Ezekiel 20:45-49

International Standard Version

Coming Judgment on the South

^45 [a]This message came to me from the Lord: ⁴⁶ “Son of Man, turn to the south and oppose it, talking toward the south. ⁴⁷ Prophesy against the forest of the Negev,^[b] ‘Listen to this message from the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: “Look out! I’m about to ignite a fire and set it against you. It will devour every tree—whether green or dry—that lives in you. This powerful flame will not be extinguishable, and the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. ⁴⁸ Then everyone^[c] will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, because it won’t be extinguished.”’”

Ezekiel’s Complaint to God

⁴⁹ Then I said, “O Lord God! They’re saying about me, ‘Isn’t he one to propound parables?’”