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Ezekiel 20:1-22:16
New American Standard Bible

God’s Dealings with Israel Rehearsed

20 Now in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, men from the (A)elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and they 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, ‘This is what the Lord [a]God says: “Do you yourselves come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “(B)I certainly will not be inquired of by you.”’ 4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? (C)Make known to them the abominations of their fathers; 5 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “On the day when I (D)chose Israel and [b]swore to the [c]descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I [d]swore to them, saying, (E)I am the Lord your God, 6 on that day I swore to them, (F)to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had [e]selected for them, (G)flowing with milk and honey, which is (H)the glory of all the lands. 7 And I said to them, ‘(I)Throw away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and (J)do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; (K)I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they (L)rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not throw away, each of them, the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they abandon the (M)idols of Egypt.

“Then I [f]resolved to (N)pour out My wrath on them, to [g]use up My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted (O)for the sake of My name, that it would (P)not be defiled in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the (Q)wilderness. 11 I gave them My (R)statutes and informed them of My ordinances, (S)which, if [h]a person [i]follows them, then he will live by them. 12 Also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a (T)sign between Me and them, so that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel (U)rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, (V)which, if [j]a person [k]follows them, then he will live by them; and they greatly profaned My (W)Sabbaths. Then I [l]resolved to (X)pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14 But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be defiled before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them out. 15 Also (Y)I swore to 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 the lands, 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they also profaned My Sabbaths, because their (Z)heart continually followed their idols. 17 Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not bring about their (AA)annihilation in the wilderness.

18 “Instead, I said to their [m](AB)children in the wilderness, ‘(AC)Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 (AD)I am the Lord your God; (AE)walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and [n]follow them. 20 (AF)Sanctify My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 But the (AG)children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to [o]follow My ordinances which, if [p]a person [q]follows them, then he will live by them; they profaned My Sabbaths. So I [r]resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to [s]use up My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I (AH)withdrew My hand and acted (AI)for the sake of My name, so that it would not be defiled in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would (AJ)scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not [t]complied with My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My Sabbaths, and (AK)their eyes were [u]on the idols of their fathers. 25 I also gave them statutes that were (AL)not good, and ordinances by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them (AM)unclean because of their gifts, in that they (AN)made all [v]their firstborn pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might (AO)know that I am the Lord.”’

27 “Therefore (AP)speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Again, in this your fathers have (AQ)blasphemed Me by (AR)being disloyal to Me. 28 When I had (AS)brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every (AT)high hill and every tree thick with branches, and there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called [w]Bamah to this day.”’ 30 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Will you defile yourselves in the way of your (AU)fathers and adulterously pursue their detestable things? 31 And [x]when you offer your gifts, when you (AV)make your sons pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I certainly will not be inquired of by you. 32 And whatever (AW)comes [y]into your mind certainly will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, (AX)serving wood and stone.’

God Will Restore Israel to Her Land

33 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “with a mighty hand and with an (AY)outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I assuredly shall be (AZ)king over you. 34 I will (BA)bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with (BB)wrath poured out; 35 and I will bring you into the (BC)wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 Just as I (BD)entered into judgment with your fathers in the (BE)wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God. 37 “I will make you (BF)pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 and I will (BG)purge from you the rebels and those who revolt against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will (BH)not enter the [z]land of Israel. So you will know that I am the Lord.

39 “As for you, house of Israel,” this is what the Lord God says: “(BI)Go, serve, everyone of you his idols; [aa]but later you will certainly listen to Me, and My holy name you will no longer (BJ)defile with your gifts and your idols. 40 For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “there the entire house of Israel, (BK)all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will (BL)accept them and there I will demand your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things. 41 [ab]As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I (BM)bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will show Myself to be (BN)holy among you in the sight of the nations. 42 And (BO)you will know that I am the Lord, (BP)when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the (BQ)land which I swore to give to your forefathers. 43 And there you will (BR)remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourselves; and you will (BS)loathe yourselves in your own [ac]sight for all the evil things that you have done. 44 Then (BT)you will know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you (BU)in behalf of My name, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.’”

45 [ad]Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and speak prophetically against the (BV)south and (BW)prophesy against the (BX)forest [ae]land of the Negev, 47 and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to (BY)kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every [af]green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not go out and [ag](BZ)the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. 48 And all [ah]mankind will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it will (CA)not go out.”’” 49 Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking in (CB)riddles?’”

Parable of the Sword of the Lord

21 [ai]And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, (CC)set your face against Jerusalem, and [aj](CD)speak prophetically against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Behold, (CE)I am against you; and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you the (CF)righteous and the wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go out from its sheath against [ak](CG)humanity from south to north. 5 So [al]humanity will know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword from its sheath. It will (CH)not return to its sheath again.”’ 6 As for you, son of man, groan with [am]a breaking heart and bitter grief; you shall groan in their sight. 7 And when they say to you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the (CI)news, for it is coming; and (CJ)every heart will melt, all hands will go limp, every spirit will be disheartened, and all [an]knees will drip with water. Behold, it is coming and it will happen,’ declares the Lord [ao]God.”

8 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says:’ Say,

‘(CK)A sword, a sword sharpened
And also polished!
10 Sharpened to make a (CL)slaughter,
Polished [ap]to flash like lightning!’

Or shall we rejoice, the [aq]rod of My son (CM)despising every tree? 11 And it is given to be polished, so that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to hand it over to the slaughterer. 12 (CN)Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the (CO)officials of Israel. They are turned over to the sword with My people, therefore [ar]slap your thigh. 13 For there is a testing; and what if even the [as]rod which despises will cease to be?” declares the Lord God.

14 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands; and let the sword be (CP)doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them, 15 so that their (CQ)hearts will waver, and many (CR)fall at all their (CS)gates. I have granted the slaughter of the sword. Oh! It is made for striking like lightning, it is sharpened in readiness for slaughter. 16 Prove yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your [at]edge is ordered. 17 I will also clap My hands, and I will (CT)satisfy My wrath; I, the Lord, have spoken.”

The Instrument of God’s Judgment

18 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 19 “Now as for you, son of man, [au](CU)make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And [av]make a signpost; [aw]make it at the head of the way to the city. 20 You shall [ax]mark a way for the sword to come to (CV)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into (CW)fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the [ay]parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use (CX)divination; he (CY)shakes the arrows, he consults the [az](CZ)household idols, he looks at the liver. 22 Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to (DA)set up battering rams, to open the mouth [ba]for [bb]slaughter, to raise the voice with a battle cry, to set up battering rams against the gates, to pile up assault ramps, to build a siege wall. 23 And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; (DB)they have sworn solemn oaths. But he (DC)makes guilt known, so that they may be seized.

24 “Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you have made your guilt known, in that your offenses are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins are seen—because you have come to mind, you will be seized by the hand. 25 And you, slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose (DD)day has come, in the time of the [bc]punishment of the end,’ 26 this is what the Lord God says: ‘Remove the [bd]turban and take off the (DE)crown; this will [be]no longer be the same. (DF)Exalt that which is low, and humble that which is high. 27 (DG)Ruins, ruins, ruins, I will make it! This also will be no longer until (DH)He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’

28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says concerning the sons of Ammon and their (DI)taunting,’ and say: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn, sharpened for the slaughter, to make it [bf](DJ)consume, so that it may be like lightning— 29 while they see (DK)false visions for you, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the wicked who are killed, whose day has come, in the (DL)time of the [bg]punishment of the end. 30 (DM)Return it to its sheath. In the (DN)place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. 31 I will (DO)pour out My indignation on you; I will (DP)blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and I will hand you over to brutal men, (DQ)craftsmen of destruction. 32 You will be [bh](DR)fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will (DS)not be remembered, for I, the Lord, have spoken.’”

The Sins of Israel

22 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then inform her of all her abominations. 3 And you shall say, ‘This is what the Lord [bi]God says: “A city (DT)shedding blood in her midst, so that her time is coming; and a city that makes idols, contrary to her own good, for defilement! 4 You have become (DU)guilty by [bj]the blood which you have shed, and you have become defiled by your idols which you have made. So you have brought your days closer and have come to your years; therefore I have made you a (DV)disgrace to the nations, and an object of mocking to all the lands. 5 Those who are near and those who are far from you will make fun of you, you of ill repute, full of (DW)turmoil.

6 “Behold, the (DX)rulers of Israel, each according to his [bk]power, have been among you for the purpose of shedding blood. 7 They have (DY)treated father and mother with contempt among you. They have oppressed the (DZ)stranger in your midst; they have oppressed the (EA)orphan and the widow among you. 8 You have (EB)despised My holy things and (EC)profaned My Sabbaths. 9 Slanderous men have been among you for the purpose of shedding blood, and among you they have eaten at the mountain shrines. In your midst they have (ED)committed outrageous sin. 10 Among you [bl]they have (EE)uncovered their fathers’ nakedness; among you they have abused her who was (EF)unclean in her menstruation. 11 And one has committed abomination with his (EG)neighbor’s wife, another has outrageously defiled his (EH)daughter-in-law, and another among you has sexually (EI)abused his sister, his father’s daughter. 12 Among you they have (EJ)taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken [bm](EK)interest, you have injured your neighbors by (EL)oppression, and you have (EM)forgotten Me,” declares the Lord God.

13 “Behold, then, I strike with My hand your (EN)profit which you have made and [bn]the bloodshed which is among you. 14 Can (EO)your heart endure, or can your hands be strong for the days that I will deal with you? (EP)I, the Lord, have spoken and will act. 15 And I will (EQ)scatter you among the nations and disperse you among the lands, and I will (ER)eliminate your uncleanness from you. 16 Then you will defile yourself in the sight of the nations, and you will (ES)know that I am the Lord.”’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 20:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  2. Ezekiel 20:5 Lit lifted up My hand, and so throughout the ch
  3. Ezekiel 20:5 Lit seed
  4. Ezekiel 20:5 Lit lifted up My hand, and so throughout the ch
  5. Ezekiel 20:6 Lit spied out
  6. Ezekiel 20:8 Lit said
  7. Ezekiel 20:8 Or finish
  8. Ezekiel 20:11 Lit the person
  9. Ezekiel 20:11 Lit does them
  10. Ezekiel 20:13 Lit the person
  11. Ezekiel 20:13 Lit does them
  12. Ezekiel 20:13 Lit said
  13. Ezekiel 20:18 Lit sons
  14. Ezekiel 20:19 Lit do
  15. Ezekiel 20:21 Lit do My
  16. Ezekiel 20:21 Lit the person
  17. Ezekiel 20:21 Lit does them
  18. Ezekiel 20:21 Lit said
  19. Ezekiel 20:21 Or finish
  20. Ezekiel 20:24 Lit done My
  21. Ezekiel 20:24 Lit after
  22. Ezekiel 20:26 Lit that which opens the womb
  23. Ezekiel 20:29 Or High Place
  24. Ezekiel 20:31 Lit in your lifting up
  25. Ezekiel 20:32 Lit upon your spirit
  26. Ezekiel 20:38 Lit ground; or soil
  27. Ezekiel 20:39 Or and afterward, if you will not listen to Me, but
  28. Ezekiel 20:41 Lit With
  29. Ezekiel 20:43 Lit faces
  30. Ezekiel 20:45 Ch 21:1 in Heb
  31. Ezekiel 20:46 Lit of the field
  32. Ezekiel 20:47 Lit moist
  33. Ezekiel 20:47 Or all the faces
  34. Ezekiel 20:48 Lit flesh
  35. Ezekiel 21:1 Ch 21:6 in Heb
  36. Ezekiel 21:2 Lit flow
  37. Ezekiel 21:4 Lit all flesh
  38. Ezekiel 21:5 Lit all flesh
  39. Ezekiel 21:6 Lit shaking hips
  40. Ezekiel 21:7 Heb idiom meaning to wet oneself
  41. Ezekiel 21:7 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  42. Ezekiel 21:10 Lit that lightning may be to her
  43. Ezekiel 21:10 Or scepter
  44. Ezekiel 21:12 I.e., in grief
  45. Ezekiel 21:13 Or scepter
  46. Ezekiel 21:16 Lit face
  47. Ezekiel 21:19 Or set for yourself
  48. Ezekiel 21:19 Lit cut out a hand
  49. Ezekiel 21:19 Lit cut it
  50. Ezekiel 21:20 Lit set
  51. Ezekiel 21:21 Lit mother
  52. Ezekiel 21:21 Heb teraphim
  53. Ezekiel 21:22 Lit in
  54. Ezekiel 21:22 Another reading is war-cry
  55. Ezekiel 21:25 Or wrongdoing
  56. Ezekiel 21:26 Or headband
  57. Ezekiel 21:26 Lit not this
  58. Ezekiel 21:28 Lit finish
  59. Ezekiel 21:29 Or wrongdoing
  60. Ezekiel 21:32 Lit food
  61. Ezekiel 22:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  62. Ezekiel 22:4 Lit your
  63. Ezekiel 22:6 Lit arm
  64. Ezekiel 22:10 Lit he has
  65. Ezekiel 22:12 Possibly interest on money and food loans
  66. Ezekiel 22:13 Lit your
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Ezekiel 20:1-22:16
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)

2 Then 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) 5 and 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)” 6 On 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) 7 And 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) 9 But 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. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.(U) 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.(V) 12 Also 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) 14 But 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) 15 Also 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)— 16 because 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) 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy(AN) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I 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. 19 I am the Lord your God;(AQ) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(AR) 20 Keep 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) 22 But 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. 23 Also 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, 24 because 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) 25 So I gave(BF) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;(BG) 26 I 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) 28 When 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) 29 Then 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) 31 When 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. 33 As 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) 34 I 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) 35 I will bring you into the wilderness(BZ) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment(CA) upon you. 36 As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CB) 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,(CC) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.(CD) 38 I 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) 40 For 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) 41 I 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) 42 Then 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) 43 There 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) 44 You 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

45 The 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) 47 Say 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) 48 Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.(DF)’”

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

Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment

21 [d]The word of the Lord came to me:(DI) 2 “Son of man, set your face against(DJ) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary.(DK) Prophesy against(DL) the land of Israel 3 and say to her: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you.(DM) I will draw my sword(DN) from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.(DO) 4 Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword(DP) will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.(DQ) 5 Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword(DR) from its sheath; it will not return(DS) again.’(DT)

6 “Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.(DU) 7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?(DV)’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear(DW) and every hand go limp;(DX) every spirit will become faint(DY) and every leg will be wet with urine.’(DZ) It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

8 The word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘A sword, a sword,
    sharpened and polished—
10 sharpened for the slaughter,(EA)
    polished to flash like lightning!

“‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.(EB)

11 “‘The sword is appointed to be polished,(EC)
    to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
    made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry out and wail, son of man,
    for it is against my people;
    it is against all the princes of Israel.
They are thrown to the sword
    along with my people.
Therefore beat your breast.(ED)

13 “‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign Lord.’

14 “So then, son of man, prophesy
    and strike your hands(EE) together.
Let the sword strike twice,
    even three times.
It is a sword for slaughter—
    a sword for great slaughter,
    closing in on them from every side.(EF)
15 So that hearts may melt with fear(EG)
    and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter[e]
    at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
    it is grasped for slaughter.(EH)
16 Slash to the right, you sword,
    then to the left,
    wherever your blade is turned.
17 I too will strike my hands(EI) together,
    and my wrath(EJ) will subside.
I the Lord have spoken.(EK)”

18 The word of the Lord came to me: 19 “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword(EL) of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost(EM) where the road branches off to the city. 20 Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites(EN) and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots(EO) with arrows, he will consult his idols,(EP) he will examine the liver.(EQ) 22 Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry,(ER) to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp(ES) and to erect siege works.(ET) 23 It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind(EU) them of their guilt(EV) and take them captive.

24 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.

25 “‘You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come,(EW) whose time of punishment has reached its climax,(EX) 26 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.(EY) It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.(EZ) 27 A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come;(FA) to him I will give it.’(FB)

28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites(FC) and their insults:

“‘A sword,(FD) a sword,
    drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
    and to flash like lightning!
29 Despite false visions concerning you
    and lying divinations(FE) about you,
it will be laid on the necks
    of the wicked who are to be slain,
whose day has come,
    whose time of punishment has reached its climax.(FF)

30 “‘Let the sword return to its sheath.(FG)
    In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,(FH)
    I will judge you.
31 I will pour out my wrath on you
    and breathe(FI) out my fiery anger(FJ) against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
    men skilled in destruction.(FK)
32 You will be fuel for the fire,(FL)
    your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered(FM) no more;
    for I the Lord have spoken.’”

Judgment on Jerusalem’s Sins

22 The word of the Lord came to me:

2 “Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed?(FN) Then confront her with all her detestable practices(FO) 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood(FP) in her midst and defiles herself by making idols, 4 you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed(FQ) and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come.(FR) Therefore I will make you an object of scorn(FS) to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries.(FT) 5 Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.(FU)

6 “‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood.(FV) 7 In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;(FW) in you they have oppressed the foreigner(FX) and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.(FY) 8 You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.(FZ) 9 In you are slanderers(GA) who are bent on shedding blood;(GB) in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines(GC) and commit lewd acts.(GD) 10 In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed;(GE) in you are those who violate women during their period,(GF) when they are ceremonially unclean.(GG) 11 In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife,(GH) another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law,(GI) and another violates his sister,(GJ) his own father’s daughter.(GK) 12 In you are people who accept bribes(GL) to shed blood; you take interest(GM) and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors.(GN) And you have forgotten(GO) me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(GP)

13 “‘I will surely strike my hands(GQ) together at the unjust gain(GR) you have made and at the blood(GS) you have shed in your midst.(GT) 14 Will your courage endure(GU) or your hands(GV) be strong in the day I deal with you? I the Lord have spoken,(GW) and I will do it.(GX) 15 I will disperse you among the nations and scatter(GY) you through the countries; and I will put an end to(GZ) your uncleanness.(HA) 16 When you have been defiled[f] in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place.
  2. Ezekiel 20:40 Or and the gifts of your firstfruits
  3. Ezekiel 20:49 In Hebrew texts 20:45-49 is numbered 21:1-5.
  4. Ezekiel 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37.
  5. Ezekiel 21:15 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  6. Ezekiel 22:16 Or When I have allotted you your inheritance
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Ezekiel 19
Ezekiel 23
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