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A Funeral Song for Tyre

27 The Lord said:

Ezekiel, son of man, sing a funeral song for Tyre,[a] the city that is built along the sea and that trades with nations along the coast. Tell the people of Tyre that the following message is from me:

Tyre, you brag about
your perfect beauty,
    and your control of the sea.[b]

You are a ship
    built to perfection.
Builders used cypress trees
from Mount Hermon
    to make your planks
and a cedar tree from Lebanon
    for your tall mast.
Oak trees from Bashan
    were shaped into oars;
pine trees from Cyprus[c]
    were cut for your deck,
which was then decorated
    with strips of ivory.
The builders used fancy linen
from Egypt for your sails,
    so everyone could see you.
Blue and purple cloth
from Cyprus was used
    to shade your deck.
Men from Sidon and Arvad
    did the rowing,
and your own skilled workers
    were the captains.
Experienced men from Byblos
    repaired any damages.
Sailors from all over
shopped at the stores
    in your port.

10 Brave soldiers from Persia,
Lydia, and Libya
    served in your navy,
protecting you with shields
and helmets,
    and making you famous.
11 Your guards came from
    Arvad and Cilicia,
and men from Gamad
    stood watch in your towers.
With their weapons
hung on your walls,
    your beauty was complete.

12 Merchants from southern Spain[d] traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products. 13 The people of Greece, Tubal, and Meshech traded slaves and things made of bronze, 14 and those from Beth-Togarmah traded work horses, war horses, and mules. 15 You also did business with people from Rhodes,[e] and people from nations along the coast gave you ivory and ebony[f] in exchange for your goods. 16 Edom[g] traded emeralds, purple cloth, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies. 17 Judah and Israel gave you their finest wheat, fancy figs,[h] honey, olive oil, and spices in exchange for your merchandise. 18 The people of Damascus saw what you had to offer and brought you wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. 19 Vedan and Javan near Uzal[i] traded you iron and spices. 20 The people of Dedan supplied you with saddle blankets, 21 while people from Arabia and the rulers of Kedar traded lambs, sheep, and goats. 22 Merchants from Sheba and Raamah gave you excellent spices, precious stones, and gold in exchange for your products. 23 You also did business with merchants from the cities of Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, 24 and they gave you expensive clothing, purple and embroidered cloth, brightly colored rugs, and strong rope. 25 (A) Large, seagoing ships[j] carried your goods wherever they needed to go.

You were like a ship
loaded with heavy cargo
26     and sailing across the sea,
but you were wrecked
    by strong eastern winds.
27 Everything on board was lost—
    your valuable cargo,
    your sailors and carpenters,
    merchants and soldiers.
28 The shouts of your drowning crew
    were heard on the shore.

29 Every ship is deserted;
rowers and sailors and captains
    all stand on shore,
30     mourning for you.
They show their sorrow
by putting dust on their heads
    and rolling in ashes;
31 they shave their heads
and dress in sackcloth[k]
    as they cry in despair.
32 In their grief they sing
    a funeral song for you:
“Tyre, you were greater
    than all other cities.
But now you lie in silence
    at the bottom of the sea.[l]

33 “Nations that received
your merchandise
    were always pleased;
kings everywhere got rich
    from your costly goods.
34 But now you are wrecked
    in the deep sea,
with your cargo and crew
    scattered everywhere.
35 People living along the coast
    are shocked at the news.
Their rulers are horrified,
and terror is written
    across their faces.
36 The merchants of the world
    can't believe what happened.
Your death was gruesome,
    and you are gone forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 27.2 Tyre: See the note at 26.2.
  2. 27.4 and your control of the sea: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 27.6 pine trees from Cyprus: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  4. 27.12 southern Spain: The Hebrew text has “Tarshish,” which may have been a Phoenician city in southern Spain.
  5. 27.15 Rhodes: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Dedan.”
  6. 27.15 ebony: A valuable black wood.
  7. 27.16 Edom: Some Hebrew manuscripts and one ancient translation; most Hebrew manuscripts “Syria.”
  8. 27.17 their finest wheat, fancy figs: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  9. 27.19 Vedan and Javan near Uzal: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  10. 27.25 Large, seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has “Ships of Tarshish,” which may have been a Phoenician city in Spain. “Ships of Tarshish” probably means large, seagoing ships.
  11. 27.31 sackcloth: See the note at 7.18.
  12. 27.32 Tyre, you were greater … the bottom of the sea: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament(A) concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre,(B) situated at the gateway to the sea,(C) merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You say, Tyre,
    “I am perfect in beauty.(D)
Your domain was on the high seas;
    your builders brought your beauty to perfection.(E)
They made all your timbers
    of juniper from Senir[a];(F)
they took a cedar from Lebanon(G)
    to make a mast for you.
Of oaks(H) from Bashan
    they made your oars;
of cypress wood[b] from the coasts of Cyprus(I)
    they made your deck, adorned with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen(J) from Egypt was your sail
    and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple(K)
    from the coasts of Elishah.(L)
Men of Sidon and Arvad(M) were your oarsmen;
    your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.(N)
Veteran craftsmen of Byblos(O) were on board
    as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea(P) and their sailors
    came alongside to trade for your wares.

10 “‘Men of Persia,(Q) Lydia(R) and Put(S)
    served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields(T) and helmets on your walls,
    bringing you splendor.
11 Men of Arvad and Helek
    guarded your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
    were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
    they brought your beauty to perfection.(U)

12 “‘Tarshish(V) did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;(W) they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13 “‘Greece,(X) Tubal and Meshek(Y) did business with you; they traded human beings(Z) and articles of bronze for your wares.

14 “‘Men of Beth Togarmah(AA) exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15 “‘The men of Rhodes[c](AB) traded with you, and many coastlands(AC) were your customers; they paid you with ivory(AD) tusks and ebony.

16 “‘Aram[d](AE) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,(AF) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,(AG) coral(AH) and rubies for your merchandise.

17 “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat(AI) from Minnith(AJ) and confections,[e] honey, olive oil and balm(AK) for your wares.(AL)

18 “‘Damascus(AM) did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.(AN) They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar 19 and casks of wine from Izal(AO) in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia(AP) and calamus.

20 “‘Dedan(AQ) traded in saddle blankets with you.

21 “‘Arabia(AR) and all the princes of Kedar(AS) were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22 “‘The merchants of Sheba(AT) and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices(AU) and precious stones, and gold.(AV)

23 “‘Harran,(AW) Kanneh and Eden(AX) and merchants of Sheba, Ashur(AY) and Kilmad traded with you. 24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25 “‘The ships of Tarshish(AZ) serve
    as carriers for your wares.
You are filled with heavy cargo
    as you sail the sea.(BA)
26 Your oarsmen take you
    out to the high seas.
But the east wind(BB) will break you to pieces
    far out at sea.
27 Your wealth,(BC) merchandise and wares,
    your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,
your merchants and all your soldiers,
    and everyone else on board
will sink into the heart of the sea(BD)
    on the day of your shipwreck.
28 The shorelands will quake(BE)
    when your sailors cry out.
29 All who handle the oars
    will abandon their ships;
the mariners and all the sailors
    will stand on the shore.
30 They will raise their voice
    and cry bitterly over you;
they will sprinkle dust(BF) on their heads
    and roll(BG) in ashes.(BH)
31 They will shave their heads(BI) because of you
    and will put on sackcloth.
They will weep(BJ) over you with anguish of soul
    and with bitter mourning.(BK)
32 As they wail and mourn over you,
    they will take up a lament(BL) concerning you:
“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,
    surrounded by the sea?(BM)
33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,(BN)
    you satisfied many nations;
with your great wealth(BO) and your wares
    you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 Now you are shattered by the sea
    in the depths of the waters;
your wares and all your company
    have gone down with you.(BP)
35 All who live in the coastlands(BQ)
    are appalled(BR) at you;
their kings shudder with horror
    and their faces are distorted with fear.(BS)
36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;(BT)
    you have come to a horrible end
    and will be no more.(BU)’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 27:5 That is, Mount Hermon
  2. Ezekiel 27:6 Targum; the Masoretic Text has a different division of the consonants.
  3. Ezekiel 27:15 Septuagint; Hebrew Dedan
  4. Ezekiel 27:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom
  5. Ezekiel 27:17 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.