Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow(A) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.(B) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.(C) 17 Groan quietly;(D) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban(E) fastened and your sandals(F) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard(G) or eat the customary food of mourners.(H)

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.(I)

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?(J) Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary(K)—the stronghold in which you take pride,(L) the delight of your eyes,(M) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters(N) you left behind will fall by the sword.(O) 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard(P) or eat the customary food of mourners.(Q) 23 You will keep your turbans(R) on your heads and your sandals(S) on your feet. You will not mourn(T) or weep but will waste away(U) because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.(V) 24 Ezekiel(W) will be a sign(X) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,(Y) their heart’s desire,(Z) and their sons and daughters(AA) as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you(AB) the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.(AC) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.(AD)

A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set your face against(AE) the Ammonites(AF) and prophesy against them.(AG) Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!(AH)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated(AI) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,(AJ) therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East(AK) as a possession. They will set up their camps(AL) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.(AM) I will turn Rabbah(AN) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.(AO) Then you will know that I am the Lord. For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands(AP) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,(AQ) therefore I will stretch out my hand(AR) against you and give you as plunder(AS) to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy(AT) you, and you will know that I am the Lord.(AU)’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab(AV) and Seir(AW) said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth(AX), Baal Meon(AY) and Kiriathaim(AZ)—the glory of that land. 10 I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered(BA) among the nations; 11 and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”(BB)

A Prophecy Against Edom

12 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom(BC) took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, 13 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand(BD) against Edom and kill both man and beast.(BE) I will lay it waste, and from Teman(BF) to Dedan(BG) they will fall by the sword.(BH) 14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger(BI) and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”(BJ)

A Prophecy Against Philistia

15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines(BK) acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice(BL) in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, 16 therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines,(BM) and I will wipe out the Kerethites(BN) and destroy those remaining along the coast.(BO) 17 I will carry out great vengeance(BP) on them and punish(BQ) them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord,(BR) when I take vengeance on them.(BS)’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in

Warning to Zedekiah

34 While Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms and peoples(A) in the empire he ruled were fighting against Jerusalem(B) and all its surrounding towns, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Go to Zedekiah(C) king of Judah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.(D) You will not escape from his grasp but will surely be captured and given into his hands.(E) You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.

“‘Yet hear the Lord’s promise to you, Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: You will not die by the sword;(F) you will die peacefully. As people made a funeral fire(G) in honor of your predecessors, the kings who ruled before you, so they will make a fire in your honor and lament, “Alas,(H) master!” I myself make this promise, declares the Lord.’”

Then Jeremiah the prophet told all this to Zedekiah king of Judah, in Jerusalem, while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that were still holding out—Lachish(I) and Azekah.(J) These were the only fortified cities left in Judah.

Freedom for Slaves

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people(K) in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom(L) for the slaves. Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage.(M) 10 So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. 11 But afterward they changed their minds(N) and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.

12 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors(O) when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.(P) I said, 14 ‘Every seventh year each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you six years, you must let them go free.’[a](Q) Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay attention(R) to me. 15 Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your own people.(S) You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name.(T) 16 But now you have turned around(U) and profaned(V) my name; each of you has taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become your slaves again.

17 “Therefore this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom to your own people. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you,(W) declares the Lord—‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague(X) and famine.(Y) I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.(Z) 18 Those who have violated my covenant(AA) and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces.(AB) 19 The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials,(AC) the priests and all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf, 20 I will deliver(AD) into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them.(AE) Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.(AF)

21 “I will deliver Zedekiah(AG) king of Judah and his officials(AH) into the hands of their enemies(AI) who want to kill them, to the army of the king of Babylon,(AJ) which has withdrawn(AK) from you. 22 I am going to give the order, declares the Lord, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, take(AL) it and burn(AM) it down. And I will lay waste(AN) the towns of Judah so no one can live there.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 34:14 Deut. 15:12

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

21 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah(A) sent to him Pashhur(B) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah(C) son of Maaseiah. They said: “Inquire(D) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar[a](E) king of Babylon(F) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders(G) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn(H) against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians[b] who are outside the wall besieging(I) you. And I will gather them inside this city. I myself will fight(J) against you with an outstretched hand(K) and a mighty arm(L) in furious anger and in great wrath. I will strike(M) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.(N) After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah(O) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,(P) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon(Q) and to their enemies(R) who want to kill them.(S) He will put them to the sword;(T) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’(U)

“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life(V) and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.(W) But whoever goes out and surrenders(X) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.(Y) 10 I have determined to do this city harm(Z) and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands(AA) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’(AB)

11 “Moreover, say to the royal house(AC) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. 12 This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:

“‘Administer justice(AD) every morning;
    rescue from the hand of the oppressor(AE)
    the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire(AF)
    because of the evil(AG) you have done—
    burn with no one to quench(AH) it.
13 I am against(AI) you, Jerusalem,
    you who live above this valley(AJ)
    on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord
you who say, “Who can come against us?
    Who can enter our refuge?”(AK)
14 I will punish you as your deeds(AL) deserve,
    declares the Lord.
I will kindle a fire(AM) in your forests(AN)
    that will consume everything around you.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 21:2 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, of which Nebuchadnezzar is a variant; here and often in Jeremiah and Ezekiel
  2. Jeremiah 21:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 9

A Prophecy Against Egypt

Judgment on Pharaoh

29 In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of the Lord came to me:(A) “Son of man, set your face against(B) Pharaoh king of Egypt(C) and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.(D) Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘I am against you, Pharaoh(E) king of Egypt,
    you great monster(F) lying among your streams.
You say, “The Nile(G) belongs to me;
    I made it for myself.”
But I will put hooks(H) in your jaws
    and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales.
I will pull you out from among your streams,
    with all the fish sticking to your scales.(I)
I will leave you in the desert,
    you and all the fish of your streams.
You will fall on the open field
    and not be gathered(J) or picked up.
I will give you as food
    to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.(K)

Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the Lord.

“‘You have been a staff of reed(L) for the people of Israel. When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered(M) and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.[a](N)

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will bring a sword against you and kill both man and beast.(O) Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

“‘Because you said, “The Nile(P) is mine; I made it,(Q) 10 therefore I am against you(R) and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt(S) a ruin and a desolate waste(T) from Migdol(U) to Aswan,(V) as far as the border of Cush.[b](W) 11 The foot of neither man nor beast will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years.(X) 12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate(Y) among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.(Z)

13 “‘Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered. 14 I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt,(AA) the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly(AB) kingdom.(AC) 15 It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations.(AD) I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations. 16 Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence(AE) for the people of Israel but will be a reminder(AF) of their sin in turning to her for help.(AG) Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.(AH)’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 29:7 Syriac (see also Septuagint and Vulgate); Hebrew and you caused their backs to stand
  2. Ezekiel 29:10 That is, the upper Nile region

Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken

20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of the Lord came to me:(A) 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm(B) of Pharaoh(C) king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed(D) or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt.(E) I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand.(F) 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.(G) 24 I will strengthen(H) the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword(I) in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan(J) before him like a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I put my sword(K) into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.(L) 26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(M)

Pharaoh as a Felled Cedar of Lebanon

31 In the eleventh year,(N) in the third month on the first day, the word of the Lord came to me:(O) “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:

“‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?
Consider Assyria,(P) once a cedar in Lebanon,(Q)
    with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;
it towered on high,
    its top above the thick foliage.(R)
The waters(S) nourished it,
    deep springs made it grow tall;
their streams flowed
    all around its base
and sent their channels
    to all the trees of the field.(T)
So it towered higher(U)
    than all the trees of the field;
its boughs increased
    and its branches grew long,
    spreading because of abundant waters.(V)
All the birds of the sky
    nested in its boughs,
all the animals of the wild
    gave birth(W) under its branches;
all the great nations
    lived in its shade.(X)
It was majestic in beauty,
    with its spreading boughs,
for its roots went down
    to abundant waters.(Y)
The cedars(Z) in the garden of God
    could not rival it,
nor could the junipers
    equal its boughs,
nor could the plane trees(AA)
    compare with its branches—
no tree in the garden of God
    could match its beauty.(AB)
I made it beautiful
    with abundant branches,
the envy of all the trees of Eden(AC)
    in the garden of God.(AD)

10 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud(AE) of its height, 11 I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,(AF) 12 and the most ruthless of foreign nations(AG) cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys;(AH) its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.(AI) 13 All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.(AJ) 14 Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined(AK) for death,(AL) for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.(AM)

15 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day it was brought down to the realm of the dead I covered the deep springs with mourning for it; I held back its streams, and its abundant waters were restrained. Because of it I clothed Lebanon with gloom, and all the trees of the field withered away.(AN) 16 I made the nations tremble(AO) at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees(AP) of Eden,(AQ) the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled(AR) in the earth below.(AS) 17 They too, like the great cedar, had gone down to the realm of the dead, to those killed by the sword,(AT) along with the armed men who lived in its shade among the nations.

18 “‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised,(AU) with those killed by the sword.

“‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

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