the Lord sent a prophet to the people of Israel. And he said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: (A)I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery.

Read full chapter

he sent them a prophet,(A) who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt,(B) out of the land of slavery.(C)

Read full chapter

and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: (A)On the day when I chose Israel, (B)I swore[a] to the offspring of the house of Jacob, (C)making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; (D)I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God. On that day I swore to them that (E)I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land (F)flowing with milk and honey, (G)the most glorious of all lands. And I said to them, (H)‘Cast away the detestable things (I)your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with (J)the idols of Egypt; (K)I am the Lord your God.’ (L)But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. (M)None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.

“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them (N)and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. (O)But I acted (P)for the sake of my name, (Q)that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, (R)in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 (S)So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 (T)I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, (U)by which, if a person does them, he shall live. 12 Moreover, I gave them (V)my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, (W)that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 (X)But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. (Y)They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; (Z)and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned.

(AA)“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them. 14 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, (AB)in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Moreover, (AC)I swore to them in the wilderness (AD)that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land (AE)flowing with milk and honey, (AF)the most glorious of all lands, 16 because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; (AG)for their heart went after their idols. 17 Nevertheless, (AH)my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or (AI)make a full end of them in the wilderness.

18 “And I said to (AJ)their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk (AK)in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, (AL)nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19 (AM)I am the Lord your God; (AN)walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, 20 and (AO)keep my Sabbaths holy that (AP)they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 (AQ)But the children (AR)rebelled against me. (AS)They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths.

(AT)“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. 22 (AU)But I withheld my hand (AV)and acted for the sake of my name, (AW)that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 (AX)Moreover, (AY)I swore to them in the wilderness (AZ)that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, (BA)and their eyes were set on their fathers' idols. 25 (BB)Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life, 26 and I defiled them through (BC)their very gifts (BD)in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it (BE)that they might know that I am the Lord.

27 “Therefore, (BF)son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by (BG)dealing treacherously with me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land that (BH)I swore to give them, then wherever they saw (BI)any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented (BJ)the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 (I said to them, (BK)‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah[b] to this day.)

30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: (BL)Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go (BM)whoring after their detestable things? 31 When you present your gifts and (BN)offer up your children in fire,[c] you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And (BO)shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? (BP)As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.

32 (BQ)“What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, (BR)‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, (BS)and worship wood and stone.’

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 20:5 Hebrew I lifted my hand; twice in this verse; also verses 6, 15, 23, 28, 42
  2. Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place
  3. Ezekiel 20:31 Hebrew and make your children pass through the fire

and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose(A) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand(B) to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the Lord your God.(C) On that day I swore(D) to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(E) the most beautiful of all lands.(F) And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images(G) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols(H) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.(I)

“‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;(J) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.(K) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.(L) But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.(M) I did it to keep my name from being profaned(N) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.(O) 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.(P) 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths(Q) as a sign(R) between us,(S) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.(T)

13 “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled(U) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws(V)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.(W) So I said I would pour out my wrath(X) on them and destroy(Y) them in the wilderness.(Z) 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned(AA) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.(AB) 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore(AC) to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands(AD) 16 because they rejected my laws(AE) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts(AF) were devoted to their idols.(AG) 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy(AH) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents(AI) or keep their laws or defile yourselves(AJ) with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God;(AK) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(AL) 20 Keep my Sabbaths(AM) holy, that they may be a sign(AN) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.(AO)

21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,(AP) of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger(AQ) against them in the wilderness.(AR) 22 But I withheld(AS) my hand, and for the sake of my name(AT) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter(AU) them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees(AV) and desecrated my Sabbaths,(AW) and their eyes lusted after(AX) their parents’ idols.(AY) 25 So I gave(AZ) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;(BA) 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice(BB) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.(BC)

27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this also your ancestors(BD) blasphemed(BE) me by being unfaithful to me:(BF) 28 When I brought them into the land(BG) I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.(BH) 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place(BI) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah[a] to this day.)

Rebellious Israel Renewed

30 “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves(BJ) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?(BK) 31 When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children(BL) in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.(BM)

32 “‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place.

(A)In all their affliction he was afflicted,[a]
    and the angel of his presence saved them;
(B)in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
    (C)he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

10 (D)But they rebelled
    (E)and grieved his Holy Spirit;
therefore he turned to be their enemy,
    and himself fought against them.
11 Then he remembered (F)the days of old,
    of Moses and his people.[b]
(G)Where is he who brought them up out of the sea
    with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is he who put in the midst of them
    his Holy Spirit,
12 who caused his glorious arm
    to go at the right hand of Moses,
(H)who divided the waters before them
    (I)to make for himself an everlasting name,
13     who led them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert,
    they did not stumble.
14 Like livestock that go down into the valley,
    (J)the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest.
So you led your people,
    (K)to make for yourself a glorious name.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:9 Or he did not afflict
  2. Isaiah 63:11 Or Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses

In all their distress he too was distressed,
    and the angel(A) of his presence(B) saved them.[a]
In his love and mercy he redeemed(C) them;
    he lifted them up and carried(D) them
    all the days of old.(E)
10 Yet they rebelled(F)
    and grieved his Holy Spirit.(G)
So he turned and became their enemy(H)
    and he himself fought(I) against them.

11 Then his people recalled[b] the days of old,
    the days of Moses and his people—
where is he who brought them through the sea,(J)
    with the shepherd of his flock?(K)
Where is he who set
    his Holy Spirit(L) among them,
12 who sent his glorious arm(M) of power
    to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters(N) before them,
    to gain for himself everlasting renown,(O)
13 who led(P) them through the depths?(Q)
Like a horse in open country,
    they did not stumble;(R)
14 like cattle that go down to the plain,
    they were given rest(S) by the Spirit of the Lord.
This is how you guided your people
    to make for yourself a glorious name.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 63:9 Or Savior in their distress. / It was no envoy or angel / but his own presence that saved them
  2. Isaiah 63:11 Or But may he recall

10 to him who (A)struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and (B)brought Israel out from among them,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with (C)a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who (D)divided the Red Sea in two,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 (E)and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but (F)overthrew[a] Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who (G)led his people through the wilderness,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:15 Hebrew shook off

10 to him who struck down the firstborn(A) of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out(B) from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand(C) and outstretched arm;(D)
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a](E) asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through(F) the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;(G)
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;(H)
His love endures forever.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 136:13 Or the Sea of Reeds; also in verse 15

(A)“And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard (B)their cry at the Red Sea, 10 (C)and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that (D)they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And (E)you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. 11 (F)And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, (G)as a stone into mighty waters. 12 By (H)a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go.

Read full chapter

“You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt;(A) you heard their cry at the Red Sea.[a](B) 10 You sent signs(C) and wonders(D) against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name(E) for yourself,(F) which remains to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them,(G) so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths,(H) like a stone into mighty waters.(I) 12 By day(J) you led(K) them with a pillar of cloud,(L) and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 9:9 Or the Sea of Reeds

Israel's Disobedience

Now the angel of the Lord went up from Gilgal to (A)Bochim. And he said, “I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, (B)‘I will never break my covenant with you, (C)and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; (D)you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? So now I say, (E)I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become (F)thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.”

Read full chapter

The Angel of the Lord at Bokim

The angel of the Lord(A) went up from Gilgal(B) to Bokim(C) and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt(D) and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors.(E) I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you,(F) and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land,(G) but you shall break down their altars.(H)’ Yet you have disobeyed(I) me. Why have you done this? And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you;(J) they will become traps(K) for you, and their gods will become snares(L) to you.’”

Read full chapter