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Ezekiel 33-36
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Ezekiel as Israel’s Watchman

33 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows his trumpet(A) to warn the people. 4 Then, if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning,(B) and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 5 Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but ignored the warning, his blood is on his own hands.[a] If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 However, if the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet, so that the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives, then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.

7 “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.(C) When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 8 If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’(D) but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. 9 But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

10 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel: You have said this, ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them!(E) How then can we survive?’(F) 11 Tell them: As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live.(G) Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?

12 “Now, son of man, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won’t be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. 13 When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.(H)

14 “So when I tell the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but he repents of his sin and does what is just and right— 15 he returns collateral, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life(I) without practicing iniquity—he will certainly live; he will not die. 16 None of the sins he committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.(J)

17 “But your people say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair,’(K) even though it is their own way that isn’t fair. 18 When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die on account of this. 19 But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this. 20 Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.”

The News of Jerusalem’s Fall

21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!” 22 Now the hand of the Lord had been on me the evening before the fugitive arrived, and He opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.(L)

Israel’s Continued Rebellion

23 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, those who live in the[b] ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person,(M) yet he received possession of the land.(N) But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.’(O) 25 Therefore say to them: This is what the Lord God says: You eat meat with blood in it,(P) raise your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then receive possession of the land? 26 You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor’s wife. Should you then receive possession of the land?(Q)

27 “Tell them this: This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I have given to wild animals to be devoured, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague.(R) 28 I will make the land a desolate waste,(S) and its proud strength will come to an end.(T) The mountains of Israel(U) will become desolate, with no one passing through. 29 They will know that I am Yahweh when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable acts they have committed.

30 “Now, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear what the message is that comes from the Lord!’ 31 So My people come to you in crowds,[c] sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest profit. 32 Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them. 33 Yet when it comes(V)—and it will definitely come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

The Shepherds and God’s Flock

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 Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves!(W) Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock? 3 You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.(X) 4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost.(Y) Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. 5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd;(Z) they became food for all the wild animals(AA) when they were scattered. 6 My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill.(AB) They were scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.

7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. 8 As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“because My flock has become prey and food for every wild animal since they lack a shepherd, for My shepherds do not search for My flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than My flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!

10 “This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds.(AC) I will demand My flock from them[d] and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue My flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.

11 “For this is what the Lord God says: See, I Myself will search for My flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered(AD) on a cloudy and dark day. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will tend them with good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will tend My flock and let them lie down.”(AE) This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost,(AF) bring back the strays, bandage the injured,(AG) and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy[e] the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.

17 “The Lord God says to you, My flock: I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and male goats.(AH) 18 Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn’t it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Yet My flock has to feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied.

20 “Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: See, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Since you have pushed with flank and shoulder and butted all the weak ones with your horns until you scattered them all over, 22 I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey for you. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will appoint over them a single shepherd, My servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd.(AI) 24 I, Yahweh, will be their God, and My servant David(AJ) will be a prince among them. I, Yahweh, have spoken.

25 “I will make a covenant of peace(AK) with them and eliminate dangerous animals(AL) in the land, so that they may live securely(AM) in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. 26 I will make them and the area around My hill(AN) a blessing: I will send down showers in their season(AO)—showers[f] of blessing. 27 The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. They will know that I am Yahweh when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslave them.(AP) 28 They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild animals of the land will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten them. 29 I will establish for them a place renowned for its agriculture,[g] and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land. They will no longer endure the insults of the nations.(AQ) 30 Then they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people.”(AR) This is the declaration of the Lord God. 31 “You are My flock, the human flock of My pasture, and I am your God.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.(AS)

A Prophecy against Edom

35 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn your face toward Mount Seir(AT) and prophesy against it. 3 Say to it: This is what the Lord God says:

Look! I am against you, Mount Seir.
I will stretch out My hand against you
and make you a desolate waste.(AU)
4 I will turn your cities into ruins,
and you will become a desolation.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

5 “Because you maintained an ancient hatred(AV) and handed over the Israelites to the power of the sword in the time of their disaster, the time of final punishment,(AW) 6 therefore, as I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“I will destine you for bloodshed, and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.(AX) 7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and will cut off from it those who come and go.(AY) 8 I will fill its mountains with the slain;(AZ) those slain by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines. 9 I will make you a perpetual desolation; your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

10 “Because you said, ‘These two nations and two lands will be mine, and we will possess them’—though the Lord was there(BA)— 11 therefore, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“I will treat you according to the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them. I will make Myself known among them[h] when I judge you. 12 Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have heard all the blasphemies you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are desolate. They have been given to us to devour!’ 13 You boasted against Me(BB) with your mouth, and spoke many words against Me. I heard it Myself!

14 “This is what the Lord God says: While the whole world rejoices, I will make you a desolation. 15 Just as you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it became a desolation, so I will deal with you: you will become a desolation, Mount Seir, and so will all Edom in its entirety. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.

Restoration of Israel’s Mountains

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord.(BC) 2 This is what the Lord God says: Because the enemy has said about you, ‘Good!(BD) The ancient heights(BE) have become our possession,’ 3 therefore, prophesy and say: This is what the Lord God says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people’s gossip and slander,(BF) 4 therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God. This is what the Lord God says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become plunder(BG) and a mockery to the rest of the nations all around.

5 “This is what the Lord God says: Certainly in My burning zeal I speak against the rest of the nations and all of Edom,(BH) who took[i] My land as their own possession with wholehearted rejoicing and utter contempt(BI) so that its pastureland became[j] plunder. 6 Therefore, prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: This is what the Lord God says: Look, I speak in My burning zeal(BJ) because you have endured the insults of the nations. 7 Therefore this is what the Lord God says: I swear[k] that the nations all around you will endure their own insults.(BK)

8 “You, mountains of Israel, will produce your branches(BL) and bear your fruit for My people Israel, since their arrival is near. 9 Look! I am on your side; I will turn toward you,(BM) and you will be tilled and sown. 10 I will fill you with people, with the whole house of Israel in its entirety.(BN) The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. 11 I will fill you with people and animals,(BO) and they will increase and be fruitful. I will make you inhabited as you once were and make you better off than you were before. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.(BP) 12 I will cause people, My people Israel, to walk on you; they will possess you,(BQ) and you will be their inheritance. You will no longer deprive them of their children.

13 “This is what the Lord God says: Because people are saying to you, ‘You devour men and deprive your nation of children,’(BR) 14 therefore, you will no longer devour men and deprive your nation of children.”[l] This is the declaration of the Lord God. 15 “I will no longer allow the insults of the nations to be heard against you, and you will not have to endure the reproach of the peoples anymore;(BS) you will no longer cause your nation to stumble.”[m] This is the declaration of the Lord God.

Restoration of Israel’s People

16 The word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, while the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it with their conduct and actions.(BT) Their behavior before Me was like menstrual impurity.(BU) 18 So I poured out My wrath(BV) on them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered among the countries.(BW) I judged them according to their conduct and actions.(BX) 20 When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name,(BY) because it was said about them, ‘These are the people of Yahweh, yet they had to leave His land in exile.’ 21 Then I had concern for My holy name,(BZ) which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.

22 “Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act,(CA) house of Israel, but for My holy name,(CB) which you profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will honor the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am Yahweh”—the declaration of the Lord God—“when I demonstrate My holiness through you in their sight.(CC)

24 “For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.(CD) 25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean.(CE) I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.(CF) 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;(CG) I will remove your heart of stone[n] and give you a heart of flesh.(CH) 27 I will place My Spirit within you(CI) and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances.(CJ) 28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your fathers;(CK) you will be My people, and I will be your God.(CL) 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and will not bring famine on you.(CM) 30 I will also make the fruit of the trees and the produce of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer experience reproach among the nations on account of famine.

31 “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good,(CN) and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices.(CO) 32 It is not for your sake that I will act”(CP)—the declaration of the Lord God—“let this be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated because of your ways, house of Israel!

33 “This is what the Lord God says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt.(CQ) 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden.(CR) The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations that remain around you will know that I, Yahweh, have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I, Yahweh, have spoken and I will do it.(CS)

37 “This is what the Lord God says: I will respond to the house of Israel and do this for them:(CT) I will multiply them in number like a flock.[o] 38 So the ruined cities will be filled with a flock of people, just as the flock of sheep for sacrifice(CU) is filled[p] in Jerusalem during its appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 33:5 Lit on him
  2. Ezekiel 33:24 Lit these
  3. Ezekiel 33:31 Lit you like the coming of a people
  4. Ezekiel 34:10 Lit their hand
  5. Ezekiel 34:16 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg read watch over
  6. Ezekiel 34:26 Lit season; they will be showers
  7. Ezekiel 34:29 LXX, Syr read a plant of peace
  8. Ezekiel 35:11 LXX reads you
  9. Ezekiel 36:5 Lit gave
  10. Ezekiel 36:5 Or contempt, to empty it of; Hb obscure
  11. Ezekiel 36:7 Lit lift up My hand
  12. Ezekiel 36:14 Alt Hb tradition reads and cause your nation to stumble
  13. Ezekiel 36:15 Some Hb mss, Tg read no longer bereave your nation of children
  14. Ezekiel 36:26 Lit stone from your flesh
  15. Ezekiel 36:37 Lit flock of people
  16. Ezekiel 36:38 Lit the flock of consecrated things, as the flock
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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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