以西结书 20

Chinese New Version (Traditional)

以色列人在埃及的罪行

20 第七年五月十日，有幾個以色列的長老來求問耶和華，他們坐在我的面前。 ²耶和華的話臨到我說： ³“人子啊！你要告訴以色列的長老，對他們說：‘主耶和華這樣說：你們來求問我嗎？我指著我的永生起誓，我必不讓你們求問我。這是主耶和華的宣告。’ ⁴人子啊，你要審問他們嗎？要審問他們嗎？你要使他們知道他們列祖那些可憎的事， ⁵對他們說：‘主耶和華這樣說：在我揀選以色列的日子，我向雅各家的後裔舉手起誓，又在埃及地向他們顯現。我向他們舉手起誓說：我是耶和華你們的　神。 ⁶那日，我向他們舉手起誓，要把他們從埃及地領出來，到我為他們所選定的流奶與蜜之地，就是萬邦中最榮美的地。 ⁷我對他們說：你們各人要拋棄你們眼中那些可憎的像，不可因埃及的偶像玷污自己：我是耶和華你們的　神。 ⁸但是他們背叛了我，不肯聽從我；他們各人沒有拋棄他們眼中那些可憎的像，沒有離棄埃及的偶像。

“‘那時我說，我要把我的烈怒傾倒在他們身上，在埃及地向他們完全發盡我的怒氣。 ⁹然而我為了我名的緣故沒有這樣作，免得我的名在他們寄居的列國的人眼中被褻瀆，我把他們從埃及地領出來，在列國的人眼前向他們顯現。

在曠野的罪行

¹⁰“‘這樣我把他們從埃及地領了出來，帶到曠野。 ¹¹我把我的律例賜給他們，把我的典章指示他們；人如果遵行，就必因此活著。 ¹²我又把我的安息日賜給他們，作我與他們之間的憑據，使他們知道我是使他們分別為聖的耶和華。 ¹³可是以色列家在曠野背叛了我，沒有遵行我的律例，棄絕了我的典章（人如果遵行這些，就必因此活著），大大褻瀆了我的安息日，那時我說我要把我的烈怒倒在他們身上，在曠野把他們滅絕。 ¹⁴然而我為了我名的緣故沒有這樣作，免得我的名在列國的人眼中被褻瀆；我曾在他們眼前把以色列人領出來。 ¹⁵我在曠野也曾經向他們舉手起誓，必不領他們到我賜給他們的流奶與蜜之地，就是萬邦中最榮美的地。 ¹⁶因為他們棄絕了我的典章，沒有遵行我的律例，褻瀆了我的安息日；他們的心隨從自己的偶像。 ¹⁷雖然這樣，我的眼還是顧惜他們，不毀滅他們；我沒有在曠野把他們滅絕。

¹⁸“‘我在曠野對他們的兒女說：不要遵行你們祖先的律例，不要謹守他們的典章，也不要因他們的偶像玷污自己。 ¹⁹我是耶和華你們的　神；你們要遵行我的律例，謹守我的典章，把它們實行出來。 ²⁰你們要把我的安息日分別為聖，作我與你們之間的憑據，使你們知道我是耶和華你們的　神。 ²¹可是他們的兒女背叛了我，沒有遵行我的律例，也沒有謹守實行我的典章（人如果遵行這些律例典章，就必因此活著），褻瀆了我的安息日；那時我說我要把我的烈怒倒在他們身上，在曠野向他們發盡我的怒氣。 ²²然而我為了我名的緣故縮手，沒有這樣作，免得我名在列國的人眼中被褻瀆；我曾在他們眼前把以色列人領出來。 ²³我在曠野也曾經向他們舉手起誓，要把他們分散在列國，四散在萬邦； ²⁴因為他們沒有遵守我的典章，棄絕了我的律例，褻瀆了我的安息日，他們的眼目注視著他們祖先的偶像。 ²⁵因此，我也把不好的律例和不能藉以存活的典章賜給他們； ²⁶他們使所有頭生的都經火作供物，所以我讓他們玷污自己，好叫他們驚惶，知道我是耶和華。’

在迦南的罪行

²⁷“因此，人子啊！你要告訴以色列家，對他們說：‘主耶和華這樣說：你們的列祖在對我不忠的這事上褻瀆了我。 ²⁸我領他們到了我曾經舉手起誓要賜給他們的那地，他們看見各高山和茂盛的樹林，就在那裡獻祭，在那裡奉上惹我發怒的供物，也在那裡獻上馨香的祭，並且在那裡澆上他們的奠祭。’ ²⁹我問他們：‘你們所去的那高處是甚麼地方？’於是那高處的名字叫巴麻，直到今日。 ³⁰因此，你要對以色列家說：‘主耶和華這樣說：你們還照著你們祖先所行的玷污自己嗎？仍隨著他們可憎的偶像行邪淫嗎？ ³¹你們奉上供物，使你們的兒子經火，用你們的一切偶像玷污自己，直到今日。以色列家啊，我怎能讓你們向我求問呢？主耶和華說：我指著我的永生起誓：我決不讓你們向我求問。這是主耶和華的宣告。 ³²你們說：我們要像列國的人，像列邦的各族一樣去事奉木頭和石頭。你們心裡所起的這意念，必不能成就。

重歸故土的應許

³³“‘我指著我的永生起誓：我必用大能的手，伸出來的膀臂，以及倒出來的烈怒，統治你們。這是主耶和華的宣告。 ³⁴我必用大能的手，伸出來的膀臂，以及倒出來的烈怒，把你們從萬族中領出來，從你們所分散到的列邦招聚你們。 ³⁵我要把你們帶到萬族的曠野，在那裡當面審判你們。 ³⁶我怎樣在埃及地的曠野審判你們的祖先，也必怎樣審判你們。這是主耶和華的宣告。 ³⁷我必使你們從牧人的杖下經過，使你們進入盟約的約束。 ³⁸我必從你們中間除淨那些背叛和得罪我的人，我雖把他們從寄居之地領出來，可是他們不得進入以色列地；這樣，你們就知道我是耶和華。 ³⁹以色列家啊，至於你們，主耶和華這樣說：你們各人去事奉自己的偶像吧！只是將來你們必要聽從我，不可再以你們的供物和偶像褻瀆我的聖名。 ⁴⁰在我的聖山，就是在以色列的高山，以色列全家所有的人都要在那地事奉我；我要在那裡悅納他們；在那裡向你們要舉祭和初熟的土產，以及一切聖物。這是主耶和華的宣告。 ⁴¹我從萬族中把你們領出來，從你們所分散到的列邦召集你們的時候，我必悅納你們，好像悅納馨香的祭一樣。我要在列國的人眼前，在你們中間顯為聖。 ⁴²我領你們進入以色列地，就是進入我曾經舉手起誓要賜給你們祖先的地以後，你們就知道我是耶和華。 ⁴³在那裡你們要想起你們玷污自己的所作所為，又要為了自己所行的一切惡事而厭惡自己。 ⁴⁴以色列家啊！為了我名的緣故，我沒有照著你們的惡行和敗壞的行為待你們，這樣，你們就知道我是耶和華。這是主耶和華的宣告。’”

焚燒樹林的比喻

⁴⁵耶和華的話臨到我說： ⁴⁶“人子啊！你要面向南方，向南面發言，說預言攻擊南地田野的樹林， ⁴⁷對南地的樹林說：‘你要聽耶和華的話，主耶和華這樣說：看哪！我要在你中間點起火來，吞滅你中間所有青綠和枯乾的樹；猛烈的火燄必不熄滅；從南到北遍地都要燒焦。 ⁴⁸所有的人都必看見是我耶和華使這火燃起來；這火必不熄滅。’” ⁴⁹於是我說：“啊，主耶和華啊！人都指著我說：‘這人不是在說比喻嗎？’”（本章第45~49節在《馬索拉文本》為21:1~5）

Ezekiel 20

The Message

Get Rid of All the Things You’ve Become Addicted To

20 In the seventh year, the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of the leaders of Israel came to ask for guidance from God. They sat down before me.

^2-3Then God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, talk with the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says, “Have you come to ask me questions? As sure as I am the living God, I’ll not put up with questions from you. Decree of God, the Master.”’

^4-5“Son of man, why don’t you do it? Yes, go ahead. Hold them accountable. Confront them with the outrageous obscenities of their parents. Tell them that God, the Master, says:

^5-6“‘On the day I chose Israel, I revealed myself to them in the country of Egypt, raising my hand in a solemn oath to the people of Jacob, in which I said, “I am God, your personal God.” On the same day that I raised my hand in the solemn oath, I promised them that I would take them out of the country of Egypt and bring them into a country that I had searched out just for them, a country flowing with milk and honey, a jewel of a country.

⁷“‘At that time I told them, “Get rid of all the vile things that you’ve become addicted to. Don’t make yourselves filthy with the Egyptian no-god idols. I alone am God, your God.”

^8-10“‘But they rebelled against me, wouldn’t listen to a word I said. None got rid of the vile things they were addicted to. They held on to the no-gods of Egypt as if for dear life. I seriously considered inflicting my anger on them in force right there in Egypt. Then I thought better of it. I acted out of who I was, not by how I felt. And I acted in a way that would evoke honor, not blasphemy, from the nations around them, nations who had seen me reveal myself by promising to lead my people out of Egypt. And then I did it: I led them out of Egypt into the desert.

^11-12“‘I gave them laws for living, showed them how to live well and obediently before me. I also gave them my weekly holy rest days, my “Sabbaths,” a kind of signpost erected between me and them to show them that I, God, am in the business of making them holy.

^13-17“‘But Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn’t follow my statutes. They despised my laws for living well and obediently in the ways I had set out. And they totally desecrated my holy Sabbaths. I seriously considered unleashing my anger on them right there in the desert. But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out. But I did lift my hand in a solemn oath there in the desert and promise them that I would not bring them into the country flowing with milk and honey that I had chosen for them, that jewel among all lands. I canceled my promise because they despised my laws for living obediently, wouldn’t follow my statutes, and went ahead and desecrated my holy Sabbaths. They preferred living by their no-god idols. But I didn’t go all the way: I didn’t wipe them out, didn’t finish them off in the desert.

^18-20“‘Then I addressed myself to their children in the desert: “Don’t do what your parents did. Don’t take up their practices. Don’t make yourselves filthy with their no-god idols. I myself am God, your God: Keep my statutes and live by my laws. Keep my Sabbaths as holy rest days, signposts between me and you, signaling that I am God, your God.”

^21-22“‘But the children also rebelled against me. They neither followed my statutes nor kept my laws for living upright and well. And they desecrated my Sabbaths. I seriously considered dumping my anger on them, right there in the desert. But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out.

^23-26“‘But I did lift my hand in solemn oath there in the desert, and swore that I would scatter them all over the world, disperse them every which way because they didn’t keep my laws nor live by my statutes. They desecrated my Sabbaths and remained addicted to the no-god idols of their parents. Since they were determined to live bad lives, I myself gave them statutes that could not produce goodness and laws that did not produce life. I abandoned them. Filthy in the gutter, they perversely sacrificed their firstborn children in the fire. The very horror should have shocked them into recognizing that I am God.’

^27-29“Therefore, speak to Israel, son of man. Tell them that God says, ‘As if that wasn’t enough, your parents further insulted me by betraying me. When I brought them into that land that I had solemnly promised with my upraised hand to give them, every time they saw a hill with a sex-and-religion shrine on it or a grove of trees where the sacred whores practiced, they were there, buying into the whole pagan system. I said to them, “What hill do you go to?”’ (It’s still called ‘Whore Hills.’)

^30-31“Therefore, say to Israel, ‘The Message of God, the Master: You’re making your lives filthy by copying the ways of your parents. In repeating their vile practices, you’ve become whores yourselves. In burning your children as sacrifices, you’ve become as filthy as your no-god idols—as recently as today!

“‘Am I going to put up with questions from people like you, Israel? As sure as I am the living God, I, God, the Master, refuse to be called into question by you!

³²“‘What you’re secretly thinking is never going to happen. You’re thinking, “We’re going to be like everybody else, just like the other nations. We’re going to worship gods we can make and control.”

^33-35“‘As sure as I am the living God, says God, the Master, think again! With a mighty show of strength and a terrifying rush of anger, I will be King over you! I’ll bring you back from the nations, collect you out of the countries to which you’ve been scattered, with a mighty show of strength and a terrifying rush of anger. I’ll bring you to the desert of nations and haul you into court, where you’ll be face-to-face with judgment.

^36-38“‘As I faced your parents with judgment in the desert of Egypt, so I’ll face you with judgment. I’ll scrutinize and search every person as you arrive, and I’ll bring you under the bond of the covenant. I’ll cull out the rebels and traitors. I’ll lead them out of their exile, but I won’t bring them back to Israel.

“‘Then you’ll realize that I am God.

^39-43“‘But you, people of Israel, this is the Message of God, the Master, to you: Go ahead, serve your no-god idols! But later, you’ll think better of it and quit throwing filth and mud on me with your pagan offerings and no-god idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, I, God, the Master, tell you that the entire people of Israel will worship me. I’ll receive them there with open arms. I’ll demand your best gifts and offerings, all your holy sacrifices. What’s more, I’ll receive you as the best kind of offerings when I bring you back from all the lands and countries in which you’ve been scattered. I’ll demonstrate in the eyes of the world that I am The Holy. When I return you to the land of Israel, the land that I solemnly promised with upraised arm to give to your parents, you’ll realize that I am God. Then and there you’ll remember all that you’ve done, the way you’ve lived that has made you so filthy—and you’ll loathe yourselves.

⁴⁴“‘But, dear Israel, you’ll also realize that I am God when I respond to you out of who I am, not by what I feel about the evil lives you’ve lived, the corrupt history you’ve compiled. Decree of God, the Master.’”

Nobody Will Put Out the Fire

^45-46God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, face south. Let the Message roll out against the south. Prophesy against the wilderness forest of the south.

^47-48“Tell the forest of the south, ‘Listen to the Message of God! God, the Master, says, I’ll set a fire in you that will burn up every tree, dead trees and live trees alike. Nobody will put out the fire. The whole country from south to north will be blackened by it. Everyone is going to see that I, God, started the fire and that it’s not going to be put out.’”

⁴⁹And I said, “O God, everyone is saying of me, ‘He just makes up stories.’”

Ezekiel 20

New International Version

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^(A) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.^(B)

²Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³“Son of man, speak to the elders^(C) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire^(D) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(E)’

⁴“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors^(F) ⁵and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose^(G) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand^(H) 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.^(I)” ⁶On that day I swore^(J) 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,^(K) the most beautiful of all lands.^(L) ⁷And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images^(M) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols^(N) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.^(O)”

⁸“‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;^(P) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.^(Q) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.^(R) ⁹But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.^(S) I did it to keep my name from being profaned^(T) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. ¹⁰Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.^(U) ¹¹I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.^(V) ¹²Also I gave them my Sabbaths^(W) as a sign^(X) between us,^(Y) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.^(Z)

¹³“‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled^(AA) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws^(AB)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.^(AC) So I said I would pour out my wrath^(AD) on them and destroy^(AE) them in the wilderness.^(AF) ¹⁴But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned^(AG) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.^(AH) ¹⁵Also with uplifted hand I swore^(AI) 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^(AJ)— ¹⁶because they rejected my laws^(AK) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts^(AL) were devoted to their idols.^(AM) ¹⁷Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy^(AN) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. ¹⁸I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents^(AO) or keep their laws or defile yourselves^(AP) with their idols. ¹⁹I am the Lord your God;^(AQ) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(AR) ²⁰Keep my Sabbaths^(AS) holy, that they may be a sign^(AT) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.^(AU)”

²¹“‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,^(AV) 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^(AW) against them in the wilderness.^(AX) ²²But I withheld^(AY) my hand, and for the sake of my name^(AZ) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. ²³Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter^(BA) them through the countries, ²⁴because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees^(BB) and desecrated my Sabbaths,^(BC) and their eyes lusted after^(BD) their parents’ idols.^(BE) ²⁵So I gave^(BF) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;^(BG) ²⁶I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice^(BH) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.^(BI)’

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^(BJ) blasphemed^(BK) me by being unfaithful to me:^(BL) ²⁸When I brought them into the land^(BM) 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.^(BN) ²⁹Then I said to them: What is this high place^(BO) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah^[a] to this day.)

Rebellious Israel Renewed

³⁰“Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves^(BP) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?^(BQ) ³¹When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children^(BR) 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.^(BS)

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. ³³As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm^(BT) and with outpoured wrath.^(BU) ³⁴I will bring you from the nations^(BV) and gather^(BW) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand^(BX) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.^(BY) ³⁵I will bring you into the wilderness^(BZ) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment^(CA) upon you. ³⁶As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(CB) ³⁷I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,^(CC) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.^(CD) ³⁸I will purge^(CE) 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.^(CF)

³⁹“‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,^(CG) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name^(CH) with your gifts and idols.^(CI) ⁴⁰For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,^(CJ) 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^(CK) and your choice gifts,^[b] along with all your holy sacrifices.^(CL) ⁴¹I will accept you as fragrant incense^(CM) when I bring you out from the nations and gather^(CN) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy^(CO) through you in the sight of the nations.^(CP) ⁴²Then you will know that I am the Lord,^(CQ) when I bring you into the land of Israel,^(CR) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.^(CS) ⁴³There you will remember your conduct^(CT) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves^(CU) for all the evil you have done.^(CV) ⁴⁴You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake^(CW) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(CX)’”

Prophecy Against the South

⁴⁵The word of the Lord came to me: ⁴⁶“Son of man, set your face toward^(CY) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against^(CZ) the forest of the southland.^(DA) ⁴⁷Say to the southern forest:^(DB) ‘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^(DC) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north^(DD) will be scorched by it.^(DE) ⁴⁸Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.^(DF)’”

⁴⁹Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,^(DG) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?^(DH)’”^[c]

Footnotes

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.

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.

²Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,

³Son 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.

⁴Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

⁵And 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;

⁶In 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:

⁷Then 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.

⁸But 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.

⁹But 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.

¹⁰Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

¹¹And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

¹²Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

¹³But 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.

¹⁴But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

¹⁵Yet 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;

¹⁶Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

¹⁷Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

¹⁸But 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:

¹⁹I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

²⁰And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

²¹Notwithstanding 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.

²²Nevertheless 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.

²³I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

²⁴Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

²⁵Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

²⁶And 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.

²⁷Therefore, 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.

²⁸For 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.

²⁹Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day.

³⁰Wherefore 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?

³¹For 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.

³²And 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.

³³As 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:

³⁴And 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.

³⁵And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

³⁶Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.

³⁷And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

³⁸And 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.

³⁹As 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.

⁴⁰For 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.

⁴¹I 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.

⁴²And 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.

⁴³And 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.

⁴⁴And 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.

⁴⁵Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

⁴⁶Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

⁴⁷And 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.

⁴⁸And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

⁴⁹Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

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. ²Then 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.” ’ ⁴Will 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.’ ⁶On 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. ⁷Then 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.’ ⁸But 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.’ ¹²Moreover 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. ¹³Yet 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. ¹⁵So ^(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. ¹⁹I 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. ²²Nevertheless 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. ²³Also 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; ²⁶and 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. ²⁸When 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. ²⁹Then I said to them, ‘What is this ^[e]high place to which you go?’ So its name is called ^[f]Bamah to this day.” ’ ³⁰Therefore 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? ³¹For 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. ³⁴I 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. ³⁵And 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. ⁴⁰For ^(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. ⁴¹I 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. ⁴³And ^(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

⁴⁵Furthermore 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, ⁴⁷and 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. ⁴⁸All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”

⁴⁹Then 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

Chinese New Version (Traditional) (CNVT)

The Chinese New Version is made available by Worldwide Bible Society

The Message (MSG)

New International Version (NIV)

以西结书 20

Chinese New Version (Traditional)

以色列人在埃及的罪行

在曠野的罪行

在迦南的罪行

重歸故土的應許

焚燒樹林的比喻

Ezekiel 20

The Message

Get Rid of All the Things You’ve Become Addicted To

Nobody Will Put Out the Fire

Ezekiel 20

New International Version

Rebellious Israel Purged

Rebellious Israel Renewed

Prophecy Against the South

Footnotes

Cross references

Ezekiel 20

King James Version

Ezekiel 20

New King James Version

The Rebellions of Israel

God Will Restore Israel

Fire in the Forest

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

以西结书 20 Chinese New Version (Traditional)

以色列人在埃及的罪行

在曠野的罪行

在迦南的罪行

重歸故土的應許

焚燒樹林的比喻

Ezekiel 20 The Message

Get Rid of All the Things You’ve Become Addicted To

Nobody Will Put Out the Fire

Ezekiel 20 New International Version

Rebellious Israel Purged

Rebellious Israel Renewed

Prophecy Against the South

Footnotes

Cross references

Ezekiel 20 King James Version

Ezekiel 20 New King James Version

The Rebellions of Israel

God Will Restore Israel

Fire in the Forest

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

以西结书 20

Chinese New Version (Traditional)

Ezekiel 20

The Message

Ezekiel 20

New International Version

Ezekiel 20

King James Version

Ezekiel 20

New King James Version