Bible in 90 Days
40 “In addition, they sent for men who came from far away when a messenger was dispatched to them. And look how they came! You bathed, painted your eyes,(A) and adorned yourself with jewelry for them.(B) 41 You sat on a luxurious couch with a table spread before it,(C) on which you had set My incense and oil. 42 The sound of a carefree crowd was there. Drunkards[a] from the desert were brought in, along with common men. They put bracelets on the women’s hands and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43 Then I said concerning this woman worn out by adultery: Will they now have illicit sex with her, even her? 44 Yet they had sex with her as one does with a prostitute. This is how they had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, those obscene women. 45 But righteous men will judge them the way adulteresses(D) and those who shed blood are judged, for they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.
46 “This is what the Lord God says: Summon[b] an assembly against them and consign them to terror and plunder.(E) 47 The assembly will stone them and cut them down with their swords.(F) They will kill their sons and daughters and burn their houses with fire. 48 So I will put an end to indecency in the land, and all the women will be admonished not to imitate your indecent behavior. 49 They will repay you for your indecency,(G) and you will bear the consequences for your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.”
Parable of the Boiling Pot
24 The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month: 2 “Son of man, write down today’s date, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.(H) 3 Now speak a parable(I) to the rebellious house. Tell them: This is what the Lord God says:
Put the pot(J) on the fire—
put it on,
and then pour water into it!
4 Place the pieces of meat in it,
every good piece—
thigh and shoulder.
Fill it with choice bones.
5 Take the choicest of the flock
and also pile up the fuel[c] under it.
Bring it to a boil
and cook the bones in it.”
6 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:
Woe to the city of bloodshed,(K)
the pot that has rust inside it,
and whose rust will not come off!
Empty it piece by piece;
lots should not be cast for its contents.
7 For the blood she shed[d] is still within her.
She put it out on the bare rock;
she didn’t pour it on the ground
to cover it with dust.(L)
8 In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance,(M)
I have put her blood on the bare rock,
so that it would not be covered.
9 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:
Woe to the city of bloodshed!(N)
I Myself will make the pile of kindling large.
10 Pile on the logs and kindle the fire!
Cook the meat well
and mix in the spices![e][f]
Let the bones be burned!
11 Set the empty pot on its coals
so that it becomes hot and its copper glows.
Then its impurity will melt inside it;
its rust will be consumed.(O)
12 It has frustrated every effort;[g]
its thick rust will not come off.
Into the fire with its rust!
13 Because of the indecency of your uncleanness—
since I tried to purify you,
but you would not be purified from your uncleanness—
you will not be pure again
until I have satisfied My wrath on you.(P)
14 I, Yahweh, have spoken.
It is coming, and I will do it!(Q)
I will not refrain, I will not show pity,
and I will not relent.
I[h] will judge you
according to your ways and deeds.(R)
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife: A Sign
15 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, I am about to take the delight of your eyes(S) away from you with a fatal blow. But you must not lament or weep or let your tears flow.(T) 17 Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead.(U) Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.”[i](V)
18 I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did just as I was commanded. 19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?”
20 So I answered them: “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 ‘Say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your heart. Also, the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.(W) 22 Then you will do just as I have done: You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.[j] 23 Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not lament or weep(X) but will waste away(Y) because of your sins and will groan to one another. 24 Now Ezekiel will be a sign for you.(Z) You will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.
25 “‘Son of man, know that on the day I take their stronghold from them, their pride and joy, the delight of their eyes and the longing of their hearts, as well as their sons and daughters, 26 on that day a fugitive will come to you and report the news.(AA) 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to talk with him; you will speak and no longer be mute.(AB) So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am Yahweh.’”
Prophecies Against the Nations
Judgment against Ammon
25 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.(AC) 3 Say to the Ammonites: Hear the word of the Lord God: This is what the Lord God says: Because you said, ‘Good!’(AD) about My sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was laid waste, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile, 4 therefore I am about to give you to the people of the east as a possession. They will set up their encampments and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture(AE) for camels and Ammon a sheepfold. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”
6 For this is what the Lord God says: “Because you clapped your hands,(AF) stamped your feet, and rejoiced over the land of Israel with wholehearted contempt, 7 therefore I am about to stretch out My hand against you(AG) and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and eliminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am Yahweh.”
Judgment against Moab
8 This is what the Lord God says: “Because Moab and Seir said,(AH) ‘Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,’ 9 therefore I am about to expose Moab’s flank beginning with its[k] frontier cities, the pride of the land: Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon,(AI) and Kiriathaim. 10 I will give it along with Ammon to the people of the east as a possession, so that Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. 11 So I will execute judgments against Moab, and they will know that I am Yahweh.”
Judgment against Edom
12 This is what the Lord God says: “Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah(AJ) and incurred grievous guilt by taking revenge on them, 13 therefore this is what the Lord God says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off both man and animal from it. I will make it a wasteland; they will fall by the sword from Teman to Dedan. 14 I will take My vengeance(AK) on Edom through My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. So they will know My vengeance.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.
Judgment against Philistia
15 This is what the Lord God says: “Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with deep contempt,(AL) destroying because of their ancient hatred, 16 therefore this is what the Lord God says: I am about to stretch out My hand against the Philistines,(AM) cutting off the Cherethites and wiping out what remains of the coastal peoples.[l](AN) 17 I will execute great vengeance against them with furious rebukes. They will know that I am Yahweh(AO) when I take My vengeance on them.”
The Downfall of Tyre
26 In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, because Tyre(AP) said about Jerusalem, ‘Good!(AQ) The gateway to the peoples is shattered. She has been turned over to me. I will be filled now that she lies in ruins,’ 3 therefore this is what the Lord God says: See, I am against you, Tyre!(AR) I will raise up many nations against you, just as the sea raises its waves. 4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and demolish her towers. I will scrape the soil from her and turn her into a bare rock. 5 She will become a place in the sea to spread nets, for I have spoken.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “She will become plunder for the nations,(AS) 6 and her villages on the mainland will be slaughtered by the sword.(AT) Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”
7 For this is what the Lord God says: “See, I am about to bring King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, king of kings,(AU) against Tyre from the north with horses, chariots, cavalry, and a vast company of troops. 8 He will slaughter your villages on the mainland with the sword. He will set up siege works against you,(AV) and will build a ramp[m] and raise a wall of shields against you. 9 He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and tear down your towers with his iron tools. 10 His horses will be so numerous that their dust will cover you. When he enters your gates as an army entering a breached city, your walls will shake from the noise of cavalry, wagons, and chariots. 11 He will trample all your streets with the hooves of his horses.(AW) He will slaughter your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground. 12 They will take your wealth as spoil and plunder your merchandise.(AX) They will also demolish your walls and tear down your beautiful homes. Then they will throw your stones, timber, and soil into the water. 13 I will put an end to the noise of your songs,(AY) and the sound of your lyres will no longer be heard. 14 I will turn you into a bare rock, and you will be a place to spread nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I, Yahweh, have spoken.”(AZ) This is the declaration of the Lord God.
15 This is what the Lord God says to Tyre: “Won’t the coasts and islands quake at the sound of your downfall,(BA) when the wounded groan and slaughter occurs within you? 16 All the princes of the sea will descend from their thrones,(BB) remove their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling; they will sit on the ground, tremble continually, and be appalled(BC) at you. 17 Then they will lament(BD) for you and say of you:
How you have perished, city of renown,
you who were populated from the seas![n]
She who was powerful on the sea,
she and all of her inhabitants
inflicted their terror.[o]
18 Now the coastlands tremble(BE)
on the day of your downfall;
the islands in the sea
are alarmed by your demise.”
19 For this is what the Lord God says: “When I make you a ruined city like other deserted cities, when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you, 20 then I will bring you down to be with those who descend to the Pit,(BF) to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the underworld[p] like[q] the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or display your splendor[r] in the land of the living.(BG) 21 I will make you an object of horror, and you will no longer exist.(BH) You will be sought but will never be found again.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.
The Sinking of Tyre
27 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Now, son of man, lament for Tyre.(BI) 3 Say to Tyre, who is located at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples(BJ) to many coasts and islands: This is what the Lord God says:
Tyre, you declared,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’
4 Your realm was in the heart of the sea;
your builders perfected your beauty.
5 They constructed all your planking
with pine trees from Senir.[s](BK)
They took a cedar from Lebanon
to make a mast for you.
6 They made your oars of oaks from Bashan.
They made your deck of cypress wood
from the coasts of Cyprus,(BL)
inlaid with ivory.
7 Your sail was made of
fine embroidered linen from Egypt,
and served as your banner.
Your awning was of blue and purple fabric
from the coasts of Elishah.
8 The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad(BM)
were your rowers.
Your wise men were within you, Tyre;
they were your captains.
9 The elders of Gebal and its wise men(BN)
were within you, repairing your leaks.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came to[t] you to barter for your goods.
10 Men of Persia, Lud, and Put(BO)
were in your army, serving as your warriors.
They hung shields and helmets in you;
they gave you splendor.
11 Men of Arvad and Helech
were stationed on your walls all around,
and Gammadites were in your towers.
They hung their shields[u] all around your walls;
they perfected your beauty.
12 “Tarshish(BP) was your trading partner because of your great wealth of every kind. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech(BQ) were your merchants. They exchanged slaves[v] and bronze utensils for your goods. 14 Those from Beth-togarmah(BR) exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. 15 Men of Dedan[w](BS) were also your merchants; many coasts and islands were your regular markets. They brought back ivory tusks(BT) and ebony as your payment. 16 Aram[x][y] was your trading partner because of your numerous products. They exchanged turquoise,[z] purple and embroidered cloth, fine linen, coral,[aa] and rubies[ab] for your merchandise. 17 Judah and the land of Israel were your merchants. They exchanged wheat from Minnith,(BU) meal,[ac] honey, oil, and balm, for your goods. 18 Damascus was also your trading partner because of your numerous products and your great wealth of every kind, trading in wine from Helbon and white wool.[ad] 19 Vedan[ae] and Javan from Uzal[af](BV) dealt in your merchandise; wrought iron, cassia,(BW) and aromatic cane were exchanged for your goods. 20 Dedan(BX) was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your business[ag] partners, trading with you in lambs, rams, and goats. 22 The merchants of Sheba(BY) and Raamah traded with you. They exchanged gold, the best of all spices, and all kinds of precious stones for your merchandise.(BZ) 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden,(CA) the merchants of Sheba, Asshur,(CB) and Chilmad traded with you. 24 They were your merchants in choice garments, cloaks of blue and embroidered materials, and multicolored carpets,[ah] which were bound and secured with cords in your marketplace. 25 Ships of Tarshish(CC) were the carriers for your goods.
So you became full and heavily loaded[ai]
in the heart of the sea.
26 Your rowers have brought you
onto the high seas,(CD)
but the east wind has shattered you
in the heart of the sea.
27 Your wealth, merchandise, and goods,
your sailors and captains,
those who repair your leaks,
those who barter for your goods,
and all the warriors within you,
with all the other people on board,[aj]
sink into the heart of the sea
on the day of your downfall.
28 The countryside shakes
at the sound of your sailors’ cries.(CE)
29 All those who handle an oar
disembark from their ships.
The sailors and all the captains of the sea
stand on the shore.
30 They raise their voices over you
and cry out bitterly.
They throw dust on their heads;(CF)
they roll in ashes.
31 They shave their heads because of you
and wrap themselves in sackcloth.
They weep over you
with deep anguish and bitter mourning.
32 In their wailing they lament for you,(CG)
mourning over you:
Who was like Tyre,
silenced[ak] in the middle of the sea?
33 When your merchandise was unloaded from the seas,
you satisfied many peoples.
You enriched the kings of the earth
with your abundant wealth and goods.
34 Now you are shattered by the sea
in the depths of the waters;
your goods and the people within you
have gone down.
35 All the inhabitants of the coasts and islands
are appalled(CH) at you.
Their kings shudder with fear;
their faces are contorted.
36 Those who trade among the peoples
mock[al](CI) you;
you have become an object of horror
and will never exist again.”(CJ)
The Fall of Tyre’s Ruler
28 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre: This is what the Lord God says:
Your[am] heart is proud,
and you have said, ‘I am a god;(CK)
I sit in the seat of gods
in the heart of the sea.’
Yet you are a man and not a god,
though you have regarded your heart
as that of a god.
3 Yes, you are wiser than Daniel;(CL)
no secret is hidden from you!
4 By your wisdom and understanding
you have acquired wealth for yourself.
You have acquired gold and silver
for your treasuries.(CM)
5 By your great skill in trading
you have increased your wealth,
but your heart has become proud
because of your wealth.”
6 Therefore this is what the Lord God says:
Because you regard your heart as that of a god,
7 I am about to bring strangers against you,
ruthless men from the nations.
They will draw their swords
against your magnificent wisdom
and will defile your splendor.(CN)
8 They will bring you down to the Pit,(CO)
and you will die a violent death
in the heart of the sea.
9 Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’
in the presence of those who kill[an] you?
Yet you will be only a man, not a god,
in the hands of those who kill you.
10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised(CP)
at the hands of strangers.(CQ)
For I have spoken.
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
A Lament for Tyre’s King
11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Son of man, lament(CR) for the king of Tyre and say to him: This is what the Lord God says:
You were the seal[ao] of perfection,[ap]
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.(CS)
13 You were in Eden,(CT) the garden of God.
Every kind of precious stone covered you:
carnelian, topaz, and diamond,[aq]
beryl, onyx, and jasper,
sapphire,[ar] turquoise[as] and emerald.[at]
Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold;(CU)
they were prepared on the day you were created.
14 You were an anointed guardian cherub,(CV)
for[au] I had appointed you.
You were on the holy mountain of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.
15 From the day you were created
you were blameless in your ways
until wickedness was found in you.
16 Through the abundance of your trade,
you were filled with violence, and you sinned.
So I expelled you in disgrace
from the mountain of God,
and banished you, guardian cherub,[av]
from among the fiery stones.
17 Your heart became proud because of your beauty;(CW)
For the sake of your splendor
you corrupted your wisdom.
So I threw you down to the earth;
I made you a spectacle before kings.
18 You profaned your sanctuaries
by the magnitude of your iniquities
in your dishonest trade.
So I made fire come from within you,
and it consumed you.(CX)
I reduced you to ashes on the ground
in the sight of everyone watching you.
19 All those who know you among the nations
are appalled at you.
You have become an object of horror
and will never exist again.”(CY)
A Prophecy against Sidon
20 The word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, turn your face toward Sidon(CZ) and prophesy against it. 22 You are to say: This is what the Lord God says:
Look! I am against you, Sidon,(DA)
and I will display My glory within you.
They will know that I am Yahweh
when I execute judgments against her(DB)
and demonstrate My holiness through her.
23 I will send a plague against her(DC)
and bloodshed in her streets;
the slain will fall within her,
while the sword is against her[aw] on every side.
Then they will know that I am Yahweh.
24 “The house of Israel will no longer be hurt by[ax] prickly briers or painful thorns(DD) from all their neighbors who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.
25 “This is what the Lord God says: When I gather the house of Israel(DE) from the peoples where they are scattered and demonstrate My holiness through them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their own land, which I gave to My servant Jacob. 26 They will live there securely,(DF) build houses, and plant vineyards.(DG) They will live securely when I execute judgments(DH) against all their neighbors who treat them with contempt. Then they will know that I am Yahweh their God.”
A Prophecy of Egypt’s Ruin
29 In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn your face toward Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all of Egypt.(DI) 3 Speak to him and say: This is what the Lord God says:
Look, I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,
the great monster[ay](DJ) lying in the middle of his Nile,
who says, ‘My Nile is my own;
I made it for myself.’
4 I will put hooks in your jaws(DK)
and make the fish of your streams
cling to your scales.
I will haul you up
from the middle of your Nile,
and all the fish of your streams
will cling to your scales.
5 I will leave you in the desert,(DL)
you and all the fish of your streams.
You will fall on the open ground
and will not be taken away
or gathered for burial.(DM)
I have given you
to the beasts of the earth
and the birds of the sky as food.(DN)
6 Then all the inhabitants of Egypt
will know that I am Yahweh,
for they[az] have been a staff made of reed
to the house of Israel.
7 When Israel grasped you by the hand,
you splintered,(DO) tearing all their shoulders;
when they leaned on you,
you shattered and made all their hips unsteady.[ba]
8 “Therefore this is what the Lord God says: I am going to bring a sword(DP) against you and wipe out man and animal from you. 9 The land of Egypt will be a desolate ruin.(DQ) Then they will know that I am Yahweh. Because you[bb] said, ‘The Nile is my own; I made it,’ 10 therefore, I am against you and your Nile. I will turn the land of Egypt into ruins, a desolate waste from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Cush. 11 No human foot will pass through it, and no animal foot will pass through it.(DR) It will be uninhabited for 40 years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt a desolation among[bc] desolate lands, and its cities will be a desolation among[bd] ruined cities(DS) for 40 years. I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them across the countries.(DT)
13 “For this is what the Lord God says: At the end of 40 years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were dispersed.(DU) 14 I will restore the fortunes of Egypt and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin. There they will be a lowly kingdom. 15 Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself over the nations. I will make them so small they cannot rule over the nations. 16 It will never again be an object of trust(DV) for the house of Israel, drawing attention to their sin of turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.”
Babylon Receives Egypt as Compensation
17 In the twenty-seventh year in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor strenuously against Tyre.(DW) Every head was made bald and every shoulder chafed, but he and his army received no compensation from Tyre for the labor he expended against it. 19 Therefore this is what the Lord God says: I am going to give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,(DX) who will carry off its wealth, seizing its spoil and taking its plunder. This will be his army’s compensation. 20 I have given him the land of Egypt as the pay he labored for, since they worked for Me.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. 21 “In that day I will cause a horn to sprout(DY) for the house of Israel, and I will enable you to speak out(DZ) among them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”
Egypt’s Doom
30 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: This is what the Lord God says:
Wail:(EA) Woe for the day!
3 For a day is near;
a day belonging to the Lord is near.(EB)
It will be a day of clouds,(EC)
a time of doom for the nations.
4 A sword will come against Egypt,
and there will be anguish in Cush
when the slain fall in Egypt,
and its wealth is taken away,
and its foundations are torn down.
5 Cush, Put, and Lud,(ED)
and all the various foreign troops,[be]
plus Libya[bf] and the men of the covenant land[bg]
will fall by the sword along with them.
6 This is what the Lord says:
Those who support Egypt will fall,
and its proud strength will collapse.
From Migdol to Syene
they will fall within it by the sword.
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
7 They will be desolate
among[bh] desolate lands,
and their cities will lie
among ruined[bi] cities.(EE)
8 They will know that I am Yahweh
when I set fire to Egypt(EF)
and all its allies are shattered.
9 On that day, messengers will go out from Me in ships(EG) to terrify confident Cush. Anguish will come over them on the day of Egypt’s doom. For indeed it is coming.”
10 This is what the Lord God says:
I will put an end to the hordes[bj] of Egypt
by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11 He along with his people,
ruthless men from the nations,
will be brought in to destroy the land.
They will draw their swords against Egypt
and fill the land with the slain.(EH)
12 I will make the streams dry
and sell the land into the hands of evil men.(EI)
I will bring desolation
on the land and everything in it
by the hands of foreigners.
I, Yahweh, have spoken.
13 This is what the Lord God says:
I will destroy the idols and put an end
to the false gods in Memphis.(EJ)
There will no longer be
a prince from the land of Egypt.
So I will instill fear in that land.
14 I will make Pathros(EK) desolate,
set fire to Zoan,
and execute judgments on Thebes.
15 I will pour out My wrath on Pelusium,
the stronghold of Egypt,
and will wipe out the crowds[bk] of Thebes.
16 I will set fire to Egypt;
Pelusium will writhe in anguish,
Thebes will be breached,
and Memphis will face foes in broad daylight.[bl]
17 The young men of On[bm] and Pi-beseth
will fall by the sword,
and those cities[bn] will go into captivity.
18 The day will be dark[bo] in Tehaphnehes,
when I break the yoke of Egypt there
and its proud strength
comes to an end in the city.
A cloud(EL) will cover Tehaphnehes,[bp]
and its villages will go into captivity.
19 So I will execute judgments against Egypt,
and they will know that I am Yahweh.
Pharaoh’s Power Broken
20 In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm(EM) of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Look, it has not been bandaged—no medicine has been applied and no splint put on to bandage it so that it can grow strong enough to handle a sword. 22 Therefore this is what the Lord God says: Look! I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, both the strong one and the one already broken, and will make the sword fall from his hand. 23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(EN) 24 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king and place My sword(EO) in his hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him as a mortally wounded man. 25 I will strengthen the arms of Babylon’s king, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall. They will know that I am Yahweh when I place My sword in the hand of Babylon’s king and he wields it against the land of Egypt. 26 When I disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them among the countries, they will know that I am Yahweh.”
Downfall of Egypt and Assyria
31 In the eleventh year,(EP) in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:
Who are you like in your greatness?
3 Think of Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon,(EQ)
with beautiful branches and shady foliage
and of lofty height.
Its top was among the clouds.[bq]
4 The waters caused it to grow;
the underground springs made it tall,
directing their rivers all around
the place where the tree was planted
and sending their channels
to all the trees of the field.
5 Therefore the cedar became greater in height
than all the trees of the field.(ER)
Its branches multiplied,
and its boughs grew long
as it spread them out
because of the plentiful water.(ES)
6 All the birds of the sky
nested in its branches,(ET)
and all the animals of the field
gave birth beneath its boughs;
all the great nations lived in its shade.
7 It was beautiful in its greatness,
in the length of its limbs,
for its roots extended to abundant water.
8 The cedars in God’s garden could not rival it;(EU)
the pine trees couldn’t compare with its branches,
nor could the plane trees match its boughs.
No tree in the garden of God
could compare with it in beauty.
9 I made it beautiful with its many limbs,
and all the trees of Eden,
which were in God’s garden, envied it.
10 “Therefore this is what the Lord God says: Since it[br] became great in height and set its top among the clouds,[bs] and it[bt] grew proud(EV) on account of its height, 11 I determined to hand it over to a ruler of nations;(EW) he would surely deal with it. I banished it because of its wickedness. 12 Foreigners, ruthless men from the nations,(EX) cut it down and left it lying. Its limbs fell on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. All the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it. 13 All the birds of the sky nested on its fallen trunk, and all the animals of the field were among its boughs. 14 This happened so that no trees planted beside water would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds,[bu] and so that no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the underworld, among the people who descend to the Pit.(EY)
15 “This is what the Lord God says: I caused grieving on the day the cedar went down to Sheol.(EZ) I closed off the underground deep because of it:[bv] I held back the rivers of the deep, and its abundant waters were restrained. I made Lebanon mourn on account of it, and all the trees of the field fainted because of it. 16 I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I threw it down to Sheol to be with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden,(FA) all the well-watered trees, the choice and best of Lebanon, were comforted(FB) in the underworld. 17 They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies[bw][bx] they had lived in its shade among the nations.
18 “Who then are you like in glory and greatness among Eden’s trees? You also will be brought down to the underworld to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised with those slain by the sword.(FC) This is Pharaoh and all his hordes”—the declaration of the Lord God.
A Lament for Pharaoh
32 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, lament(FD) for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:
You compare yourself to a lion of the nations,
but[by] you are like a monster(FE) in the seas.
You thrash about in your rivers,
churn up the waters with your feet,
and muddy the[bz] rivers.”
3 This is what the Lord God says:
I will spread My net over you(FF)
with an assembly of many peoples,
and they[ca] will haul you up in My net.
4 I will abandon you on the land
and hurl you on the open field.
I will cause all the birds of the sky
to settle on you
and let the beasts of the entire earth
eat their fill of you.(FG)
5 I will put your flesh on the mountains(FH)
and fill the valleys with your carcass.
6 I will drench the land
with the flow of your blood,
even to the mountains;
the ravines will be filled with your gore.
7 When I snuff you out,
I will cover the heavens
and darken their stars.
I will cover the sun with a cloud,(FI)
and the moon will not give its light.
8 I will darken all the shining lights
in the heavens over you,
and will bring darkness on your land.
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
9 I will trouble the hearts of many peoples,
when I bring about your destruction
among the nations,
in countries you do not know.
10 I will cause many nations to be appalled at you,
and their kings will shudder with fear because of you(FJ)
when I brandish My sword in front of them.
On the day of your downfall
each of them will tremble
every moment(FK) for his life.
11 For this is what the Lord God says:
The sword of Babylon’s king
will come against you!
12 I will make your hordes fall
by the swords of warriors,
all of them ruthless men from the nations.(FL)
They will ravage Egypt’s pride,
and all its hordes will be destroyed.
13 I will slaughter all its cattle
that are beside many waters.
No human foot will churn them again,
and no cattle hooves will disturb them.(FM)
14 Then I will let their waters settle
and will make their rivers flow like oil.
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
15 When I make the land of Egypt a desolation,
so that it is emptied of everything in it,
when I strike down all who live there,
then they will know that I am Yahweh.(FN)
16 “This is a lament that will be chanted;(FO) the women of the nations will chant it. They will chant it over Egypt and all its hordes.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.
Egypt in Sheol
17 In the twelfth year,[cb] on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, wail over the hordes of Egypt and bring Egypt and the daughters of mighty nations down to the underworld,[cc] to be with those who descend to the Pit:(FP)
19 Who do you surpass in loveliness?
Go down and be laid to rest with the uncircumcised!
20 They will fall among those slain by the sword.
A sword is appointed!(FQ)
They drag her and all her hordes away.
21 Warrior leaders will speak
from the middle of Sheol
about him[cd] and his allies:
They have come down;
the uncircumcised lie
slain by the sword.(FR)
22 Assyria is there with all her company;
her graves are all around her.
All of them are slain, fallen by the sword.
23 Her graves are set in the deepest regions of the Pit,
and her company is all around her burial place.
All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—
those who once spread terror
in the land of the living.
24 Elam(FS) is there
with all her hordes around her grave.
All of them are slain, fallen by the sword—
those who went down to the underworld[ce] uncircumcised,
who once spread their terror
in the land of the living.
They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.
25 Among the slain
they prepare a resting place for Elam
with all her hordes.
Her graves are all around her.
All of them are uncircumcised,
slain by the sword,
although their terror was once spread
in the land of the living.
They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.
They are placed among the slain.
26 Meshech and Tubal[cf](FT) are there,
with all their hordes.
Their graves are all around them.
All of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword,
although their terror was once spread
in the land of the living.
27 They do not lie down
with the fallen warriors of the uncircumcised,[cg]
who went down to Sheol
with their weapons of war,
whose swords were placed under their heads.[ch]
The punishment for their sins
rested on their bones,
although the terror of these warriors
was once in the land of the living.
28 But you will be shattered
and will lie down among the uncircumcised,
with those slain by the sword.(FU)
29 Edom(FV) is there, her kings and all her princes,
who, despite their strength, have been placed
among those slain by the sword.
They lie down with the uncircumcised,
with those who descend to the Pit.
30 All the leaders of the north(FW)
and all the Sidonians(FX) are there.
They went down in shame with the slain,
despite the terror their strength inspired.
They lie down uncircumcised
with those slain by the sword.
They bear their disgrace
with those who descend to the Pit.
31 Pharaoh will see them
and be comforted(FY) over all his hordes—
Pharaoh and all his army,
slain by the sword.
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
32 For I will spread My[ci] terror
in the land of the living,
so Pharaoh and all his hordes
will be laid to rest among the uncircumcised,
with those slain by the sword.”
This is the declaration of the Lord God.
Ezekiel as Israel’s Watchman
33 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and tell them: Suppose I bring the sword against a land, and the people of that land select a man from among them, appointing him as their watchman, 3 and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows his trumpet(FZ) to warn the people. 4 Then, if anyone hears the sound of the trumpet but ignores the warning,(GA) and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head. 5 Since he heard the sound of the trumpet but ignored the warning, his blood is on his own hands.[cj] If he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 However, if the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet, so that the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives, then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.
7 “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel.(GB) When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. 8 If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’(GC) but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood. 9 But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 “Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel: You have said this, ‘Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them!(GD) How then can we survive?’(GE) 11 Tell them: As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live.(GF) Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?
12 “Now, son of man, say to your people: The righteousness of the righteous person will not save him on the day of his transgression; neither will the wickedness of the wicked person cause him to stumble on the day he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person won’t be able to survive by his righteousness on the day he sins. 13 When I tell the righteous person that he will surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, then none of his righteousness will be remembered, and he will die because of the iniquity he has committed.(GG)
14 “So when I tell the wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but he repents of his sin and does what is just and right— 15 he returns collateral, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life(GH) without practicing iniquity—he will certainly live; he will not die. 16 None of the sins he committed will be held against him. He has done what is just and right; he will certainly live.(GI)
17 “But your people say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair,’(GJ) even though it is their own way that isn’t fair. 18 When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he will die on account of this. 19 But if a wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live because of this. 20 Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ I will judge each of you according to his ways, house of Israel.”
The News of Jerusalem’s Fall
21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and reported, “The city has been taken!” 22 Now the hand of the Lord had been on me the evening before the fugitive arrived, and He opened my mouth before the man came to me in the morning. So my mouth was opened and I was no longer mute.(GK)
Israel’s Continued Rebellion
23 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, those who live in the[ck] ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person,(GL) yet he received possession of the land.(GM) But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.’(GN) 25 Therefore say to them: This is what the Lord God says: You eat meat with blood in it,(GO) raise your eyes to your idols, and shed blood. Should you then receive possession of the land? 26 You have relied on your swords, you have committed detestable acts, and each of you has defiled his neighbor’s wife. Should you then receive possession of the land?(GP)
27 “Tell them this: This is what the Lord God says: As surely as I live, those who are in the ruins will fall by the sword, those in the open field I have given to wild animals to be devoured, and those in the strongholds and caves will die by plague.(GQ) 28 I will make the land a desolate waste,(GR) and its proud strength will come to an end.(GS) The mountains of Israel(GT) will become desolate, with no one passing through. 29 They will know that I am Yahweh when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the detestable acts they have committed.
30 “Now, son of man, your people are talking about you near the city walls and in the doorways of their houses. One person speaks to another, each saying to his brother, ‘Come and hear what the message is that comes from the Lord!’ 31 So My people come to you in crowds,[cl] sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest profit. 32 Yes, to them you are like a singer of love songs who has a beautiful voice and plays skillfully on an instrument. They hear your words, but they don’t obey them. 33 Yet when it comes(GU)—and it will definitely come—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
The Shepherds and God’s Flock
34 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them: This is what the Lord God says to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who have been feeding themselves!(GV) Shouldn’t the shepherds feed their flock? 3 You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened animals, but you do not tend the flock.(GW) 4 You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bandaged the injured, brought back the strays, or sought the lost.(GX) Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty. 5 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd;(GY) they became food for all the wild animals(GZ) when they were scattered. 6 My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill.(HA) They were scattered over the whole face of the earth, and there was no one searching or seeking for them.
7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. 8 As I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“because My flock has become prey and food for every wild animal since they lack a shepherd, for My shepherds do not search for My flock, and because the shepherds feed themselves rather than My flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord!
10 “This is what the Lord God says: Look, I am against the shepherds.(HB) I will demand My flock from them[cm] and prevent them from shepherding the flock. The shepherds will no longer feed themselves, for I will rescue My flock from their mouths so that they will not be food for them.
11 “For this is what the Lord God says: See, I Myself will search for My flock and look for them. 12 As a shepherd looks for his sheep on the day he is among his scattered flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they have been scattered(HC) on a cloudy and dark day. 13 I will bring them out from the peoples, gather them from the countries, and bring them into their own land. I will shepherd them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14 I will tend them with good pasture, and their grazing place will be on Israel’s lofty mountains. There they will lie down in a good grazing place; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will tend My flock and let them lie down.”(HD) This is the declaration of the Lord God. 16 “I will seek the lost,(HE) bring back the strays, bandage the injured,(HF) and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy[cn] the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.
17 “The Lord God says to you, My flock: I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and male goats.(HG) 18 Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? Or isn’t it enough that you drink the clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Yet My flock has to feed on what your feet have trampled, and drink what your feet have muddied.
20 “Therefore, this is what the Lord God says to them: See, I Myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Since you have pushed with flank and shoulder and butted all the weak ones with your horns until you scattered them all over, 22 I will save My flock, and they will no longer be prey for you. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will appoint over them a single shepherd, My servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd.(HH) 24 I, Yahweh, will be their God, and My servant David(HI) will be a prince among them. I, Yahweh, have spoken.
25 “I will make a covenant of peace(HJ) with them and eliminate dangerous animals(HK) in the land, so that they may live securely(HL) in the wilderness and sleep in the forest. 26 I will make them and the area around My hill(HM) a blessing: I will send down showers in their season(HN)—showers[co] of blessing. 27 The trees of the field will give their fruit, and the land will yield its produce; My flock will be secure in their land. They will know that I am Yahweh when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslave them.(HO) 28 They will no longer be prey for the nations, and the wild animals of the land will not consume them. They will live securely, and no one will frighten them. 29 I will establish for them a place renowned for its agriculture,[cp] and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land. They will no longer endure the insults of the nations.(HP) 30 Then they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people.”(HQ) This is the declaration of the Lord God. 31 “You are My flock, the human flock of My pasture, and I am your God.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.(HR)
A Prophecy against Edom
35 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn your face toward Mount Seir(HS) and prophesy against it. 3 Say to it: This is what the Lord God says:
Look! I am against you, Mount Seir.
I will stretch out My hand against you
and make you a desolate waste.(HT)
4 I will turn your cities into ruins,
and you will become a desolation.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
5 “Because you maintained an ancient hatred(HU) and handed over the Israelites to the power of the sword in the time of their disaster, the time of final punishment,(HV) 6 therefore, as I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“I will destine you for bloodshed, and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.(HW) 7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste and will cut off from it those who come and go.(HX) 8 I will fill its mountains with the slain;(HY) those slain by the sword will fall on your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines. 9 I will make you a perpetual desolation; your cities will not be inhabited. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
10 “Because you said, ‘These two nations and two lands will be mine, and we will possess them’—though the Lord was there(HZ)— 11 therefore, as I live”—the declaration of the Lord God—“I will treat you according to the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred of them. I will make Myself known among them[cq] when I judge you. 12 Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have heard all the blasphemies you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are desolate. They have been given to us to devour!’ 13 You boasted against Me(IA) with your mouth, and spoke many words against Me. I heard it Myself!
14 “This is what the Lord God says: While the whole world rejoices, I will make you a desolation. 15 Just as you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it became a desolation, so I will deal with you: you will become a desolation, Mount Seir, and so will all Edom in its entirety. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.
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