Psalm 112^[a]

Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman

¹⁶ At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me:^{(A) 17} “Son of man, I have made you a watchman^(B) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.^{(C) 18} When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,^(D)’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for^[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(E) 19} But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn^(F) from their wickedness^(G) or from their evil ways, they will die^(H) for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.^(I)

²⁰ “Again, when a righteous person turns^(J) from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block^(K) before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(L) 21} But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.^(M)”

²² The hand of the Lord^(N) was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go^(O) out to the plain,^(P) and there I will speak to you.” ²³ So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River,^(Q) and I fell facedown.^(R)

²⁴ Then the Spirit came into me and raised me^(S) to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.^{(T) 25} And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.^{(U) 26} I will make your tongue stick to the roof^(V) of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people.^{(W) 27} But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’^(X) Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.^(Y)

6 Therefore let us move beyond^(A) the elementary teachings^(B) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^[a](C) and of faith in God, ² instruction about cleansing rites,^[b](D) the laying on of hands,^(E) the resurrection of the dead,^(F) and eternal judgment. ³ And God permitting,^(G) we will do so.

⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,^(H) who have tasted the heavenly gift,^(I) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,^{(J) 5} who have tasted the goodness^(K) of the word of God^(L) and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen^[c] away, to be brought back to repentance.^(M) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^(N) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^(O) In the end it will be burned.

⁹ Even though we speak like this, dear friends,^(P) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.^{(Q) 11} We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^(R) for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate^(S) those who through faith and patience^(T) inherit what has been promised.^(U)