Rebellious Israel Purged
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquirea of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me.b
2Then the word of the LORD came to me: 3“Son of man, speak to the eldersc of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Have you come to inquired of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD.e’
4“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestorsf 5and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I choseg Israel, I swore with uplifted handh to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the LORD your God.i” 6On that day I sworej to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,k the most beautiful of all lands.l 7And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile imagesm you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idolsn of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.o”
8“ ‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;p they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.q So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.r 9But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.s I did it to keep my name from being profanedt in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.u 11I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.v 12Also I gave them my Sabbathsw as a signx between us,y so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.z
13“ ‘Yet the people of Israel rebelleda against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my lawsb—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.c So I said I would pour out my wrathd on them and destroye them in the wilderness.f 14But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profanedg in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.h 15Also with uplifted hand I sworei to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all landsj— 16because they rejected my lawsk and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their heartsl were devoted to their idols.m 17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroyn them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parentso or keep their laws or defile yourselvesp with their idols. 19I am the LORD your God;q follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.r 20Keep my Sabbathss holy, that they may be a signt between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.u”
21“ ‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,v of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my angerw against them in the wilderness.x 22But I withheldy my hand, and for the sake of my namez I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scattera them through the countries, 24because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decreesb and desecrated my Sabbaths,c and their eyes lusted afterd their parents’ idols.e 25So I gavef them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;g 26I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrificeh of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.i’
27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In this also your ancestorsj blasphemedk me by being unfaithful to me:l 28When I brought them into the landm I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.n 29Then I said to them: What is this high placeo you go to?’ ” (It is called Bamah1 to this day.)
Rebellious Israel Renewed
30“Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselvesp the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?q 31When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your childrenr in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.s
32“ ‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen. 33As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched armt and with outpoured wrath.u 34I will bring you from the nationsv and gatherw you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty handx and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.y 35I will bring you into the wildernessz of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgmenta upon you. 36As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD.b 37I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,c and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.d 38I will purgee you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.f
39“ ‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Go and serve your idols,g every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy nameh with your gifts and idols.i 40For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,j declares the Sovereign LORD, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offeringsk and your choice gifts,2 along with all your holy sacrifices.l 41I will accept you as fragrant incensem when I bring you out from the nations and gathern you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holyo through you in the sight of the nations.p 42Then you will know that I am the LORD,q when I bring you into the land of Israel,r the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.s 43There you will remember your conductt and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselvesu for all the evil you have done.v 44You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name’s sakew and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.x’ ”
Prophecy Against the South
45The word of the LORD came to me: 46“Son of man, set your face towardy the south; preach against the south and prophesy againstz the forest of the southland.a 47Say to the southern forest:b ‘Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consumec all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to northd will be scorched by it.e 48Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.f’ ”
49Then I said, “Sovereign LORD,g they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?h’ ”3
Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment
1The word of the LORD came to me:a 2“Son of man, set your face againstb Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary.c Prophesy againstd the land of Israel 3and say to her: ‘This is what the LORD says: I am against you.e I will draw my swordf from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.g 4Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my swordh will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.i 5Then all people will know that I the LORD have drawn my swordj from its sheath; it will not returnk again.’l
6“Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.m 7And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?n’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fearo and every hand go limp;p every spirit will become faintq and every leg will be wet with urine.’r It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
8The word of the LORD came to me: 9“Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“ ‘A sword, a sword,
sharpened and polished—
10sharpened for the slaughter,s
polished to flash like lightning!
“ ‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.t
11“ ‘The sword is appointed to be polished,u
to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12Cry out and wail, son of man,
for it is against my people;
it is against all the princes of Israel.
They are thrown to the sword
along with my people.
Therefore beat your breast.v
13“ ‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign LORD.’
14“So then, son of man, prophesy
and strike your handsw together.
Let the sword strike twice,
even three times.
It is a sword for slaughter—
a sword for great slaughter,
closing in on them from every side.x
15So that hearts may melt with feary
and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter2
at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
it is grasped for slaughter.z
16Slash to the right, you sword,
then to the left,
wherever your blade is turned.
17I too will strike my handsa together,
and my wrathb will subside.
I the LORD have spoken.c”
18The word of the LORD came to me: 19“Son of man, mark out two roads for the swordd of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signposte where the road branches off to the city. 20Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonitesf and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. 21For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lotsg with arrows, he will consult his idols,h he will examine the liver.i 22Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry,j to set battering rams against the gates, to build a rampk and to erect siege works.l 23It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remindm them of their guiltn and take them captive.
24“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.
25“ ‘You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come,o whose time of punishment has reached its climax,p 26this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.q It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.r 27A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come;s to him I will give it.’t
28“And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says about the Ammonitesu and their insults:
“ ‘A sword,v a sword,
drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
and to flash like lightning!
29Despite false visions concerning you
and lying divinationsw about you,
it will be laid on the necks
of the wicked who are to be slain,
whose day has come,
whose time of punishment has reached its climax.x
30“ ‘Let the sword return to its sheath.y
In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,z
I will judge you.
31I will pour out my wrath on you
and breathea out my fiery angerb against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
men skilled in destruction.c
32You will be fuel for the fire,d
your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be rememberede no more;
for I the LORD have spoken.’ ”
Judgment on Jerusalem’s Sins
1The word of the LORD came to me:
2“Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed?a Then confront her with all her detestable practicesb 3and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding bloodc in her midst and defiles herself by making idols, 4you have become guilty because of the blood you have shedd and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come.e Therefore I will make you an object of scornf to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries.g 5Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.h
6“ ‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood.i 7In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;j in you they have oppressed the foreignerk and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.l 8You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.m 9In you are slanderersn who are bent on shedding blood;o in you are those who eat at the mountain shrinesp and commit lewd acts.q 10In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed;r in you are those who violate women during their period,s when they are ceremonially unclean.t 11In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife,u another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law,v and another violates his sister,w his own father’s daughter.x 12In you are people who accept bribesy to shed blood; you take interestz and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors.a And you have forgottenb me, declares the Sovereign LORD.c
13“ ‘I will surely strike my handsd together at the unjust gaine you have made and at the bloodf you have shed in your midst.g 14Will your courage endureh or your handsi be strong in the day I deal with you? I the LORD have spoken,j and I will do it.k 15I will disperse you among the nations and scatterl you through the countries; and I will put an end tom your uncleanness.n 16When you have been defiled1 in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”
17Then the word of the LORD came to me: 18“Son of man, the people of Israel have become drosso to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace.p They are but the dross of silver.q 19Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because you have all become dross,r I will gather you into Jerusalem. 20As silver, copper, iron, lead and tin are gathered into a furnace to be melted with a fiery blast, so will I gather you in my anger and my wrath and put you inside the city and melt you.s 21I will gather you and I will blowt on you with my fiery wrath, and you will be melted inside her.u 22As silver is meltedv in a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I the LORD have poured out my wrathw on you.’ ”x
23Again the word of the LORD came to me: 24“Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’y 25There is a conspiracyz of her princes2 within her like a roaring liona tearing its prey; they devour people,b take treasures and precious things and make many widowsc within her. 26Her priests do violence to my lawd and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common;e they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;f and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profanedg among them.h 27Her officialsi within her are like wolvesj tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill peoplek to make unjust gain.l 28Her prophets whitewashm these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations.n They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’—when the LORD has not spoken.o 29The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery;p they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner,q denying them justice.r
30“I looked for someone among them who would build up the walls and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.t 31So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger,u bringing downv on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.w”
Two Adulterous Sisters
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.a 3They became prostitutes in Egypt,b engaging in prostitutionc from their youth.d In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.e 4The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.f
5“Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyriansg—warriorsh 6clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen. 7She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.i 8She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt,j when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.k
9“Therefore I delivered her into the handsl of her lovers,m the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.n 10They strippedo her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women,p and punishment was inflictedq on her.r
11“Her sister Oholibah saw this,s yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.t 12She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men.u 13I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way.v
14“But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall,w figures of Chaldeans1 portrayed in red,x 15with beltsy around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea.2 16As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengersz to them in Chaldea.a 17Then the Babyloniansb came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.c 18When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body,d I turned awaye from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.f 19Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. 21So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.3g
22“Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stir up your loversh against you, those you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every sidei— 23the Babyloniansj and all the Chaldeans,k the men of Pekodl and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, all of them governors and commanders, chariot officers and men of high rank, all mounted on horses.m 24They will come against you with weapons,4 chariots and wagonsn and with a throng of people; they will take up positions against you on every side with large and small shields and with helmets. I will turn you over to them for punishment,o and they will punish you according to their standards. 25I will direct my jealous angerp against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears, and those of you who are left will fall by the sword. They will take away your sons and daughters,q and those of you who are left will be consumed by fire.r 26They will also strips you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry.t 27So I will put a stopu to the lewdness and prostitution you began in Egypt. You will not look on these things with longing or remember Egypt anymore.
28“For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to deliver you into the handsv of those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust. 29They will deal with you in hatred and take away everything you have worked for. They will leave you stark naked,w and the shame of your prostitution will be exposed.x Your lewdnessy and promiscuityz 30have brought this on you, because you lusted after the nations and defiled yourself with their idols.a 31You have gone the way of your sister; so I will put her cupb into your hand.c
32“This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“You will drink your sister’s cup,
a cup large and deep;
it will bring scorn and derision,d
for it holds so much.e
33You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
the cup of ruin and desolation,
the cup of your sister Samaria.f
34You will drink itg and drain it dry
and chew on its pieces—
and you will tear your breasts.
I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.h
35“Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Since you have forgotteni me and turned your back on me,j you must beark the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”
36The LORD said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confrontl them with their detestable practices,m 37for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them.n 38They have also done this to me: At that same time they defiled my sanctuaryo and desecrated my Sabbaths.p 39On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecratedq it. That is what they did in my house.r
40“They even sent messengers for men who came from far away,s and when they arrived you bathed yourself for them, applied eye makeupt and put on your jewelry.u 41You sat on an elegant couch,v with a tablew spread before it on which you had placed the incensex and olive oil that belonged to me.y
42“The noise of a carefreez crowd was around her; drunkardsa were brought from the desert along with men from the rabble, and they put braceletsb on the wrists of the woman and her sister and beautiful crowns on their heads.c 43Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute,d for that is all she is.’ 44And they slept with her. As men sleep with a prostitute, so they slept with those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah. 45But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood,e because they are adulterous and blood is on their hands.f
46“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Bring a mobg against them and give them over to terror and plunder.h 47The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughtersi and burnj down their houses.k
48“So I will put an endl to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you.m 49You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry.n Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.o”
Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot
1In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the LORD came to me:a 2“Son of man, recordb this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.c 3Tell this rebellious peopled a parablee and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘Put on the cooking pot;f put it on
and pour water into it.
4Put into it the pieces of meat,
all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;g
5take the pick of the flock.h
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
bring it to a boil
and cook the bones in it.i
6“ ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘Woej to the city of bloodshed,k
to the pot now encrusted,
whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
7“ ‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
where the dust would cover it.n
8To stir up wrath and take revenge
I put her blood on the bare rock,
so that it would not be covered.
9“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
I, too, will pile the wood high.
10So heap on the wood
and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
mixing in the spices;
and let the bones be charred.
11Then set the empty pot on the coals
till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
and its deposit burned away.o
12It has frustrated all efforts;
its heavy deposit has not been removed,
not even by fire.
13“ ‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansedp from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.q
14“ ‘I the LORD have spoken.r The time has come for me to act.s I will not hold back; I will not have pity,t nor will I relent.u You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,v declares the Sovereign LORD.w’ ”
Ezekiel’s Wife Dies
15The word of the LORD came to me: 16“Son of man, with one blowx I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.y Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.z 17Groan quietly;a do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turbanb fastened and your sandalsc on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beardd or eat the customary food of mourners.e”
18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.f
19Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?g Why are you acting like this?”
20So I said to them, “The word of the LORD came to me: 21Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuaryh—the stronghold in which you take pride,i the delight of your eyes,j the object of your affection. The sons and daughtersk you left behind will fall by the sword.l 22And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beardm or eat the customary food of mourners.n 23You will keep your turbanso on your heads and your sandalsp on your feet. You will not mournq or weep but will waste awayr because of1 your sins and groan among yourselves.s 24Ezekielt will be a signu to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.’
25“And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,v their heart’s desire,w and their sons and daughtersx as well— 26on that day a fugitive will come to tell youy the news. 27At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.z So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.a”
A Prophecy Against Ammon
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, set your face againsta the Ammonitesb and prophesy against them.c 3Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you said “Aha!d” over my sanctuary when it was desecratede and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,f 4therefore I am going to give you to the people of the Eastg as a possession. They will set up their campsh and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.i 5I will turn Rabbahj into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.k Then you will know that I am the LORD. 6For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you have clapped your handsl and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,m 7therefore I will stretch out my handn against you and give you as plundero to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroyp you, and you will know that I am the LORD.q’ ” Map: Nations and Cities Under Judgment in Ezekiel
A Prophecy Against Moab
8“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Moabr and Seirs said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” 9therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimotht, Baal Meonu and Kiriathaimv—the glory of that land. 10I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be rememberedw among the nations; 11and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”x
A Prophecy Against Edom
12“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because Edomy took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stretch out my handz against Edom and kill both man and beast.a I will lay it waste, and from Temanb to Dedanc they will fall by the sword.d 14I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my angere and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”f
A Prophecy Against Philistia
15“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because the Philistinesg acted in vengeance and took revenge with maliceh in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, 16therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines,i and I will wipe out the Kerethitesj and destroy those remaining along the coast.k 17I will carry out great vengeancel on them and punishm them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the LORD,n when I take vengeance on them.o’ ”
A Prophecy Against Tyre
1In the eleventh month of the twelfth1 year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:a 2“Son of man, because Tyreb has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha!c The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ 3therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sead casting up its waves. 4They will destroye the walls of Tyref and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. 5Out in the seag she will become a place to spread fishnets,h for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD. She will become plunderi for the nations,j 6and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
7“For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar2k king of Babylon, king of kings,l with horses and chariots,m with horsemen and a great army. 8He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege worksn against you, build a rampo up to your walls and raise his shields against you. 9He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.p 10His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the warhorses, wagons and chariotsq when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. 11The hoovesr of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillarss will fall to the ground.t 12They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.u 13I will put an endv to your noisy songs,w and the music of your harpsx will be heard no more.y 14I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt,z for I the LORD have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.
15“This is what the Sovereign LORD says to Tyre: Will not the coastlandsa trembleb at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groanc and the slaughter takes place in you? 16Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroideredd garments. Clothede with terror, they will sit on the ground,f tremblingg every moment, appalledh at you. 17Then they will take up a lamenti concerning you and say to you:
“ ‘How you are destroyed, city of renown,
peopled by men of the sea!
You were a power on the seas,
you and your citizens;
you put your terror
on all who lived there.j
18Now the coastlands tremblek
on the day of your fall;
the islands in the sea
are terrified at your collapse.’l
19“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depthsm over you and its vast waters cover you,n 20then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit,o to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place3 in the land of the living.p 21I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more.q You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign LORD.”r
A Lament Over Tyre
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, take up a lamenta concerning Tyre. 3Say to Tyre,b situated at the gateway to the sea,c merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘You say, Tyre,
“I am perfect in beauty.d”
4Your domain was on the high seas;
your builders brought your beauty to perfection.e
5They made all your timbers
they took a cedar from Lebanong
to make a mast for you.
they made your oars;
of cypress wood2 from the coasts of Cyprusi
they made your deck, adorned with ivory.
7Fine embroidered linenj from Egypt was your sail
and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purplek
from the coasts of Elishah.l
8Men of Sidon and Arvadm were your oarsmen;
your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.n
9Veteran craftsmen of Bybloso were on board
as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the seap and their sailors
came alongside to trade for your wares.
10“ ‘Men of Persia,q Lydiar and Puts
served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shieldst and helmets on your walls,
bringing you splendor.
11Men of Arvad and Helek
guarded your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
they brought your beauty to perfection.u
12“ ‘Tarshishv did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;w they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.
13“ ‘Greece,x Tubal and Mesheky did business with you; they traded human beingsz and articles of bronze for your wares.
14“ ‘Men of Beth Togarmaha exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.
15“ ‘The men of Rhodes3b traded with you, and many coastlandsc were your customers; they paid you with ivoryd tusks and ebony.
16“ ‘Aram4e did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,f purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,g coralh and rubies for your merchandise.
17“ ‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheati from Minnithj and confections,5 honey, olive oil and balmk for your wares.l
18“ ‘Damascusm did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.n They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar 19and casks of wine from Izalo in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassiap and calamus.
20“ ‘Dedanq traded in saddle blankets with you.
21“ ‘Arabiar and all the princes of Kedars were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.
22“ ‘The merchants of Shebat and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spicesu and precious stones, and gold.v
23“ ‘Harran,w Kanneh and Edenx and merchants of Sheba, Ashury and Kilmad traded with you. 24In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.
25“ ‘The ships of Tarshishz serve
as carriers for your wares.
You are filled with heavy cargo
as you sail the sea.a
26Your oarsmen take you
out to the high seas.
But the east windb will break you to pieces
far out at sea.
27Your wealth,c merchandise and wares,
your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,
your merchants and all your soldiers,
and everyone else on board
will sink into the heart of the sead
on the day of your shipwreck.
28The shorelands will quakee
when your sailors cry out.
29All who handle the oars
will abandon their ships;
the mariners and all the sailors
will stand on the shore.
30They will raise their voice
and cry bitterly over you;
they will sprinkle dustf on their heads
31They will shave their headsi because of you
and will put on sackcloth.
They will weepj over you with anguish of soul
and with bitter mourning.k
32As they wail and mourn over you,
they will take up a lamentl concerning you:
“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,
surrounded by the sea?m”
33When your merchandise went out on the seas,n
you satisfied many nations;
with your great wealtho and your wares
you enriched the kings of the earth.
34Now you are shattered by the sea
in the depths of the waters;
your wares and all your company
have gone down with you.p
35All who live in the coastlandsq
are appalledr at you;
their kings shudder with horror
and their faces are distorted with fear.s
36The merchants among the nations scoff at you;t
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.u’ ”
A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of mana, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘In the pride of your heart
you say, “I am a god;
I sit on the throneb of a god
in the heart of the seas.”c
But you are a mere mortal and not a god,
though you think you are as wise as a god.d
Is no secret hidden from you?
4By your wisdom and understanding
you have gained wealth for yourself
and amassed gold and silver
in your treasuries.f
5By your great skill in tradingg
you have increased your wealth,h
and because of your wealth
your heart has grown proud.i
6“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘Because you think you are wise,
as wise as a god,
7I am going to bring foreigners against you,
the most ruthless of nations;j
they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdomk
and pierce your shining splendor.l
8They will bring you down to the pit,m
and you will die a violent deathn
in the heart of the seas.o
9Will you then say, “I am a god,”
in the presence of those who kill you?
You will be but a mortal, not a god,p
in the hands of those who slay you.q
10You will die the death of the uncircumcisedr
at the hands of foreigners.
I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”
11The word of the LORD came to me: 12“Son of man, take up a laments concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘You were the seal of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.t
the garden of God;v
every precious stonew adorned you:
carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,
topaz, onyx and jasper,
lapis lazuli, turquoisex and beryl.2
Your settings and mountings3 were made of gold;
on the day you were created they were prepared.y
14You were anointedz as a guardian cherub,a
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
15You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created
till wickedness was found in you.
16Through your widespread trade
you were filled with violence,b
and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
and I expelled you, guardian cherub,c
from among the fiery stones.
on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
because of your splendor.
So I threw you to the earth;
I made a spectacle of you before kings.e
18By your many sins and dishonest trade
you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I made a firef come out from you,
and it consumed you,
and I reduced you to ashesg on the ground
in the sight of all who were watching.h
19All the nations who knew you
are appalledi at you;
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.j’ ”
A Prophecy Against Sidon
20The word of the LORD came to me: 21“Son of man, set your face againstk Sidon;l prophesy against her 22and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘I am against you, Sidon,
and among you I will display my glory.m
You will know that I am the LORD,
when I inflict punishmentn on you
and within you am proved to be holy.o
23I will send a plague upon you
and make blood flow in your streets.
The slain will fall within you,
with the sword against you on every side.
Then you will know that I am the LORD.p
24“ ‘No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns.q Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.
25“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When I gatherr the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered,s I will be proved holyt through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.u 26They will live there in safetyv and will build houses and plantw vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishmentx on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.y’ ”
A Prophecy Against Egypt
Judgment on Pharaoh
1In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of the LORD came to me:a 2“Son of man, set your face againstb Pharaoh king of Egyptc and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.d 3Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘I am against you, Pharaohe king of Egypt,
you great monsterf lying among your streams.
You say, “The Nileg belongs to me;
I made it for myself.”
4But I will put hooksh in your jaws
and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales.
I will pull you out from among your streams,
with all the fish sticking to your scales.i
5I will leave you in the desert,
you and all the fish of your streams.
You will fall on the open field
and not be gatheredj or picked up.
I will give you as food
to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.k
6Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the LORD.
“ ‘You have been a staff of reedl for the people of Israel. 7When they grasped you with their hands, you splinteredm and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.1n
8“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will bring a sword against you and kill both man and beast.o 9Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
“ ‘Because you said, “The Nilep is mine; I made it,q” 10therefore I am against your and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypts a ruin and a desolate wastet from Migdolu to Aswan,v as far as the border of Cush.2w 11The foot of neither man nor beast will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years.x 12I will make the land of Egypt desolatey among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.z
13“ ‘Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. 14I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt,a the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowlyb kingdom.c 15It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations.d I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations. 16Egypt will no longer be a source of confidencee for the people of Israel but will be a reminderf of their sin in turning to her for help.g Then they will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.h’ ”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Reward
17In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me:i 18“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzarj king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed barek and every shoulder made raw.l Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre. 19Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar kingm of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plundern the land as pay for his army.o 20I have given him Egyptp as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the Sovereign LORD.q
21“On that day I will make a horn3r grow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouths among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.t”
A Lament Over Egypt
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘Waila and say,
“Alas for that day!”
the day of the LORDc is near—
a day of clouds,
a time of doom for the nations.
4A sword will come against Egypt,d
and anguish will come upon Cush.1e
When the slain fall in Egypt,
her wealth will be carried away
and her foundations torn down.f
5Cush and Libya,g Lydia and all Arabia,h Kub and the peoplei of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.j
6“ ‘This is what the LORD says:
“ ‘The allies of Egypt will fall
and her proud strength will fail.
From Migdol to Aswank
they will fall by the sword within her,
declares the Sovereign LORD.
7“ ‘They will be desolate
among desolate lands,
and their cities will lie
among ruined cities.l
8Then they will know that I am the LORD,
when I set firem to Egypt
and all her helpers are crushed.n
9“ ‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cusho out of her complacency. Anguishp will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come.q
10“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt
by the hand of Nebuchadnezzarr king of Babylon.s
11He and his army—the most ruthless of nationst—
will be brought in to destroy the land.
They will draw their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with the slain.u
12I will dry upv the waters of the Nilew
and sell the land to an evil nation;
by the hand of foreigners
I will lay wastex the land and everything in it.
I the LORD have spoken.
13“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘I will destroy the idolsy
and put an end to the images in Memphis.z
No longer will there be a prince in Egypt,a
and I will spread fear throughout the land.
14I will layb waste Upper Egypt,
set fire to Zoanc
and inflict punishment on Thebes.d
15I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,
the stronghold of Egypt,
and wipe out the hordes of Thebes.
16I will set firee to Egypt;
Pelusium will writhe in agony.
Thebes will be taken by storm;
Memphisf will be in constant distress.
17The young men of Heliopolisg and Bubastis
will fall by the sword,
and the cities themselves will go into captivity.
18Dark will be the day at Tahpanhesh
when I break the yoke of Egypt;i
there her proud strength will come to an end.
She will be covered with clouds,
and her villages will go into captivity.j
19So I will inflict punishmentk on Egypt,
and they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”
Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken
20In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the LORD came to me:l 21“Son of man, I have broken the armm of Pharaohn king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healedo or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword. 22Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt.p I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand.q 23I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.r 24I will strengthens the arms of the king of Babylon and put my swordt in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groanu before him like a mortally wounded man. 25I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I put my swordv into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.w 26I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.x” Photo
Pharaoh as a Felled Cedar of Lebanon
1In the eleventh year,a in the third month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me:b 2“Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:
“ ‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?
3Consider Assyria,c once a cedar in Lebanon,d
with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
its top above the thick foliage.e
4The watersf nourished it,
deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
all around its base
and sent their channels
to all the trees of the field.g
5So it towered higherh
than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
and its branches grew long,
spreading because of abundant waters.i
6All the birds of the sky
nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
gave birthj under its branches;
all the great nations
lived in its shade.k
7It was majestic in beauty,
with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
to abundant waters.l
8The cedarsm in the garden of God
could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
equal its boughs,
nor could the plane treesn
compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
could match its beauty.o
9I made it beautiful
with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Edenp
in the garden of God.q
10“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proudr of its height, 11I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,s 12and the most ruthless of foreign nationst cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys;u its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.v 13All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.w 14Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destinedx for death,y for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.z
15“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day it was brought down to the realm of the dead I covered the deep springs with mourning for it; I held back its streams, and its abundant waters were restrained. Because of it I clothed Lebanon with gloom, and all the trees of the field withered away.a 16I made the nations trembleb at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the treesc of Eden,d the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consolede in the earth below.f 17They too, like the great cedar, had gone down to the realm of the dead, to those killed by the sword,g along with the armed men who lived in its shade among the nations.
18“ ‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised,h with those killed by the sword.
“ ‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”
A Lament Over Pharaoh
1In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me:a 2“Son of man, take up a lamentb concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:
“ ‘You are like a lionc among the nations;
you are like a monsterd in the sease
thrashing about in your streams,
churning the water with your feet
and muddying the streams.f
3“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘With a great throng of people
I will cast my net over you,
and they will haul you up in my net.g
4I will throw you on the land
and hurl you on the open field.
I will let all the birds of the sky settle on you
and all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you.h
5I will spread your flesh on the mountains
and fill the valleysi with your remains.
6I will drench the land with your flowing bloodj
all the way to the mountains,
and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.k
7When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens
and darken their stars;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon will not give its light.l
8All the shining lights in the heavens
I will darkenm over you;
I will bring darkness over your land,n
declares the Sovereign LORD.
9I will trouble the hearts of many peoples
when I bring about your destruction among the nations,
among1 lands you have not known.
10I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you,
and their kings will shudder with horror because of you
when I brandish my swordo before them.
On the dayp of your downfall
each of them will tremble
every moment for his life.q
11“ ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“ ‘The swordr of the king of Babylons
will come against you.t
12I will cause your hordes to fall
by the swords of mighty men—
the most ruthless of all nations.u
They will shatter the pride of Egypt,
and all her hordes will be overthrown.v
13I will destroy all her cattle
from beside abundant waters
no longer to be stirred by the foot of man
or muddied by the hooves of cattle.w
14Then I will let her waters settle
and make her streams flow like oil,
declares the Sovereign LORD.
15When I make Egypt desolate
and strip the land of everything in it,
when I strike down all who live there,
then they will know that I am the LORD.x’
16“This is the lamenty they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign LORD.”
Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead
17In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:z 18“Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consigna to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.b 19Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’c 20They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be draggedd off with all her hordes.e 21From within the realm of the deadf the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised,g with those killed by the sword.’
22“Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. 23Their graves are in the depths of the pith and her army lies around her grave.i All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.
24“Elamj is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.k All who had spread terror in the land of the livingl went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.m 25A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised,n killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.
26“Meshek and Tubalo are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living. 27But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old,2p who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields3 resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.
28“You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.
29“Edomq is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.r
30“All the princes of the norths and all the Sidonianst are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcisedu with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.v
31“Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoledw for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign LORD. 32Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaohx and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign LORD.”y
Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sworda against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,b 3and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpetc to warn the people, 4then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warningd and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.e 5Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head.f If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.g 6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’h
7“Son of man, I have made you a watchmani for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.j 8When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,k’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for1 their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.l 9But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so,m they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.n
10“Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting awayo because of2 them. How then can we live?p” ’ 11Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.q Turn!r Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’s
12“Therefore, son of man, say to your people,t ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’u 13If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.v 14And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is justw and right— 15if they give back what they took in pledgex for a loan, return what they have stolen,y follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.z 16None of the sinsa that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.b
17“Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. 18If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil,c they will die for it.d 19And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.e 20Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”f
Jerusalem’s Fall Explained
21In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escapedg from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!h” 22Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the LORD was on me,i and he opened my mouthj before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.k
23Then the word of the LORD came to me: 24“Son of man, the people living in those ruinsl in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many;m surely the land has been given to us as our possession.’n 25Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Since you eato meat with the bloodp still in it and look to your idols and shed blood, should you then possess the land?q 26You rely on your sword, you do detestable things,r and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife.s Should you then possess the land?’
27“Say this to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: As surely as I live, those who are left in the ruins will fall by the sword, those out in the country I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those in strongholds and caves will die of a plague.t 28I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountainsu of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them.v 29Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolatew waste because of all the detestable things they have done.’x
30“As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.’ 31My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit beforey you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedyz for unjust gain.a 32Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songsb with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.c
33“When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.d”
The LORD Will Be Israel’s Shepherd
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?a 3You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.b 4You have not strengthened the weak or healedc the sick or bound upd the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.e 5So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,f and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.g 6My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.h They were scatteredi over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.j
7“ ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 8As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plunderedk and has become food for all the wild animals,l and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,m 9therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 10This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am againstn the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescueo my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.p
11“ ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheepq and look after them. 12As a shepherdr looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.s 13I will bring them out from the nations and gathert them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.u I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.v 14I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israelw will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasturex on the mountains of Israel.y 15I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,z declares the Sovereign LORD.a 16I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind upb the injured and strengthen the weak,c but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.d I will shepherd the flock with justice.e
17“ ‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.f 18Is it not enoughg for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet?h Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20“ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.i 21Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your hornsj until you have driven them away, 22I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.k 23I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tendl them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.m 24I the LORD will be their God,n and my servant Davido will be prince among them.p I the LORD have spoken.q
25“ ‘I will make a covenantr of peaces with them and rid the land of savage beastst so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.u 26I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.1v I will send down showers in season;w there will be showers of blessing.x 27The trees will yield their fruity and the ground will yield its crops;z the people will be securea in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yokeb and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.c 28They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety,d and no one will make them afraid.e 29I will provide for them a land renownedf for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famineg in the land or bear the scornh of the nations.i 30Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD.j 31You are my sheep,k the sheep of my pasture,l and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”