LORD! 36This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your naked body in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood,n 37therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will stripo you in front of them, and they will see you stark naked.p 38I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and who shed blood;q I will bring on you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger.r 39Then I will deliver you into the handss of your lovers, and they will tear down your mounds and destroy your lofty shrines. They will strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry and leave you stark naked.t 40They will bring a mob against you, who will stoneu you and hack you to pieces with their swords. 41They will burn downv your houses and inflict punishment on you in the sight of many women.w I will put a stopx to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. 42Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry.y
43“ ‘Because you did not rememberz the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring downa on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign LORD. Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices?b
44“ ‘Everyone who quotes proverbsc will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” 45You are a true daughter of your mother, who despisedd her husbande and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.f 46Your older sisterg was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom.h 47You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they.i 48As surely as I live, declares the Sovereignj LORD, your sister Sodomk and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.l
49“ ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:m She and her daughters were arrogant,n overfed and unconcerned;o they did not help the poor and needy.p 50They were haughtyq and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.r 51Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done.s 52Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteoust than you. So then, be ashamed and bearu your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.
53“ ‘However, I will restorev the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them,w 54so that you may bear your disgracex and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort. 55And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before.y 56You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, 57before your wickedness was uncovered. Even so, you are now scornedz by the daughters of Edom5a and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. 58You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the LORD.b
59“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant.c 60Yet I will remember the covenantd I made with you in the days of your youth,e and I will establish an everlasting covenantf with you. 61Then you will remember your ways and be ashamedg when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters,h but not on the basis of my covenant with you. 62So I will establish my covenanti with you, and you will know that I am the LORD.j 63Then, when I make atonementk for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamedl and never again open your mouthm because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign LORD.n’ ”
Two Eagles and a Vine
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.a 3Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: A great eagleb with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon.c Taking hold of the top of a cedar, 4he broke offd its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.
5“ ‘He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water,e 6and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branchesf turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.g
7“ ‘But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water.h 8It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches,i bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’
9“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.j 10It has been planted,k but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?l’ ”
11Then the word of the LORD came to me: 12“Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?m’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,n bringing them back with him to Babylon.o 13Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treatyp with him, putting him under oath.q He also carried away the leading menr of the land, 14so that the kingdom would be brought low,s unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. 15But the king rebelledt against him by sending his envoys to Egyptu to get horses and a large army.v Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?w
16“ ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, he shall diex in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.y 17Pharaohz with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when rampsa are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.b 18He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledgec and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.
19“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.d 20I will spread my nete for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgmentf on him there because he was unfaithfulg to me. 21All his choice troops will fall by the sword,h and the survivorsi will be scattered to the winds.j Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken.k
22“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shootl from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.m 23On the mountain heightsn of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruito and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.p 24All the trees of the forestq will know that I the LORD bring downr the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.s
“ ‘I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.t’ ”
The One Who Sins Will Die
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
“ ‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?a
3“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverbb in Israel. 4For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sinsc is the one who will die.d
5“Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right.
6He does not eat at the mountaine shrines
or look to the idolsf of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.g
but returns what he took in pledgei for a loan.
He does not commit robberyj
but gives his food to the hungryk
and provides clothing for the naked.l
8He does not lend to them at interest
or take a profit from them.m
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
and judges fairlyn between two parties.
and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;p
he will surely live,q
declares the Sovereign LORD.
10“Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds bloodr or does any of these other things1 11(though the father has done none of them):
“He eats at the mountain shrines.s
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12He oppresses the poort and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.u
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.v
Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.x
14“But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:y
15“He does not eat at the mountain shrinesz
or look to the idolsa of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16He does not oppress anyone
or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungryb
and provides clothing for the naked.c
17He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my lawsd and follows my decrees.
He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.
19“Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.e 20The one who sins is the one who will die.f The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.g
21“But ifh a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decreesi and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.j 22None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.k 23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleasedl when they turn from their ways and live?m
24“But if a righteous person turnsn from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulnesso they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.p
25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’q Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?r Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.s 28Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.t 29Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
30“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent!u Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.v 31Ridw yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heartx and a new spirit. Whyy will you die, people of Israel?z 32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repenta and live!b
A Lament Over Israel’s Princes
1“Take up a lamenta concerning the princesb of Israel 2and say:
“ ‘What a lionessc was your mother
among the lions!
She lay down among them
and reared her cubs.d
3She brought up one of her cubs,
and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he became a man-eater.
4The nations heard about him,
and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hookse
to the land of Egypt.f
5“ ‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubsg
and made him a strong lion.h
6He prowled among the lions,
for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he became a man-eater.i
7He broke down1 their strongholds
and devastatedj their towns.
The land and all who were in it
were terrified by his roaring.
8Then the nationsk came against him,
those from regions round about.
They spread their netl for him,
and he was trapped in their pit.m
9With hooksn they pulled him into a cage
and brought him to the king of Babylon.o
They put him in prison,
so his roarp was heard no longer
on the mountains of Israel.q
10“ ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard2r
planted by the water;s
it was fruitful and full of branches
because of abundant water.t
11Its branches were strong,
fit for a ruler’s scepter.
It towered high
above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
and for its many branches.u
12But it was uprootedv in fury
and thrown to the ground.
The east windw made it shrivel,
it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
and fire consumed them.x
13Now it is planted in the desert,y
in a dry and thirsty land.z
14Fire spread from one of its main3 branches
and consumeda its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
fit for a ruler’s scepter.’b
“This is a lamentc and is to be used as a lament.”