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

26 On the first day of the month in the eleventh year, the word of Adonai came to me: “Human being, since Tzor has said against Yerushalayim,

‘Ha! She is shattered,
the gateway of the peoples.
Now that she is ruined,
her riches will be mine’;

therefore, Adonai Elohim says,

‘Look, Tzor! I am against you.
Just as the sea churns up its waves,
I will churn up many nations against you.
They will destroy the walls of Tzor,
they will demolish her towers.
I will scrape its soil from her
and reduce her to bare rock.
With the sea all around her, she will be
a place for drying fish nets
and a plunder for the nations.
I have spoken,’ says Adonai Elohim.
‘Her daughters on the mainland
will be put to death with the sword;
then they will know
that I am Adonai.’

“For here is what Adonai Elohim says: ‘I will bring upon Tzor, from the north, N’vukhadretzar king of Bavel, king of kings, with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a great and powerful army.

“ ‘Your daughters on the mainland
he will put to death with the sword.
He will build siege-towers against you,
he will build a ramp against you
and raise a screen of shields against you.
He will pound your walls with his battering-rams
and break down your towers with his axes.
10 His horses are so many that their dust will cover you.
The thunder of cavalry, wagons and chariots
will shake your walls, as he enters your gates,
like men storming a city through a breach.
11 With the hoofs of his horses he will trample your streets.
He will put your people to the sword
and pull to the ground your massive standing-stones.
12 They will seize your wealth, loot your wares,
break down your walls, destroy your fine houses;
then they will throw your stones and timber
and even your dust into the sea.
13 I will put an end to your singing,
the sound of your lyres will be heard no more.
14 I will reduce you to bare rock,
you will be a place for drying fish nets,
you will never be built again,
for I, Adonai, have spoken,’
says Adonai Elohim.”

15 To Tzor Adonai Elohim says:

“How the coastlands will shake
at the sound of your fall,
when the wounded groan,
when the slaughter takes place in you!
16 Then all the princes of the sea
will step down from their thrones;
they will put aside their robes
and strip off their embroidered garments.
They will clothe themselves with trembling;
they will sit on the ground,
trembling all the time,
appalled at your condition.
17 Then they will raise this lament for you:
“‘How you have been destroyed,
you who were peopled from the seas,
city so renowned, once so strong at sea,
you and your inhabitants, who used to spread terror
over all [the mainland’s] inhabitants!
18 Now the coastlands tremble
on the day of your downfall,
and the islands in the sea
are in shock at your end.’

19 “For here is what Adonai Elohim says:

‘When I make you a ruined city,
like other uninhabited cities;
when I bring the deep sea over you,
and its mighty waters cover you;
20 then I will bring you down
with those who descend to the pit,
to the people of long ago,
and make you live in underworld places
like those who were ruined long ago,
with those who descend to the pit,
so that you will be uninhabited
when I give glory to the land of the living.
21 I will make you horrible;
you will cease to exist.
People will seek you but never more find you,’
says Adonai Elohim.”

27 The word of Adonai came to me: “You, human being, raise this lament for Tzor; say to Tzor, located at the gateways to the sea, merchant for peoples to many coastlands, that Adonai Elohim says:

‘Tzor, you have said,
“My beauty is perfect.”
Your borders are in the heart of the sea,
your builders perfected your beauty.
They used cypress logs from S’nir
to fashion all your planking.
They took cedars from the L’vanon
to make masts for you.
Out of oaks from Bashan
they made your oars.
Your deck they made of ivory
inlaid in larch from the coasts of Kittim.
Richly woven linen from Egypt
was used for your sail, which was also your banner.
Blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah
was used to cover your deck-tent.
The people of Tzidon and Arvad
served as your oarsmen.
Your own skilled men, Tzor,
were there as your pilots.
The leaders and craftsmen of G’val
sealed the cracks between your boards.

“‘Every seagoing ship and its crew
came to you to trade in your wares.
10 Men from Paras, Lud and Put
were [mercenaries] in your army;
hanging shield and helmet on you,
they showed off your splendor.
11 Men from Arvad and your own army
were posted around on your walls.
The Gamadim were in your towers;
they hung their shields all around your walls,
making your beauty perfect.

12 “‘Tarshish did business with you because of the quantity and variety of your resources; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your goods. 13 Greece, Tuval and Meshekh traded with you, exchanging slaves and articles of bronze for your wares. 14 The people of Togarmah traded for your merchandise with horses, horsemen and mules. 15 The men of D’dan traded with you. Many coastlands were your customers, giving you ivory tusks and ebony in payment. 16 Aram traded with you, because you were so wealthy; for your goods they exchanged green feldspar, purple stuff, embroidery, fine linen, coral and rubies. 17 Y’hudah and the land of Isra’el also traded with you, exchanging for your goods wheat from Minnit, millet, honey, olive oil and resin for healing. 18 Because you were so wealthy, with such a variety of valuable merchandise, Dammesek traded wine from Helbon and white wool with you. 19 V’dan and Yavan from Uzal traded ironwork, cassia and aromatic cane for your goods. 20 D’dan traded with you for riding gear. 21 Arabia and all the princes of K’dar were your customers; for your goods they traded lambs, rams and goats. 22 The traders of Sh’va and Ra‘mah exchanged the best quality spices, all kinds of precious stones and gold for your goods. 23 The merchants of Haran, Kaneh and ‘Eden, who traded also with Sh’va, Ashur and Kilmad, 24 brought you in exchange for your goods rich clothes, cloaks made of blue material and embroidery, and cedar-lined chests filled with multicolored clothing and bound with cords. 25 “Tarshish” ships transported your imports and exports.

“‘So you were full, loaded down,
surrounded by the sea.
26 Your oarsmen brought you
through heavy seas.
But the east wind will break you
surrounded by the sea.
27 Your riches, your goods, your merchandise,
your crew, your pilots, your ship-sealers,
your traders, all your warriors aboard,
and all the others in the ship with you
will sink surrounded by the sea
on the day of your shipwreck.
28 When they hear the cries of your pilots,
the mainland coasts will tremble.
29 The oarsmen, crew and pilots
will disembark and stand on shore,
30 mourning aloud at your fate,
crying bitterly,
throwing dust on their heads,
rolling in the ashes,
31 shaving their heads bald for you,
wrapping themselves in sackcloth,
with heartfelt bitterness weeping for you
in bitter lamentation.
32 Wailing, they will raise a lament for you;
this will be their lament for you:

“‘“Who anywhere in the sea
has ever been silenced like Tzor?
33 When your wares came forth from the seas,
you satisfied many peoples;
with your vast wealth and variety of goods
you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 But now you have been wrecked by the waves,
sunk in the watery depths;
your merchandise and all your people
have gone down with you.
35 All who live along the coasts
are aghast at you;
their kings are horribly afraid,
their faces are convulsed;
36 the merchants among the peoples
are gasping at your fate;
you are an object of terror,
and you will cease to exist.”’”

28 The word of Adonai came to me: “Human being, tell the prince of Tzor that Adonai Elohim says:

‘Because you are so proud
and have said, “I am a god;
I sit on the throne of God,
surrounded by the sea”;
yet you are a man, not God,
even though you think that you think like God.
Sure, you are wiser than Dani’el!
No secret can be hidden from you!
By your wisdom and discernment
you have acquired wealth,
you have gathered gold and silver
into your treasuries.
By your great skill in trading
you have increased your wealth,
and it is because of your wealth
that you have become so proud.

“Therefore Adonai Elohim says,
‘Because you think that you think like God,
I will bring foreigners against you,
the most barbarous of the nations,
to draw their swords against your fine wisdom
and defile your splendor.
They will lower you into the pit to die
a violent death surrounded by the sea.
Will you still say, “I am God,”
to them who are about to kill you?
You are a man, you are not God,
in the hands of those who defile you.
10 You will die the deaths of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners.
For I have spoken,’
says Adonai Elohim.”

11 The word of Adonai came to me: 12 “Human being, raise a lament for the king of Tzor, and tell him that Adonai Elohim says:

‘You put the seal on perfection;
you were full of wisdom and perfect in beauty;
13 you were in ‘Eden, the garden of God;
covered with all kinds of precious stones —
carnelians, topaz, diamonds,
beryl, onyx, jasper,
sapphires, green feldspar, emeralds;
your pendants and jewels were made of gold,
prepared the day you were created.
14 You were a keruv, protecting a large region;
I placed you on God’s holy mountain.
You walked back and forth
among stones of fire.
15 You were perfect in your ways
from the day you were created,
until unrighteousness
was found in you.

16 “‘When your commerce grew,
you became filled with violence;
and in this way you sinned.
Therefore I have thrown you out, defiled,
from the mountain of God;
I have destroyed you, protecting keruv,
from among the stones of fire.
17 Your heart grew proud because of your beauty,
you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.
But I have thrown you on the ground;
before kings I have made you a spectacle.
18 By your many crimes in dishonest trading,
you have profaned your sanctuaries;
therefore I brought forth fire from within you,
and it has devoured you;
I reduced you into ashes on the ground
in the sight of all who can see you.
19 All who know you among the peoples
will be aghast at you.
You are an object of terror,
and you will cease to exist.’”

20 The word of Adonai came to me: 21 “Human being, turn your face toward Tzidon, and prophesy against it. 22 Say that Adonai Elohim says:

‘I am against you, Tzidon;
but I will be glorified in you.
They will know that I am Adonai,
once I execute judgments in her
and show my holiness in her.
23 For I will send plagues into her,
and blood will flow in her streets;
attacked from all sides by the sword,
the wounded will fall within her.
Then they will know that I am Adonai.

24 “‘The house of Isra’el will no longer have a briar pricking away at them, no longer will any of its contemptuous neighbors be a thorn to stab them. Then they will know that I am Adonai Elohim.’

25 Adonai Elohim says, ‘Once I have gathered the house of Isra’el from the peoples among whom they are scattered, once I have shown my holiness in them as the Goyim watch, then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Ya‘akov. 26 They will have security when they live there, building houses and planting vineyards; yes, they will live in safety, once I have executed judgments against all their contemptuous neighbors. Then they will know that I am Adonai their God.’”