Ezekiel 32:17-33:20

New International Version

Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead

¹⁷ In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:^{(A) 18} “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign^(B) to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.^{(C) 19} Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’^{(D) 20} They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be dragged^(E) off with all her hordes.^{(F) 21} From within the realm of the dead^(G) the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised,^(H) with those killed by the sword.’

²² “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword. ²³ Their graves are in the depths of the pit^(I) and her army lies around her grave.^(J) All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

²⁴ “Elam^(K) is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.^(L) All who had spread terror in the land of the living^(M) went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.^{(N) 25} A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised,^(O) killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.

²⁶ “Meshek and Tubal^(P) are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living. ²⁷ But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old,^[a](Q) who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shields^[b] resting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.

²⁸ “You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

²⁹ “Edom^(R) is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.^(S)

³⁰ “All the princes of the north^(T) and all the Sidonians^(U) are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcised^(V) with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.^(W)

³¹ “Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoled^(X) for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord. ³² Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh^(Y) and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign Lord.”^(Z)

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^(AA) against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,^{(AB) 3} and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet^(AC) to warn the people, ⁴ then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning^(AD) and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.^{(AE) 5} Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head.^(AF) If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.^{(AG) 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.’^(AH)

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

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^(AO) because of^[d] them. How then can we live?^(AP)”’ 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.^(AQ) Turn!^(AR) Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’^(AS)

¹² “Therefore, son of man, say to your people,^(AT) ‘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.’^{(AU) 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.^{(AV) 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^(AW) and right— ¹⁵ if they give back what they took in pledge^(AX) for a loan, return what they have stolen,^(AY) follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die.^{(AZ) 16} None of the sins^(BA) that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.^(BB)

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,^(BC) they will die for it.^{(BD) 19} And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so.^{(BE) 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.”^(BF)