The Sinking of Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: “Now, son of man, lament for Tyre.(A) Say to Tyre, who is located at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples(B) to many coasts and islands: This is what the Lord God says:

Tyre, you declared,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
Your realm was in the heart of the sea;
your builders perfected your beauty.
They constructed all your planking
with pine trees from Senir.[a](C)
They took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
They made your oars of oaks from Bashan.
They made your deck of cypress wood
from the coasts of Cyprus,(D)
inlaid with ivory.
Your sail was made of
fine embroidered linen from Egypt,
and served as your banner.
Your awning was of blue and purple fabric
from the coasts of Elishah.
The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad(E)
were your rowers.
Your wise men were within you, Tyre;
they were your captains.
The elders of Gebal and its wise men(F)
were within you, repairing your leaks.

All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came to[b] you to barter for your goods.
10 Men of Persia, Lud, and Put(G)
were in your army, serving as your warriors.
They hung shields and helmets in you;
they gave you splendor.
11 Men of Arvad and Helech
were stationed on your walls all around,
and Gammadites were in your towers.
They hung their shields[c] all around your walls;
they perfected your beauty.

12 “Tarshish(H) was your trading partner because of your great wealth of every kind. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech(I) were your merchants. They exchanged slaves[d] and bronze utensils for your goods. 14 Those from Beth-togarmah(J) exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. 15 Men of Dedan[e](K) were also your merchants; many coasts and islands were your regular markets. They brought back ivory tusks(L) and ebony as your payment. 16 Aram[f][g] was your trading partner because of your numerous products. They exchanged turquoise,[h] purple and embroidered cloth, fine linen, coral,[i] and rubies[j] for your merchandise. 17 Judah and the land of Israel were your merchants. They exchanged wheat from Minnith,(M) meal,[k] honey, oil, and balm, for your goods. 18 Damascus was also your trading partner because of your numerous products and your great wealth of every kind, trading in wine from Helbon and white wool.[l] 19 Vedan[m] and Javan from Uzal[n](N) dealt in your merchandise; wrought iron, cassia,(O) and aromatic cane were exchanged for your goods. 20 Dedan(P) was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your business[o] partners, trading with you in lambs, rams, and goats. 22 The merchants of Sheba(Q) and Raamah traded with you. They exchanged gold, the best of all spices, and all kinds of precious stones for your merchandise.(R) 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden,(S) the merchants of Sheba, Asshur,(T) and Chilmad traded with you. 24 They were your merchants in choice garments, cloaks of blue and embroidered materials, and multicolored carpets,[p] which were bound and secured with cords in your marketplace. 25 Ships of Tarshish(U) were the carriers for your goods.

So you became full and heavily loaded[q]
in the heart of the sea.
26 Your rowers have brought you
onto the high seas,(V)
but the east wind has shattered you
in the heart of the sea.
27 Your wealth, merchandise, and goods,
your sailors and captains,
those who repair your leaks,
those who barter for your goods,
and all the warriors within you,
with all the other people on board,[r]
sink into the heart of the sea
on the day of your downfall.

28 The countryside shakes
at the sound of your sailors’ cries.(W)
29 All those who handle an oar
disembark from their ships.
The sailors and all the captains of the sea
stand on the shore.
30 They raise their voices over you
and cry out bitterly.
They throw dust on their heads;(X)
they roll in ashes.
31 They shave their heads because of you
and wrap themselves in sackcloth.
They weep over you
with deep anguish and bitter mourning.

32 In their wailing they lament for you,(Y)
mourning over you:
Who was like Tyre,
silenced[s] in the middle of the sea?
33 When your merchandise was unloaded from the seas,
you satisfied many peoples.
You enriched the kings of the earth
with your abundant wealth and goods.
34 Now you are shattered by the sea
in the depths of the waters;
your goods and the people within you
have gone down.
35 All the inhabitants of the coasts and islands
are appalled(Z) at you.
Their kings shudder with fear;
their faces are contorted.
36 Those who trade among the peoples
mock[t](AA) you;
you have become an object of horror
and will never exist again.”(AB)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 27:5 = Mount Hermon
  2. Ezekiel 27:9 Lit sailors were with
  3. Ezekiel 27:11 Or quivers; Hb obscure
  4. Ezekiel 27:13 Lit souls of men
  5. Ezekiel 27:15 LXX reads Rhodes
  6. Ezekiel 27:16 Some Hb mss, Aq, Syr read Edom
  7. Ezekiel 27:16 = Syria
  8. Ezekiel 27:16 Hb obscure
  9. Ezekiel 27:16 Hb obscure
  10. Ezekiel 27:16 Hb obscure
  11. Ezekiel 27:17 Or resin; Hb obscure
  12. Ezekiel 27:18 Or and wool from Zahar
  13. Ezekiel 27:19 Or Dan
  14. Ezekiel 27:19 Hb obscure
  15. Ezekiel 27:21 Lit trading
  16. Ezekiel 27:24 Hb obscure
  17. Ezekiel 27:25 Or and very glorious
  18. Ezekiel 27:27 Lit with all your assembly among you
  19. Ezekiel 27:32 Hb obscure
  20. Ezekiel 27:36 Lit hiss

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