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Ezekiel 7-12
Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel 7-12
Christian Standard Bible
Announcement of the End
7 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, this is what the Lord God says to the land of Israel:
An end! The end has come
on the four corners of the earth.(A)
3 The end is now upon you;
I will send my anger against you
and judge you according to your ways.
I will punish you for all your detestable practices.
4 I will not look on you with pity or spare you,(B)
but I will punish you for your ways(C)
and for your detestable practices within you.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.”(D)
5 This is what the Lord God says:
Look, one disaster after another is coming!(E)
6 An end has come; the end has come!
It has awakened against you.
Look, it is coming!
7 Doom[a] has come on you,(F)
inhabitants of the land.
The time has come; the day is near.
There will be panic on the mountains
and not celebration.(G)
8 I will pour out my wrath on you very soon;(H)
I will exhaust my anger against you
and judge you according to your ways.
I will punish you for all your detestable practices.
9 I will not look on you with pity or spare you.
I will punish you for your ways
and for your detestable practices within you.
Then you will know
that it is I, the Lord, who strikes.
10 Here is the day! Here it comes!
Doom is on its way.(I)
The rod has blossomed;(J)
arrogance has bloomed.(K)
11 Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness.(L)
None of them will remain:
none of that crowd,
none of their wealth,
and none of the eminent[b] among them.
12 The time has come; the day has arrived.
Let the buyer not rejoice(M)
and the seller not mourn,
for wrath is on her whole crowd.(N)
13 The seller will certainly not return
to what was sold
as long as he and the buyer remain alive.[c]
For the vision concerning her whole crowd
will not be revoked,
and because of the iniquity of each one,
none will preserve his life.
14 They have blown the trumpet(O)
and prepared everything,
but no one goes to war,
for my wrath is on her whole crowd.
15 The sword is on the outside;(P)
plague and famine are on the inside.
Whoever is in the field will die by the sword,
and famine and plague will devour
whoever is in the city.
16 The survivors among them will escape(Q)
and live on the mountains.
Like doves of the valley,
all of them will moan,
each over his own iniquity.
17 All their hands will become weak,
and all their knees will run with urine.[d](R)
18 They will put on sackcloth,
and horror will overwhelm them.
Shame will cover all their faces,
and all their heads will be bald.(S)
19 They will throw their silver into the streets,
and their gold will seem like something filthy.(T)
Their silver and gold will be unable to save them
in the day of the Lord’s wrath.(U)
They will not satisfy their appetites
or fill their stomachs,
for these were the stumbling blocks(V)
that brought about their iniquity.
20 He appointed his beautiful ornaments for majesty,
but[e] they made their detestable images from them,
their abhorrent things.(W)
Therefore, I have made these
into something filthy to them.
21 I will hand these things over
to foreigners as plunder(X)
and to the wicked of the earth as spoil,
and they will profane them.
22 I will turn my face from them
as they profane my treasured place.
Violent men will enter it and profane it.
23 Forge the chain,(Y)
for the land is filled with crimes of bloodshed,
and the city is filled with violence.(Z)
24 So I will bring the most evil of nations(AA)
to take possession of their houses.
I will put an end to the pride of the strong,
and their sacred places will be profaned.(AB)
25 Anguish is coming!
They will look for peace, but there will be none.
26 Disaster after disaster will come,(AC)
and there will be rumor after rumor.(AD)
Then they will look for a vision from a prophet,(AE)
but instruction will perish from the priests
and counsel from the elders.(AF)
27 The king will mourn;
the prince will be clothed in grief;
and the hands of the people of the land will tremble.
I will deal with them according to their own conduct,
and I will judge them by their own standards.(AG)
Then they will know that I am the Lord.
Visionary Journey to Jerusalem
8 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting in front of me,(AH) and there the hand of the Lord God came down on me.(AI) 2 I looked, and there was someone who looked like a man.[f] From what seemed to be his waist down was fire, and from his waist up was something that looked bright,(AJ) like the gleam of amber.(AK) 3 He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God(AL) to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousy(AM) was located. 4 I saw the glory of the God of Israel(AN) there, like the vision I had seen in the plain.(AO)
Pagan Practices in the Temple
5 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” I looked to the north, and there was this offensive statue north of the Altar Gate, at the entrance. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing here—more detestable acts that the house of Israel is committing(AP)—so that I must depart from my sanctuary? You will see even more detestable acts.”
7 Then he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked there was a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall and discovered a doorway. 9 He said to me, “Go in and see the detestable, wicked acts they are committing here.”
10 I went in and looked, and there engraved all around the wall was every kind of abhorrent thing—crawling creatures and beasts—as well as all the idols of the house of Israel.(AQ) 11 Seventy elders from the house of Israel were standing before them, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan(AR) standing among them. Each had a firepan in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising up. 12 He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his idol? For they are saying, ‘The Lord does not see us. The Lord has abandoned the land.’”(AS) 13 Again he said to me, “You will see even more detestable acts that they are committing.”
14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house, and I saw women sitting there weeping for Tammuz. 15 And he said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see even more detestable acts than these.”
16 So he brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s house, and there were about twenty-five men at the entrance of the Lord’s temple, between the portico and the altar,(AT) with their backs to the Lord’s temple and their faces turned to the east.(AU) They were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.(AV) 17 And he said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the detestable acts they are doing here, that they must also fill the land with violence(AW) and repeatedly anger me,(AX) even putting the branch to their nose?[g] 18 Therefore I will respond with wrath.(AY) I will not show pity or spare them.(AZ) Though they call loudly in my hearing,(BA) I will not listen to them.”
Vision of Slaughter in Jerusalem
9 Then he called loudly in my hearing, “Come near, executioners of the city, each of you with a destructive weapon in his hand.” 2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate,(BB) which faces north, each with a war club in his hand. There was another man among them, clothed in linen,(BC) carrying writing equipment. They came and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Then the glory of the God of Israel(BD) rose from above the cherub where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man clothed in linen and carrying writing equipment. 4 “Pass throughout the city of Jerusalem,” the Lord said to him, “and put a mark on the foreheads(BE) of the men who sigh and groan(BF) over all the detestable practices committed in it.”
5 He spoke to the others in my hearing: “Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare them!(BG) 6 Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, as well as the children and older women,(BH) but do not come near anyone who has the mark.(BI) Begin at my sanctuary.”(BJ) So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple. 7 Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.(BK) Go!” So they went out killing people in the city.
8 While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord God!(BL) Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your wrath on Jerusalem?”
9 He answered me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of bloodshed,(BM) and the city full of perversity. For they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land;(BN) he does not see.’(BO) 10 But as for me, I will not show pity or spare them.(BP) I will bring their conduct down on their own heads.”(BQ)
11 Then the man clothed in linen and carrying writing equipment reported back, “I have done all that you commanded me.”
God’s Glory Leaves the Temple
10 Then I looked, and there above the expanse over the heads(BR) of the cherubim was something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli. 2 The Lord spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, “Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with blazing coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.”(BS) So he went in as I watched.
3 Now the cherubim were standing to the south of the temple when the man went in, and the cloud(BT) filled the inner court.(BU) 4 Then the glory of the Lord rose from above the cherub to the threshold of the temple.(BV) The temple was filled with the cloud,(BW) and the court was filled with the brightness of the Lord’s glory.(BX) 5 The sound of the cherubim’s wings could be heard as far as the outer court; it was like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.
6 After the Lord commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from inside the wheelwork, from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. 7 Then the cherub reached out his hand to the fire that was among them. He took some and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of human hands under their wings.(BY)
9 I looked, and there were four wheels beside the cherubim,(BZ) one wheel beside each cherub. The luster of the wheels was like the gleam of beryl.(CA) 10 In appearance, all four looked alike, like a wheel within a wheel. 11 When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions,(CB) without pivoting as they moved. But wherever the head faced, they would go in that direction, without pivoting as they went. 12 Their entire bodies,(CC) including their backs, hands, wings, and the wheels that the four of them had, were full of eyes all around.(CD) 13 As I listened the wheels were called “the wheelwork.” 14 Each one had four faces:(CE) one was the face of a cherub, the second the face of a human, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
15 The cherubim ascended; these were the living creatures I had seen by the Chebar Canal.(CF) 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when they lifted their wings to rise from the earth, even then the wheels did not veer away from them. 17 When the cherubim stopped,(CG) the wheels stood still, and when they ascended, the wheels ascended with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
18 Then the glory of the Lord moved away from the threshold of the temple(CH) and stopped above the cherubim.(CI) 19 The cherubim lifted their wings and ascended from the earth right before my eyes;(CJ) the wheels were beside them as they went. The glory of the God of Israel was above them, and it stopped at the entrance to the eastern gate of the Lord’s house.
20 These were the living creatures I had seen(CK) beneath the God of Israel by the Chebar Canal,(CL) and I recognized that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces and each had four wings,(CM) with what looked something like human hands under their wings. 22 Their faces looked like the same faces I had seen(CN) by the Chebar Canal. Each creature went straight ahead.
Vision of Israel’s Corrupt Leaders
11 The Spirit then lifted me up(CO) and brought me to the eastern gate of the Lord’s house, which faces east, and at the gate’s entrance were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur, and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. 2 The Lord[h] said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plot evil(CP) and give wicked advice in this city. 3 They are saying, ‘Isn’t the time near to build houses?[i](CQ) The city is the pot,(CR) and we are the meat.’ 4 Therefore, prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man!”
5 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me, “You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord says: That is what you are thinking, house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your mind.(CS) 6 You have multiplied your slain in this city,(CT) filling its streets with them.
7 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: The slain you have put within it are the meat,(CU) and the city is the pot, but I[j] will take you out of it.(CV) 8 You fear the sword,(CW) so I will bring the sword against you.(CX) This is the declaration of the Lord God. 9 I will take you out of the city and hand you over to foreigners; I will execute judgments against you.(CY) 10 You will fall by the sword,(CZ) and I will judge you at the border of Israel.(DA) Then you will know that I am the Lord. 11 The city will not be a pot for you,(DB) and you will not be the meat within it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, 12 so you will know that I am the Lord, whose statutes you have not followed and whose ordinances you have not practiced. Instead, you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.’”(DC)
13 Now while I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died.(DD) Then I fell facedown and cried out loudly, “Oh, Lord God!(DE) You are bringing the remnant of Israel to an end!”
Promise of Israel’s Restoration
14 The word of the Lord came to me again: 15 “Son of man, your own relatives, those who have the right to redeem your property,[k][l] along with the entire house of Israel—all of them—are those to whom the residents of Jerusalem have said, ‘You are far from the Lord; this land has been given to us as a possession.’
16 “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Though I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them(DF) in the countries where they have gone.’
17 “Therefore say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from the peoples(DG) and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’
18 “When they arrive there, they will remove all its(DH) abhorrent acts(DI) and detestable practices from it. 19 I will give them integrity of[m] heart(DJ) and put a new spirit within them; I will remove their heart of stone(DK) from their bodies[n] and give them a heart of flesh,(DL) 20 so that they will follow my statutes,(DM) keep my ordinances, and practice them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.(DN) 21 But as for those whose hearts pursue their desire for abhorrent acts and detestable practices, I will bring their conduct down on their own heads.”(DO) This is the declaration of the Lord God.
God’s Glory Leaves Jerusalem
22 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, lifted their wings,(DP) and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23 The glory of the Lord(DQ) rose up from within the city and stopped on the mountain(DR) east of the city.[o](DS) 24 The Spirit lifted me up(DT) and brought me to Chaldea and to the exiles in a vision from the Spirit of God. After the vision I had seen left me, 25 I spoke to the exiles about all the things the Lord had shown me.
Ezekiel Dramatizes the Exile
12 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house.(DU) They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear,(DV) for they are a rebellious house.(DW)
3 “Now you, son of man, get your bags ready for exile and go into exile in their sight during the day. You will go into exile from your place to another place while they watch; perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4 During the day, bring out your bags like an exile’s bags while they look on. Then in the evening go out in their sight like those going into exile. 5 As they watch, dig through the wall and take the bags out through it. 6 And while they look on, lift the bags to your shoulder and take them out in the dark; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”(DX)
7 So I did just as I was commanded. In the daytime I brought out my bags like an exile’s bags. In the evening I dug through the wall by hand; I took them out in the dark, carrying them on my shoulder in their sight.
8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel, that rebellious house,(DY) asked you, ‘What are you doing?’ (DZ) 10 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: This pronouncement concerns the prince[p] in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel living there.’[q] 11 You are to say, ‘I am a sign for you. Just as I have done, it will be done to them; they will go into exile,(EA) into captivity.’ 12 The prince who is among(EB) them will lift his bags to his shoulder in the dark and go out. They[r] will dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land with his eyes. 13 But I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he will not see it,(EC) and he will die there. 14 I will also scatter all the attendants who surround him and all his troops to every direction of the wind,(ED) and I will draw a sword to chase after them. 15 They will know that I am the Lord(EE) when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(EF) 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword,(EG) famine, and plague, so that among the nations where they go they can tell about all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Ezekiel Dramatizes Israel’s Anxiety
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, eat your bread with(EH) trembling and drink your water with anxious shaking. 19 Then say to the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord God says about the residents of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their[s][t] land will be stripped of everything(EI) in it because of the violence of all who live there. 20 The inhabited cities will be destroyed, and the land will become dreadful. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
A Deceptive Proverb Stopped
21 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb you people have about the land of Israel,(EJ) which goes, ‘The days keep passing by,(EK) and every vision fails’? 23 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will put a stop to this proverb, and they will not use it again in Israel.’(EL) But say to them, ‘The days have arrived,(EM) as well as the fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination(EN) within the house of Israel. 25 But I, the Lord, will speak whatever message I will speak, and it will be done.(EO) It will no longer be delayed.(EP) For in your days, rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
26 The word of the Lord came to me: 27 “Son of man, notice that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees concerns many years from now;(EQ) he prophesies about distant times.’ 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: None of my words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
Footnotes
- 7:7 Or A leash; Hb obscure, also in v. 10
- 7:11 Some Hb mss, Syr, Vg read and no rest
- 7:13 Lit sold, while still in life is their life
- 7:17 Lit knees will go water
- 7:20 Or They turned their beautiful ornaments into objects of pride, and
- 8:2 LXX; MT, Vg read like fire
- 8:17 Alt Hb tradition reads my nose
- 11:2 Lit He
- 11:3 Or “The time is not near to build houses.
- 11:7 Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg; other Hb mss read he
- 11:15 LXX, Syr read your relatives, your fellow exiles
- 11:15 Or own brothers, your relatives
- 11:19 Lit give them one
- 11:19 Lit flesh
- 11:23 = the Mount of Olives
- 12:10 = King Zedekiah
- 12:10 Lit Israel among them
- 12:12 LXX, Syr read He
- 12:19 Lit its
- 12:19 = Jerusalem’s
Ezekiel 7-12
New International Version
Ezekiel 7-12
New International Version
The End Has Come
7 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel:
“‘The end!(A) The end has come
upon the four corners(B) of the land!
3 The end is now upon you,
and I will unleash my anger against you.
I will judge you according to your conduct(C)
and repay you for all your detestable practices.(D)
4 I will not look on you with pity;(E)
I will not spare you.
I will surely repay you for your conduct
and for the detestable practices among you.
“‘Then you will know that I am the Lord.’(F)
5 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Disaster!(G) Unheard-of[a] disaster!
See, it comes!
6 The end(H) has come!
The end has come!
It has roused itself against you.
See, it comes!
7 Doom has come upon you,
upon you who dwell in the land.
The time has come! The day(I) is near!(J)
There is panic, not joy, on the mountains.
8 I am about to pour out my wrath(K) on you
and spend my anger against you.
I will judge you according to your conduct
and repay you for all your detestable practices.(L)
9 I will not look on you with pity;
I will not spare you.(M)
I will repay you for your conduct
and for the detestable practices among you.(N)
“‘Then you will know that it is I the Lord who strikes you.(O)
10 “‘See, the day!
See, it comes!
Doom has burst forth,
the rod(P) has budded,
arrogance has blossomed!
11 Violence(Q) has arisen,[b]
a rod to punish the wicked.
None of the people will be left,
none of that crowd—
none of their wealth,
nothing of value.(R)
12 The time has come!
The day has arrived!
Let not the buyer(S) rejoice
nor the seller grieve,
for my wrath is on the whole crowd.(T)
13 The seller will not recover
the property that was sold—
as long as both buyer and seller live.
For the vision concerning the whole crowd
will not be reversed.
Because of their sins, not one of them
will preserve their life.(U)
14 “‘They have blown the trumpet,(V)
they have made all things ready,
but no one will go into battle,
for my wrath(W) is on the whole crowd.
15 Outside is the sword;
inside are plague and famine.
Those in the country
will die by the sword;
those in the city
will be devoured by famine and plague.(X)
16 The fugitives(Y) who escape
will flee to the mountains.
Like doves(Z) of the valleys,
they will all moan,
each for their own sins.(AA)
17 Every hand will go limp;(AB)
every leg will be wet with urine.(AC)
18 They will put on sackcloth(AD)
and be clothed with terror.(AE)
Every face will be covered with shame,
and every head will be shaved.(AF)
19 “‘They will throw their silver into the streets,(AG)
and their gold will be treated as a thing unclean.
Their silver and gold
will not be able to deliver them
in the day of the Lord’s wrath.(AH)
It will not satisfy(AI) their hunger
or fill their stomachs,
for it has caused them to stumble(AJ) into sin.(AK)
20 They took pride in their beautiful jewelry
and used it to make(AL) their detestable idols.
They made it into vile images;(AM)
therefore I will make it a thing unclean for them.(AN)
21 I will give their wealth as plunder(AO) to foreigners
and as loot to the wicked of the earth,
who will defile it.(AP)
22 I will turn my face(AQ) away from the people,
and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure.
They will enter it
and will defile it.(AR)
23 “‘Prepare chains!
For the land is full of bloodshed,(AS)
and the city is full of violence.(AT)
24 I will bring the most wicked of nations
to take possession of their houses.
I will put an end to the pride of the mighty,
and their sanctuaries(AU) will be desecrated.(AV)
25 When terror comes,
they will seek peace in vain.(AW)
26 Calamity upon calamity(AX) will come,
and rumor upon rumor.
They will go searching for a vision from the prophet,(AY)
priestly instruction in the law will cease,
the counsel of the elders will come to an end.(AZ)
27 The king will mourn,
the prince will be clothed with despair,(BA)
and the hands of the people of the land will tremble.
I will deal with them according to their conduct,(BB)
and by their own standards I will judge them.
“‘Then they will know that I am the Lord.(BC)’”
Idolatry in the Temple
8 In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders(BD) of Judah were sitting before(BE) me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there.(BF) 2 I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man.[c] From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal.(BG) 3 He stretched out what looked like a hand(BH) and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up(BI) between earth and heaven and in visions(BJ) of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court,(BK) where the idol that provokes to jealousy(BL) stood. 4 And there before me was the glory(BM) of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.(BN)
5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol(BO) of jealousy.
6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable(BP) things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary?(BQ) But you will see things that are even more detestable.”
7 Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.
9 And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.” 10 So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls(BR) all kinds of crawling things and unclean(BS) animals and all the idols of Israel.(BT) 11 In front of them stood seventy elders(BU) of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer(BV) in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense(BW) was rising.(BX)
12 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness,(BY) each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord does not see(BZ) us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’” 13 Again, he said, “You will see them doing things that are even more detestable.”
14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz.(CA) 15 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.”
16 He then brought me into the inner court(CB) of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar,(CC) were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun(CD) in the east.(CE)
17 He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things(CF) they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence(CG) and continually arouse my anger?(CH) Look at them putting the branch to their nose! 18 Therefore I will deal with them in anger;(CI) I will not look on them with pity(CJ) or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen(CK) to them.”
Judgment on the Idolaters
9 Then I heard him call out in a loud voice, “Bring near those who are appointed to execute judgment on the city, each with a weapon in his hand.” 2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with a deadly weapon in his hand. With them was a man clothed in linen(CL) who had a writing kit at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3 Now the glory(CM) of the God of Israel went up from above the cherubim,(CN) where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. Then the Lord called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side 4 and said to him, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem(CO) and put a mark(CP) on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament(CQ) over all the detestable things that are done in it.(CR)”
5 As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity(CS) or compassion.(CT) 6 Slaughter(CU) the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children,(CV) but do not touch anyone who has the mark.(CW) Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men(CX) who were in front of the temple.(CY)
7 Then he said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain.(CZ) Go!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city. 8 While they were killing and I was left alone, I fell facedown,(DA) crying out, “Alas, Sovereign Lord!(DB) Are you going to destroy the entire remnant of Israel in this outpouring of your wrath(DC) on Jerusalem?(DD)”
9 He answered me, “The sin of the people of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great; the land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice.(DE) They say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land; the Lord does not see.’(DF) 10 So I will not look on them with pity(DG) or spare them, but I will bring down on their own heads what they have done.(DH)”
11 Then the man in linen with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, “I have done as you commanded.”
God’s Glory Departs From the Temple
10 I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne(DI) of lapis lazuli(DJ) above the vault(DK) that was over the heads of the cherubim.(DL) 2 The Lord said to the man clothed in linen,(DM) “Go in among the wheels(DN) beneath the cherubim. Fill(DO) your hands with burning coals(DP) from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.
3 Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. 4 Then the glory of the Lord(DQ) rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord. 5 The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice(DR) of God Almighty[d] when he speaks.(DS)
6 When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels,(DT) from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. 7 Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire(DU) that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. 8 (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.)(DV)
9 I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.(DW) 10 As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 11 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about[e] as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. 12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes,(DX) as were their four wheels.(DY) 13 I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” 14 Each of the cherubim(DZ) had four faces:(EA) One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion,(EB) and the fourth the face of an eagle.(EC)
15 Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures(ED) I had seen by the Kebar River.(EE) 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. 17 When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.(EF)
18 Then the glory(EG) of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.(EH) 19 While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.(EI) They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory(EJ) of the God of Israel was above them.
20 These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River,(EK) and I realized that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces(EL) and four wings,(EM) and under their wings was what looked like human hands. 22 Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River.(EN) Each one went straight ahead.
God’s Sure Judgment on Jerusalem
11 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the Lord that faces east. There at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah(EO) son of Benaiah, leaders(EP) of the people.(EQ) 2 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil(ER) and giving wicked advice in this city.(ES) 3 They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot,(ET) and we are the meat in it.’(EU) 4 Therefore prophesy(EV) against them; prophesy, son of man.”
5 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.(EW) 6 You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead.(EX)
7 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot,(EY) but I will drive you out of it.(EZ) 8 You fear the sword,(FA) and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign Lord.(FB) 9 I will drive you out of the city and deliver you into the hands(FC) of foreigners and inflict punishment on you.(FD) 10 You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.(FE) Then you will know that I am the Lord. 11 This city will not be a pot(FF) for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. 12 And you will know that I am the Lord,(FG) for you have not followed my decrees(FH) or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.(FI)”
13 Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah(FJ) son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?(FK)”
The Promise of Israel’s Return
14 The word of the Lord came to me: 15 “Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’(FL)
16 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary(FM) for them in the countries where they have gone.’
17 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’(FN)
18 “They will return to it and remove all its vile images(FO) and detestable idols.(FP) 19 I will give them an undivided heart(FQ) and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone(FR) and give them a heart of flesh.(FS) 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(FT) They will be my people,(FU) and I will be their God.(FV) 21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols,(FW) I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.(FX)”
22 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory(FY) of the God of Israel was above them.(FZ) 23 The glory(GA) of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain(GB) east of it. 24 The Spirit(GC) lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia[f] in the vision(GD) given by the Spirit of God.
Then the vision I had seen went up from me, 25 and I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.(GE)
The Exile Symbolized
12 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.(GF) They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.(GG)
3 “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps(GH) they will understand,(GI) though they are a rebellious people.(GJ) 4 During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.(GK) 5 While they watch, dig through the wall(GL) and take your belongings out through it. 6 Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign(GM) to the Israelites.”
7 So I did as I was commanded.(GN) During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’(GO)
10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ 11 Say to them, ‘I am a sign(GP) to you.’
“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.(GQ)
12 “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk(GR) and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.(GS) 13 I will spread my net(GT) for him, and he will be caught in my snare;(GU) I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,(GV) but he will not see(GW) it, and there he will die.(GX) 14 I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.(GY)
15 “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations(GZ) and scatter them through the countries. 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(HA)”
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,(HB) and shudder in fear as you drink your water. 19 Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything(HC) in it because of the violence of all who live there.(HD) 20 The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(HE)’”
There Will Be No Delay
21 The word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb(HF) you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?(HG) 23 Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near(HH) when every vision will be fulfilled.(HI) 24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations(HJ) among the people of Israel. 25 But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.(HK) For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill(HL) whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.(HM)’”
26 The word of the Lord came to me: 27 “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’(HN)
28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 7:5 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Disaster after
- Ezekiel 7:11 Or The violent one has become
- Ezekiel 8:2 Or saw a fiery figure
- Ezekiel 10:5 Hebrew El-Shaddai
- Ezekiel 10:11 Or aside
- Ezekiel 11:24 Or Chaldea
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.