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Ezekiel 33-36
New American Standard Bible

The Watchman’s Duty

33 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the (A)sons of your people and say to them, ‘If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming upon the land and (B)blows the [a]horn and warns the people, 4 then [b]someone who hears the sound of the horn but (C)does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his (D)blood will be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the horn but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have (E)saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the horn and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is (F)taken away for his wrongdoing; but I will [c]require his (G)blood from the watchman’s hand.’

7 “Now as for you, son of man, I have [d](H)appointed you as a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a [e]message from My mouth and give them a (I)warning from Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will (J)certainly die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked about his way, that wicked person shall die for his wrongdoing, but I will [f]require his blood from your hand. 9 But if you on your part warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he (K)does not turn from his way, he will die for his wrongdoing, but you have (L)saved your life.

10 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you have [g]said: “Surely our offenses and our sins are upon us, and we are (M)rotting away in them; (N)how then can we [h]survive?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘(O)As I live!’ declares the Lord [i]God, ‘I take (P)no pleasure at all in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked (Q)turn from his way and live. (R)Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then should you die, house of Israel?’ 12 And you, son of man, say to [j]your fellow citizens, ‘The (S)righteousness of a righteous one will not save him on the day of his offense, and as for the wickedness of a wicked one, he will (T)not stumble because of it on the day when he turns from his wickedness; whereas a righteous one will not be able to live [k]by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.’ 13 When I say to the righteous that he will certainly live, and he so trusts in his righteousness that he (U)commits injustice, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered; but for that same injustice of his which he has committed he will die. 14 But when I say to the wicked, ‘You will certainly die,’ and he (V)turns from his sin and practices (W)justice and righteousness, 15 if a wicked person returns a pledge, (X)pays back what he has taken by robbery, walks by the (Y)statutes [l]which ensure life without committing injustice, he shall certainly live; he shall not die. 16 (Z)None of his sins that he has committed will be remembered against him. He has practiced justice and righteousness; he shall certainly live.

17 “Yet [m]your fellow citizens say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right,’ when it is their own way that is not right. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and (AA)commits injustice, then he shall die in [n]it. 19 But when the wicked turns from his wickedness and practices justice and righteousness, he will live by them. 20 Yet you say, ‘(AB)The way of the Lord is not right.’ I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.”

Word of Jerusalem’s Capture

21 Now (AC)in the (AD)twelfth year of our exile, on the fifth of the tenth month, the survivor from Jerusalem came to me, saying, “(AE)The city has been [o]taken.” 22 Now the (AF)hand of the Lord had been upon me in the evening, before the survivors came. And He (AG)opened my mouth [p]at the time they came to me in the morning; so my mouth was (AH)opened and I was no longer [q]speechless.

23 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, they who (AI)live in these ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘(AJ)Abraham was only one, yet he possessed the land; so to (AK)us who are many the land has been given as a possession.’ 25 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “You eat meat with the (AL)blood in it, raise your eyes to your idols as you shed blood. (AM)Should you then possess the land? 26 You [r](AN)rely on your sword, you commit abominations, and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife. Should you then possess the land?”’ 27 You shall say this to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: “As I live, those who are in the places of ruins certainly will (AO)fall by the sword, and whoever is in the [s]open field I will give to the animals to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and in the (AP)caves will die of plague. 28 And I will (AQ)make the land a desolation and a waste, and the (AR)pride of her power will be brought to an end; and the mountains of Israel will be deserted so that no one will pass through. 29 Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I make the land a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have committed.”’

30 “But as for you, son of man, [t]your fellow citizens who talk with one another about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses, speak one with another, each with his brother, saying, ‘(AS)Come now and hear what the [u]message is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 And they come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them; for they do the lustful desires expressed by their (AT)mouth, and their heart follows their unlawful (AU)gain. 32 And behold, you are to them like a love song by one who has a (AV)beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them. 33 So when it (AW)comes—[v]as it certainly will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Prophecy against the Shepherds of Israel

34 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the (AX)shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to [w]those shepherds, ‘This is what the Lord [x]God says: “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been [y](AY)feeding themselves! Should the shepherds not [z](AZ)feed the flock? 3 You (BA)eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool, you (BB)slaughter the fat sheep [aa]without feeding the flock. 4 Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, (BC)the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you (BD)searched for the lost; but with force and with violence you have [ab]dominated them. 5 They (BE)scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became (BF)food for every animal of the field and scattered. 6 My flock (BG)strayed through all the mountains and on every high hill; (BH)My flock was scattered over all the surface of the earth, and there was (BI)no one to search or seek for them.”’”

7 Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “certainly, because My flock has become (BJ)plunder, and My flock has become food for all the animals of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am (BK)against the shepherds, and I will demand My [ac]sheep [ad]from them and make them (BL)stop tending sheep. So the shepherds will not [ae]feed themselves anymore, but I will (BM)save My sheep from their mouth, so that they will not be food for them.”’”

The Restoration of Israel

11 For the Lord God says this: “Behold, I Myself will (BN)search for My sheep and look after them. 12 (BO)As a shepherd cares for his flock on a day when he is among his scattered [af]sheep, so I will (BP)care for My [ag]sheep and will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a (BQ)cloudy and gloomy day. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will (BR)feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the (BS)streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will feed them in a (BT)good pasture, and their grazing place will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down in a good grazing place and feed in [ah](BU)rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I Myself will (BV)feed My flock and I Myself will [ai]lead them to rest,” declares the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken, and strengthen the sick; but the (BW)fat and the strong I will eliminate. I will (BX)feed them with judgment.

17 “As for you, My flock, this is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I am going to (BY)judge between one [aj]sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats. 18 Is it too (BZ)little a thing for you to feed in the good pasture, that you must trample with your feet the rest of your pastures? Or too little for you to drink the clear waters, that you must muddy the rest with your feet? 19 But as for My flock, they must eat what you trample with your feet, and drink what you muddy with your feet!’”

20 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: “Behold, I, I Myself will also judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Since you push away with your side and shoulder, and (CA)gore all the [ak]weak with your horns until you have scattered them [al]abroad, 22 therefore, I will (CB)save My flock, and they will no longer be plunder; and I will judge between one sheep and another.

23 “Then I will (CC)appoint over them one (CD)shepherd, My servant (CE)David, and he will feed them; he will feed them himself and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant (CF)David will be prince among them; I the Lord have spoken.

25 “And I will make a (CG)covenant of peace with them and (CH)eliminate harmful animals from the land, so that they may (CI)live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places around My hill a (CJ)blessing. And I will make (CK)showers fall in their season; they will be showers of (CL)blessing. 27 Also the tree of the field will yield its fruit and the earth will yield its produce, and they will be (CM)secure on their land. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have (CN)broken the bars of their yoke and have saved them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be plunder to the nations, and the animals of the earth will not devour them; but they will (CO)live securely, and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will establish for them a (CP)renowned planting place, and they will (CQ)not again be [am]victims of famine in the land, and they will not (CR)endure the insults of the nations anymore. 30 Then they will know that (CS)I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people,” declares the Lord God. 31 “As for you, My (CT)sheep, [an]the (CU)sheep of My pasture, you are mankind, and I am your God,” declares the Lord God.

Prophecy against Mount Seir

35 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against (CV)Mount Seir, and prophesy against it 3 and say to it, ‘This is what the Lord [ao]God says:

“Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir,
And I will (CW)reach out with My hand against you
And make you a (CX)desolation and a waste.
4 I will (CY)turn your cities to ruins,
And you will become a desolation.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.

5 Since you have had everlasting (CZ)hostility and have turned over the sons of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their disaster, at the time of the [ap](DA)punishment of the end, 6 therefore as I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will certainly [aq]doom you to (DB)bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you; since you have not hated bloodshed, therefore bloodshed will pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation and I will eliminate from it one who passes through and returns. 8 I will (DC)fill its mountains with its slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines. 9 I will make you a permanent (DD)desolation, and your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

10 “Since you have (DE)said, ‘These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess [ar]them,’ although the (DF)Lord was there, 11 therefore as I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will deal with you (DG)according to your anger and according to your envy which you displayed because of your hatred for them; so I will (DH)make Myself known among them when I judge you. 12 Then you will know [as]that I, the Lord, have heard all your insults which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel saying, ‘They are desolate; they have been (DI)given to us as food.’ 13 And you have [at](DJ)spoken arrogantly against Me and have multiplied your words against Me; (DK)I Myself have heard it.” 14 This is what the Lord God says: “As all the (DL)earth rejoices, I will make you a desolation. 15 As you (DM)rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, (DN)so I will do to you. You will be a (DO)desolation, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”’

The Mountains of Israel to Be Blessed

36 “Now you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. 2 This is what the Lord [au]God says: “Since the enemy has spoken against you, ‘Aha!’ and, ‘The everlasting [av](DP)heights have become our possession,’ 3 therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “[aw]For good reason they have made you (DQ)desolate and harassed you from every side, so that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations; and you have been taken up in the [ax](DR)talk and the rumor of the people.”’” 4 Therefore, you (DS)mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins and to the abandoned cities which have become (DT)plunder and an object of ridicule to the rest of the nations which are all around— 5 therefore the Lord God says this: “Certainly in the fire of My (DU)jealousy I have spoken against the (DV)rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who [ay]appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted (DW)joy and with contempt of soul, in order to make its pastureland plunder.” 6 Therefore prophesy in regard to the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and in My wrath because you have (DX)endured the insults of the nations.’ 7 Therefore the Lord God says this: ‘I have [az]sworn that the nations that are around you will certainly endure their insults themselves. 8 But as for you, mountains of Israel, you will [ba](DY)grow your branches and bear fruit for My people Israel; for they are about to come. 9 For, behold, I am for you, and I will (DZ)turn to you, and you will be (EA)cultivated and sown. 10 And I will multiply people on you, (EB)all the house of Israel, all of it; and the (EC)cities will be inhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt. 11 I will multiply on you people and animals, and they will increase and be fruitful; and I will populate you as you were (ED)previously, and treat you (EE)better than at the beginning. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 Yes, I will have (EF)people—My people Israel—walk on you and possess you, so that you will become their (EG)inheritance and never again (EH)bereave them of children.’

13 “The Lord God says this: ‘Since they say to you, “You are a (EI)devourer of people and have bereaved your nation of children,” 14 for that reason you will no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children,’ declares the Lord God. 15 I will not let you hear (EJ)insults from the nations anymore, nor will you suffer (EK)disgrace from the peoples any longer, nor will you make your nation (EL)stumble any longer,” declares the Lord God.’”

16 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel was living on their own land, they (EM)defiled it by their ways and their deeds; their way before Me was like (EN)the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. 18 Therefore I (EO)poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land, because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I also (EP)scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the lands. (EQ)According to their ways and their deeds I judged them. 20 When they came to the nations where they went, they (ER)profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the (ES)people of the Lord, yet they have left His land.’ 21 But I had [bb]concern for My (ET)holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.

Israel to Be Renewed for His Name’s Sake

22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “It is (EU)not for your sake, house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. 23 And I will (EV)vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the (EW)nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I show Myself holy among you in their sight. 24 For I will (EX)take you from the nations, and gather you from all the lands; and I will bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will (EY)sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your (EZ)filthiness and from all your (FA)idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a (FB)new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the (FC)heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will (FD)put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and [bc]follow My ordinances. 28 And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be (FE)My people, and I will be your God. 29 Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I (FF)will not [bd]bring a famine on you. 30 Instead, I will (FG)multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31 Then you will (FH)remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your wrongdoings and your abominations. 32 I am not doing this (FI)for your sake,” declares the Lord God; “let that be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated for your ways, house of Israel!”

33 ‘This is what the Lord God says: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your wrongdoings, I will populate the (FJ)cities, and the (FK)places of ruins will be rebuilt. 34 The desolated land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 And they will say, ‘This desolated land has become like the (FL)Garden of Eden; and the waste, desolated and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations around you that are left will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolated; I, the Lord, have spoken, and I (FM)will do it.”

37 ‘This is what the Lord God says: “This too I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their people like a flock. 38 Like the (FN)flock [be]for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so will the waste cities be filled with (FO)flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 33:3 Heb shofar; i.e., ram’s horn
  2. Ezekiel 33:4 Lit the one who hears the sound...hears it but
  3. Ezekiel 33:6 I.e., hold the watchman responsible
  4. Ezekiel 33:7 Or given
  5. Ezekiel 33:7 Lit word
  6. Ezekiel 33:8 I.e., hold you responsible
  7. Ezekiel 33:10 Lit said, saying
  8. Ezekiel 33:10 Lit live
  9. Ezekiel 33:11 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  10. Ezekiel 33:12 Lit the sons of your people
  11. Ezekiel 33:12 Lit by it
  12. Ezekiel 33:15 Lit of life
  13. Ezekiel 33:17 Lit the sons of your people
  14. Ezekiel 33:18 Lit them
  15. Ezekiel 33:21 Lit struck
  16. Ezekiel 33:22 Lit until he came
  17. Ezekiel 33:22 Or mute
  18. Ezekiel 33:26 Lit stand
  19. Ezekiel 33:27 Lit faces of the field
  20. Ezekiel 33:30 Lit the sons of your people
  21. Ezekiel 33:30 Lit word
  22. Ezekiel 33:33 Lit behold, it is coming
  23. Ezekiel 34:2 Lit them, the shepherds
  24. Ezekiel 34:2 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  25. Ezekiel 34:2 Lit pasturing, pasture
  26. Ezekiel 34:2 Lit pasturing, pasture
  27. Ezekiel 34:3 Lit you do not pasture
  28. Ezekiel 34:4 Or ruled
  29. Ezekiel 34:10 Or flock
  30. Ezekiel 34:10 Lit from their hand
  31. Ezekiel 34:10 Lit pasture, and so throughout the ch
  32. Ezekiel 34:12 Or flock
  33. Ezekiel 34:12 Or flock
  34. Ezekiel 34:14 Lit fat
  35. Ezekiel 34:15 Lit let them lie down
  36. Ezekiel 34:17 Or lamb
  37. Ezekiel 34:21 Or sick
  38. Ezekiel 34:21 Lit to the outside
  39. Ezekiel 34:29 Lit those gathered
  40. Ezekiel 34:31 As in MT; LXX you are sheep of My flock, and
  41. Ezekiel 35:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  42. Ezekiel 35:5 Or injustice
  43. Ezekiel 35:6 Lit make bloodshed of you
  44. Ezekiel 35:10 Lit it
  45. Ezekiel 35:12 Or that I am the Lord: I have heard
  46. Ezekiel 35:13 Lit magnified yourselves with your mouth
  47. Ezekiel 36:2 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  48. Ezekiel 36:2 Heb bamoth
  49. Ezekiel 36:3 Lit Because; or By the cause
  50. Ezekiel 36:3 Lit lip of the tongue
  51. Ezekiel 36:5 Lit gave
  52. Ezekiel 36:7 Lit lifted up My hand
  53. Ezekiel 36:8 Lit give
  54. Ezekiel 36:21 Lit compassion
  55. Ezekiel 36:27 Lit do My
  56. Ezekiel 36:29 Lit give
  57. Ezekiel 36:38 Lit of holy things
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Ezekiel 33-36
New International Version

Renewal of Ezekiel’s Call as Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword(A) against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,(B) 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet(C) to warn the people, 4 then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning(D) and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.(E) 5 Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head.(F) If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.(G) 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’(H)

7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman(I) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.(J) 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,(K)’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.(L) 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so,(M) they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.(N)

10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away(O) because of[b] them. How then can we live?(P)”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.(Q) Turn!(R) Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’(S)

12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your people,(T) ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’(U) 13 If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done.(V) 14 And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just(W) and right— 15 if they give back what they took in pledge(X) for a loan, return what they have stolen,(Y) follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.(Z) 16 None of the sins(AA) that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.(AB)

17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But it is their way that is not just. 18 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil,(AC) they will die for it.(AD) 19 And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.(AE) 20 Yet you Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”(AF)

Jerusalem’s Fall Explained

21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month on the fifth day, a man who had escaped(AG) from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!(AH)” 22 Now the evening before the man arrived, the hand of the Lord was on me,(AI) and he opened my mouth(AJ) before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer silent.(AK)

23 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, the people living in those ruins(AL) in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many;(AM) surely the land has been given to us as our possession.’(AN) 25 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you eat(AO) meat with the blood(AP) still in it and look to your idols and shed blood, should you then possess the land?(AQ) 26 You rely on your sword, you do detestable things,(AR) and each of you defiles his neighbor’s wife.(AS) Should you then possess the land?’

27 “Say this to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those who are left in the ruins will fall by the sword, those out in the country I will give to the wild animals to be devoured, and those in strongholds and caves will die of a plague.(AT) 28 I will make the land a desolate waste, and her proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains(AU) of Israel will become desolate so that no one will cross them.(AV) 29 Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolate(AW) waste because of all the detestable things they have done.’(AX)

30 “As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ 31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before(AY) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy(AZ) for unjust gain.(BA) 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs(BB) with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.(BC)

33 “When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.(BD)”

The Lord Will Be Israel’s Shepherd

34 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?(BE) 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.(BF) 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed(BG) the sick or bound up(BH) the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.(BI) 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd,(BJ) and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.(BK) 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill.(BL) They were scattered(BM) over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.(BN)

7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered(BO) and has become food for all the wild animals,(BP) and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,(BQ) 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against(BR) the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue(BS) my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.(BT)

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep(BU) and look after them. 12 As a shepherd(BV) looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.(BW) 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather(BX) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.(BY) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.(BZ) 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel(CA) will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture(CB) on the mountains of Israel.(CC) 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,(CD) declares the Sovereign Lord.(CE) 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up(CF) the injured and strengthen the weak,(CG) but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.(CH) I will shepherd the flock with justice.(CI)

17 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.(CJ) 18 Is it not enough(CK) for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet?(CL) Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.(CM) 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns(CN) until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.(CO) 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend(CP) them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.(CQ) 24 I the Lord will be their God,(CR) and my servant David(CS) will be prince among them.(CT) I the Lord have spoken.(CU)

25 “‘I will make a covenant(CV) of peace(CW) with them and rid the land of savage beasts(CX) so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.(CY) 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.[c](CZ) I will send down showers in season;(DA) there will be showers of blessing.(DB) 27 The trees will yield their fruit(DC) and the ground will yield its crops;(DD) the people will be secure(DE) in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke(DF) and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.(DG) 28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety,(DH) and no one will make them afraid.(DI) 29 I will provide for them a land renowned(DJ) for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine(DK) in the land or bear the scorn(DL) of the nations.(DM) 30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.(DN) 31 You are my sheep,(DO) the sheep of my pasture,(DP) and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

A Prophecy Against Edom

35 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir;(DQ) prophesy against it 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand(DR) against you and make you a desolate waste.(DS) 4 I will turn your towns into ruins(DT) and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(DU)

5 “‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword(DV) at the time of their calamity,(DW) the time their punishment reached its climax,(DX) 6 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed(DY) and it will pursue you.(DZ) Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. 7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste(EA) and cut off from it all who come and go.(EB) 8 I will fill your mountains with the slain; those killed by the sword will fall on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines.(EC) 9 I will make you desolate forever;(ED) your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(EE)

10 “‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession(EF) of them,” even though I the Lord was there, 11 therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will treat you in accordance with the anger(EG) and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.(EH) 12 Then you will know that I the Lord have heard all the contemptible things you have said against the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been laid waste and have been given over to us to devour.(EI)” 13 You boasted(EJ) against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.(EK) 14 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.(EL) 15 Because you rejoiced(EM) when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir,(EN) you and all of Edom.(EO) Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Hope for the Mountains of Israel

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel(EP) and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. 2 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:(EQ) The enemy said of you, “Aha!(ER) The ancient heights(ES) have become our possession.(ET)”’ 3 Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged(EU) and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander,(EV) 4 therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys,(EW) to the desolate ruins(EX) and the deserted(EY) towns that have been plundered and ridiculed(EZ) by the rest of the nations around you(FA)— 5 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning(FB) zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.’(FC) 6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations.(FD) 7 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand(FE) that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.(FF)

8 “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit(FG) for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9 I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown,(FH) 10 and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins(FI) rebuilt.(FJ) 11 I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful(FK) and become numerous. I will settle people(FL) on you as in the past(FM) and will make you prosper more than before.(FN) Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12 I will cause people, my people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance;(FO) you will never again deprive them of their children.

13 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because some say to you, “You devour people(FP) and deprive your nation of its children,” 14 therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign Lord. 15 No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall, declares the Sovereign Lord.(FQ)’”

Israel’s Restoration Assured

16 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness(FR) in my sight.(FS) 18 So I poured out(FT) my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered(FU) through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.(FV) 20 And wherever they went among the nations they profaned(FW) my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’(FX) 21 I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.(FY)

22 “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name,(FZ) which you have profaned(GA) among the nations where you have gone.(GB) 23 I will show the holiness of my great name,(GC) which has been profaned(GD) among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,(GE) declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy(GF) through you before their eyes.(GG)

24 “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.(GH) 25 I will sprinkle(GI) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse(GJ) you from all your impurities(GK) and from all your idols.(GL) 26 I will give you a new heart(GM) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone(GN) and give you a heart of flesh.(GO) 27 And I will put my Spirit(GP) in you and move you to follow my decrees(GQ) and be careful to keep my laws.(GR) 28 Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people,(GS) and I will be your God.(GT) 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine(GU) upon you. 30 I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.(GV) 31 Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.(GW) 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed(GX) and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!(GY)

33 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse(GZ) you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins(HA) will be rebuilt.(HB) 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. 35 They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden;(HC) the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.(HD)” 36 Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the Lord have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.’(HE)

37 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea(HF) and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,(HG) 38 as numerous as the flocks for offerings(HH) at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(HI)”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 33:8 Or in; also in verse 9
  2. Ezekiel 33:10 Or away in
  3. Ezekiel 34:26 Or I will cause them and the places surrounding my hill to be named in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or I will cause them and the places surrounding my hill to be seen as blessed
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Ezekiel 32
Ezekiel 37
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