Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

Ezekiel’s call to be a prophet

He said to me, ‘Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.’

He said: ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.

And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.

But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.’

And he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.’

Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.’ So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.

And he said to me, ‘Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.

‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.

Siege of Jerusalem symbolised

‘Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.

He then said to me: ‘Son of man, I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair,

God’s razor of judgment

‘Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide up the hair.

‘Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel; prophesy against them

‘Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: ‘“The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land!

Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, look towards the north.’ So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

And he said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing – the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.’

He said to me, ‘Son of man, now dig into the wall.’ So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.

He said to me, ‘Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, “The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.”’

He said to me, ‘Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.’

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 they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose!

The Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city.

Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man.’

‘Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, “They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.”

‘Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

‘Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people.

‘Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, “What are you doing?”

‘Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water.

‘Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing”?

‘Son of man, the Israelites are saying, “The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.”

‘Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: “Hear the word of the Lord!

‘Now, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them

‘Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling-blocks before their faces. Should I let them enquire of me at all?

‘Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals,

‘Son of man, how is the wood of a vine different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest?

‘Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices

‘Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.

‘Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: have you come to enquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you enquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

‘Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors

‘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 blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me:

‘Son of man, set your face towards the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland.

‘Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel

‘Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.

‘Son of man, prophesy and say, “This is what the Lord says: ‘“A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished –

Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against all the princes of Israel. They are thrown to the sword along with my people. Therefore beat your breast.

‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times. It is a sword for slaughter – a sword for great slaughter, closing in on them from every side.

‘Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost where the road branches off to the city.

‘And you, son of man, prophesy and say, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites and their insults: ‘“A sword, a sword, drawn for the slaughter, polished to consume and to flash like lightning!

‘Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her detestable practices

‘Son of man, the people of Israel have become dross to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace. They are but the dross of silver.

‘Son of man, say to the land, “You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.”

‘Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.

The Lord said to me: ‘Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable practices,

‘Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.

‘Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.

‘And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well –

‘Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.

‘Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, “Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,”

‘Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre.

‘Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘“In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.’ But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.

‘Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

‘Son of man, set your face against Sidon; prophesy against her

‘Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

‘Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre.

‘Son of man, prophesy and say: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘“Wail and say, ‘Alas for that day!’

‘Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword.

‘Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes: ‘“Who can be compared with you in majesty?

‘Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘“You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas thrashing about in your streams, churning the water with your feet and muddying the streams.

‘Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.

‘Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: “When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman,

‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.

‘Son of man, say to the Israelites, “This is what you are saying: ‘Our offences and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?’”

‘Therefore, son of man, say to your people, “If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.”

‘Son of man, the people living in those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, “Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as our possession.”

‘As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, “Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.”

‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?

‘Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir; prophesy against it

Hope for the mountains of Israel

‘Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, “Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord.

‘Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness in my sight.

He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, you alone know.’

Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”’

Then he said to me: ‘Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.”

‘Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, “Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him.” Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, “Belonging to Joseph (that is, to Ephraim) and all the Israelites associated with him.”

‘Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshek and Tubal; prophesy against him

‘Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: in that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it?

‘Son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshek and Tubal.

‘Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: call out to every kind of bird and all the wild animals: “Assemble and come together from all around to the sacrifice I am preparing for you, the great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. There you will eat flesh and drink blood.

The man said to me, ‘Son of man, look carefully and listen closely and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Tell the people of Israel everything you see.’

He said: ‘Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites for ever. The people of Israel will never again defile my holy name – neither they nor their kings – by their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings at their death.

‘Son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins. Let them consider its perfection,

Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: these will be the regulations for sacrificing burnt offerings and splashing blood against the altar when it is built:

The Lord said to me, ‘Son of man, look carefully, listen closely and give attention to everything I tell you concerning all the regulations and instructions regarding the temple of the Lord. Give attention to the entrance to the temple and all the exits of the sanctuary.

He asked me, ‘Son of man, do you see this?’ Then he led me back to the bank of the river.

‘In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. ‘Son of man,’ he said to me, ‘understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.’