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:

“‘Then you will know that I am the Lord.’^(F)

⁵ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Then you will know that it is I the Lord who strikes you.^(O)

“‘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.”

Warning to Rich Oppressors

5 Now listen,^(A) you rich people,^(B) weep and wail^(C) because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.^{(D) 3} Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.^{(E) 4} Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers^(F) who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries^(G) of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.^{(H) 5} You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves^(I) in the day of slaughter.^{[a](J) 6} You have condemned and murdered^(K) the innocent one,^(L) who was not opposing you.

Patience in Suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.^(M) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting^(N) for the autumn and spring rains.^{(O) 8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming^(P) is near.^{(Q) 9} Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,^(R) or you will be judged. The Judge^(S) is standing at the door!^(T)

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets^(U) who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed^(V) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance^(W) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.^(X) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.^(Y)

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.^(Z)

The Prayer of Faith

¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.^(AA) Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.^{(AB) 14} Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders^(AC) of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil^(AD) in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith^(AE) will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins^(AF) to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.^(AG) The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.^(AH)

¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are.^(AI) He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.^{(AJ) 18} Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.^(AK)

¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth^(AL) and someone should bring that person back,^{(AM) 20} remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save^(AN) them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.^(AO)

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.