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Ezekiel 18-20
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel 18-20
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Personal Responsibility for Sin
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel:
3 As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.(C) 4 Look, every life belongs to Me.(D) 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.(E)
5 “Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right: 6 He does not eat at the mountain shrines(F) or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife(G) or come near a woman during her menstrual impurity.(H) 7 He doesn’t oppress anyone(I) but returns his collateral to the debtor.(J) He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry(K) and covers the naked with clothing. 8 He doesn’t lend at interest or for profit(L) but keeps his hand from wrongdoing and carries out true justice between men.(M) 9 He follows My statutes and keeps My ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live.”(N) This is the declaration of the Lord God.
10 “Now suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood(O) 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 raises his eyes to the idols, commits detestable acts,(P) 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 blood will be on him.(Q)
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 raise his eyes 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 what was wrong among his people.(R) 19 But you may ask, ‘Why doesn’t the son suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity?’(S) 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.(T) A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity.(U) The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him,(V) and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.(W)
21 “Now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed,(X) 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.(Y) He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.(Z) 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?”(AA) 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(AB) and practices iniquity, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered.(AC) 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.’(AD) 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 practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has practiced. 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.”(AE) This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment. 31 Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.(AF) 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!
A Lament for Israel’s Princes
19 “Now, lament for the princes of Israel(AG) 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.(AH)
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.(AI)
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,(AJ)
and he became a young lion.
After he learned to tear prey,
he devoured people.
7 He devastated their strongholds[a]
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.(AK)
They spread their net over him;
he was caught in their pit.
9 They put a wooden yoke on him[b] with hooks(AL)
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.(AM)
10 Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,[c](AN)
planted by the water;
it was fruitful and full of branches(AO)
because of plentiful waters.
11 It had strong branches, fit for the scepters of rulers;
its height towered among the clouds.[d]
So it was conspicuous for its height
as well as its many branches.
12 But it was uprooted in fury,(AP)
thrown to the ground,
and the east wind dried up its fruit.
Its strong branches were torn off and dried up;(AQ)
fire consumed them.
13 Now it is planted in the wilderness,(AR)
in a dry and thirsty land.
14 Fire has gone out from its main branch[e]
and has devoured its fruit,
so that it no longer has a strong branch,
a scepter for ruling.(AS)
This is a lament and should be used as a lament.”
Israel’s Rebellion
20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel’s elders came to consult the Lord,(AT) 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 consult Me? As I live, I will not be consulted by you.”(AU) 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 fathers to them.(AV) 5 Say to them: This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath[f](AW) 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 Yahweh your God.(AX) 6 On that day I swore[g] to them that I would bring them out(AY) of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(AZ) the most beautiful of all lands.(BA) 7 I also said to them: Each of you must throw away the detestable things that are before your eyes and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.(BB) I am Yahweh your God.(BC)
8 “But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them threw away the detestable things that were before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them,(BD) exhausting My anger against them within the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted because of My name,(BE) 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.(BF) 11 Then I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.(BG) 12 I also gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them,(BH) so they will know that I am Yahweh who sets them apart as holy.
13 “But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness.(BI) They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them.(BJ) They also completely profaned My Sabbaths.(BK) So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.(BL) 14 But I acted because 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[h] to them(BM) 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.(BN) 17 But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.(BO)
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.(BP) 19 I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.(BQ) 20 Keep My Sabbaths holy,(BR) and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God.
21 “But the children rebelled against Me.(BS) 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 because 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[i] to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(BT) 24 For they did not practice My ordinances but rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed(BU) on their fathers’ idols. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances(BV) they could not live by. 26 When they made every firstborn pass through the fire,(BW) I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh.(BX)
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 fathers blasphemed Me by(BY) committing treachery against Me: 28 When I brought them into the land that I swore[j] to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree,(BZ) 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 called High Place to this day.
30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did,(CA) and prostituting yourselves with their detestable things? 31 When you offer your gifts, making your children pass through the fire,(CB) you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“I will not be consulted by you!
Israel’s Restoration
32 “When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of other countries, worshiping wood and stone,’(CC) what you have in mind will never happen.(CD) 33 As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(CE) and outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered,(CF) with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(CG) and outpoured wrath. 35 I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples(CH) and enter into judgment with you there face to face. 36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,(CI) 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(CJ) and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me.(CK) 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 Yahweh.
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.(CL) 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,(CM) will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts,(CN) 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.(CO) 42 When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore[k] to give your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh.(CP) 43 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds that you have defiled yourselves with,(CQ) and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.(CR) 44 You will know that I am Yahweh,(CS) house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name(CT) rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.
Fire in the South
45 [l]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,(CU) 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 people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it.(CV) It will not be extinguished.”
49 Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just posing riddles?’”(CW)
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 19:7 Tg, Aq; MT reads knew their widows
- Ezekiel 19:9 Or put him in a cage
- Ezekiel 19:10 Some Hb mss; other Hb mss read blood
- Ezekiel 19:11 Or thick foliage
- Ezekiel 19:14 Lit from the branch of its parts
- Ezekiel 20:5 Lit I lifted My hand
- Ezekiel 20:6 Lit lifted My hand
- Ezekiel 20:15 Lit lifted My hand
- Ezekiel 20:23 Lit lifted My hand
- Ezekiel 20:28 Lit lifted My hand
- Ezekiel 20:42 Lit lifted My hand
- Ezekiel 20:45 Ezk 21:1 in Hb
Ezekiel 18-20
New International Version
Ezekiel 18-20
New International Version
The One Who Sins Will Die
18 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’?(A)
3 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb(B) in Israel. 4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins(C) is the one who will die.(D)
5 “Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right.
6 He does not eat at the mountain(E) shrines
or look to the idols(F) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.(G)
7 He does not oppress(H) anyone,
but returns what he took in pledge(I) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery(J)
but gives his food to the hungry(K)
and provides clothing for the naked.(L)
8 He does not lend to them at interest
or take a profit from them.(M)
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
and judges fairly(N) between two parties.
9 He follows my decrees(O)
and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;(P)
he will surely live,(Q)
declares the Sovereign Lord.
10 “Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood(R) or does any of these other things[a] 11 (though the father has done none of them):
“He eats at the mountain shrines.(S)
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12 He oppresses the poor(T) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.(U)
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.(V)
13 He lends at interest and takes a profit.(W)
Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.(X)
14 “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:(Y)
15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines(Z)
or look to the idols(AA) 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(AB)
and provides clothing for the naked.(AC)
17 He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws(AD) 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.(AE) 20 The one who sins is the one who will die.(AF) 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.(AG)
21 “But if(AH) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees(AI) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.(AJ) 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.(AK) 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased(AL) when they turn from their ways and live?(AM)
24 “But if a righteous person turns(AN) 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(AO) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.(AP)
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’(AQ) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?(AR) 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.(AS) 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.(AT) 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!(AU) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.(AV) 31 Rid(AW) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart(AX) and a new spirit. Why(AY) will you die, people of Israel?(AZ) 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent(BA) and live!(BB)
A Lament Over Israel’s Princes
19 “Take up a lament(BC) concerning the princes(BD) of Israel 2 and say:
“‘What a lioness(BE) was your mother
among the lions!
She lay down among them
and reared her cubs.(BF)
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(BG)
to the land of Egypt.(BH)
5 “‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs(BI)
and made him a strong lion.(BJ)
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.(BK)
7 He broke down[b] their strongholds
and devastated(BL) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
were terrified by his roaring.
8 Then the nations(BM) came against him,
those from regions round about.
They spread their net(BN) for him,
and he was trapped in their pit.(BO)
9 With hooks(BP) they pulled him into a cage
and brought him to the king of Babylon.(BQ)
They put him in prison,
so his roar(BR) was heard no longer
on the mountains of Israel.(BS)
10 “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard[c](BT)
planted by the water;(BU)
it was fruitful and full of branches
because of abundant water.(BV)
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.(BW)
12 But it was uprooted(BX) in fury
and thrown to the ground.
The east wind(BY) made it shrivel,
it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
and fire consumed them.(BZ)
13 Now it is planted in the desert,(CA)
in a dry and thirsty land.(CB)
14 Fire spread from one of its main[d] branches
and consumed(CC) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
fit for a ruler’s scepter.’(CD)
“This is a lament(CE) and is to be used as a lament.”
Rebellious Israel Purged
20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire(CF) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.(CG)
2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders(CH) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire(CI) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CJ)’
4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors(CK) 5 and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose(CL) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand(CM) 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.(CN)” 6 On that day I swore(CO) 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,(CP) the most beautiful of all lands.(CQ) 7 And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images(CR) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols(CS) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.(CT)”
8 “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;(CU) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.(CV) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.(CW) 9 But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.(CX) I did it to keep my name from being profaned(CY) 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.(CZ) 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.(DA) 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths(DB) as a sign(DC) between us,(DD) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.(DE)
13 “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled(DF) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws(DG)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.(DH) So I said I would pour out my wrath(DI) on them and destroy(DJ) them in the wilderness.(DK) 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned(DL) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.(DM) 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore(DN) 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(DO)— 16 because they rejected my laws(DP) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts(DQ) were devoted to their idols.(DR) 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy(DS) 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(DT) or keep their laws or defile yourselves(DU) with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God;(DV) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(DW) 20 Keep my Sabbaths(DX) holy, that they may be a sign(DY) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.(DZ)”
21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,(EA) 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(EB) against them in the wilderness.(EC) 22 But I withheld(ED) my hand, and for the sake of my name(EE) 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(EF) them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees(EG) and desecrated my Sabbaths,(EH) and their eyes lusted after(EI) their parents’ idols.(EJ) 25 So I gave(EK) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;(EL) 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice(EM) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.(EN)’
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(EO) blasphemed(EP) me by being unfaithful to me:(EQ) 28 When I brought them into the land(ER) 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.(ES) 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place(ET) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah[e] to this day.)
Rebellious Israel Renewed
30 “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves(EU) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?(EV) 31 When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children(EW) 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.(EX)
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(EY) and with outpoured wrath.(EZ) 34 I will bring you from the nations(FA) and gather(FB) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand(FC) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.(FD) 35 I will bring you into the wilderness(FE) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment(FF) 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.(FG) 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,(FH) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.(FI) 38 I will purge(FJ) 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.(FK)
39 “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,(FL) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name(FM) with your gifts and idols.(FN) 40 For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,(FO) 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(FP) and your choice gifts,[f] along with all your holy sacrifices.(FQ) 41 I will accept you as fragrant incense(FR) when I bring you out from the nations and gather(FS) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy(FT) through you in the sight of the nations.(FU) 42 Then you will know that I am the Lord,(FV) when I bring you into the land of Israel,(FW) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.(FX) 43 There you will remember your conduct(FY) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves(FZ) for all the evil you have done.(GA) 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake(GB) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.(GC)’”
Prophecy Against the South
45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, set your face toward(GD) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against(GE) the forest of the southland.(GF) 47 Say to the southern forest:(GG) ‘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(GH) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north(GI) will be scorched by it.(GJ) 48 Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.(GK)’”
49 Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,(GL) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?(GM)’”[g]
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 18:10 Or things to a brother
- Ezekiel 19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew
- Ezekiel 19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
- Ezekiel 19:14 Or from under its
- Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place.
- Ezekiel 20:40 Or and the gifts of your firstfruits
- Ezekiel 20:49 In Hebrew texts 20:45-49 is numbered 21:1-5.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.