Ezekiel 26-28
International Standard Version
A Message Condemning Tyre
26 During the eleventh year, on the first day of the month of our captivity[a], this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, because Tyre has been saying about Jerusalem,
‘The international gateway is broken down!
It’s wide open to me!
I will be replenished,
now that it lies in ruins!’
3 “Therefore this is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m coming to get[b] you, Tyre! I’m about to bring many nations to attack you. They’ll come in wave after wave, like the advancing tide,[c] 4 and will destroy the city walls of Tyre. After they break down her fortified towers, I’ll scrape away the city’s debris, right down to the bare bedrock, 5 and it will become a place where nets will be spread out right in the middle of the Mediterranean[d] Sea. Because I have declared this to happen,’ declares the Lord God, ‘Tyre will be treated as the spoils of war by the invading[e] nations. 6 Furthermore, her citizens[f] who live on the mainland will be executed with swords. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Invasion
7 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m about to bring from the north King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that king of kings. He’ll come with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a vast army. 8 He’ll execute your citizens who live on the mainland with swords. He’ll build siege engines to attack you. Then he’ll construct siege ramps against you and build huge shields to protect themselves[g] against you.
9 “‘He’ll direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and will breach your fortified towers with axes.[h] 10 There will be so many horses that the dust raised by them will cover you completely. The walls of your city will tremble from the noise of Nebuchadnezzar’s[i] cavalry, wagons, and chariots when they enter through the gates of your city, as men enter a city that has been breached.
11 “‘Their horses will trample all the public places as he executes your inhabitants with swords. The most fortified of your pillars will be torn to the ground. 12 They will plunder your riches and loot your businesses. They’ll tear down your walls and demolish your luxurious homes. They’ll grab the stones, wood, and rubble from the destruction and dump it all into the Mediterranean[j] Sea.
13 “‘I’ll silence the noise of your songs and the music of your harps won’t be heard anymore. 14 I’ll turn you into bare rock, and your city will become a place to spread nets. You will never be built again, because I the Lord have decreed this,’ declares the Lord God.”
Terror at Tyre’s Destruction
15 “This is what the Lord God says to Tyre: ‘When your wounded citizens groan while the slaughter takes place among you, the people who live in the coastlands will tremble in terror as they hear about your fall, will they not? 16 That’s when all the kings of the seafaring nations will abandon their thrones, strip off their fancy clothes, and collapse trembling on the ground. They’ll be so frightened as they observe what has happened to you that they’ll be unable to stop trembling. They will be utterly appalled at you! 17 They’ll sing this mourning song for you:
“How lost you are,
you inhabited city,
that was built in the middle of the sea!
How famous you were!
How strong on the sea!
She and her inhabitants
inflicted[k] terror to everyone
who lived within her.”
18 ‘Now the coastland inhabitants
will tremble on the day that you fall.
The coastland inhabitants,
who make their living from[l] the sea,
will be terrified when you pass away!’
19 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘When I turn your city into a ghost town, when I flood you with deep water that covers you completely, 20 I’ll make sure that you go straight to the Pit,[m] into the lowest part of the earth, where you’ll be with people who lived in ancient times. You’ll keep company there with the dead, who have gone into the Pit.[n] As a result, your city[o] won’t be inhabited. Meanwhile, I will display my glory in the land of the living. 21 I’m going to send terrifying calamity in your direction, and you won’t exist any longer. You might be sought after, but you’ll never be found again,’ declares the Lord God.”
A Message Condemning Tyre
27 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, compose a mourning song for Tyre. 3 Tell Tyre, who lives at the gateway to the Mediterranean[p] Sea, who serves as the international merchant to many coastal districts: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
“Tyre, you’ve been claiming,
“I am beauty perfected.’
4 You’ve set your national boundary in international waters.
Your builders made you downright beautiful!”’”[q]
Tyre’s Luxurious Sailing Vessels
5 ‘They brought in a ship
made with pine planking from Senir,
configured with a mast carved from a cedar from Lebanon,
6 equipped with oars
made from oaks from Bashan,
with ivory-inlaid cypress wood[r] decking
imported from the coastlands of Cypress,
7 with sails made with embroidered Egyptian linen,
festooned with blue banners,
and with your sun shades made
with purple cloth from Cypress.
8 Your sailors were conscripted
from Sidon and Arvad,
and your officers served aboard
as pilots.
9 The wise men and elders from Gebal accompanied you,
serving as ship’s carpenters.
All the maritime navies and their seaman also accompanied you
to assist you in doing business internationally.”
Tyre’s International Makeup
10 “Soldiers from Persia,[s] Lud,[t] and Libya,[u]
served in your army.
They were your mighty soldiers.
Their helmets and shields adorned your barracks walls,
and they won battle decorations for you.
11 Mercenaries from Arvad and Helech
stood guard duty on your walls,
while brave men manned your towers.
They hung their shields all around your walls—
just the right touch to perfect your interior decorating!”[v]
Tyre’s Trading Partners
12 ‘Tarshish was your business partner because of your phenomenal wealth. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13 Greece, Tubal,[w] and Meshech[x] bartered with you, exchanging slaves and bronze vessels for your wares. 14 Beth-togarmah traded horses, war horses, and mules in exchange for what you had to sell. 15 Men from the low country south of Edom[y] and many of the coastlands were your markets for ivory tusks and ebony that they brought to trade with you.
16 “Aram was one of your customers because you had so much merchandise. They paid by trading turquoise, purple yarn, embroidered goods, Egyptian linen,[z] coral, and rubies. 17 The territories of Judah and Israel were your clients, too. They traded wheat from their distribution centers,[aa] baked goods, honey, oil, and ointments for your merchandise.
18 “Because you have so much to sell and are so rich, Damascus has been your trading partner, exchanging wine from Helbon, unbleached wool, 19 and casks of wine from Izal[ab] for your wrought iron, cassia wood, and aromatic reeds.
20 “Dedan traded with you, exchanging riding blankets. 21 Arabia, including all the princes of Kedar, came to you, shopping for lambs, rams, and goats. 22 Traders from Sheba and Raamah paid for the best of what you had to offer with all types of spices, precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden,[ac] merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad did business with you, 24 trading garments made into the finest blue and embroidered mantels, and also multi-colored carpets, ropes, and other merchandise. 25 Ocean-going fleets[ad] carried your merchandise.”
Tyre’s Coming Storm
“How filled you were!
How glorious you were,
at home in the heart of the sea!
26 But your rowers have brought you
into dangerous waters.
The east wind has broken you
in the heart of the ocean!
27 Your wealth, your products, your merchandise
your sailors, your pilots,
your tailors, your salesmen,
all your mercenaries with you—
your entire company with you—
will fall into the midst of the sea
on the day when you’re overthrown!
28 When your ships’ captains cry out,
the pasturelands along the coast will cry out!
29 Everyone who handles an oar will abandon ship,
they’ll head straight for dry land,
30 and they will cry so loud
you won’t be able to make yourself heard!
How bitterly they’ll cry!
They’ll throw dust on their heads
and wallow in ashes.
31 They’ll shave their heads bald because of you.
They’ll dress themselves in sackcloth
and weep for you with deep bitterness of heart,
with the most pitiful of mourning.
32 In the depth of their despair
they’ll compose a lament for you.
This is what they’ll say:
‘Who is like Tyre?
Who is so silent in the midst of the sea?’
33 Your merchandise went out over the oceans
to satisfy many nations;
with the abundance of your wealth
you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 “But now it’s your time to be wrecked
at the bottom of the sea!
Your products and your workers have sunk,
and so have you!
35 Everyone who lives by the sea
is appalled at your destruction.
Their leaders are terrified—
their faces reflect their fears!
36 Traders circulate among the people, hissing at you.
What a horror you’ve become!
Now you will cease to exist
forever and ever!”
Prophecy against Tyre
28 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, tell Tyre’s Commander-in-Chief,[ae] ‘This is what the Lord God says:
“Because your heart is arrogant,[af]
and because you keep saying,
‘I have taken my seat,
I am a god,
seated in God’s seat right in the middle[ag] of the sea,’[ah]
and because you’re a man,
and not a god,
even though you pretend
that you have a god-like heart…
3 Look! You’re wiser than Daniel, aren’t you?
No secret is too mysterious for you!
4 Your wisdom and understanding
brought you phenomenal wealth.
You’ve brought gold and silver
into your treasuries.
5 By your great wisdom,
by your skills in trading
you have amassed wealth for yourself
and your heart has become arrogant
because of your wealth.”
6 Therefore this is what the Lord God says:
“Because you’ve made your heart
like that of God
7 Therefore, look!
I’m bringing foreigners in your direction,
the most terrifying of nations!
They will direct their violence[ai]
against the grandeur
that you’ve created by your wisdom.
8 They’ll send you down to the Pit,[aj]
and you’ll die defiled in the depths of the sea.
9 Is that when you’ll say, ‘I’m God’
to the face of those who will be killing you?
After all, you’re a man,
and have never been a god,
especially when you’re under the control[ak] of those
who will defile you!
10 You will die a death fit for the uncircumcised
at the hand of foreigners.”
‘for I have said it will be so,’
declares the Lord.”
A Rebuke for Tyre’s King
11 Another message came to me from the Lord, and this is what it said: 12 “Son of Man, start singing this lamentation for the king of Tyre. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord God says:
“You served as my[al] model,
my example of complete wisdom
and perfect beauty.
13 You used to be in Eden—
God’s paradise!
You wore precious stones for clothing:
ruby,[am] topaz, diamond,[an]
beryl,[ao] onyx, jasper,
sapphire,[ap] turquoise, and carbuncle.
Your settings were crafted in gold,
along with your engravings.
On the day of your creation
they had been prepared!
14 “You were the anointed cherub;
having been set in place
on the holy mountain of God,
you walked in the midst of fiery stones.
15 You were blameless in your behavior[aq]
from the day you were created
until wickedness was discovered in you.
16 Since your vast business planning[ar]
filled you with violent intent[as]
from top to bottom,[at]
you sinned,
so I cast you away as defiled
from the mountain of God.
I destroyed you,
you guardian cherub,
from the midst of the fiery stones.
17 Your heart grew arrogant because of your beauty;
you annihilated your own wisdom
because of your splendor.
Then I threw you to the ground
in the presence of kings,
giving them a good look at you!
18 By all of your iniquity
and unrighteous business planning[au]
you defiled your sanctuaries,
so I’m going to bring out fire from within you
and burn you to ashes on the earth
before the whole watching world!
19 Everyone who knows you
throughout all the nations
will be appalled at your calamity
and you will no longer exist forever.”’”
The Judgment of Sidon
20 Another message came to me from the Lord, who had this to say:
21 “Son of Man, turn your attention[av] to Sidon and prophesy against her.[aw] 22 Tell her:
‘Pay attention to me, Sidon!
I’m against you,
and I’m going to glorify myself right in your midst.’
They’ll learn that I am the Lord
when I carry out these punishments
and manifest my holiness in her midst.
23 I’m going to send disease into that city[ax]
and blood into her streets.
People will drop dead in her midst
from the violence done to[ay] her from every side.
Then they’ll learn that I am the Lord God.”
The Future Regathering of Israel
24 “The house of Israel will never again suffer from painful briers and sharp thorn bushes that surround them on every side, and they will learn that I am the Lord. 25 This is what the Lord God says:
‘When I gather the house of Israel from the nations to which I’ve scattered them, I will show them my holiness before the watching world, and they will live on the land that I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will live in safety in the land,[az] building houses and planting vineyards. They’ll live in safety while I judge everyone who maligns them among those who surround them. At that time they’ll learn that I am the Lord their God.’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 26:1 The Heb. lacks of our captivity
- Ezekiel 26:3 Lit. coming against
- Ezekiel 26:3 Lit. come like the sea brings waves
- Ezekiel 26:5 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean
- Ezekiel 26:5 The Heb. lacks invading
- Ezekiel 26:6 Lit. daughters
- Ezekiel 26:8 The Heb. lacks to protect themselves
- Ezekiel 26:9 Or swords
- Ezekiel 26:10 Lit. their
- Ezekiel 26:12 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean
- Ezekiel 26:17 Lit. inhabitants who inflicted
- Ezekiel 26:18 Lit. who are by
- Ezekiel 26:20 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife
- Ezekiel 26:20 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife
- Ezekiel 26:20 Lit. result, you
- Ezekiel 27:3 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean
- Ezekiel 27:4 Or you perfectly beautiful
- Ezekiel 27:6 Lit. daughter of Assyria
- Ezekiel 27:10 I.e. modern Iran
- Ezekiel 27:10 I.e., fourth son of Shem, progenitor of the Lydians. The Heb. name Lud means strife.
- Ezekiel 27:10 Lit. Put; i.e. the third son of Ham (cf. Gen 10:6); the Heb. name means bow
- Ezekiel 27:11 Lit. your beauty
- Ezekiel 27:13 I.e. a son of Noah’s son Japheth; this people resided in what is now modern eastern Turkey
- Ezekiel 27:13 I.e. a son of Noah’s son Japheth; this people resided in what is now modern Armenia
- Ezekiel 27:15 Lit. The descendants of Dedan; i.e., a son of Cush (cf. Gen 10:7) or a grandson of Abraham through Keturah (Gen 25:3)
- Ezekiel 27:16 Lit. byssus; i.e. a white cotton cloth
- Ezekiel 27:17 Lit. from Minnith; perhaps a site in Ammon, east of the Jordan River
- Ezekiel 27:19 Or Uzal, i.e., a city located in a wine growing region between Haran and the Tigris River
- Ezekiel 27:23 These cities are thought to have been located in ancient Mesopotamia
- Ezekiel 27:25 Lit. Ships of Tarshish; i.e., a class of vessel capable of travelling the oceans
- Ezekiel 28:2 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
- Ezekiel 28:2 Lit. tall
- Ezekiel 28:2 Lit. heart
- Ezekiel 28:2 I.e., an allusion to Tyre’s location on an island off the coast of Lebanon
- Ezekiel 28:7 Lit. swords
- Ezekiel 28:8 I.e. the place of punishment in the afterlife
- Ezekiel 28:9 Lit. you’re in the hand
- Ezekiel 28:12 The Heb. lacks my
- Ezekiel 28:13 Lit. red
- Ezekiel 28:13 Or emerald
- Ezekiel 28:13 Lit. Tarshish; i.e. a yellow stone
- Ezekiel 28:13 Or lapis lazuli; a bright blue stone
- Ezekiel 28:15 Lit. ways
- Ezekiel 28:16 Or merchandizing
- Ezekiel 28:16 Lit. with violence
- Ezekiel 28:16 Lit. in your midst
- Ezekiel 28:18 Or merchandizing
- Ezekiel 28:21 Lit. face
- Ezekiel 28:21 I.e., the city personified as a woman
- Ezekiel 28:23 Lit. disease into her
- Ezekiel 28:23 Lit. the sword brought against
- Ezekiel 28:26 Lit. in her
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