以西結書 14
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
斥責拜偶像的以色列人
14 那時，幾位以色列的長老到我這裡來，坐在我面前。 2 耶和華對我說： 3 「人子啊，這些人在心裡立起偶像，把導致犯罪的絆腳石放在自己面前，我豈能讓他們來求問？ 4 你告訴他們，主耶和華這樣說，『任何以色列人若在心裡立起偶像，把導致犯罪的絆腳石放在自己面前，又來求問先知，我耶和華必按他心中假神的數目親自用懲罰回答他， 5 好奪回以色列人的心，他們因為拜偶像而遠離我。』
6 「因此，你要告訴以色列人，主耶和華這樣說，『你們要悔改，離棄你們的偶像，離棄那些可憎之事。 7 因為以色列人或是在以色列定居的外族人若背棄我，在心中樹立偶像，把導致犯罪的絆腳石放在自己面前，又來向先知求問我的旨意，我耶和華必親自用懲罰回答他。 8 我必嚴懲他，使他成為眾人的鑒戒和笑柄。我必將他從我的子民中剷除。這樣，你們就知道我是耶和華。 9 如果先知受迷惑說預言，那是我耶和華任他胡作非為，我必伸手懲治他，把他從我的以色列百姓中除滅。 10 他們必擔當自己的罪過——假先知與求問的人要擔當同樣的罪過。 11 這樣，以色列人便不再偏離我，不再犯罪玷污自己。他們要做我的子民，我要做他們的上帝。這是主耶和華說的。』」
12 耶和華對我說： 13 「人子啊，若有國家犯罪背叛我，我必伸手斷絕他們的糧源，使饑荒遍地，毀滅人和牲畜。 14 即使挪亞、但以理和約伯三人在那裡，他們也只能因義行而自己得救。這是主耶和華說的。 15 倘若我使猛獸在那裡橫行、肆虐，以致那裡荒涼、人蹤絕跡， 16 縱然這三個義人在那裡，我憑我的永恆起誓，他們也不能救自己的兒女，只能自己得救，那裡卻要荒涼。這是主耶和華說的。 17 倘若我使刀劍臨到那裡，毀滅人和牲畜， 18 縱然這三個義人在那裡，我憑我的永恆起誓，他們也不能救自己的兒女，只能自己得救。這是主耶和華說的。 19 倘若我叫瘟疫在那裡肆虐，發烈怒毀滅那裡的人和牲畜， 20 縱然挪亞、但以理和約伯在那裡，我憑我的永恆起誓，他們也不能救自己的兒女，只能因義行而自己得救。這是主耶和華說的。
21 「主耶和華說，『我要把戰禍、饑荒、猛獸和瘟疫這四大刑罰降在耶路撒冷，毀滅人和牲畜。 22 然而，其中仍有倖免的人帶著兒女逃出來。他們會逃到你們這裡，你們看見他們的所作所為，便會對我在耶路撒冷所降的一切災難感到欣慰。 23 你們看見他們的所作所為，就知道我不是無緣無故地懲罰耶路撒冷。』這是主耶和華說的。」
Ezekiel 14
Common English Bible
False devotion
14 When some of the elders of the house of Israel came to sit in my presence, 2 the Lord’s word came to me: 3 Human one, these men decide on their own to set up their idols, so the cause of their downfall is right in front of them. Why should I allow them to ask me anything? 4 Therefore, speak to them and tell them, The Lord God proclaims: If anyone from the house of Israel decides on his own to set up his idols and puts the cause of his downfall right in front of him, but then comes to the prophet, I, the Lord, will require an answer from him through his many idols. 5 So I’ll seize the hearts of the house of Israel, whose idols have made them all strangers to me.
6 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, The Lord God proclaims: Come back! Turn away from your idols and from all your detestable practices. Turn away! 7 Or anyone of the house of Israel or any immigrant in Israel who becomes estranged from me by deciding on their own to set up their idols and puts the cause of their downfall right in front of them, but then comes to the prophet to ask me something through him, I, the Lord, will require an answer. 8 I will confront that one. I will set them up as a sign and an object lesson, and I will cut them off from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
9 As for the prophet who was seduced into speaking a word, even though it was I, the Lord, who seduced that prophet, I will use my power against him and cut him off completely from my people Israel. 10 The prophet and the inquirer alike will bear their guilt, 11 so that the house of Israel won’t stray away from me again or make themselves impure with any of their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God. This is what the Lord God says!
Failed request
12 The Lord’s word came to me: 13 Human one, suppose a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, so that I use my power against it, break off its food supply, let famine run rampant, and eliminate both humans and animals. 14 If these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, lived there, their lives alone would be saved because they were righteous. This is what the Lord God says. 15 Or suppose I allow wild animals to roam through the land, and it becomes so wild that no one can live there or even travel through it on account of the wild animals. 16 If these three men lived there, as surely as I live, proclaims the Lord God, they wouldn’t be able to rescue even their sons or daughters. They alone would be rescued, but the land would become a ruin. 17 Or suppose I bring a sword against that land and command the sword to pass through and eliminate both humans and animals. 18 If these three men lived there, as surely as I live, proclaims the Lord God, they wouldn’t be able to rescue even their sons or daughters. They alone would be rescued. 19 Or suppose I send a plague against that land and pour out my fury on it. With great bloodshed I would eliminate both humans and animals. 20 If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, as surely as I live, proclaims the Lord God, they wouldn’t be able to rescue either sons or daughters. But they would save their lives because they were righteous.
21 The Lord God proclaims: How much more if I send all four of these terrible acts of judgment—sword, famine, wild animals, and plague—against Jerusalem, to eliminate both humans and animals? 22 Yet a few survivors will be left. Sons and daughters will be brought out to you. When you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the evil that I inflicted on Jerusalem, for all that I brought against it. 23 Seeing their ways and their deeds will bring you some consolation, because then you will understand what I’ve done, and that I didn’t do any of these things without cause. This is what the Lord God says.
Ezekiel 14
International Children’s Bible
Stop Worshiping Idols
14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. 2 Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said: 3 “Human being, these men love to worship idols. They put up evil things that cause people to sin. Should I allow them to ask me for help? 4 So speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Any person in Israel might want to worship idols. He might even put up evil things that cause people to sin. Then he might come to the prophet. When he does, I, the Lord, will answer him. I will put him to death because he worshiped idols. 5 Then I will win back my people Israel. They have left me because of all their idols.’
6 “So say this to the people of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Change your hearts and lives. Stop worshiping idols. Stop doing all the things I hate. 7 Any Israelite or any foreigner in Israel can separate himself from me. He can do this by wanting to worship idols. Or he can put up the things that cause people to sin. Then if he comes to the prophet to ask me questions, I, the Lord, will answer him myself. 8 I will reject him. I will make him a sign and an example. I will separate him from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
9 “‘But the prophet may be tricked into giving a prophecy. Then it is because I, the Lord, have tricked that prophet to speak. Then I will use my power against him. I will destroy him from among my people Israel. 10 The prophet will be as guilty as the one who asks him for help. They both will be responsible for their guilt. 11 Then the nation of Israel will not leave me anymore. And they will not make themselves unclean anymore with all their sins. Then they will be my people. And I will be their God, says the Lord God.’”
Jerusalem Will Not Be Spared
12 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: 13 “Human being, sometimes the people of a country will sin against me by not being loyal. When that happens, I will use my power against them. I will cut off their supply of food. I will send them a time of hunger. I will destroy both their people and animals. 14 Three great men like Noah, Daniel and Job might be in that country. But their goodness could save only themselves, says the Lord God.
15 “I might even send wild animals into that land. They would leave the land empty and without children. Then no one would pass through it because of the animals. 16 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, not even Noah, Daniel and Job could help. Even if they were in the land, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They could only save themselves. And that country would remain empty.
17 “Or, I might bring a war against that country. I might say, ‘Let a war be fought in that land. Let it destroy its men and animals.’ 18 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, not even these three men could help. Even if they were in the land, they could not save their sons or daughters. They could only save themselves.
19 “Or, I might cause a disease to spread in that country. I might pour out my anger against that country, destroying and killing people and animals. 20 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, not even Noah, Daniel and Job could help. Even if they were in the land, they could not save their son or daughter. They could save only themselves because they did what was right.
21 “This is what the Lord God says: I will send my four terrible punishments against Jerusalem. They are war, hunger, wild animals and disease. They will destroy people and animals from Jerusalem. 22 But some people will escape. Some sons and daughters will be led out. They will come out to you. You will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters I have brought against Jerusalem. You will be comforted after all the things I will bring against it. 23 You will be comforted when you see how they live. You will know there was a good reason for what I did to Jerusalem, says the Lord God.”
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
