The Fall of Tyre

23 The pronouncement concerning (A)Tyre:

Wail, you (B)ships of (C)Tarshish,
For Tyre is destroyed, without house or [a](D)harbor;
It is reported to them from the land of [b](E)Cyprus.
(F)Be silent, you inhabitants of the coastland,
You merchants of Sidon;
[c]Your messengers crossed the sea
And were on many waters.
(G)The grain of the [d](H)Nile, the harvest of the River was her revenue;
And she was the (I)market of nations.
Be ashamed, (J)Sidon,
For the sea speaks, the stronghold of the sea, saying,
“I have neither been in labor nor given birth,
I have neither brought up young men nor raised virgins.”
When the report reaches Egypt,
They will be in (K)anguish over the report of Tyre.
Pass over to (L)Tarshish;
Wail, you inhabitants of the coastland.
Is this your (M)jubilant city,
Whose origin is from antiquity,
Whose feet used to bring her to [e]colonize distant places?

Who has planned this against Tyre, (N)the bestower of crowns,
Whose merchants were princes, whose traders were the honored of the earth?
(O)The Lord of armies has planned it, to (P)defile the pride of all beauty,
To despise all the (Q)honored of the earth.
10 [f]Overflow your land like the Nile, you daughter of Tarshish,
There is no more [g]restraint.
11 He has (R)stretched His hand out (S)over the sea,
He has (T)made the kingdoms tremble;
The Lord has given a command concerning Canaan to (U)demolish its strongholds.

12 He has said, “(V)You shall not be jubilant anymore, you crushed virgin daughter of Sidon.
Arise, pass over to [h](W)Cyprus; even there you will find no rest.”

13 Behold, the land of the Chaldeans—this is the people that did not exist; (X)Assyria allocated it for (Y)desert creatures—they erected their siege towers, they stripped its palaces, (Z)they made it a ruin.

14 Wail, you (AA)ships of Tarshish,
For your stronghold is destroyed.

15 Now on that day Tyre will be forgotten for (AB)seventy years like the days of one king. At the end of seventy years it will happen to Tyre as in the song of the prostitute:

16 Take your harp, wander around the city,
You forgotten prostitute;
Pluck the strings skillfully, sing many songs,
That you may be remembered.

17 It will come about at (AC)the end of seventy years that the Lord will visit Tyre. Then she will go back to her prostitute’s wages and (AD)commit prostitution with all the kingdoms [i]on the face of the earth. 18 Her (AE)profit and her prostitute’s wages will be (AF)sacred to the Lord; it will not be stored up or hoarded, but her profit will become sufficient food and magnificent attire for those who dwell in the presence of the Lord.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 23:1 Lit entering
  2. Isaiah 23:1 Heb Kittim
  3. Isaiah 23:2 As in DSS; MT Who passed over the sea, they replenished you
  4. Isaiah 23:3 Heb Shihor
  5. Isaiah 23:7 Lit sojourn afar off
  6. Isaiah 23:10 Lit Pass over
  7. Isaiah 23:10 Perhaps girdle or shipyard
  8. Isaiah 23:12 Heb Kittim
  9. Isaiah 23:17 Lit of the earth on the face of the land

Judgment on Tyre

26 Now in the eleventh year, on the first of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, because (A)Tyre has said in regard to Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The (B)gateway of the peoples is broken; it has [a](C)opened to me. I shall be filled, now that she is laid waste,’ therefore this is what the Lord [b]God says: ‘Behold, I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring up (D)many nations against you, as the (E)sea brings up its waves. They will (F)destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers; and I will sweep her debris away from her and make her a bare rock. She will become a dry place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea, for I have spoken,’ declares the Lord God; ‘and she will become (G)plunder for the nations. Also her (H)daughters who are [c]on the mainland will be killed by the sword, and they will know that I am the Lord.’”

For the Lord God says this: “Behold, I am going to bring upon Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, (I)king of kings, with horses, (J)chariots, cavalry, and [d]a great army. He will kill your daughters [e]on the mainland with the sword; and he will make (K)siege walls against you, pile up an (L)assault ramp against you, and raise up a large shield against you. And he will direct the blow of his battering rams against your walls, and he will tear down your towers with his [f]axes. 10 Because of the multitude of his (M)horses, the dust raised by them will cover you; your walls will (N)shake from the noise of cavalry, [g]wagons, and chariots when he (O)enters your gates as warriors enter a city that is breached. 11 With the hoofs of his (P)horses he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your strong [h]pillars will (Q)go down to the ground. 12 Also they will take your riches as spoils and plunder your (R)merchandise, (S)tear down your walls and destroy your (T)delightful houses, and [i]throw your stones, your timbers, and your debris (U)into the water. 13 So I will put an end to the sound of your (V)songs, and the sound of your (W)harps will no longer be heard. 14 I will turn you into a bare rock; you will become a dry place for the spreading of nets. You will not be (X)rebuilt, for I the (Y)Lord have spoken,” declares the Lord God.

15 The Lord God says this to Tyre: “Will the (Z)coastlands not (AA)shake from the sound of your downfall when the wounded groan, when the slaughter takes place in your midst? 16 Then all the princes of the sea will (AB)descend from their thrones, remove their robes, and strip off their colorfully woven garments. They will (AC)clothe themselves with [j]trembling; they will sit on the ground, (AD)tremble again and again, and be appalled at you. 17 And they will take up a (AE)song of mourning over you and say to you,

(AF)How you have perished, you inhabited one,
From the seas, you famous city,
Which was (AG)mighty on the sea,
She and her inhabitants,
Who imposed [k]her terror
On all her inhabitants!
18 Now the (AH)coastlands will tremble
On the day of your downfall;
Yes, the coastlands which are by the sea
Will be horrified at your (AI)passing.’”

19 For this is what the Lord God says: “When I make you a desolate city, like the cities which are not inhabited, when I (AJ)bring up the deep over you and the great waters cover you, 20 then I will bring you down with those who (AK)go down to the pit, to the people of old, and I will make you remain in the (AL)lower parts of the earth, like the ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will not [l]be inhabited; but I will put (AM)glory in the land of the living. 21 I will [m]cause you (AN)sudden terrors and you will no longer exist; though you will be sought, (AO)you will never be found again,” declares the Lord God.

Grief over Tyre

27 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “And you, son of man, (AP)take up a song of mourning over Tyre; and say to Tyre, (AQ)who sits at the [n]entrance to the sea, (AR)merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, ‘This is what the Lord [o]God says:

“Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’
Your borders are in the heart of the seas;
Your builders have perfected your beauty.
They have [p]made all your planks of juniper trees from (AS)Senir;
They have taken a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
Of (AT)oaks from (AU)Bashan they have made your rudders;
With ivory they have [q]inlaid your deck of boxwood from the coastlands of (AV)Cyprus.
Your sail was of colorfully embroidered linen from Egypt
So that it became your flag;
Your [r]awning was (AW)violet and purple from the coastlands of (AX)Elishah.
The inhabitants of Sidon and (AY)Arvad were your rowers;
Your (AZ)wise men, Tyre, were [s]aboard; they were your sailors.
The elders of (BA)Gebal and her wise men were with you repairing your leaks;
All the ships of the sea and their sailors were with you in order to deal in your merchandise.

10 (BB)Persia, (BC)Lud, and (BD)Put were in your army, your men of war. They hung up shield and helmet on you; they presented your splendor. 11 The sons of Arvad and your army were on your walls, all around, and the [t]Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around; they perfected your beauty.

12 “Tarshish was your customer because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth; with silver, iron, tin, and lead they paid for your merchandise. 13 (BE)Javan, (BF)Tubal, and (BG)Meshech, they were your traders; with human (BH)lives and vessels of bronze they paid for your merchandise. 14 Those from (BI)Beth-togarmah gave horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. 15 The sons of (BJ)Dedan were your traders. Many coastlands were [u]your market; they brought (BK)ivory tusks and ebony as your payment. 16 (BL)Aram was your customer because of the abundance of your [v]goods; they paid for your merchandise with [w](BM)emeralds, purple, (BN)colorfully woven cloth, fine linen, coral, and rubies. 17 Judah and the land of Israel, they were your traders; with the wheat of (BO)Minnith, [x]cakes, honey, oil, and balsam they paid for your merchandise. 18 (BP)Damascus was your customer because of the abundance of your [y]goods, because of the abundance of all kinds of wealth, because of the wine of Helbon and white wool. 19 Vedan and Javan paid for your merchandise from Uzal; wrought iron, cassia, and spice reed were among your merchandise. 20 (BQ)Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding. 21 (BR)Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, they were [z]your customers for (BS)lambs, rams, and goats; for these they were your customers. 22 The traders of (BT)Sheba and Raamah, they traded with you; they paid for your merchandise with the best of all (BU)balsam oil, and with all kinds of precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, Canneh, (BV)Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you. 24 They traded with you in choice garments, in clothes of violet and colorfully woven cloth, and in blankets of two colors, and tightly wound cords, which were among your merchandise. 25 The (BW)ships of Tarshish were [aa]the carriers for your merchandise.

And you were filled and were very [ab]glorious
In the heart of the seas.

26 “Your rowers have brought you
Into (BX)great waters;
The (BY)east wind has broken you
In the heart of the seas.
27 Your wealth, your wares, your merchandise,
Your seamen and your sailors,
Your repairers of leaks, your dealers in merchandise,
And all your men of war who are in you,
With all your contingent that is in your midst,
Will fall into the heart of the seas
On the day of your overthrow.
28 At the sound of the cry of your sailors,
The pasture lands will (BZ)shake.
29 All who handle the oar,
The (CA)seamen and all the sailors of the sea
Will come down from their ships;
They will stand on the land,
30 And they will (CB)make their voice heard over you
And cry out bitterly.
They will (CC)throw dust on their heads,
They will (CD)wallow in ashes.
31 Also they will shave themselves (CE)bald for you
And (CF)put on sackcloth;
And they will (CG)weep for you in bitterness of soul
With bitter mourning.
32 Moreover, in their wailing they will take up a (CH)song of mourning for you
And sing a song of mourning over you:
‘Who is like Tyre,
Like her who is silent in the midst of the sea?
33 When your merchandise went out from the seas,
You satisfied many peoples;
With the (CI)abundance of your wealth and your merchandise
You enriched the kings of the earth.
34 [ac]Now that you are (CJ)broken by the seas
In the depths of the waters,
Your (CK)merchandise and all your company
Have fallen in the midst of you.
35 All the (CL)inhabitants of the coastlands
Are appalled at you,
And their kings are horribly afraid;
They [ad]have a troubled look.
36 The merchants among the peoples (CM)hiss at you;
You have become [ae]terrified
And you (CN)will cease to be forever.’”’”

Tyre’s King Overthrown

28 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, “Son of man, say to the [af]leader of Tyre, ‘The Lord [ag]God says this:

“Because your heart is haughty
And you have said, ‘(CO)I am a god,
I sit in the seat of [ah]gods
In the heart of the seas’;
Yet you are a (CP)mortal and not God,
Although you make your heart like the heart of God—
Behold, you are wiser than (CQ)Daniel;
There is no secret that is a match for you!
By your wisdom and understanding
You have acquired (CR)riches for yourself
And have acquired gold and silver for your treasuries.
By your great wisdom, by your (CS)trade
You have increased your riches,
And your (CT)heart is haughty because of your riches—

Therefore this is what the Lord God says:

‘Because you have (CU)made your heart
Like the heart of God,
Therefore, behold, I am going to bring (CV)strangers against you,
The (CW)most ruthless of the nations.
And they will draw their swords
Against the beauty of your wisdom
And profane your splendor.
They will bring you down to the pit,
And you will die the (CX)death of those who are killed
In the heart of the seas.
Will you still say, “I am a god,”
In the presence of one who kills you,
Though you are a mortal and not God,
In the hands of those who wound you?
10 You will die the death of the (CY)uncircumcised
By the hand of strangers,
For I have spoken!’ declares the Lord God!”’”

11 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 “Son of man, (CZ)take up a song of mourning over the king of Tyre and say to him, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

“You [ai]had the seal of [aj]perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in (DA)Eden, the garden of God;
(DB)Every precious stone was your covering:
The (DC)ruby, the topaz and the diamond;
The beryl, the onyx and the jasper;
The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald;
And the gold, the workmanship of your [ak](DD)settings and [al]sockets,
Was in you.
On the day that you were created
They were prepared.
14 You were the (DE)anointed cherub who [am]covers,
And I placed you there.
You were on the holy (DF)mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the (DG)stones of fire.
15 You were (DH)blameless in your ways
From the day you were created
Until (DI)unrighteousness was found in you.
16 By the (DJ)abundance of your trade
[an]You were internally (DK)filled with violence,
And you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane
From the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, you [ao]covering cherub,
From the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Your heart was haughty because of your (DL)beauty;
You (DM)corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.
I threw you to the ground;
I put you before (DN)kings,
That they may see you.
18 By the multitude of your wrongdoings,
In the unrighteousness of your trade
You profaned your sanctuaries.
Therefore I have brought (DO)fire from the midst of you;
It has consumed you,
And I have turned you to (DP)ashes on the earth
In the eyes of all who see you.
19 All who know you among the peoples
Are appalled at you;
You have become [ap](DQ)terrified
And you will cease to be (DR)forever.”’”

Judgment of Sidon

20 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 “Son of man, (DS)set your face toward (DT)Sidon, prophesy against her 22 and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

“Behold, I am against you, Sidon,
And I will appear in My glory in your midst.
Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I (DU)execute judgments against her,
And I will reveal Myself as holy in her.
23 For (DV)I will send a plague to her
And blood to her streets,
And the (DW)wounded will [aq]fall in her midst
By the sword upon her on every side;
Then they will know that I am the Lord.

24 And there will no longer be for the house of Israel a (DX)painful thorn or a hurtful thorn bush from any surrounding them who despised them; then they will know that I am the Lord God.”

Israel Regathered

25 ‘This is what the Lord God says: “When I (DY)gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and show Myself holy among them in the sight of the nations, then they will (DZ)live on their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26 They will (EA)live on it securely; and they will (EB)build houses, plant vineyards, and live securely when I (EC)execute judgments upon all around them who despise them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 26:2 Lit turned
  2. Ezekiel 26:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  3. Ezekiel 26:6 Lit in the field
  4. Ezekiel 26:7 Lit an assembly, even many people
  5. Ezekiel 26:8 Lit in the field
  6. Ezekiel 26:9 Or crowbars
  7. Ezekiel 26:10 Lit wheel
  8. Ezekiel 26:11 Or memorial stones (in Tyre’s temple)
  9. Ezekiel 26:12 Lit put
  10. Ezekiel 26:16 Lit tremblings
  11. Ezekiel 26:17 Lit their
  12. Ezekiel 26:20 Another reading is return
  13. Ezekiel 26:21 Lit give
  14. Ezekiel 27:3 Lit entrances
  15. Ezekiel 27:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  16. Ezekiel 27:5 Lit built
  17. Ezekiel 27:6 Lit made
  18. Ezekiel 27:7 Lit covering
  19. Ezekiel 27:8 Lit in you
  20. Ezekiel 27:11 Or guardians
  21. Ezekiel 27:15 Lit the market of your hand
  22. Ezekiel 27:16 Lit works
  23. Ezekiel 27:16 Uncertain, perhaps malachite
  24. Ezekiel 27:17 Heb pannag
  25. Ezekiel 27:18 Lit works
  26. Ezekiel 27:21 Lit customers of your hand
  27. Ezekiel 27:25 Lit your travelers
  28. Ezekiel 27:25 Lit honored
  29. Ezekiel 27:34 Lit The time
  30. Ezekiel 27:35 Lit are troubled in face
  31. Ezekiel 27:36 Lit terrors
  32. Ezekiel 28:2 Or ruler, prince
  33. Ezekiel 28:2 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  34. Ezekiel 28:2 Or God
  35. Ezekiel 28:12 Lit were the one sealing
  36. Ezekiel 28:12 Or a pattern
  37. Ezekiel 28:13 Or tambourines
  38. Ezekiel 28:13 Or flutes
  39. Ezekiel 28:14 Or guards
  40. Ezekiel 28:16 Lit They filled your midst
  41. Ezekiel 28:16 Or guardian
  42. Ezekiel 28:19 Lit terrors
  43. Ezekiel 28:23 Or be judged

Moreover, what are you to Me, (A)Tyre, Sidon, and all the regions of (B)Philistia? Are you repaying Me with retribution? But if you are showing Me retribution, swiftly and speedily I will (C)return your retribution on your head! Since you have (D)taken My silver and My gold, brought My precious [a]treasures to your temples, and sold the (E)sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the [b]Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory, behold, I am going to (F)stir them up from the place where you have sold them, and return your retribution on your head. I will also (G)sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the sons of Judah, and they will sell them to the (H)Sabeans, to a distant nation,” for the Lord has spoken.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 3:5 Lit goodly things
  2. Joel 3:6 Lit sons of Javan

21 (A)Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, (B)Bethsaida! For if the [a]miracles that occurred in you had occurred in (C)Tyre and (D)Sidon, they would have repented long ago in [b](E)sackcloth and ashes.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:21 Or works of power
  2. Matthew 11:21 I.e., symbols of mourning

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