Beginning
A Message Condemning Ammon
25 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, turn your attention[a] to the descendants of Ammon and rebuke[b] them. 3 Tell the Ammonites: ‘Listen to a message from[c] the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says: “Because you have said, ‘Aha!’[d] about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it became desolate, and about the households of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore you’d better look out! I’m going to turn you over to men[e] from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. They will set up military encampments and permanent places[f] in which to live among you, and then they’ll eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will turn Rabbah[g] into a pasture for camels, and Ammon will become a resting place for flocks of sheep. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.”’”
Why God Condemned Ammon
6 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you’ve applauded, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all sorts of malice in your heart[h] against the land of Israel, 7 therefore you’d better[i] watch out! I’m raising a clenched fist[j] in your direction! I’m about to feed you to the surrounding[k] nations as war plunder. I’m going to eliminate you as a nation and kill off those of you who survive to live in other[l] countries. I’m going to destroy you, and that’s how you’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”
A Message Rebuking Moab and Seir
8 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Moab and Seir are claiming, “Judah’s citizens are[m] just like every other[n] nation,” 9 therefore you’d better watch out! I’m going to tear open Moab’s flanks, starting with its frontier cities—the very glory of the nation!—including Beth-jeshimoth,[o] Baal-meon,[p] and Kiriathaim.[q] 10 I’m going to turn these cities[r] over to men[s] from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. As a result, Ammon will be forgotten as a nation. 11 I’m also going to punish Moab, and that’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”
The Coming Destruction of Edom
12 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Edom has made it their practice to seek extraordinary vengeance against Judah’s citizens,[t] and by doing so has incurred extraordinary guilt by taking revenge against them,’ 13 therefore this is what the Lord God says: ‘I’m going to raise my clenched fist[u] in Edom’s direction and eliminate every single human being and animal from Edom! I’m going to turn everything into a wasteland, starting with Teman, and Dedan will fall by violence![v] 14 I’m going to inundate Edom with[w] my retribution, using my people Israel to carry it out! They’ll deliver my anger, acting as an agent of my fury. Edom will come to know my vengeance,’ declares the Lord God.’”
A Message Condemning Philistia
15 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because Philistia has made it their practice to carry out retribution, accompanied by extraordinary malice in their personal vendettas—vendettas that spring from their everlasting hostility— 16 this is what the Lord God says: “Look out! I’m raising my clenched fist[x] in Philistia’s direction. I’m going to execute[y] the Cherethites[z] and destroy what’s left of the coastline of the Mediterranean[aa] Sea. 17 I’ll take vengeance on them, punishing them severely in my anger. They’ll know that I am the Lord when I take my vengeance on them.”’”
A Message Condemning Tyre
26 During the eleventh year, on the first day of the month of our captivity[ab], this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, because Tyre has been saying about Jerusalem,
‘The international gateway is broken down!
It’s wide open to me!
I will be replenished,
now that it lies in ruins!’
3 “Therefore this is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m coming to get[ac] you, Tyre! I’m about to bring many nations to attack you. They’ll come in wave after wave, like the advancing tide,[ad] 4 and will destroy the city walls of Tyre. After they break down her fortified towers, I’ll scrape away the city’s debris, right down to the bare bedrock, 5 and it will become a place where nets will be spread out right in the middle of the Mediterranean[ae] Sea. Because I have declared this to happen,’ declares the Lord God, ‘Tyre will be treated as the spoils of war by the invading[af] nations. 6 Furthermore, her citizens[ag] who live on the mainland will be executed with swords. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the Lord.’”
Nebuchadnezzar’s Invasion
7 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Watch out! I’m about to bring from the north King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, that king of kings. He’ll come with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a vast army. 8 He’ll execute your citizens who live on the mainland with swords. He’ll build siege engines to attack you. Then he’ll construct siege ramps against you and build huge shields to protect themselves[ah] against you.
9 “‘He’ll direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and will breach your fortified towers with axes.[ai] 10 There will be so many horses that the dust raised by them will cover you completely. The walls of your city will tremble from the noise of Nebuchadnezzar’s[aj] cavalry, wagons, and chariots when they enter through the gates of your city, as men enter a city that has been breached.
11 “‘Their horses will trample all the public places as he executes your inhabitants with swords. The most fortified of your pillars will be torn to the ground. 12 They will plunder your riches and loot your businesses. They’ll tear down your walls and demolish your luxurious homes. They’ll grab the stones, wood, and rubble from the destruction and dump it all into the Mediterranean[ak] Sea.
13 “‘I’ll silence the noise of your songs and the music of your harps won’t be heard anymore. 14 I’ll turn you into bare rock, and your city will become a place to spread nets. You will never be built again, because I the Lord have decreed this,’ declares the Lord God.”
Terror at Tyre’s Destruction
15 “This is what the Lord God says to Tyre: ‘When your wounded citizens groan while the slaughter takes place among you, the people who live in the coastlands will tremble in terror as they hear about your fall, will they not? 16 That’s when all the kings of the seafaring nations will abandon their thrones, strip off their fancy clothes, and collapse trembling on the ground. They’ll be so frightened as they observe what has happened to you that they’ll be unable to stop trembling. They will be utterly appalled at you! 17 They’ll sing this mourning song for you:
“How lost you are,
you inhabited city,
that was built in the middle of the sea!
How famous you were!
How strong on the sea!
She and her inhabitants
inflicted[al] terror to everyone
who lived within her.”
18 ‘Now the coastland inhabitants
will tremble on the day that you fall.
The coastland inhabitants,
who make their living from[am] the sea,
will be terrified when you pass away!’
19 “This is what the Lord God says: ‘When I turn your city into a ghost town, when I flood you with deep water that covers you completely, 20 I’ll make sure that you go straight to the Pit,[an] into the lowest part of the earth, where you’ll be with people who lived in ancient times. You’ll keep company there with the dead, who have gone into the Pit.[ao] As a result, your city[ap] won’t be inhabited. Meanwhile, I will display my glory in the land of the living. 21 I’m going to send terrifying calamity in your direction, and you won’t exist any longer. You might be sought after, but you’ll never be found again,’ declares the Lord God.”
A Message Condemning Tyre
27 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of Man, compose a mourning song for Tyre. 3 Tell Tyre, who lives at the gateway to the Mediterranean[aq] Sea, who serves as the international merchant to many coastal districts: ‘This is what the Lord God says:
“Tyre, you’ve been claiming,
“I am beauty perfected.’
4 You’ve set your national boundary in international waters.
Your builders made you downright beautiful!”’”[ar]
Tyre’s Luxurious Sailing Vessels
5 ‘They brought in a ship
made with pine planking from Senir,
configured with a mast carved from a cedar from Lebanon,
6 equipped with oars
made from oaks from Bashan,
with ivory-inlaid cypress wood[as] decking
imported from the coastlands of Cypress,
7 with sails made with embroidered Egyptian linen,
festooned with blue banners,
and with your sun shades made
with purple cloth from Cypress.
8 Your sailors were conscripted
from Sidon and Arvad,
and your officers served aboard
as pilots.
9 The wise men and elders from Gebal accompanied you,
serving as ship’s carpenters.
All the maritime navies and their seaman also accompanied you
to assist you in doing business internationally.”
Tyre’s International Makeup
10 “Soldiers from Persia,[at] Lud,[au] and Libya,[av]
served in your army.
They were your mighty soldiers.
Their helmets and shields adorned your barracks walls,
and they won battle decorations for you.
11 Mercenaries from Arvad and Helech
stood guard duty on your walls,
while brave men manned your towers.
They hung their shields all around your walls—
just the right touch to perfect your interior decorating!”[aw]
Tyre’s Trading Partners
12 ‘Tarshish was your business partner because of your phenomenal wealth. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13 Greece, Tubal,[ax] and Meshech[ay] bartered with you, exchanging slaves and bronze vessels for your wares. 14 Beth-togarmah traded horses, war horses, and mules in exchange for what you had to sell. 15 Men from the low country south of Edom[az] and many of the coastlands were your markets for ivory tusks and ebony that they brought to trade with you.
16 “Aram was one of your customers because you had so much merchandise. They paid by trading turquoise, purple yarn, embroidered goods, Egyptian linen,[ba] coral, and rubies. 17 The territories of Judah and Israel were your clients, too. They traded wheat from their distribution centers,[bb] baked goods, honey, oil, and ointments for your merchandise.
18 “Because you have so much to sell and are so rich, Damascus has been your trading partner, exchanging wine from Helbon, unbleached wool, 19 and casks of wine from Izal[bc] for your wrought iron, cassia wood, and aromatic reeds.
20 “Dedan traded with you, exchanging riding blankets. 21 Arabia, including all the princes of Kedar, came to you, shopping for lambs, rams, and goats. 22 Traders from Sheba and Raamah paid for the best of what you had to offer with all types of spices, precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden,[bd] merchants from Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad did business with you, 24 trading garments made into the finest blue and embroidered mantels, and also multi-colored carpets, ropes, and other merchandise. 25 Ocean-going fleets[be] carried your merchandise.”
Tyre’s Coming Storm
“How filled you were!
How glorious you were,
at home in the heart of the sea!
26 But your rowers have brought you
into dangerous waters.
The east wind has broken you
in the heart of the ocean!
27 Your wealth, your products, your merchandise
your sailors, your pilots,
your tailors, your salesmen,
all your mercenaries with you—
your entire company with you—
will fall into the midst of the sea
on the day when you’re overthrown!
28 When your ships’ captains cry out,
the pasturelands along the coast will cry out!
29 Everyone who handles an oar will abandon ship,
they’ll head straight for dry land,
30 and they will cry so loud
you won’t be able to make yourself heard!
How bitterly they’ll cry!
They’ll throw dust on their heads
and wallow in ashes.
31 They’ll shave their heads bald because of you.
They’ll dress themselves in sackcloth
and weep for you with deep bitterness of heart,
with the most pitiful of mourning.
32 In the depth of their despair
they’ll compose a lament for you.
This is what they’ll say:
‘Who is like Tyre?
Who is so silent in the midst of the sea?’
33 Your merchandise went out over the oceans
to satisfy many nations;
with the abundance of your wealth
you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 “But now it’s your time to be wrecked
at the bottom of the sea!
Your products and your workers have sunk,
and so have you!
35 Everyone who lives by the sea
is appalled at your destruction.
Their leaders are terrified—
their faces reflect their fears!
36 Traders circulate among the people, hissing at you.
What a horror you’ve become!
Now you will cease to exist
forever and ever!”
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