Hope for the Mountains of Israel

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel^(A) and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. ² This is what the Sovereign Lord says:^(B) The enemy said of you, “Aha!^(C) The ancient heights^(D) have become our possession.^(E)”’ ³ Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged^(F) 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,^{(G) 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,^(H) to the desolate ruins^(I) and the deserted^(J) towns that have been plundered and ridiculed^(K) by the rest of the nations around you^(L)— ⁵ this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning^(M) 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.’^{(N) 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.^{(O) 7} Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand^(P) that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.^(Q)

⁸ “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit^(R) 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,^{(S) 10} and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins^(T) rebuilt.^{(U) 11} I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful^(V) and become numerous. I will settle people^(W) on you as in the past^(X) and will make you prosper more than before.^(Y) 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;^(Z) 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^(AA) 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.^(AB)’”

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^(AC) in my sight.^{(AD) 18} So I poured out^(AE) 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^(AF) through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.^{(AG) 20} And wherever they went among the nations they profaned^(AH) my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’^{(AI) 21} I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.^(AJ)

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,^(AK) which you have profaned^(AL) among the nations where you have gone.^{(AM) 23} I will show the holiness of my great name,^(AN) which has been profaned^(AO) among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,^(AP) declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy^(AQ) through you before their eyes.^(AR)

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.^{(AS) 25} I will sprinkle^(AT) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse^(AU) you from all your impurities^(AV) and from all your idols.^{(AW) 26} I will give you a new heart^(AX) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone^(AY) and give you a heart of flesh.^{(AZ) 27} And I will put my Spirit^(BA) in you and move you to follow my decrees^(BB) and be careful to keep my laws.^{(BC) 28} Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people,^(BD) and I will be your God.^{(BE) 29} I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine^(BF) 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.^{(BG) 31} Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices.^{(BH) 32} I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord. Be ashamed^(BI) and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!^(BJ)

³³ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I cleanse^(BK) you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins^(BL) will be rebuilt.^{(BM) 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;^(BN) the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.^(BO)” 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.’^(BP)

³⁷ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea^(BQ) and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,^{(BR) 38} as numerous as the flocks for offerings^(BS) 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.^(BT)”

A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against^(A) the Ammonites^(B) and prophesy against them.^{(C) 3} Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!^(D)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated^(E) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,^{(F) 4} therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East^(G) as a possession. They will set up their camps^(H) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.^{(I) 5} I will turn Rabbah^(J) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.^(K) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands^(L) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,^{(M) 7} therefore I will stretch out my hand^(N) against you and give you as plunder^(O) to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy^(P) you, and you will know that I am the Lord.^(Q)’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

⁸ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab^(R) and Seir^(S) said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” ⁹ therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth^(T), Baal Meon^(U) and Kiriathaim^(V)—the glory of that land. ¹⁰ I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered^(W) among the nations; ¹¹ and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”^(X)

A Prophecy Against Edom

¹² “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom^(Y) took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, ¹³ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand^(Z) against Edom and kill both man and beast.^(AA) I will lay it waste, and from Teman^(AB) to Dedan^(AC) they will fall by the sword.^{(AD) 14} I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger^(AE) and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”^(AF)

A Prophecy Against Philistia

¹⁵ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines^(AG) acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice^(AH) in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, ¹⁶ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines,^(AI) and I will wipe out the Kerethites^(AJ) and destroy those remaining along the coast.^{(AK) 17} I will carry out great vengeance^(AL) on them and punish^(AM) them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord,^(AN) when I take vengeance on them.^(AO)’”

A Prophecy Against Tyre

26 In the eleventh month of the twelfth^[a] year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:^{(AP) 2} “Son of man, because Tyre^(AQ) has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha!^(AR) The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ ³ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea^(AS) casting up its waves. ⁴ They will destroy^(AT) the walls of Tyre^(AU) and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. ⁵ Out in the sea^(AV) she will become a place to spread fishnets,^(AW) for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. She will become plunder^(AX) for the nations,^{(AY) 6} and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

⁷ “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar^[b](AZ) king of Babylon, king of kings,^(BA) with horses and chariots,^(BB) with horsemen and a great army. ⁸ He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works^(BC) against you, build a ramp^(BD) up to your walls and raise his shields against you. ⁹ He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.^{(BE) 10} His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the warhorses, wagons and chariots^(BF) when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. ¹¹ The hooves^(BG) of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars^(BH) will fall to the ground.^{(BI) 12} They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.^{(BJ) 13} I will put an end^(BK) to your noisy songs,^(BL) and the music of your harps^(BM) will be heard no more.^{(BN) 14} I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt,^(BO) for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁵ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands^(BP) tremble^(BQ) at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan^(BR) and the slaughter takes place in you? ¹⁶ Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered^(BS) garments. Clothed^(BT) with terror, they will sit on the ground,^(BU) trembling^(BV) every moment, appalled^(BW) at you. ¹⁷ Then they will take up a lament^(BX) concerning you and say to you:

¹⁹ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths^(CB) over you and its vast waters cover you,^{(CC) 20} then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit,^(CD) to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place^[c] in the land of the living.^{(CE) 21} I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more.^(CF) You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.”^(CG)

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, take up a lament^(CH) concerning Tyre. ³ Say to Tyre,^(CI) situated at the gateway to the sea,^(CJ) merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

¹² “‘Tarshish^(DC) did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;^(DD) they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

¹³ “‘Greece,^(DE) Tubal and Meshek^(DF) did business with you; they traded human beings^(DG) and articles of bronze for your wares.

¹⁴ “‘Men of Beth Togarmah^(DH) exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

¹⁵ “‘The men of Rhodes^[f](DI) traded with you, and many coastlands^(DJ) were your customers; they paid you with ivory^(DK) tusks and ebony.

¹⁶ “‘Aram^[g](DL) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,^(DM) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,^(DN) coral^(DO) and rubies for your merchandise.

¹⁷ “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat^(DP) from Minnith^(DQ) and confections,^[h] honey, olive oil and balm^(DR) for your wares.^(DS)

¹⁸ “‘Damascus^(DT) did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.^(DU) They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar ¹⁹ and casks of wine from Izal^(DV) in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia^(DW) and calamus.

²⁰ “‘Dedan^(DX) traded in saddle blankets with you.

²¹ “‘Arabia^(DY) and all the princes of Kedar^(DZ) were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

²² “‘The merchants of Sheba^(EA) and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices^(EB) and precious stones, and gold.^(EC)

²³ “‘Harran,^(ED) Kanneh and Eden^(EE) and merchants of Sheba, Ashur^(EF) and Kilmad traded with you. ²⁴ In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.