Иезекииль 20
Russian New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
20 Однажды несколько старейшин Израиля пришли ко мне и попросили о совете Господнем. Это произошло на десятый день пятого месяца, на семнадцатом году нашего изгнания[a]. Старейшины сели передо мной.
2 Господь обратился ко мне с такими словами: 3 «Сын человеческий[b], поговори со старейшинами Израиля и скажи им, что Господь Всемогущий так говорит: „Вы пришли ко Мне за советом? Но Я, Господь Бог, вам говорю, что так же верно, как и то, что Я жив, Я не услышу вас”. 4 Должен ли ты осудить их, сын человеческий? Скажи им обо всём гадком, что сделали их отцы. 5 Скажи им, что Господь Всемогущий им говорит: „В день, когда Я избрал Израиль, Я поднял Свою руку над семьёй Иакова и поклялся им в Египте, сказав: „Я—Господь, ваш Бог”. 6 В тот день Я обещал вывести их из Египта и привести в землю, которую Я им отдал, в землю, текущую молоком и мёдом, лучшую из всех.
7 Я велел семье Израиля выбросить статуи лжебогов и не осквернять себя мерзкими египетскими идолами. Я—Господь, ваш Бог! 8 Но израильтяне отвернулись и отказались Меня слушать, они не выбросили грязных идолов, продолжая поклоняться египетским лжебогам. И тогда Я, Бог, решил показать им весь Свой гнев в Египте. 9 Но Я не уничтожил их полностью, потому что уже поклялся народам, среди которых они жили, что Я выведу Моих людей из Египта. Я не хотел погубить Моё доброе имя и поэтому не уничтожил Израиль на глазах у других людей. 10 Я вывел семью Израиля из Египта и привёл израильтян в пустыню. 11 Я дал им Мои законы, объяснил Мои повеления, исполняя которые, человек будет жить. 12 Я сказал им и о днях отдыха, которые были знамениями между Мной и ими, показывающими, что Я—Господь и что Я сделал их священными. 13 Но семья Израиля отвернулась от Меня в пустыне. Она не следовала Моим законам и отказалась им подчиняться, даже несмотря на то, что, принимая и исполняя эти законы, человек сохранит жизнь. Семья Израиля не придавала значения Моим субботам. Израильтяне неоднократно в этот день работали, и поэтому Я решил уничтожить их в пустыне, чтобы они почувствовали всю силу Моего гнева. 14 Но Я не уничтожил их, и другие народы видели, как Я вывел их из Египта. Я не хотел погубить Своё доброе имя и не уничтожил Израиль на глазах у других народов. 15 Я дал ещё одну клятву тем людям в пустыне, сказав, что не приведу их в землю, которую Я Сам для них приготовил; землю, текущую молоком и мёдом, лучшую среди всех других.
16 Люди Израиля отказались подчиняться Моим законам, не следовали Моим заветам, они относились к субботам как к чему-то неважному, и всё это делали они потому, что их сердца принадлежали грязным идолам. 17 Но Я испытывал к ним жалость и поэтому не уничтожил их в пустыне. 18 Я говорил с их детьми, сказав им: „Не уподобляйтесь вашим родителям, не оскверняйте себя, общаясь с грязными идолами, не подчиняйтесь их законам. 19 Я—Господь, Я—Бог ваш. Подчиняйтесь Моим заповедям, следуйте Моим повелениям, делайте то, что Я вам говорю. 20 Покажите, что Мои субботы важны для вас, помните, что они являются знамениями между Мной и вами. Я—Господь, и эти субботы служат вам напоминанием о том, что Я—ваш Бог”.
21 Но и дети отвернулись от Меня, не подчинились Моим заповедям, не следовали Моим повелениям и не делали того, что Я им говорил. Если человек хранит Мои законы, то этот человек будет жить. Они относились к Моим субботам как к чему-то неважному, и Я решил уничтожить их в пустыне, чтобы дать им понять всю силу Моего гнева. 22 Но Я сдержал себя, потому что другие народы видели, как Я выводил Израиль из Египта. Я не хотел погубить Моё доброе имя и поэтому не уничтожил израильтян на глазах у других народов. 23 Я дал им ещё одну клятву в пустыне, пообещав разбросать их среди других народов и послать в разные страны. 24 Люди Израиля не подчинялись Моим повелениям, отказались принимать Мои законы. Они не относились достойно к Моим субботам, поклоняясь грязным идолам своих отцов. 25 Поэтому Я дал им недобрые законы, дал повеления, которые не сохраняли их жизни. 26 Я позволил им оскверниться своими жертвоприношениями. Они стали приносить в жертву даже своих перворождённых детей, и тем самым Я бы уничтожил тех людей, чтобы они знали, что Я—Господь”. 27 Теперь, сын человеческий, обратись к семье Израиля и передай им, что Господь Всемогущий говорит: „Ваши предки говорили плохо обо Мне и строили против Меня злые планы. 28 Но всё же Я привёл их в обещанную Мной землю. Увидев холмы и зелёные деревья, они опять пошли туда для поклонения, взяв свои жертвы, оскорбительные для Меня[c]. Они везде сжигали свои ароматные благовония и приносили жертвы возлияния. 29 Я спросил людей Израиля, почему они устремляются на эти высоты, которые до сих пор называются местами поклонения?[d]”»
30 Бог сказал: «Люди Израиля продолжали так поступать, поэтому скажи им: „Господь Всемогущий говорит: „Вы осквернили себя, как и ваши отцы, вы вели себя как блудница, вы оставили Меня ради ваших мерзких богов, которым поклонялись ваши предки. 31 Вы приносите идолам все те же дары, предаёте огню своих детей как подарок вашим лжебогам и оскверняетесь через поклонение вашим грязным идолам. Неужели вы и вправду думаете, что можете прийти ко Мне за советом? Я—Господь Всемогущий! Так же верно, как то, что Я жив, Я не отвечу на ваши вопросы и не дам вам совет. 32 Вы продолжаете говорить, что хотите быть как все остальные народы, вы живёте подобно им и служите дереву и камню (идолам)”».
33 Господь Всемогущий говорит: «Так же верно, как то, что Я жив, Я буду править вами в гневе. Я буду суровым и буду готов наказать вас всей Своей силой. 34 Я выведу вас из чужих стран. Я разбросал вас среди них, но Я соберу вас всех вместе и выведу из этих стран. Своей могущественной рукой Я покараю вас, я Свой гнев вам явлю. 35 Я приведу вас в пустыню, как и раньше, но на этот раз там будут жить многочисленные народы. Тогда мы встретимся лицом к лицу, и Я буду судить вас. 36 Я буду судить вас, как судил ваших предков в Египетской пустыне». Так сказал Господь Всемогущий.
37 «Я объявлю вас виновными и накажу в соответствии с соглашением. 38 Всех, кто от меня отвернулись и грешили против Меня, Я соберу и лишу их родины. Они никогда больше не ступят на землю Израиля. И тогда вы узнаете, что Я—Господь».
39 Теперь, семья Израиля, слушай, что говорит Господь: «Если кто-нибудь хочет поклоняться грязным идолам, то пусть поклоняется, но больше не думайте, что получите Мой совет. Вы больше не оскверните Моего имени вашими дарами и грязными идолами».
40 Господь Всемогущий говорит: «Люди должны прийти к Моей Святой горе, к высокой горе Израиля, и служить Мне. Вся семья Израиля будет жить на своей земле, в своей стране. Это и есть место, где вы можете спросить Моего совета, и вы должны прийти туда со своими приношениями, принести первую часть вашего урожая, все ваши святые дары. 41 Мне будет приятен сладостный запах ваших приношений. Это случится, когда Я приведу вас обратно. Я разбросал вас среди других народов, но Я вас соберу вместе и сделаю Моим избранным народом. И это увидят все народы. 42 Тогда вы поймёте, что Я—Господь, узнаете это, когда Я приведу вас обратно на землю Израиля, обещанную Мной вашим предкам. 43 Вы вспомните в той стране всё плохое, от чего вы осквернились, и тогда устыдитесь. 44 Семья Израиля, много плохого сделала ты, и ты должна быть уничтожена за свои грехи. Но, чтобы сохранить Моё доброе имя, Я не накажу вас, как вы того заслужили, и вы поймёте, что Я—Господь». Так сказал Господь Всемогущий.
45 И слово Господа опять пришло ко мне. Он сказал: 46 «Сын человеческий, посмотри в сторону Негева, южной части Иудеи, и скажи слово против лесов Негева[e]. 47 Скажи лесу Негева: „Господь Всемогущий сказал: „Я готов зажечь огонь, который уничтожит все зелёные и все сухие деревья. Пламя не будет погашено, а вся земля от юга до севера будет сожжена этим огнём. 48 И все люди увидят, что Я, Господь, зажёг огонь, который нельзя погасить”».
49 Тогда я, Иезекииль, сказал: «О, Господь Всемогущий, если я это скажу, то люди подумают, что я рассказываю им небылицы, которым не суждено сбыться!»
Footnotes
- 20:1 Это произошло… изгнания То есть летом 591 г. до Р. Х.
- 20:3 Сын человеческий То есть «человек». В этой книге Господь называет Иезекииля «сыном человеческим», потому что Господь избрал его пророчествовать от Своего имени. Также см.: Иез. 20:4, 27, 46.
- 20:28 жертвы… для Меня Буквально «жертвы гнева», то есть «приношения, которые гневили Бога».
- 20:29 которые… поклонения Буквально «которые до сих пор называются Бамах», то есть «местами поклонения».
- 20:46 лесов Негева Возможно, Бог смеётся над людьми. Негев был пустыней, лишённой всякой растительности.
Ezekiel 20
New King James Version
The Rebellions of Israel
20 It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that (A)certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lord God, (B)“I will not be inquired of by you.” ’ 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then (C)make known to them the abominations of their fathers.
5 “Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day when (D)I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself (E)known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, (F)‘I am the Lord your God.’ 6 On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, (G)to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, (H)‘flowing with milk and honey,’ (I)the glory of all lands. 7 Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, (J)throw away (K)the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with (L)the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they rebelled against Me and would not [a]obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will (M)pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’ 9 (N)But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself (O)known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
10 “Therefore I (P)made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 (Q)And I gave them My statutes and [b]showed them My judgments, (R)‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’ 12 Moreover I also gave them My (S)Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 Yet the house of Israel (T)rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they (U)despised My judgments, (V)‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly (W)defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the (X)wilderness, to consume them. 14 (Y)But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 So (Z)I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, (AA)‘flowing with milk and honey,’ (AB)the glory of all lands, 16 (AC)because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for (AD)their heart went after their idols. 17 (AE)Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.
18 “But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God: (AF)Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 20 (AG)hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’
21 “Notwithstanding, (AH)the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, (AI)‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I [c]withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that (AJ)I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, 24 (AK)because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and (AL)their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.
25 “Therefore (AM)I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all [d]their firstborn to pass (AN)through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they (AO)might know that I am the Lord.” ’
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “In this too your fathers have (AP)blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. 28 When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and (AQ)they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their (AR)sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is this [e]high place to which you go?’ So its name is called [f]Bamah to this day.” ’ 30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your (AS)fathers, and committing harlotry according to their (AT)abominations? 31 For when you offer (AU)your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will (AV)not be inquired of by you. 32 (AW)What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’
God Will Restore Israel
33 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand, (AX)with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. 34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there (AY)I will plead My case with you face to face. 36 (AZ)Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord God.
37 “I will make you (BA)pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the (BB)covenant; 38 (BC)I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but (BD)they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God: (BE)“Go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; (BF)but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols. 40 For (BG)on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord God, “there (BH)all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there (BI)I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your [g]sacrifices, together with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you as a (BJ)sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. 42 (BK)Then you shall know that I am the Lord, (BL)when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. 43 And (BM)there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and (BN)you shall [h]loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. 44 (BO)Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you (BP)for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord God.’ ”
Fire in the Forest
45 Furthermore the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 (BQ)“Son of man, set your face toward the south; [i]preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the [j]South, 47 and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, (BR)I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour (BS)every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces (BT)from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. 48 All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”
49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak (BU)parables?’ ”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 20:8 Lit. listen to
- Ezekiel 20:11 Lit. made known to
- Ezekiel 20:22 Refrained from judgment
- Ezekiel 20:26 Lit. that open the womb
- Ezekiel 20:29 Place for pagan worship
- Ezekiel 20:29 Lit. High Place
- Ezekiel 20:40 offerings
- Ezekiel 20:43 Or despise
- Ezekiel 20:46 proclaim, lit. drop
- Ezekiel 20:46 Heb. Negev
Ezekiel 20
King James Version
20 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and sat before me.
2 Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.
4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God;
6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
19 I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.
21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.
27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.
29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day.
30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.
32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
33 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.
37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Ezekiel 20
English Standard Version
Israel's Continuing Rebellion
20 (A)In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of (B)the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, (C)and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me: 3 (D)“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Is it to inquire of me that you come? (E)As I live, declares the Lord God, (F)I will not be inquired of by you. 4 (G)Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? (H)Let them know the abominations of their fathers, 5 and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: (I)On the day when I chose Israel, (J)I swore[a] to the offspring of the house of Jacob, (K)making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; (L)I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God. 6 On that day I swore to them that (M)I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land (N)flowing with milk and honey, (O)the most glorious of all lands. 7 And I said to them, (P)‘Cast away the detestable things (Q)your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with (R)the idols of Egypt; (S)I am the Lord your God.’ 8 (T)But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. (U)None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.
“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them (V)and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 (W)But I acted (X)for the sake of my name, (Y)that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, (Z)in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 (AA)So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 (AB)I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, (AC)by which, if a person does them, he shall live. 12 Moreover, I gave them (AD)my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, (AE)that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 (AF)But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. (AG)They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; (AH)and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned.
(AI)“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them. 14 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, (AJ)in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Moreover, (AK)I swore to them in the wilderness (AL)that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land (AM)flowing with milk and honey, (AN)the most glorious of all lands, 16 because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; (AO)for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless, (AP)my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or (AQ)make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18 “And I said to (AR)their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk (AS)in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, (AT)nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 (AU)I am the Lord your God; (AV)walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, 20 and (AW)keep my Sabbaths holy that (AX)they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 (AY)But the children (AZ)rebelled against me. (BA)They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths.
(BB)“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 (BC)But I withheld my hand (BD)and acted for the sake of my name, (BE)that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 (BF)Moreover, (BG)I swore to them in the wilderness (BH)that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, (BI)and their eyes were set on their fathers' idols. 25 (BJ)Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life, 26 and I defiled them through (BK)their very gifts (BL)in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it (BM)that they might know that I am the Lord.
27 “Therefore, (BN)son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by (BO)dealing treacherously with me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land that (BP)I swore to give them, then wherever they saw (BQ)any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented (BR)the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 (I said to them, (BS)‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah[b] to this day.)
30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: (BT)Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go (BU)whoring after their detestable things? 31 When you present your gifts and (BV)offer up your children in fire,[c] you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And (BW)shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? (BX)As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 (BY)“What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, (BZ)‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, (CA)and worship wood and stone.’
The Lord Will Restore Israel
33 (CB)“As I live, declares the Lord God, (CC)surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and (CD)with wrath poured out I will be king over you. 34 (CE)I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. 35 (CF)And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, (CG)and there I will enter into judgment with you (CH)face to face. 36 (CI)As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God. 37 I will make you (CJ)pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 (CK)I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. (CL)I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, (CM)but they shall not enter the land of Israel. (CN)Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: (CO)Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; (CP)but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols.
40 (CQ)“For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord God, there (CR)all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. (CS)There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings. 41 As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when (CT)I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And (CU)I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. 42 (CV)And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that (CW)I swore to give to your fathers. 43 (CX)And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, (CY)and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed. 44 And you shall know that I am the Lord, (CZ)when I deal with you for my name's sake, (DA)not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”
45 [d] And the word of the Lord came to me: 46 (DB)“Son of man, (DC)set your face toward the southland;[e] (DD)preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb. 47 Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, (DE)I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every (DF)green tree in you and every (DG)dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and (DH)all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it. 48 (DI)All flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” 49 Then I said, (DJ)“Ah, Lord God! They are saying of me, (DK)‘Is he not a maker of parables?’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 20:5 Hebrew I lifted my hand; twice in this verse; also verses 6, 15, 23, 28, 42
- Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place
- Ezekiel 20:31 Hebrew and make your children pass through the fire
- Ezekiel 20:45 Ch 21:1 in Hebrew
- Ezekiel 20:46 Or toward Teman
©2014 Bible League International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
