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Ezekiel 18-21
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 18
1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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'What do you people mean by using this proverb about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The fathers eat sour grapes, But it is the children’s teeth that have become blunt’?
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As I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.
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Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.
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'But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness,
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if he does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period—
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and if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,
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and if he does not lend money at interest or take interest, if he keeps his hand from injustice and executes true justice between one person and another,
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if he walks in My statutes and keeps My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—he is righteous and will certainly live,' declares the Lord GOD.
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'However, he may father a violent son who sheds blood, and does any one of these things to a brother
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(though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and defiles his neighbor’s wife,
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oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but raises his eyes to the idols and commits abomination,
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lends money at interest and takes interest; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he shall certainly be put to death; his blood will be on himself.
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'Now behold, he has fathered a son who saw all his father’s sins which he committed, but he has seen them and does not do likewise.
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He does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; he has not defiled his neighbor’s wife,
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nor oppressed anyone, nor retained a pledge, nor committed robbery; instead, he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,
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he keeps his hand from the poor, does not take any kind of interest on loans, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s guilt, he will certainly live.
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As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his guilt.
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'Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not suffer the punishment for the father’s guilt?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has kept all My statutes and done them, he shall certainly live.
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The person who sins will die. A son will not suffer the punishment for the father’s guilt, nor will a father suffer the punishment for the son’s guilt; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
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'But if the wicked person turns from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall certainly live; he shall not die.
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All his offenses which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.
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Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked,' declares the Lord GOD, 'rather than that he would turn from his ways and live?
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'But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.
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Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?
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When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has committed he dies.
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But when a wicked person turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.
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Since he understood and turned away from all his offenses which he had committed, he shall certainly live; he shall not die.
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But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?
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'Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct,' declares the Lord GOD. 'Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you.
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Hurl away from you all your offenses which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why should you die, house of Israel?
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For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,' declares the Lord GOD. 'Therefore, repent and live!'
Chapter 19
1 'As for you, take up a song of mourning for the leaders of Israel
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and say, ‘What was your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among young lions, She raised her cubs.
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When she brought up one of her cubs, He became a young lion, And he learned to tear his prey; He devoured people.
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Then nations heard about him; He was caught in their trap, And they brought him with hooks To the land of Egypt.
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When she saw, as she waited, That her hope was lost, She took another of her cubs And made him a young lion.
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And he walked about among the lions, He became a young lion; He learned to tear his prey; He devoured people.
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He destroyed their palaces And laid waste their cities; And the land and its fullness were appalled Because of the sound of his roaring.
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Then nations set against him On every side from their provinces, And they spread their net over him; He was caught in their trap.
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They put him in a wooden collar with hooks And brought him to the king of Babylon; They brought him in hunting nets So that his voice would no longer be heard On the mountains of Israel.
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Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and thick with branches Because of abundant waters.
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And it had strong stems fit for scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the clouds So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.
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But it was uprooted in fury; It was thrown down to the ground; And the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong stem was torn out So that it withered; The fire consumed it.
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And now it is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land.
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And fire has gone out from its stem; It has consumed its shoots and fruit, So that there is no strong stem in it, A scepter to rule.’?' This is a song of mourning, and has become a song of mourning.
Chapter 20
1 Now in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, men from the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat before me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 3 'Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Do you yourselves come to inquire of Me? As I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'I certainly will not be inquired of by you.'?’ 4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make known to them the abominations of their fathers; 5 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: 'On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God, 6 on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands. 7 And I said to them, ‘Throw away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’
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But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not throw away, each of them, the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. 'Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to use up My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
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But I acted for the sake of My name, that it would not be defiled in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
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So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
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I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them.
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Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, so that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
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But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them; and they greatly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.
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But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be defiled before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them out.
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Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands,
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because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they also profaned My Sabbaths, because their heart continually followed their idols.
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Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not bring about their annihilation in the wilderness.
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'Instead, I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
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I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and follow them.
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Sanctify My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
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But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to follow My ordinances which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them; they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to use up My anger against them in the wilderness.
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But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be defiled in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
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Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands,
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because they had not complied with My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers.
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I also gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances by which they could not live;
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and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they made all their firstborn pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD.'?’
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'Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Again, in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by being disloyal to Me.
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When I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every tree thick with branches, and there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings.
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Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.'?’
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Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Will you defile yourselves in the way of your fathers and adulterously pursue their detestable things?
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And when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'I certainly will not be inquired of by you.
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And whatever comes into your mind certainly will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, serving wood and stone.’
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'As I live,' declares the Lord GOD, 'with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I assuredly shall be king over you.
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I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out;
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and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
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Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,' declares the Lord GOD.
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'I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
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and I will purge from you the rebels and those who revolt against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will not enter the land of Israel. So you will know that I am the LORD.
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'As for you, house of Israel,' this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Go, serve, everyone of you his idols; but later you will certainly listen to Me, and My holy name you will no longer defile with your gifts and your idols.
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For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,' declares the Lord GOD, 'there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them and there I will demand your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things.
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As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will show Myself to be holy among you in the sight of the nations.
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And you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your forefathers.
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And there you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done.
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Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you in behalf of My name, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, house of Israel,' declares the Lord GOD.’?'
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Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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'Son of man, set your face toward the south, and speak prophetically against the south and prophesy against the forest land of the Negev,
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and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the LORD: this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I am going to kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not go out and the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it.
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And all mankind will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not go out.'?’?'
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Then I said, 'Oh, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking in riddles?’?'
Chapter 21
1 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 'Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem, and speak prophetically against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘This is what the LORD says: 'Behold, I am against you; and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go out from its sheath against humanity from south to north. 5 So humanity will know that I, the LORD, have drawn My sword from its sheath. It will not return to its sheath again.'?’ 6 As for you, son of man, groan with a breaking heart and bitter grief; you shall groan in their sight. 7 And when they say to you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news, for it is coming; and every heart will melt, all hands will go limp, every spirit will be disheartened, and all knees will drip with water. Behold, it is coming and it will happen,’ declares the Lord GOD.'
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And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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'Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the LORD says:’ Say, ‘A sword, a sword sharpened And also polished!
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Sharpened to make a slaughter, Polished to flash like lightning!’ Or shall we rejoice, the rod of My son despising every tree?
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And it is given to be polished, so that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to hand it over to the slaughterer.
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Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the officials of Israel. They are turned over to the sword with My people, therefore slap your thigh.
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For there is a testing; and what if even the rod which despises will cease to be?' declares the Lord GOD.
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'You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them,
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so that their hearts will waver, and many fall at all their gates. I have granted the slaughter of the sword. Oh! It is made for striking like lightning, it is sharpened in readiness for slaughter.
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Prove yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your edge is ordered.
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I will also clap My hands, and I will satisfy My wrath; I, the LORD, have spoken.'
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And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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'Now as for you, son of man, make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to the city.
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You shall mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.
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For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver.
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Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to set up battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to raise the voice with a battle cry, to set up battering rams against the gates, to pile up assault ramps, to build a siege wall.
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And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; they have sworn solemn oaths. But he makes guilt known, so that they may be seized.
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'Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have made your guilt known, in that your offenses are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins are seen—because you have come to mind, you will be seized by the hand.
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And you, slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, in the time of the punishment of the end,’
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this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban and take off the crown; this will no longer be the same. Exalt that which is low, and humble that which is high.
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Ruins, ruins, ruins, I will make it! This also will be no longer until He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’
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'And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says concerning the sons of Ammon and their taunting,’ and say: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn, sharpened for the slaughter, to make it consume, so that it may be like lightning—
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while they see false visions for you, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the wicked who are killed, whose day has come, in the time of the punishment of the end.
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Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
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I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and I will hand you over to brutal men, craftsmen of destruction.
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You will be fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.’?'
King James Version
Chapter 18
1 The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, 2 What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? 3 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 5 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, 6 And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, 7 And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; 8 He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, 9 Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
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If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
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And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,
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Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
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Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
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Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
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That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,
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Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
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That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
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As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
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Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
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The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
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But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
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All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
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Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
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But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
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Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
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When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
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Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
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Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
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Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
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Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
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Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
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For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Chapter 19
1 Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions. 3 And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. 4 The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt. 5 Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion. 6 And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. 7 And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. 8 Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit. 9 And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
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Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
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And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
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But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
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And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
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And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
Chapter 20
1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. 2 Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you. 4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
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And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
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In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
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Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
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But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
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But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
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Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
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And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
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Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
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But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
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But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
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Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
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Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
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Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
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But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
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I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
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And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
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Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
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Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
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I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
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Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
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Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
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And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.
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Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
28
For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
29
Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
30
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
31
For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
32
And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
33
As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
34
And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
35
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
36
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
37
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
38
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
40
For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
41
I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
42
And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43
And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
44
And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
45
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
46
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
47
And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
48
And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Chapter 21
1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel, 3 And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: 5 That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more. 6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes. 7 And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.
8
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9
Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
10
It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
11
And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
12
Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
13
Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.
14
Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
15
I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
16
Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
17
I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
18
The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
19
Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
20
Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
21
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
22
At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
23
And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
24
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
25
And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
26
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
27
I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
28
And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
29
Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
30
Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
31
And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
32
Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 18
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
2
"What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel: 'The fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
3
As I live"--this is the declaration of the Lord God--"you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.
4
Look, every life belongs to me. The life of the father is like the life of the son--both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die.
5
"Suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
6
He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her menstrual impurity.
7
He doesn't oppress anyone but returns his collateral to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
8
He doesn't lend at interest or for profit but keeps his hand from injustice and carries out true justice between men.
9
He follows my statutes and keeps my ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live." This is the declaration of the Lord God.
10
"But suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood and does any of these things,
11
though the father has done none of them. Indeed, when the son eats at the mountain shrines and defiles his neighbor's wife,
12
and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he looks to the idols, commits detestable acts,
13
and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these detestable acts, he will certainly die. His death will be his own fault.
14
"Now suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do likewise.
15
He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife.
16
He doesn't oppress anyone, hold collateral, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
17
He keeps his hand from harming the poor, not taking interest or profit on a loan. He practices my ordinances and follows my statutes. Such a person will not die for his father's iniquity. He will certainly live.
18
"As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity because he practiced fraud, robbed his brother, and did among his people what was not good.
19
But you may ask, 'Why doesn't the son suffer punishment for the father's iniquity? ' Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all my statutes, he will certainly live.
20
The person who sins is the one who will die. A son won't suffer punishment for the father's iniquity, and a father won't suffer punishment for the son's iniquity. The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.
21
"But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die.
22
None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.
23
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? " This is the declaration of the Lord God. "Instead, don't I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?
24
But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.
25
"But you say, 'The Lord's way isn't fair.' Now listen, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Instead, isn't it your ways that are unfair?
26
When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, he will die for this. He will die because of the injustice he has committed.
27
But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.
28
He will certainly live because he thought it over and turned from all the transgressions he had committed; he will not die.
29
But the house of Israel says, 'The Lord's way isn't fair.' Is it my ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn't it your ways that are unfair?
30
"Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways." This is the declaration of the Lord God. "Repent and turn from all your rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you.
31
Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel?
32
For I take no pleasure in anyone's death." This is the declaration of the Lord God. "So repent and live!
Chapter 19
1 "As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel,
2
and say: What was your mother? A lioness! She lay down among the lions; she reared her cubs among the young lions.
3
She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After he learned to tear prey, he devoured people.
4
When the nations heard about him, he was caught in their pit. Then they led him away with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5
When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.
6
He prowled among the lions, and he became a young lion. After he learned to tear prey, he devoured people.
7
He devastated their strongholds and destroyed their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.
8
Then the nations from the surrounding provinces set out against him. They spread their net over him; he was caught in their pit.
9
They put a wooden yoke on him with hooks and led him away to the king of Babylon. They brought him into the fortresses so his roar could no longer be heard on the mountains of Israel.
10
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.
11
It had strong branches, fit for the scepters of rulers; its height towered among the clouds. So it was conspicuous for its height as well as its many branches.
12
But it was uprooted in fury, thrown to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were torn off and dried up; fire consumed them.
13
Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.
14
Fire has gone out from its main branch and has devoured its fruit, so that it no longer has a strong branch, a scepter for ruling.This is a lament and should be used as a lament."
Chapter 20
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel's elders came to inquire of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 "Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, 'This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As I live, I will not let you inquire of me. This is the declaration of the Lord God.'
4
"Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their ancestors to them.
5
Say to them, 'This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob's house and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, "I am the Lord your God."
6
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
7
I also said to them, "Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."
8
" 'But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized, and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them, exhausting my anger against them within the land of Egypt.
9
But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.
10
" 'So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
11
Then I gave them my statutes and explained my ordinances to them--the person who does them will live by them.
12
I also gave them my Sabbaths to serve as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I am the Lord who consecrates them.
13
" 'But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances--the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.
14
But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
15
However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them--the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey--
16
because they rejected my ordinances, profaned my Sabbaths, and did not follow my statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.
17
Yet I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.
18
" 'Then I said to their children in the wilderness, "Don't follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.
19
I am the Lord your God. Follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them.
20
Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you, so you may know that I am the Lord your God."
21
" 'But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances--the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness.
22
But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out.
23
However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.
24
For they did not practice my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols.
25
I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live by.
26
When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the Lord.'
27
"Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, 'This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your ancestors blasphemed me by committing treachery against me:
28
When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there.
29
So I asked them, "What is this high place you are going to? " And it is still called Bamah today.'
30
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your ancestors did, and prostituting yourselves with their abhorrent things?
31
When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your children in the fire, you still continue to defile yourselves with all your idols today. So should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As I live--this is the declaration of the Lord God--I will not let you inquire of me!
32
" 'When you say, "Let's be like the nations, like the clans of other countries, serving wood and stone," what you have in mind will never happen.
33
As I live--the declaration of the Lord God--I will reign over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath.
34
I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath.
35
I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples and enter into judgment with you there face to face.
36
Just as I entered into judgment with your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you. This is the declaration of the Lord God.
37
I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38
I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39
" 'As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to me, and you will no longer defile my holy name with your gifts and idols.
40
For on my holy mountain, Israel's high mountain--the declaration of the Lord God--there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts, all your holy offerings.
41
When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate my holiness through you in the sight of the nations.
42
When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord.
43
There you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourself, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.
44
You will know that I am the Lord, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you for the sake of my name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts. This is the declaration of the Lord God.' "
45
The word of the Lord came to me:
46
"Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,
47
and say to the forest there, 'Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it.
48
Then all humanity will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished.' "
49
Then I said, "Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, 'Isn't he just composing parables? ' "
Chapter 21
1 The word of the Lord came to me again: 2 "Son of man, face Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel, 3 and say to it, 'This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. 4 Since I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, my sword will therefore come out of its sheath against all humanity from the south to the north. 5 So all humanity will know that I, the Lord, have taken my sword from its sheath--it will not be sheathed again.'
6
"But you, son of man, groan! Groan bitterly with a broken heart right before their eyes.
7
And when they ask you, 'Why are you groaning? ' then say, 'Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and every hand will become weak. Every spirit will be discouraged, and all knees will run with urine. Yes, it is coming and it will happen. This is the declaration of the Lord God.' "
8
The word of the Lord came to me:
9
"Son of man, prophesy, 'This is what the Lord says! ' You are to proclaim, 'A sword! A sword is sharpened and also polished.
10
It is sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! Should we rejoice? The scepter of my son, the sword despises every tree.
11
The sword is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened, and it is polished, to be put in the hand of the slayer.'
12
"Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel! They are given over to the sword with my people. Therefore strike your thigh in grief.
13
Surely it will be a trial! And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter will not continue." This is the declaration of the Lord God.
14
"So you, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together: Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword for massacre, a sword for great massacre -- it surrounds them!
15
I have appointed a sword for slaughter at all their gates, so that their hearts may melt and many may stumble. Yes! It is ready to flash like lightning; it is drawn for slaughter.
16
Slash to the right; turn to the left -- wherever your blade is directed.
17
I also will clap my hands together, and I will satisfy my wrath. I, the Lord, have spoken."
18
The word of the Lord came to me:
19
"Now you, son of man, mark out two roads that the sword of Babylon's king can take. Both of them should originate from the same land. And make a signpost at the fork in the road to each city.
20
Mark out a road that the sword can take to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.
21
For the king of Babylon stands at the split in the road, at the fork of the two roads, to practice divination: he shakes the arrows, consults the idols, and observes the liver.
22
The answer marked Jerusalem appears in his right hand, indicating that he should set up battering rams, give the order to slaughter, raise a battle cry, set battering rams against the gates, build a ramp, and construct a siege wall.
23
It will seem like false divination to those who have sworn an oath to the Babylonians, but it will draw attention to their guilt so that they will be captured.
24
"Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your actions--since you have done this, you will be captured by them.
25
And you, profane and wicked prince of Israel, the day has come for your punishment.
26
"This is what the Lord God says: Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are; exalt the lowly and bring down the exalted.
27
A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! Yet this will not happen until he comes; I have given the judgment to him.
28
"Now you, son of man, prophesy, and say, 'This is what the Lord God says concerning the Ammonites and their contempt.' You are to proclaim, 'A sword! A sword is drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, to flash like lightning.
29
While they offer false visions and lying divinations about you, the time has come to put you to the necks of the profane wicked ones; the day has come for final punishment.
30
" 'Return it to its sheath! " 'I will judge you in the place where you were created, in the land of your origin.
31
I will pour out my indignation on you; I will blow the fire of my fury on you. I will hand you over to brutal men, skilled at destruction.
32
You will be fuel for the fire. Your blood will be spilled within the land. You will not be remembered, for I, the Lord, have spoken.' "
New Living Translation
Chapter 18
1 Then another message came to me from the LORD: 2 'Why do you quote this proverb concerning the land of Israel: 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children's mouths pucker at the taste'? 3 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, you will not quote this proverb anymore in Israel. 4 For all people are mine to judge--both parents and children alike. And this is my rule: The person who sins is the one who will die.
5
'Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right.
6
He does not feast in the mountains before Israel's idols or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period.
7
He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.
8
He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others,
9
and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign LORD.
10
'But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right.
11
And that son does all the evil things his father would never do--he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery,
12
oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins,
13
and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.
14
'But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father's wickedness and decides against that kind of life.
15
This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery.
16
He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy.
17
He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father's sins; he will surely live.
18
But the father will die for his many sins--for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.
19
''What?' you ask. 'Doesn't the child pay for the parent's sins?' No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live.
20
The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent's sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child's sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness.
21
But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die.
22
All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.
23
'Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign LORD. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.
24
However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.
25
'Yet you say, 'The Lord isn't doing what's right!' Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what's right, or is it you?
26
When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds.
27
And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives.
28
They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.
29
And yet the people of Israel keep saying, 'The Lord isn't doing what's right!' O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what's right, not I.
30
'Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign LORD. Repent, and turn from your sins. Don't let them destroy you!
31
Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel?
32
I don't want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!
Chapter 19
1 'Sing this funeral song for the princes of Israel:
2
'What is your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs.
3
She raised one of her cubs to become a strong young lion. He learned to hunt and devour prey, and he became a man-eater.
4
Then the nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him away with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5
'When the lioness saw that her hopes for him were gone, she took another of her cubs and taught him to be a strong young lion.
6
He prowled among the other lions and stood out among them in his strength. He learned to hunt and devour prey, and he, too, became a man-eater.
7
He demolished fortresses and destroyed their towns and cities. Their farms were desolated, and their crops were destroyed. The land and its people trembled in fear when they heard him roar.
8
Then the armies of the nations attacked him, surrounding him from every direction. They threw a net over him and captured him in their pit.
9
With hooks, they dragged him into a cage and brought him before the king of Babylon. They held him in captivity, so his voice could never again be heard on the mountains of Israel.
10
'Your mother was like a vine planted by the water's edge. It had lush, green foliage because of the abundant water.
11
Its branches became strong--strong enough to be a ruler's scepter. It grew very tall, towering above all others. It stood out because of its height and its many lush branches.
12
But the vine was uprooted in fury and thrown down to the ground. The desert wind dried up its fruit and tore off its strong branches, so that it withered and was destroyed by fire.
13
Now the vine is transplanted to the wilderness, where the ground is hard and dry.
14
A fire has burst out from its branches and devoured its fruit. Its remaining limbs are not strong enough to be a ruler's scepter. 'This is a funeral song, and it will be used in a funeral.'
Chapter 20
1 On August 14, during the seventh year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, some of the leaders of Israel came to request a message from the LORD. They sat down in front of me to wait for his reply. 2 Then this message came to me from the LORD: 3 'Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing!'
4
'Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were.
5
Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: When I chose Israel--when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt--I took a solemn oath that I, the LORD, would be their God.
6
I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them--a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere.
7
Then I said to them, 'Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am the LORD your God.'
8
'But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt.
9
But I didn't do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name. I would not allow shame to be brought on my name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
10
So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
11
There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them.
12
And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy.
13
'But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness. They wouldn't obey my regulations even though obedience would have given them life. They also violated my Sabbath days. So I threatened to pour out my fury on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the wilderness.
14
But again I held back in order to protect the honor of my name before the nations who had seen my power in bringing Israel out of Egypt.
15
But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on earth.
16
For they had rejected my regulations, refused to follow my decrees, and violated my Sabbath days. Their hearts were given to their idols.
17
Nevertheless, I took pity on them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness.
18
'Then I warned their children not to follow in their parents' footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols.
19
I am the LORD your God,' I told them. 'Follow my decrees, pay attention to my regulations,
20
and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the LORD your God.'
21
'But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilderness.
22
Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my name before the nations that had seen my power in bringing them out of Egypt.
23
But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would scatter them among all the nations
24
because they did not obey my regulations. They scorned my decrees by violating my Sabbath days and longing for the idols of their ancestors.
25
I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life.
26
I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts I had given them, and I allowed them to give their firstborn children as offerings to their gods--so I might devastate them and remind them that I alone am the LORD.
27
'Therefore, son of man, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Your ancestors continued to blaspheme and betray me,
28
for when I brought them into the land I had promised them, they offered sacrifices on every high hill and under every green tree they saw! They roused my fury as they offered up sacrifices to their gods. They brought their perfumes and incense and poured out their liquid offerings to them.
29
I said to them, 'What is this high place where you are going?' (This kind of pagan shrine has been called Bamah--'high place'--ever since.)
30
'Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Do you plan to pollute yourselves just as your ancestors did? Do you intend to keep prostituting yourselves by worshiping vile images?
31
For when you offer gifts to them and give your little children to be burned as sacrifices, you continue to pollute yourselves with idols to this day. Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing.
32
'You say, 'We want to be like the nations all around us, who serve idols of wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen.
33
As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with an iron fist in great anger and with awesome power.
34
And in anger I will reach out with my strong hand and powerful arm, and I will bring you back from the lands where you are scattered.
35
I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will judge you face to face.
36
I will judge you there just as I did your ancestors in the wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt, says the Sovereign LORD.
37
I will examine you carefully and hold you to the terms of the covenant.
38
I will purge you of all those who rebel and revolt against me. I will bring them out of the countries where they are in exile, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
39
'As for you, O people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Go right ahead and worship your idols, but sooner or later you will obey me and will stop bringing shame on my holy name by worshiping idols.
40
For on my holy mountain, the great mountain of Israel, says the Sovereign LORD, the people of Israel will someday worship me, and I will accept them. There I will require that you bring me all your offerings and choice gifts and sacrifices.
41
When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. And I will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch.
42
Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised with a solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know that I am the LORD.
43
You will look back on all the ways you defiled yourselves and will hate yourselves because of the evil you have done.
44
You will know that I am the LORD, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!'
45
Then this message came to me from the LORD:
46
'Son of man, turn and face the south and speak out against it; prophesy against the brushlands of the Negev.
47
Tell the southern wilderness, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Hear the word of the LORD! I will set you on fire, and every tree, both green and dry, will be burned. The terrible flames will not be quenched and will scorch everything from south to north.
48
And everyone in the world will see that I, the LORD, have set this fire. It will not be put out.''
49
Then I said, 'O Sovereign LORD, they are saying of me, 'He only talks in riddles!''
Chapter 21
1 Then this message came to me from the LORD: 2 'Son of man, turn and face Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries. 3 Tell her, 'This is what the LORD says: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people--the righteous and the wicked alike. 4 Yes, I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked! I will draw my sword against everyone in the land from south to north. 5 Everyone in the world will know that I am the LORD. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.'
6
'Son of man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish and a broken heart.
7
When they ask why you are groaning, tell them, 'I groan because of the terrifying news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will become as weak as water. And the Sovereign LORD says: It is coming! It's on its way!''
8
Then the LORD said to me,
9
'Son of man, give the people this message from the LORD: 'A sword, a sword is being sharpened and polished.
10
It is sharpened for terrible slaughter and polished to flash like lightning! Now will you laugh? Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power!
11
Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished; it is being prepared for the executioner.
12
'Son of man, cry out and wail; pound your thighs in anguish, for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders--everyone will die!
13
It will put them all to the test. What chance do they have? says the Sovereign LORD.
14
'Son of man, prophesy to them and clap your hands. Then take the sword and brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre, the great massacre facing them on every side.
15
Let their hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It flashes like lightning and is polished for slaughter!
16
O sword, slash to the right, then slash to the left, wherever you will, wherever you want.
17
I, too, will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury. I, the LORD, have spoken!'
18
Then this message came to me from the LORD:
19
'Son of man, make a map and trace two routes on it for the sword of Babylon's king to follow. Put a signpost on the road that comes out of Babylon where the road forks into two--
20
one road going to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah, and the other to Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
21
The king of Babylon now stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah. He calls his magicians to look for omens. They cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver. They inspect the livers of animal sacrifices.
22
The omen in his right hand says, 'Jerusalem!' With battering rams his soldiers will go against the gates, shouting for the kill. They will put up siege towers and build ramps against the walls.
23
The people of Jerusalem will think it is a false omen, because of their treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion. Then he will attack and capture them.
24
'Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Again and again you remind me of your sin and your guilt. You don't even try to hide it! In everything you do, your sins are obvious for all to see. So now the time of your punishment has come!
25
'O you corrupt and wicked prince of Israel, your final day of reckoning is here!
26
This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'Take off your jeweled crown, for the old order changes. Now the lowly will be exalted, and the mighty will be brought down.
27
Destruction! Destruction! I will surely destroy the kingdom. And it will not be restored until the one appears who has the right to judge it. Then I will hand it over to him.
28
'And now, son of man, prophesy concerning the Ammonites and their mockery. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: 'A sword, a sword is drawn for your slaughter. It is polished to destroy, flashing like lightning!
29
Your prophets have given false visions, and your fortune-tellers have told lies. The sword will fall on the necks of the wicked for whom the day of final reckoning has come.
30
'Now return the sword to its sheath, for in your own country, the land of your birth, I will pass judgment upon you.
31
I will pour out my fury on you and blow on you with the fire of my anger. I will hand you over to cruel men who are skilled in destruction.
32
You will be fuel for the fire, and your blood will be spilled in your own land. You will be utterly wiped out, your memory lost to history, for I, the LORD, have spoken!'
English Standard Version
Chapter 18
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
5
“If a man is righteous and does what is just and right—
6
if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman in her time of menstrual impurity,
7
does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, commits no robbery, gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,
8
does not lend at interest or take any profit, withholds his hand from injustice, executes true justice between man and man,
9
walks in my statutes, and keeps my rules by acting faithfully—he is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord GOD.
10
“If he fathers a son who is violent, a shedder of blood, who does any of these things
11
(though he himself did none of these things), who even eats upon the mountains, defiles his neighbor’s wife,
12
oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore the pledge, lifts up his eyes to the idols, commits abomination,
13
lends at interest, and takes profit; shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon himself.
14
“Now suppose this man fathers a son who sees all the sins that his father has done; he sees, and does not do likewise:
15
he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor’s wife,
16
does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment,
17
withholds his hand from iniquity, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father’s iniquity; he shall surely live.
18
As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people, behold, he shall die for his iniquity.
19
“Yet you say, ‘Why should not the son suffer for the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done what is just and right, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.
20
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
21
“But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22
None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live.
23
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
24
But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.
25
“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
26
When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die.
27
Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life.
28
Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
29
Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
30
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.
31
Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
32
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”
Chapter 19
1 And you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 and say: What was your mother? A lioness! Among lions she crouched; in the midst of young lions she reared her cubs.
3
And she brought up one of her cubs; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men.
4
The nations heard about him; he was caught in their pit, and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5
When she saw that she waited in vain, that her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.
6
He prowled among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch prey; he devoured men,
7
and seized their widows. He laid waste their cities, and the land was appalled and all who were in it at the sound of his roaring.
8
Then the nations set against him from provinces on every side; they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit.
9
With hooks they put him in a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into custody, that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.
10
Your mother was like a vine in a vineyard planted by the water, fruitful and full of branches by reason of abundant water.
11
Its strong stems became rulers’ scepters; it towered aloft among the thick boughs; it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.
12
But the vine was plucked up in fury, cast down to the ground; the east wind dried up its fruit; they were stripped off and withered. As for its strong stem, fire consumed it.
13
Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.
14
And fire has gone out from the stem of its shoots, has consumed its fruit, so that there remains in it no strong stem, no scepter for ruling. This is a lamentation and has become a lamentation.
Chapter 20
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the LORD came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you. 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers, 5 and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God. 6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. 7 And I said to them, 'Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.' 8 But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9
But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10
So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11
I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live.
12
Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
13
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them.
14
But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.
15
Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands,
16
because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.
17
Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18
“And I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols.'
19
I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules,
20
and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.
21
But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.
22
But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.
23
Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,
24
because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers’ idols.
25
Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life,
26
and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the LORD.
27
“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me.
28
For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings.
29
(I said to them, 'What is the high place to which you go?' So its name is called Bamah to this day.)
30
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things?
31
When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
32
“What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.’
33
“As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you.
34
I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.
35
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36
As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD.
37
I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38
I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
39
“As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols.
40
“For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings.
41
As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.
42
And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers.
43
And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed.
44
And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.”
45
And the word of the LORD came to me:
46
“Son of man, set your face toward the southland; preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb.
47
Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it.
48
All flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.”
49
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?’”
Chapter 21
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3 and say to the land of Israel, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am against you and will draw my sword from its sheath and will cut off from you both righteous and wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you both righteous and wicked, therefore my sword shall be drawn from its sheath against all flesh from south to north. 5 And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.
6
“As for you, son of man, groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, groan before their eyes.
7
And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that it is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled,’” declares the Lord GOD.
8
And the word of the LORD came to me:
9
“Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, say: “A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,
10
sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! (Or shall we rejoice? You have despised the rod, my son, with everything of wood.)
11
So the sword is given to be polished, that it may be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened and polished to be given into the hand of the slayer.
12
Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with my people. Strike therefore upon your thigh.
13
For it will not be a testing—what could it do if you despise the rod?” declares the Lord GOD.
14
“As for you, son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yes, three times, the sword for those to be slain. It is the sword for the great slaughter, which surrounds them,
15
that their hearts may melt, and many stumble. At all their gates I have given the glittering sword. Ah, it is made like lightning; it is taken up for slaughter.
16
Cut sharply to the right; set yourself to the left, wherever your face is directed.
17
I also will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury; I the LORD have spoken.”
18
The word of the LORD came to me again:
19
“As for you, son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. Both of them shall come from the same land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to a city.
20
Mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the Ammonites and to Judah, into Jerusalem the fortified.
21
For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shakes the arrows; he consults the teraphim; he looks at the liver.
22
Into his right hand comes the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth with murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build siege towers.
23
But to them it will seem like a false divination. They have sworn solemn oaths, but he brings their guilt to remembrance, that they may be taken.
24
“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.
25
And you, O profane wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,
26
thus says the Lord GOD: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things shall not remain as they are. Exalt that which is low, and bring low that which is exalted.
27
A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it. This also shall not be, until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.
28
“And you, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach; say, A sword, a sword is drawn for the slaughter. It is polished to consume and to flash like lightning—
29
while they see for you false visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the profane wicked, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment.
30
Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
31
And I will pour out my indignation upon you; I will blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and I will deliver you into the hands of brutish men, skillful to destroy.
32
You shall be fuel for the fire. Your blood shall be in the midst of the land. You shall be no more remembered, for I the LORD have spoken.”
New International Version
Chapter 18
1 The 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'?
3
As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.
4
For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child--both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die.
5
Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.
6
He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.
7
He does not oppress anyone, but returns what he took in pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.
8
He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them. He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly between two parties.
9
He follows my decrees and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous; he will surely live, declares the Sovereign LORD.
10
Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these other things
11
(though the father has done none of them): 'He eats at the mountain shrines. He defiles his neighbor's wife.
12
He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.
13
He lends at interest and takes a profit. 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.
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:
15
He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife.
16
He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and provides clothing for the naked.
17
He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live.
18
But 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.
20
The one who sins is the one who will die. 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.
21
But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.
22
None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.
23
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?
24
But if a righteous person turns 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 unfaithfulness they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.
25
Yet you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
26
If 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.
27
But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.
28
Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.
29
Yet 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! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
31
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?
32
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
Chapter 19
1 Take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel
2
and say: ''What a lioness was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.
3
She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.
4
The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
5
'When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs and made him a strong lion.
6
He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.
7
He broke down their strongholds and devastated their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.
8
Then the nations came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net for him, and he was trapped in their pit.
9
With hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. They put him in prison, so his roar was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.
10
'Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.
11
Its 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.
12
But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.
13
Now it is planted in the desert, in a dry and thirsty land.
14
Fire spread from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler's scepter.' 'This is a lament and is to be used as a lament.'
Chapter 20
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me.
2
Then the word of the LORD came to me:
3
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD.'
4
Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors
5
and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand 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.'
6
On that day I swore 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, the most beautiful of all lands.
7
And I said to them, 'Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'
8
'But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.
9
But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites.
10
Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11
I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.
12
Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.
13
'Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws--by which the person who obeys them will live--and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert.
14
But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
15
Also with uplifted hand I swore 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 lands--
16
because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols.
17
Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness.
18
I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols.
19
I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
20
Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.'
21
'But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, 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 anger against them in the desert.
22
But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
23
Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries,
24
because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents' idols.
25
So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;
26
I defiled them through their gifts--the sacrifice of every firstborn--that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.'
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 ancestors blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me:
28
When I brought them into the land 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.
29
Then I said to them: What is this high place you go to?'' (It is called Bamah to this day.)
30
Therefore say to the Israelites: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?
31
When you offer your gifts--the sacrifice of your children 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.
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.
33
As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
34
I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered--with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
35
I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.
36
As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD.
37
I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38
I will purge 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.
39
'As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols.
40
For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, 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 offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
41
I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.
42
Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.
43
There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.
44
You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.''
45
The word of the LORD came to me:
46
Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland.
47
Say to the southern forest: 'Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.
48
Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.''
49
Then I said, 'Sovereign LORD, they are saying of me, 'Isn't he just telling parables?''
Chapter 21
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3 and say to her: 'This is what the LORD says: I am against you. I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. 4 Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. 5 Then all people will know that I the LORD have drawn my sword from its sheath; it will not return again.'
6
Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.
7
And when they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' you shall say, 'Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand go limp; every spirit will become faint and every leg will be wet with urine.' It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign LORD.'
8
The 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--
10
sharpened for the slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! ''Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.
11
'The sword is appointed to be polished, to be grasped with the hand; it is sharpened and polished, made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12
Cry 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.
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 hands 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.
15
So that hearts may melt with fear and the fallen be many, I have stationed the sword for slaughter at all their gates. Look! It is forged to strike like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.
16
Slash to the right, you sword, then to the left, wherever your blade is turned.
17
I too will strike my hands together, and my wrath will subside. I the LORD have spoken.'
18
The word of the LORD came to me:
19
Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city.
20
Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
21
For 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 lots with arrows, he will consult his idols, he will examine the liver.
22
Into 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, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp and to erect siege works.
23
It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind them of their guilt 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, whose time of punishment has reached its climax,
26
this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Take off the turban, remove the crown. It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.
27
A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to him I will give it.'
28
And you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says about the Ammonites and their insults: ''A sword, a sword, drawn for the slaughter, polished to consume and to flash like lightning!
29
Despite false visions concerning you and lying divinations 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.
30
'Let the sword return to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your ancestry, I will judge you.
31
I will pour out my wrath on you and breathe out my fiery anger against you; I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men, men skilled in destruction.
32
You will be fuel for the fire, your blood will be shed in your land, you will be remembered no more; for I the LORD have spoken.''
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The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New American Standard Bible Copyright© 1960 - 2020 by The Lockman Foundation.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.