Beginning
The Outdated Proverb
18 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Why do you cite this proverb when you talk about Israel’s land: ‘The fathers eat sour grapes but it’s their children’s teeth that have become numb.’ 3 As long as I live,” declares the Lord, “you won’t use this proverb about Israel anymore. 4 Look! Every living soul belongs to me—the father’s as well as the son’s.[a] So pay attention! The person who keeps on sinning is going to die.”
Standards of Righteous Behavior
5 “If a person is righteous, and practices what’s lawful and right, 6 if he doesn’t eat at mountain shrines, and doesn’t look to the idols that have been erected in Israel’s house, if he doesn’t defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her time of menstrual separation, 7 if he doesn’t oppress anyone, but instead returns the debtor’s security for his debt, if he doesn’t rob anyone, but instead shares his food with the hungry and gives clothes to those who are naked, 8 if he doesn’t lend with usury or exact interest, but instead refuses to participate in[b] what is unjust, if he administers true justice between people,[c] 9 if he lives his life[d] consistent with my statutes and keeps my ordinances by practicing what’s true, then he’s righteous and will certainly live,” declares the Lord God.
Standards of Unrighteous Behavior
10 “Now suppose that person produces a son who’s violent, a murderer, and practices any of these things, 11 even though the father[e] hasn’t done any of these things. The son who eats at mountain shrines, defiles his neighbor’s wife, 12 oppresses the afflicted and the poor, robs others, doesn’t return security for a debt, looks to idols, does detestable things, 13 loans with usury, and exacts interest; will he live? He certainly will not! He has done all these detestable practices. He will certainly die, and his guilt will be his own fault.”[f]
Personal Accountability for Sin
14 “Now suppose that he produced a son who practiced all of his father’s sins, but then that son[g] began to fear me and stopped doing all of these things. 15 That is, suppose he doesn’t eat at the mountain shrines, doesn’t look to the idols of Israel’s house, doesn’t defile his neighbor’s wife, 16 doesn’t oppress anyone, doesn’t take possession of a debtor’s pledge, or doesn’t steal, but instead shares his food with the hungry, gives clothes to those who are naked, 17 doesn’t refuse to help the afflicted, or refuses to loan with usury or exact interest, but instead follows my ordinances and lives his life consistent with my statutes. He won’t die because of his father’s sin, will he? No! He’ll certainly live. 18 As for his father, watch out! If he wrongfully oppressed or robbed his brother and did what wasn’t good among his people, he’ll die because of[h] his own sin.”
The Person who Sins will Die
19 “Yet you keep asking, ‘Why wouldn’t the son bear the punishment of his father’s sin?’ Because the son has done what was lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes and obeyed them, he’s certainly going to live. 20 The soul who sins dies. The son won’t bear the punishment of his father’s sin and the father won’t bear the punishment of his son’s sin. The righteous deeds of that righteous person will be attributed to him, while the wicked deeds of the wicked person will be charged against him. 21 But if the wicked person turns from all his sins, which he did and keeps my statutes, then he’ll live. He won’t die. 22 None of the transgressions that he had committed will be held[i] against him. Because of the righteous deeds that he had done, he’ll live.
23 “I don’t take delight in the death of the wicked, do I?” asks the Lord God. “Shouldn’t I rather delight[j] when he turns from his wicked ways and lives? 24 But when the righteous person abandons his righteous deeds and commits evil, detestable practices, as wicked people do, he won’t live, will he? None of the righteous acts that he had done will be remembered. He’ll die in his treacherous unfaithfulness and sins that he had committed.”
Accusing God of Unrighteousness
25 “Yet you keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t being consistent with his standards.’ Pay attention, you house of Israel: Is my behavior really inconsistent with my standards? Isn’t it your behavior that isn’t just?
26 “When a righteous person turns from his righteous deeds and does evil, he’ll die because of that evil. He’ll die because of his unrighteous acts that he committed. 27 When a wicked person quits[k] his wicked behavior[l] and does what’s just and right, he’ll be enabled to live.[m] 28 Because he reconsidered his transgression and turned away from everything that he had been doing, he’ll certainly live and not die. 29 Yet Israel’s house keeps saying, ‘The Lord isn’t being consistent with his standards.’ Is it my behavior that’s inconsistent with my standards?[n] Is it not your behavior that’s inconsistent with my standards?”[o]
A Command to Repent
30 “Therefore, Israel, I’m going to judge you according to the behavior of each and every one of you,” declares the Lord God. “So repent and turn from all your sins so that sin won’t keep on being a stumbling block for you. 31 Stop your transgressing—the deeds by which you’ve rebelled—and then make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, you house of Israel? 32 I don’t take pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord. “So repent, so you may live!”
A Prophecy against Israel’s Nobles
19 “Now as for you, publish[p] this mourning psalm about Israel’s leaders. 2 Tell them:
‘What a lioness your mother was among lions!
She reared her cubs in the midst of fierce young males.
3 She raised one cub in particular,
teaching that fierce lion to become a hunter-prowler—
to eat human beings.
4 The nations heard about him.
He had become caught in their trap.[q]
They brought him with hooks
to the land of Egypt.
5 When she learned that her plans had been frustrated
and that her hopes were dashed,
she took another of her cubs
and turned him into a fierce lion.
6 He prowled around among the lions,
became a strong, young lion,
and learned to become a hunter-prowler—
to eat human beings.
7 He raped[r] the women,
devastating their towns.
The land was made desolate,
and all the while the land was filled
with the sound of his roaring.
8 The surrounding nations attacked.
They tossed their net over him,
and he was caught in their trap.[s]
9 They imprisoned him in a cage with hooks
and brought him to the king of Babel.
Then they placed him in their dungeon
where his voice would no longer be heard
on the mountains of Israel.
10 ‘Your mother was like a vine
entwining a pomegranate,[t]
planted by water, full of fruit,
and full of branches
because it had been watered generously.
11 Strong were its boughs,
suitable for use in the scepter of a ruler.
It reached to the clouds,
noticeable because of its height
and its abundant branches.
12 Yet in anger it was uprooted
and cast down to the earth.
An east wind desiccated its fruit;
its strong branches broke off and withered,
and a fire consumed them.
13 Now it is planted in the desert,
in a dry and thirsty land!
14 Fire had burned through its branches,
consuming its shoots and fruits.
No strong branches remain in it,
and there is no scepter to rule!’
“This is a lamentation, and it is to be used in mourning.”
A Prophecy against Israel’s Elders
20 On the seventh year, on the tenth day[u] of the fifth month, men came from the elders of Israel to seek the Lord. They sat down in front of me.
2 “Son of Man,” the Lord told me, 3 “Tell the elders of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God asks, “Did you come to inquire of me? As long as I live, I won’t let myself be sought by you,” declares the Lord God.’
4 “Will you judge them? Son of Man, will you indeed judge them? Teach them about the detestable things that their ancestors did. 5 Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “The day I chose Israel, when I made my commitment[v] to the descendants of Jacob’s house, I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt and I made my promise to them with the words, ‘I am the Lord your God.’ 6 That day I promised to bring them out of the land of Egypt to the land that I had explored for them—a land flowing with milk and honey. It’s the most beautiful of all lands. 7 Then I told them, ‘Each of you are to abandon your detestable practices.[w] You are not to defile yourselves with Egypt’s idols. I am the Lord your God.’”’”
A Brief History of Israel’s Rebellion
8 “But they rebelled against me and weren’t willing to obey me. None of them abandoned their detestable practices[x] or their Egyptian idols. So I said, ‘I’ll pour out my anger on them, extending my fury in the middle of the land of Egypt.’ 9 I did this so my reputation[y] might not be tarnished among the nations where they were living, among whom I made myself known in their presence when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. 10 I brought them out of the land of Egypt to bring them to the wilderness 11 where I gave them my statutes and revealed my ordinances to them, which if a person[z] observes, he’ll live by them. 12 Also, I instituted[aa] my Sabbath for them as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the Lord, who has set them apart.”
Israel Rebels in the Wilderness
13 “But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t live by[ab] my statutes. They despised my ordinances, which if a person observes, he’ll live by them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my anger on them and bring them to an end in the wilderness. 14 I did this so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations in whose presence I had brought them out.
15 “Moreover, I solemnly swore to them in the wilderness that I wouldn’t bring them to the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands— 16 because they kept on rejecting my ordinances. They didn’t live life consistent with my statutes, they profaned my Sabbaths, and their hearts followed[ac] their idols. 17 Even then, I[ad] looked on them with compassion and didn’t completely destroy them in the wilderness. 18 I told their children in the wilderness, ‘You are not to follow the statutes of your ancestors, observe their ordinances, or be defiled by their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. You are to follow my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. 20 You are to make my Sabbaths holy, and you are to let them serve as a sign between you and me, so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’”
More of Israel’s Rebellion
21 “But they rebelled against me. They didn’t live according to my statutes, observe my ordinances, or practice them, by which a person will live. They also kept profaning my Sabbaths. So I said that I was going to pour out my anger on them and in my anger I’m going to bring about a complete end to them in the wilderness. 22 But I withdrew my decision[ae] so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations before whose eyes I brought them out.
23 “Furthermore, I solemnly swore in the wilderness to disperse them among the nations and scatter them to other[af] lands 24 because they didn’t observe my ordinances. Instead, they rejected my statutes, profaned my Sabbaths, and worshipped[ag] their ancestors’ idols. 25 So I gave them statutes that weren’t good and ordinances by which they could not live. 26 I made them unclean because of their offerings, so they made all their firstborn[ah] to pass through the fire, so that I could make them astonished. Then they’ll know that I am the Lord.”
The Blasphemy of Israel’s Ancestors
27 “Therefore, Son of Man, you are to speak to the children of Israel and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Your ancestors also blasphemed me in their treacherous behavior against me. 28 I brought them to the land that I had promised to give them. But whenever they saw any high hill and or any leafy tree, they slaughtered their sacrifices there and presented their offerings that provoked my anger. There they presented their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offering. 29 So I asked them, ‘What is the high place to which you’re going?’ That’s why the name of the place has been called Bamah[ai] to this day.”’
30 “Therefore you are to say to Israel’s house, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Will you defile yourselves like your ancestors did by acting as a prostitute, consistent with their horrible deeds? 31 When you present your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with your idols to this day. Should I be inquired of by you, you house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord, “I certainly won’t be inquired of by you.” 32 The thing that you’re imagining[aj] is never going to happen, since you’re thinking, “We’ll be like the nations, like the clans of other[ak] lands who serve gods made from wood and stone.”’”
The Coming Discipline of Israel
33 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “with my powerful hand and outstretched arm, along with my wrath poured out, I’ll reign as king over you. 34 I’ll bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered. With a powerful hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, 35 I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the nations. I’ll judge you right there, face to face. 36 Just as I judged your ancestors in the wilderness in the land of Egypt, so I’ll judge you,” declares the Lord. 37 “I’ll cause you to pass under the rod until I will have brought you into the bond of the covenant. 38 I’ll eliminate the rebels among you, along with those who are transgressing against me. I’ll bring them out of the land where you’ve lived, but they won’t be able to enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord.”
The Coming Regathering of Israel
39 And now, you house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says, “Go ahead and serve your idols, both now and later, but later you’ll listen to me, and you won’t profane my sacred name again by your offerings and idols. 40 For on my holy mountain, on Israel’s high mountains,” declares the Lord God, “the whole of Israel’s house—all of it—will serve me there in the land. I’ll accept them there. And there I’ll demand your offerings, the first fruits of your portions of all your sacred things.
41 “When I will have brought you from among the people and have gathered you from the lands where you were scattered, I’ll accept you as a pleasing aroma. I’ll reveal my holiness among you, and the entire world will see it. 42 Then you’ll know that I, the Lord, brought you to the land of Israel, to the land that I promised to give to your ancestors. 43 You’ll remember all your practices and evil actions by which you’ve become defiled. You’ll loathe yourselves[al] because of all the evil things you’ve done. 44 Then you’ll know that I am the Lord, when I will have dealt with you for the benefit of my own reputation and not according to your evil attitudes or corrupt practices, you house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.
Coming Judgment on the South
45 [am]This message came to me from the Lord: 46 “Son of Man, turn to the south and oppose it, talking toward the south. 47 Prophesy against the forest of the Negev,[an] ‘Listen to this message from the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: “Look out! I’m about to ignite a fire and set it against you. It will devour every tree—whether green or dry—that lives in you. This powerful flame will not be extinguishable, and the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. 48 Then everyone[ao] will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, because it won’t be extinguished.”’”
Ezekiel’s Complaint to God
49 Then I said, “O Lord God! They’re saying about me, ‘Isn’t he one to propound parables?’”
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