Ezekiel 35:1-36:15

New International Version

A Prophecy Against Edom

35 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir;^(A) 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^(B) against you and make you a desolate waste.^{(C) 4} I will turn your towns into ruins^(D) and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(E)

⁵ “‘Because you harbored an ancient hostility and delivered the Israelites over to the sword^(F) at the time of their calamity,^(G) the time their punishment reached its climax,^{(H) 6} therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will give you over to bloodshed^(I) and it will pursue you.^(J) Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you. ⁷ I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste^(K) and cut off from it all who come and go.^{(L) 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.^{(M) 9} I will make you desolate forever;^(N) your towns will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^(O)

¹⁰ “‘Because you have said, “These two nations and countries will be ours and we will take possession^(P) 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^(Q) and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.^{(R) 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.^(S)” ¹³ You boasted^(T) against me and spoke against me without restraint, and I heard it.^{(U) 14} This is what the Sovereign Lord says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.^{(V) 15} Because you rejoiced^(W) when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir,^(X) you and all of Edom.^(Y) 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^(Z) and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. ² This is what the Sovereign Lord says:^(AA) The enemy said of you, “Aha!^(AB) The ancient heights^(AC) have become our possession.^(AD)”’ ³ Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged^(AE) 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,^{(AF) 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,^(AG) to the desolate ruins^(AH) and the deserted^(AI) towns that have been plundered and ridiculed^(AJ) by the rest of the nations around you^(AK)— ⁵ this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning^(AL) 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.’^{(AM) 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.^{(AN) 7} Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand^(AO) that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.^(AP)

⁸ “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit^(AQ) 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,^{(AR) 10} and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins^(AS) rebuilt.^{(AT) 11} I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful^(AU) and become numerous. I will settle people^(AV) on you as in the past^(AW) and will make you prosper more than before.^(AX) 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;^(AY) 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^(AZ) 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.^(BA)’”