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A Funeral Song for Tyre

27 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: “Human being, sing a funeral song for the city of Tyre. Speak to Tyre that is at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. For the people of many lands along the seacoast, Tyre is a place for trade. ‘This is what the Lord God says:

Tyre, you have said,
    “I am like a beautiful ship.”
You were at home on the high seas.
    Your builders have made your beauty perfect.
Your builders made all your boards
    of fir trees from Mount Hermon.
They have taken a cedar tree from Lebanon.
    They took it to make a ship’s mast for you.
They made your oars
    from oak trees in Bashan.
They made your deck
    from cypress trees from the coast of Cyprus.
    Your deck has ivory set into it.
Your sail of linen with designs sewed on it came from Egypt.
    Your sail became like a flag for you.
Your cloth shades over the deck were blue and purple.
    They came from the island of Cyprus.
Men from Sidon and Arvad used oars to row you.
    Tyre, your skilled men were the sailors on your deck.
Workers of Byblos were on board ship with you.
    They put caulk[a] in your ship’s seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
    came alongside to trade with you.

10 “‘Men of Persia, Lydia and Put
    were soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls.
    Their victories made you famous.
11 Men of Arvad and Celicia
    guarded your city walls all around.
Men of Gammad
    were in your watchtowers.
They hung their shields around your walls.
    They made your beauty perfect.

12 “‘Tarshish traded with you for many kinds of things. They paid for them with silver, iron, tin and lead.

13 “‘People of Greece, Tubal and Meshech traded with you. They traded slaves and bronze things for the things you sell.

14 “‘People of Beth Togarmah traded work horses, war horses and mules for the things you sell.

15 “‘People of Rhodes traded with you. You sold your things on many coastlands. They paid you with ivory tusks and valuable black wood.

16 “‘Aram traded with you because you had so many good things to sell. They traded turquoise, purple cloth and cloth with designs sewed on. They also traded fine linen, coral and rubies for the things you sell.

17 “‘Judah and Israel traded with you. They paid for the things you sell with wheat from Minnith. They also paid with honey, olive oil and balm.

18 “‘Damascus traded with you because you have many good things. They paid for them with wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar.

19 “‘The Greeks from Uzal traded for the things you sold. They paid with wrought iron, cassia and sugar cane for your good things.

20 “‘Dedan traded saddle blankets to you.

21 “‘Arabia and all the rulers of Kedar traded with you. They traded lambs, male sheep and goats to you.

22 “‘The traders of Sheba and Raamah traded with you. They paid with all the best spices, valuable gems and gold.

23 “‘Haran, Canneh, Eden and the traders of Sheba, Asshur and Kilmad traded with you. 24 They paid with the best clothes, blue cloth and cloth with designs sewed on. They traded carpets of many colors and tightly wound ropes.

25 “‘Trading ships
    carried the things you sold.
You were like a ship full of heavy cargo
    in the middle of the sea.
26 The men who rowed you
    brought you out into the high seas.
But the east wind has broken you to pieces
    in the middle of the sea.
27 Your wealth, your trade and the things you sell will sink.
    Your seamen, your sailors and your workers will sink.
Your traders, your soldiers,
    and everyone else on board
will sink into the sea.
    This will happen on the day your ship is wrecked.
28 The people on the shore will shake with fear
    when your sailors cry out.
29 All the men who row
    will leave their ships.
The seamen and the sailors of other ships
    will stand on the shore.
30 They will cry loudly about you.
    They will cry very much.
They will throw dust on their heads.
    They will roll in ashes to show they are sad.
31 They will shave their heads for you.
    And they will put on rough cloth to show they are upset.
They will cry very much for you.
    They will cry loudly.
32 And in their loud crying
    they will sing a funeral song for you.
“No one was ever destroyed like Tyre,
    surrounded by the sea.”
33 The things you traded went out over the seas.
    You met the needs of many nations.
With your great wealth and things you sold,
    you made kings of the earth rich.
34 But now you are broken by the sea.
    You have sunk to the bottom.
The things you sell and all your people
    have gone down with you.
35 All those who live along the shore
    are shocked by what happened to you.
Their kings are terribly afraid.
    Their faces show their fear.
36 The traders among the nations hiss at you.
    You have come to a terrible end.
    And you are gone forever.’”

Footnotes

  1. 27:9 caulk Something like tar put between the boards of a ship to make it waterproof so it will not sink.

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.