Chronological
Ezekiel Speaks Against False Prophets
13 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Say to those who ·make up their own prophecies [prophesy from their hearts/imagination]: ‘Listen to the word of the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the foolish prophets who follow their own ·ideas [L spirit] and have ·not seen a vision from me [L seen nothing]! 4 People of Israel, your prophets have been like ·wild dogs [jackals] among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the ·broken places [breaches] or repaired the wall for the ·nation [L house of] Israel [C Israel is portrayed as a house or fortress in ruins]. So how can Israel ·hold back the enemy [stand firm] in the battle on the ·Lord’s day of judging [L Day of the Lord]? 6 ·Your prophets [L They] see false visions and ·prophesy [their divinations are] lies. They say, “This is the message of the Lord,” when the Lord has not sent them. But they still hope their words will ·come true [stand]. 7 You said, “This is the message of the Lord,” but ·you have seen false visions and your prophecies are lies [L have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination…?], because I have not spoken.
8 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: Because you prophets spoke things that are false and saw ·visions that do not come true [lying visions], [L look; T behold] I am against you, says the Lord God. 9 ·I will punish [L My hand will be against] the prophets who see false visions and ·prophesy lies [utter lying divinations]. They will ·have no place among [L not be in the council of] my people. Their names will not be written on the ·list [records; registry] of the ·people [L house] of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord God.
10 “‘It is because they lead my people ·the wrong way [astray] by saying, “Peace!” when there is no peace. When the people build a ·weak [flimsy] wall, the prophets cover it with whitewash [C to make it look strong or to cover its flaws]. 11 So tell those who cover ·a weak wall [L it] with whitewash that it will fall down. ·Rain will pour down [There will be a deluge of rain], hailstones will fall, and a windstorm will break the wall down. 12 When the wall has fallen, people will ask you, “Where is the whitewash you used on the wall?”
13 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will break the wall with a windstorm. In my ·anger [wrath; rage] ·rain will pour down [there will be a deluge of rain], and hailstones will ·destroy the wall [fall with destructive fury]. 14 I will tear down the wall on which you put whitewash. I will level it to the ground so that ·people will see the wall’s foundation [L its foundations will be laid bare/exposed]. And when the wall falls, you will ·be destroyed [perish] ·under [or within] it. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will ·carry out my anger [spend my wrath/rage] on the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. Then I will tell you, “The wall is gone, and those who covered it with whitewash are gone. 16 The prophets of Israel who prophesy ·to [or about] Jerusalem and who see visions of peace for the city, when there is no peace, will be gone, says the Lord God.”’
False Women Prophets
17 “Now, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], look toward the ·women among [L daughters of] your people who ·make up their own prophecies [L prophesy from their own hearts/imaginations]. Prophesy against them. 18 Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to the] women who sew ·magic charms [L bands] on their wrists and make ·veils [or headbands] of every length to trap people! You ·ruin [entrap; ensnare] the ·lives [souls] of my people but ·try to [will you…?] save your own ·lives [souls]. 19 For handfuls of barley and ·pieces [scraps] of bread, you have ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] me among my people. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have ·killed people [put to death souls] who should not die, and you have kept alive those who should not live.
20 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic ·charms [bands], by which you ·trap [ensnare; hunt] ·people [souls] as if they were birds. I will tear ·those charms [L them] off your arms, and I will free those ·people [souls] you have ·trapped [ensnare; hunt] like birds. 21 I will also tear off your ·veils [or headbands] and save my people from your hands. They will no longer be ·trapped by your power [L prey in your hand]. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 By your lies you have ·caused those who did right to be sad [disheartened the righteous], when I did not ·make them sad [grieve them]. And you have encouraged the wicked not to ·stop being wicked [turn from their wicked ways], which would have saved their lives. 23 So you will not see false visions or ·prophesy [practice divination] anymore, and I will save my people from your ·power [L hands] so you will know that I am the Lord.’”
Stop Worshiping Idols
14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. 2 Then the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 3 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], these people ·want to worship idols [L have set up idols in their hearts]. They put up ·evil things that cause people to sin [L wicked stumbling blocks/obstacles before their faces]. Should I allow them to ·ask me for help [consult me]? 4 So speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: When any of the ·people [L house] of Israel ·want to worship idols [sets up idols in their heart] and put up ·evil things that cause people to sin [L wicked stumbling blocks/obstacles before their faces] and then ·come to the [consult a] prophet, I, the Lord, will answer them myself ·for worshiping idols [L in accordance with the multitude of their idols]. 5 Then I will ·win back [take hold of/recapture the hearts of] my people Israel, who have left me because of all their idols.’
6 “So say to the ·people [L house] of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·Change your hearts and lives [Repent], and ·stop worshiping [L turn from your] idols. ·Stop doing [L Turn your faces from] all ·the things I hate [your abominations/detestable practices]. 7 Any of the Israelites or foreigners in Israel can separate themselves from me by ·wanting to worship idols [L setting up idols in their hearts] or by putting ·up things that cause people to sin [L before their face a wicked stumbling block/obstacle]. Then if they come to the prophet to ·ask me questions [consult me], I, the Lord, will answer them myself. 8 I will ·reject [L set my face against] them. I will make them a sign and an ·example [proverb; byword], and I will ·separate them [L cut them off] from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
9 “‘But if the prophet is ·tricked [deceived; or enticed] into giving a prophecy, it is because I, the Lord, have ·tricked [deceived; or enticed] that prophet to speak. Then I will ·use my power [L stretch out my hand] against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. 10 The prophet will be ·as guilty [or punished the same] as the one who asks him for help; both will ·be responsible [or bear the punishment] for their guilt. 11 Then the ·nation [L house] of Israel will ·not leave me anymore [no longer go astray] or ·make themselves unclean [defile themselves; C ritually] anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord God.’”
Jerusalem Will Not Be Spared
12 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 13 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], if ·the people of a country [L a country/land] sin against me by not being ·loyal [faithful], I will ·use my power [L stretch out my hand] against them. I will cut off their supply of ·food [bread] and send ·a time of hunger [famine], destroying both people and animals. 14 Even if three great men like Noah, Daniel [C either the prophet Daniel (who was still a young man at this time) or an ancient Canaanite hero known for his wisdom and justice], and Job were in that country, their ·goodness [righteousness] could save only themselves, says the Lord God.
15 “Or I might send wild animals into that land, leaving the land ·empty [desolate] and ·without children [bereaved]. Then no one would pass through it because of the ·animals [beasts]. 16 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if ·Noah, Daniel, and Job [L these three men; v. 14] were in the land, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They could save only themselves, but that country would become ·empty [desolate].
17 “Or I might bring a ·war [L sword] against that ·country [land]. I might say, ‘Let a ·war be fought in [L sword pass through] that land,’ in this way ·destroying [cutting off] its people and its animals. 18 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if those three men were in the land, they could not save their sons or daughters. They could save only themselves.
19 “Or I might cause a ·disease [plague; pestilence] to spread in that country. I might pour out my ·anger [L rage/wrath with blood] against it, destroying and killing people and animals. 20 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if Noah, Daniel [v. 14], and Job were in the land, they could not save their son or daughter. They could save only themselves ·because they did what was right [by their righteousness].
21 “This is what the Lord God says: ·My plans for Jerusalem are much worse [L How much more for Jerusalem]! I will send my four terrible punishments against it—·war [L sword], ·hunger [famine], wild animals, and ·disease [pestilence; plague]—to destroy its people and animals. 22 But [L look; T behold] some ·people will escape [survivors will be left]; some sons and daughters will be led out. They will come out to you, and you will see ·what happens to people who live as they did [L their ways and deeds]. Then you will be ·comforted [consoled] after the disasters I have brought against Jerusalem, after all the things I have brought against it. 23 ·You will be comforted [They will console you] when you see ·what happens to them for living as they did [L their ways and deeds], because you will know ·there was a good reason for [it was not without cause that I did] what I did to Jerusalem, says the Lord God.”
Story of the Vine
15 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], is the wood of the vine better than the wood of any tree in the forest? 3 Can wood be taken from the vine to make anything? Can you use it to make a peg on which to hang something? 4 If the vine is thrown into the fire for fuel, and the fire burns up both ends and ·starts to burn [chars] the middle, is it useful for anything? 5 [L Look; T Behold] When the vine was whole, it couldn’t be made into anything. When the fire has burned it completely, ·it certainly cannot [how much less can it] be made into anything.”
6 So this is what the Lord God says: “Out of all the trees in the forest, I have given the wood of the vine as fuel for fire. In the same way I have given up the people who live in Jerusalem 7 and will ·turn [L set my face] against them. Although they came through one fire, fire will still ·destroy [consume] them. When I ·turn [L set my face] against them, you will know that I am the Lord. 8 So I will make the land ·empty [desolate], because the people have not been ·loyal [faithful], says the Lord God.”
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.