Ezekiel 19
1“Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2and say,
‘What was your mother?
A lioness.
She couched among lions,
in the middle of the young lions she nourished her cubs.
3She brought up one of her cubs.
He became a young lion.
He learned to catch the prey.
He devoured men.
4The nations also heard of him.
He was taken in their pit;
and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.
“‘Now when she saw that she had waited,
and her hope was lost,
then she took another of her cubs,
and made him a young lion.
6He went up and down among the lions.
He became a young lion.
He learned to catch the prey.
He devoured men.
7He knew their palaces,
and laid waste their cities.
The land was desolate with its fullness,
because of the noise of his roaring.
8Then the nations attacked him on every side from the provinces.
They spread their net over him.
He was taken in their pit.
9They put him in a cage with hooks,
and brought him to the king of Babylon.
They brought him into strongholds,
so that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.
“‘Your mother was like a vine in your blood, planted by the waters.
It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
11It had strong branches for the scepters of those who ruled.
Their stature was exalted among the thick boughs.
They were seen in their height
with the multitude of their branches.
12But it was plucked up in fury.
It was cast down to the ground,
and the east wind dried up its fruit.
Its strong branches were broken off and withered.
The fire consumed them.
13Now it is planted in the wilderness,
in a dry and thirsty land.
14Fire has gone out of its branches.
It has devoured its fruit,
so that there is in it no strong branch to be a scepter to rule.’ This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.”
Ezekiel 20
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
2The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’
4“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers. 5Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring 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;’ 6in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. 7I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
8“‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt. 9But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them. 12Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be 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 didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 15Moreover 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 lands, 16because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness. 18I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them. 20Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall 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 didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 23Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 25Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live. 26I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’
27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. 28For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’
30“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations? 31When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you!
32“‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’ 33As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you. 34I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord GOD. 37“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
39“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols. 40For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says 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 offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things. 41I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. 42You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers. 43There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed. 44You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”
45The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 46“Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south. 47Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it. 48All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”
49Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”
Ezekiel 21
1The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel. 3Tell the land of Israel, ‘The LORD says: “Behold, I am against you, and will draw my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked. 4Seeing then that I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore my sword will go out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north. 5All flesh will know that I, the LORD, have drawn my sword out of its sheath. It will not return any more.”’
6“Therefore sigh, you son of man. You shall sigh before their eyes with a broken heart and with bitterness. 7It shall be, when they ask you, ‘Why do you sigh?’ that you shall say, ‘Because of the news, for it comes! Every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord GOD.’”
8The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 9“Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘The LORD says:
“A sword! A sword!
It is sharpened,
and also polished.
10It is sharpened that it may make a slaughter.
It is polished that it may be as lightning.
Should we then make mirth?
The rod of my son condemns every tree.
11It is given to be polished,
that it may be handled.
The sword is sharpened.
Yes, it is polished
to give it into the hand of the killer.”’
12Cry and wail, son of man;
for it is on my people.
It is on all the princes of Israel.
They are delivered over to the sword with my people.
Therefore beat your thigh.
“For there is a trial. What if even the rod that condemns will be no more?” says the Lord GOD.
14“You therefore, son of man, prophesy,
and strike your hands together.
Let the sword be doubled the third time,
the sword of the fatally wounded.
It is the sword of the great one who is fatally wounded,
which enters into their rooms.
15I have set the threatening sword against all their gates,
that their heart may melt,
and their stumblings be multiplied.
Ah! It is made as lightning.
It is pointed for slaughter.
16Gather yourselves together.
Go to the right.
Set yourselves in array.
Go to the left,
wherever your face is set.
17I will also strike my hands together,
and I will cause my wrath to rest.
I, the LORD, have spoken it.”
18The LORD’s word came to me again, saying, 19“Also, you son of man, appoint two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come. They both will come out of one land, and mark out a place. Mark it out at the head of the way to the city. 20You shall appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified. 21For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination. He shook the arrows back and forth. He consulted the teraphim. He looked in the liver. 22In his right hand was the lot for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, and to build forts. 23It will be to them as a false divination in their sight, who have sworn oaths to them; but he brings iniquity to memory, that they may be taken.
24“Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have caused your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear; because you have come to memory, you will be taken with the hand.
25“‘You, deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day has come, in the time of the iniquity of the end, 26the Lord GOD says: “Remove the turban, and take off the crown. This will not be as it was. Exalt that which is low, and humble that which is high. 27I will overturn, overturn, overturn it. This also will be no more, until he comes whose right it is; and I will give it.”’
28“You, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘The Lord GOD says this concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach:
“A sword! A sword is drawn!
It is polished for the slaughter,
to cause it to devour,
that it may be as lightning;
29while they see for you false visions,
while they divine lies to you,
to lay you on the necks of the wicked who are deadly wounded,
whose day has come in the time of the iniquity of the end.
30Cause it to return into its sheath.
In the place where you were created,
in the land of your birth, I will judge you.
31I will pour out my indignation on you.
I will blow on you with the fire of my wrath.
I will deliver you into the hand of brutish men,
skillful to destroy.
32You will be for fuel to the fire.
Your blood will be in the middle of the land.
You will be remembered no more;
for I, the LORD, have spoken it.”’”
Ezekiel 22
1Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2“You, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations. 3You shall say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “A city that sheds blood within herself, that her time may come, and that makes idols against herself to defile her! 4You have become guilty in your blood that you have shed, and are defiled in your idols which you have made! You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years. Therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mocking to all the countries. 5Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you infamous one, full of tumult.
6“‘“Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone according to his power, have been in you to shed blood. 7In you have they treated father and mother with contempt. Among you they have oppressed the foreigner. In you they have wronged the fatherless and the widow. 8You have despised my holy things, and have profaned my Sabbaths. 9Slanderous men have been in you to shed blood. In you they have eaten on the mountains. They have committed lewdness among you. 10In you have they uncovered their fathers’ nakedness. In you have they humbled her who was unclean in her impurity. 11One has committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife, and another has lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law. Another in you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. 12In you have they taken bribes to shed blood. You have taken interest and increase, and you have greedily gained of your neighbors by oppression, and have forgotten me,” says the Lord GOD.
13“‘“Behold, therefore I have struck my hand at your dishonest gain which you have made, and at the blood which has been shed within you. 14Can your heart endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I will deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken it, and will do it. 15I will scatter you among the nations, and disperse you through the countries. I will purge your filthiness out of you. 16You will be profaned in yourself in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’”
17The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are bronze, tin, iron, and lead in the middle of the furnace. They are the dross of silver. 19Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the middle of Jerusalem. 20As they gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the middle of the furnace, to blow the fire on it, to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and in my wrath, and I will lay you there and melt you. 21Yes, I will gather you, and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you will be melted in the middle of it. 22As silver is melted in the middle of the furnace, so you will be melted in the middle of it; and you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out my wrath on you.’”
23The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 24“Son of man, tell her, ‘You are a land that is not cleansed nor rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25There is a conspiracy of her prophets within it, like a roaring lion ravening the prey. They have devoured souls. They take treasure and precious things. They have made many widows within it. 26Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths. So I am profaned among them. 27Her princes within it are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain. 28Her prophets have plastered for them with whitewash, seeing false visions, and divining lies to them, saying, ‘The Lord GOD says,’ when the LORD has not spoken. 29The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery. Yes, they have troubled the poor and needy, and have oppressed the foreigner wrongfully.
30“I sought for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. 31Therefore I have poured out my indignation on them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have brought their own way on their heads,” says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 23
1The LORD’s word came again to me, saying, 2“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. 3They played the prostitute in Egypt. They played the prostitute in their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their youthful nipples were caressed there. 4Their names were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah.
5“Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine. She doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, 6who were clothed with blue—governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7She gave herself as a prostitute to them, all of them the choicest men of Assyria. She defiled herself with the idols of whomever she lusted after. 8She hasn’t left her prostitution since leaving Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her. They caressed her youthful nipples and they poured out their prostitution on her.
9“Therefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians on whom she doted. 10These uncovered her nakedness. They took her sons and her daughters, and they killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women; for they executed judgments on her.
11“Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was more corrupt in her lusting than she, and in her prostitution which was more depraved than the prostitution of her sister. 12She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and rulers—her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. 13I saw that she was defiled. They both went the same way.
14“She increased her prostitution; for she saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with red, 15dressed with belts on their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like princes, after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth. 16As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them into Chaldea. 17The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution. She was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them. 18So she uncovered her prostitution and uncovered her nakedness. Then my soul was alienated from her, just like my soul was alienated from her sister. 19Yet she multiplied her prostitution, remembering the days of her youth, in which she had played the prostitute in the land of Egypt. 20She lusted after their lovers, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21Thus you called to memory the lewdness of your youth, in the caressing of your nipples by the Egyptians because of your youthful breasts.
22“Therefore, Oholibah, the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will raise up your lovers against you, from whom your soul is alienated, and I will bring them against you on every side: 23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; all of them desirable young men, governors and rulers, princes and men of renown, all of them riding on horses. 24They will come against you with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a company of peoples. They will set themselves against you with buckler, shield, and helmet all around. I will commit the judgment to them, and they will judge you according to their judgments. 25I will set my jealousy against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will take away your nose and your ears. Your remnant will fall by the sword. They will take your sons and your daughters; and the rest of you will be devoured by the fire. 26They will also strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels. 27Thus I will make your lewdness to cease from you, and remove your prostitution from the land of Egypt, so that you will not lift up your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt any more.’
28“For the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will deliver you into the hand of them whom you hate, into the hand of them from whom your soul is alienated. 29They will deal with you in hatred, and will take away all your labor, and will leave you naked and bare. The nakedness of your prostitution will be uncovered, both your lewdness and your prostitution. 30These things will be done to you because you have played the prostitute after the nations, and because you are polluted with their idols. 31You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.’
32“The Lord GOD says:
‘You will drink of your sister’s cup,
which is deep and large.
You will be ridiculed and held in derision.
It contains much.
33You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
with the cup of astonishment and desolation,
with the cup of your sister Samaria.
34You will even drink it and drain it out.
You will gnaw the broken pieces of it,
and will tear your breasts; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord GOD.
35“Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, therefore you also bear your lewdness and your prostitution.’”
36The LORD said moreover to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations. 37For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have also caused their sons, whom they bore to me, to pass through the fire to them to be devoured. 38Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths. 39For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and behold, they have done this in the middle of my house.
40“Furthermore you sisters have sent for men who come from far away, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold, they came; for whom you washed yourself, painted your eyes, decorated yourself with ornaments, 41and sat on a stately bed, with a table prepared before it, whereupon you set my incense and my oil.
42“The voice of a multitude being at ease was with her. With men of the common sort were brought drunkards from the wilderness; and they put bracelets on their hands, and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43Then I said of her who was old in adulteries, ‘Now they will play the prostitute with her, and she with them.’ 44They went in to her, as they go in to a prostitute. So they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women. 45Righteous men will judge them with the judgment of adulteresses and with the judgment of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.
46“For the Lord GOD says: ‘I will bring up a mob against them, and will give them to be tossed back and forth and robbed. 47The company will stone them with stones and dispatch them with their swords. They will kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
48“‘Thus I will cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to be lewd like you. 49They will recompense your lewdness on you, and you will bear the sins of your idols. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”
Ezekiel 24
1Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day. 3Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says,
“Put the cauldron on the fire.
Put it on,
and also pour water into it.
4Gather its pieces into it,
even every good piece:
the thigh and the shoulder.
Fill it with the choice bones.
5Take the choice of the flock,
and also a pile of wood for the bones under the cauldron.
Make it boil well.
Yes, let its bones be boiled within it.”
6“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says:
“Woe to the bloody city,
to the cauldron whose rust is in it,
and whose rust hasn’t gone out of it!
Take out of it piece after piece
without casting lots for it.
“‘“For the blood she shed is in the middle of her.
She set it on the bare rock.
She didn’t pour it on the ground,
to cover it with dust.
8That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance,
I have set her blood on the bare rock,
that it should not be covered.”
9“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says:
“Woe to the bloody city!
I also will make the pile great.
10Heap on the wood.
Make the fire hot.
Boil the meat well.
Make the broth thick,
and let the bones be burned.
11Then set it empty on its coals,
that it may be hot,
and its bronze may burn,
and that its filthiness may be molten in it,
that its rust may be consumed.
12She is weary with toil;
yet her great rust,
rust by fire, doesn’t leave her.
13“‘“In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you and you weren’t cleansed, you won’t be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.
14“‘“I, the LORD, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I won’t go back. I won’t spare. I won’t repent. According to your ways and according to your doings, they will judge you,” says the Lord GOD.’”
15Also the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 16“Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down. 17Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.”
18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. So I did in the morning as I was commanded.
19The people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things mean to us, that you act like this?”
20Then I said to them, “The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 21‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. 22You will do as I have done. You won’t cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread. 23Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another. 24Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”’”
25“You, son of man, shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart—their sons and their daughters— 26that in that day he who escapes will come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears? 27In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and you will speak and be no more mute. So you will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
Ezekiel 25
1The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face toward the children of Ammon, and prophesy against them. 3Tell the children of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord GOD! The Lord GOD says, “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against my sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, 4therefore, behold, I will deliver you to the children of the east for a possession. They will set their encampments in you and make their dwellings in you. They will eat your fruit and they will drink your milk. 5I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and the children of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” 6For the Lord GOD says: “Because you have clapped your hands, stamped with the feet, and rejoiced with all the contempt of your soul against the land of Israel, 7therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand on you, and will deliver you for a plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish out of the countries. I will destroy you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
8“‘The Lord GOD says: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’ 9therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim, 10to the children of the east, to go against the children of Ammon; and I will give them for a possession, that the children of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations. 11I will execute judgments on Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
12“‘The Lord GOD says: “Because Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and taken revenge on them,” 13therefore the Lord GOD says, “I will stretch out my hand on Edom, and will cut off man and animal from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman. They will fall by the sword even to Dedan. 14I will lay my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel. They will do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath. Then they will know my vengeance,” says the Lord GOD.
15“‘The Lord GOD says: “Because the Philistines have taken revenge, and have taken vengeance with contempt of soul to destroy with perpetual hostility,” 16therefore the Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will stretch out my hand on the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast. 17I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I lay my vengeance on them.”’”
Ezekiel 26
1In the eleventh year, in the first of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, ‘Aha! She is broken! She who was the gateway of the peoples has been returned to me. I will be replenished, now that she is laid waste;’ 3therefore the Lord GOD says, ‘Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and will cause many nations to come up against you, as the sea causes its waves to come up. 4They will destroy the walls of Tyre, and break down her towers. I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her a bare rock. 5She will be a place for the spreading of nets in the middle of the sea; for I have spoken it,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘She will become plunder for the nations. 6Her daughters who are in the field will be slain with the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’
7“For the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring on Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, from the north, with horses, with chariots, with horsemen, and an army with many people. 8He will kill your daughters in the field with the sword. He will make forts against you, cast up a mound against you, and raise up the buckler against you. 9He will set his battering engines against your walls, and with his axes he will break down your towers. 10By reason of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen, of the wagons, and of the chariots, when he enters into your gates, as men enter into a city which is broken open. 11He will tread down all your streets with the hoofs of his horses. He will kill your people with the sword. The pillars of your strength will go down to the ground. 12They will make a plunder of your riches and make a prey of your merchandise. They will break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses. They will lay your stones, your timber, and your dust in the middle of the waters. 13I will cause the noise of your songs to cease. The sound of your harps won’t be heard any more. 14I will make you a bare rock. You will be a place for the spreading of nets. You will be built no more; for I the LORD have spoken it,’ says the Lord GOD.
15“The Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Won’t the islands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when the slaughter is made within you? 16Then all the princes of the sea will come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling. They will sit on the ground, and will tremble every moment, and be astonished at you. 17They will take up a lamentation over you, and tell you,
“How you are destroyed,
who were inhabited by seafaring men,
the renowned city,
who was strong in the sea,
she and her inhabitants,
who caused their terror to be on all who lived there!”
18Now the islands will tremble in the day of your fall.
Yes, the islands that are in the sea will be dismayed at your departure.’
19“For the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited, when I bring up the deep on you, and the great waters cover you, 20then I will bring you down with those who descend into the pit, to the people of old time, and will make you dwell in the lower parts of the earth, in the places that are desolate of old, with those who go down to the pit, that you be not inhabited; and I will set glory in the land of the living. 21I will make you a terror, and you will no more have any being. Though you are sought for, yet you will never be found again,’ says the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel 27
1The LORD’s word came again to me, saying, 2“You, son of man, take up a lamentation over Tyre; 3and tell Tyre, ‘You who dwell at the entry of the sea, who are the merchant of the peoples to many islands, the Lord GOD says:
“You, Tyre, have said,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
4Your borders are in the heart of the seas.
Your builders have perfected your beauty.
5They have made all your planks of cypress trees from Senir.
They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6They have made your oars of the oaks of Bashan.
They have made your benches of ivory inlaid in cypress wood from the islands of Kittim.
7Your sail was of fine linen with embroidered work from Egypt,
that it might be to you for a banner.
Blue and purple from the islands of Elishah was your awning.
8The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers.
Your wise men, Tyre, were in you.
They were your pilots.
9The old men of Gebal
and its wise men were your repairers of ship seams in you.
All the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you
to deal in your merchandise.
“‘“Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army,
your men of war.
They hung the shield and helmet in you.
They showed your beauty.
11The men of Arvad with your army were on your walls all around,
and valiant men were in your towers.
They hung their shields on your walls all around.
They have perfected your beauty.
12“‘“Tarshish was your merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches. They traded for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
13“‘“Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They traded the persons of men and vessels of bronze for your merchandise.
14“‘“They of the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, war horses, and mules.
15“‘“The men of Dedan traded with you. Many islands were the market of your hand. They brought you horns of ivory and ebony in exchange.
16“‘“Syria was your merchant by reason of the multitude of your handiworks. They traded for your wares with emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
17“‘“Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded wheat of Minnith, confections, honey, oil, and balm for your merchandise.
18“‘“Damascus was your merchant for the multitude of your handiworks by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches, with the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
19“‘“Vedan and Javan traded with yarn for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were among your merchandise.
20“‘“Dedan was your merchant in precious saddle blankets for riding.
21“‘“Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favorite dealers in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.
22“‘“The traders of Sheba and Raamah were your traders. They traded for your wares with the best of all spices, all precious stones, and gold.
23“‘“Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traders. 24These were your traders in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in cedar chests of rich clothing bound with cords, among your merchandise.
25“‘“The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise.
You were replenished
and made very glorious in the heart of the seas.
26Your rowers have brought you into great waters.
The east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas.
27Your riches, your wares, your merchandise,
your mariners, your pilots, your repairers of ship seams,
the dealers in your merchandise,
and all your men of war who are in you,
with all your company which is among you,
will fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin.
28At the sound of the cry of your pilots,
the pasture lands will shake.
29All who handle the oars,
the mariners and all the pilots of the sea,
will come down from their ships.
They will stand on the land,
30and will cause their voice to be heard over you,
and will cry bitterly.
They will cast up dust on their heads.
They will wallow in the ashes.
31They will make themselves bald for you,
and clothe themselves with sackcloth.
They will weep for you in bitterness of soul,
with bitter mourning.
32In their wailing they will take up a lamentation for you,
and lament over you, saying,
‘Who is there like Tyre,
like her who is brought to silence in the middle of the sea?’
33When your wares came from the seas,
you filled many peoples.
You enriched the kings of the earth
with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise.
34In the time that you were broken by the seas,
in the depths of the waters,
your merchandise and all your company fell within you.
35All the inhabitants of the islands are astonished at you,
and their kings are horribly afraid.
They are troubled in their face.
36The merchants among the peoples hiss at you.
You have come to a terrible end,
and you will be no more.”’”
Ezekiel 28
1The LORD’s word came again to me, saying, 2“Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, ‘The Lord GOD says:
“Because your heart is lifted up,
and you have said, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of God,
in the middle of the seas;’
yet you are man,
and no god,
though you set your heart as the heart of a god—
3behold, you are wiser than Daniel.
There is no secret that is hidden from you.
4By your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten yourself riches,
and have gotten gold and silver into your treasuries.
5By your great wisdom
and by your trading you have increased your riches,
and your heart is lifted up because of your riches—”
6“‘therefore the Lord GOD says:
“Because you have set your heart as the heart of God,
7therefore, behold, I will bring strangers on you,
the terrible of the nations.
They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom.
They will defile your brightness.
8They will bring you down to the pit.
You will die the death of those who are slain
in the heart of the seas.
9Will you yet say before him who kills you, ‘I am God’?
But you are man, and not God,
in the hand of him who wounds you.
10You will die the death of the uncircumcised
by the hand of strangers;
for I have spoken it,” says the Lord GOD.’”
Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 12“Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and tell him, ‘The Lord GOD says:
“You were the seal of full measure,
full of wisdom,
and perfect in beauty.
13You were in Eden,
the garden of God.
Every precious stone adorned you:
ruby, topaz, emerald,
chrysolite, onyx, jasper,
sapphire, turquoise, and beryl.
Gold work of tambourines
and of pipes was in you.
They were prepared in the day that you were created.
14You were the anointed cherub who covers.
Then I set you up on the holy mountain of God.
You have walked up and down in the middle of the stones of fire.
15You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created,
until unrighteousness was found in you.
16By the abundance of your commerce, your insides were filled with violence,
and you have sinned.
Therefore I have cast you as profane out of God’s mountain.
I have destroyed you, covering cherub,
from the middle of the stones of fire.
17Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty.
You have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.
I have cast you to the ground.
I have laid you before kings,
that they may see you.
18By the multitude of your iniquities,
in the unrighteousness of your commerce,
you have profaned your sanctuaries.
Therefore I have brought out a fire from the middle of you.
It has devoured you.
I have turned you to ashes on the earth
in the sight of all those who see you.
19All those who know you among the peoples will be astonished at you.
You have become a terror,
and you will exist no more.”’”
The LORD’s word came to me, saying, 21“Son of man, set your face toward Sidon, and prophesy against it, 22and say, ‘The Lord GOD says:
“Behold, I am against you, Sidon.
I will be glorified among you.
Then they will know that I am the LORD,
when I have executed judgments in her,
and am sanctified in her.
23For I will send pestilence into her,
and blood into her streets.
The wounded will fall within her,
with the sword on her on every side.
Then they will know that I am the LORD.
24“‘“There will no longer be a pricking brier to the house of Israel, nor a hurting thorn of any that are around them that scorned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”
25“‘The Lord GOD says: “When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and am shown as holy among them in the sight of the nations, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to my servant Jacob. 26They will dwell in it securely. Yes, they will build houses, plant vineyards, and will dwell securely when I have executed judgments on all those around them who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.”’”
Ezekiel 29
1In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3Speak and say, ‘The Lord GOD says:
“Behold, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,
the great monster that lies in the middle of his rivers,
that has said, ‘My river is my own,
and I have made it for myself.’
4I will put hooks in your jaws,
and I will make the fish of your rivers stick to your scales.
I will bring you up out of the middle of your rivers,
with all the fish of your rivers which stick to your scales.
5I’ll cast you out into the wilderness,
you and all the fish of your rivers.
You’ll fall on the open field.
You won’t be brought together or gathered.
I have given you for food to the animals of the earth
and to the birds of the sky.
6“‘“All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. 7When they took hold of you by your hand, you broke and tore all their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and paralyzed all of their thighs.”
8“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will bring a sword on you, and will cut off man and animal from you. 9The land of Egypt will be a desolation and a waste. Then they will know that I am the LORD. “‘“Because he has said, ‘The river is mine, and I have made it,’ 10therefore, behold, I am against you and against your rivers. I will make the land of Egypt an utter waste and desolation, from the tower of Seveneh even to the border of Ethiopia. 11No foot of man will pass through it, nor will any animal foot pass through it. It won’t be inhabited for forty years. 12I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the middle of the countries that are desolate. Her cities among the cities that are laid waste will be a desolation forty years. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.”
13“‘For the Lord GOD says: “At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scattered. 14I will reverse the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their birth. There they will be a lowly kingdom. 15It will be the lowest of the kingdoms. It won’t lift itself up above the nations any more. I will diminish them so that they will no longer rule over the nations. 16It will no longer be the confidence of the house of Israel, bringing iniquity to memory, when they turn to look after them. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.”’”
It came to pass in the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was worn; yet he had no wages, nor did his army, from Tyre, for the service that he had served against it. 19Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off her multitude, take her plunder, and take her prey. That will be the wages for his army. 20I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he served, because they worked for me,’ says the Lord GOD.
21“In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
Ezekiel 30
1The LORD’s word came again to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says:
“Wail, ‘Alas for the day!’
3For the day is near,
even the LORD’s day is near.
It will be a day of clouds,
a time of the nations.
4A sword will come on Egypt,
and anguish will be in Ethiopia,
when the slain fall in Egypt.
They take away her multitude,
and her foundations are broken down.
5“‘“Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all the mixed people, Cub, and the children of the land that is allied with them, will fall with them by the sword.”
6“‘The LORD says:
“They also who uphold Egypt will fall.
The pride of her power will come down.
They will fall by the sword in it from the tower of Seveneh,”
says the Lord GOD.
7“They will be desolate in the middle of the countries that are desolate.
Her cities will be among the cities that are wasted.
8They will know that I am the LORD
when I have set a fire in Egypt,
and all her helpers are destroyed.
9“‘“In that day messengers will go out from before me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid. There will be anguish on them, as in the day of Egypt; for, behold, it comes.”
10“‘The Lord GOD says:
“I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease,
by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11He and his people with him,
the terrible of the nations,
will be brought in to destroy the land.
They will draw their swords against Egypt,
and fill the land with the slain.
12I will make the rivers dry,
and will sell the land into the hand of evil men.
I will make the land desolate,
and all that is therein,
by the hand of foreigners.
I, the LORD, have spoken it.”
13“‘The Lord GOD says:
“I will also destroy the idols,
and I will cause the images to cease from Memphis.
There will be no more a prince from the land of Egypt.
I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
14I will make Pathros desolate,
and will set a fire in Zoan,
and will execute judgments on No.
15I will pour my wrath on Sin,
the stronghold of Egypt.
I will cut off the multitude of No.
16I will set a fire in Egypt
Sin will be in great anguish.
No will be broken up.
Memphis will have adversaries in the daytime.
17The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth will fall by the sword.
They will go into captivity.
18At Tehaphnehes also the day will withdraw itself,
when I break the yokes of Egypt there.
The pride of her power will cease in her.
As for her, a cloud will cover her,
and her daughters will go into captivity.
19Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt.
Then they will know that I am the LORD.”’”
In the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying, 21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Behold, it has not been bound up, to apply medicines, to put a bandage to bind it, that it may become strong to hold the sword. 22Therefore the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong arm, and that which was broken. I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand. 23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. 24I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before the king of Babylon with the groaning of a mortally wounded man. 25I will hold up the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall down. Then they will know that I am the LORD when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he stretches it out on the land of Egypt. 26I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”