Old/New Testament
Israel Has Refused God
20 It was the seventh year [C since Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month [C August 14, 591 bc]. Some of the elders of Israel came to ask about the Lord and sat down in front of me.
2 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 3 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], speak to the elders of Israel and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ·ask me questions [inquire of/consult me]? As surely as I live, I will not let you ·ask me questions [inquire of/consult me].’
4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, ·human [T son of man; 2:1]? Let them know the ·hateful [detestable; abominable] things their ·ancestors [fathers] did. 5 Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·When [L On the day when] I chose Israel, I ·made a promise [L lifted my hand] to the ·descendants [offspring; seed] of Jacob. I made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, and I ·promised them [L lifted my hand to them, saying], “I am the Lord your God.” 6 ·At that time [On that day] I ·promised them I would [L lifted my hand to them to] bring them out of Egypt into a land I had ·found [searched out] for them, a ·fertile land [land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8], the ·best [most beautiful] land in the world. 7 I said to them, “Each one of you must throw away the ·hateful idols [detestable/abominable things] you have ·seen and liked [L set your eyes on]. Don’t ·make yourselves unclean [defile yourselves] with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
8 “‘But they ·turned [rebelled] against me and refused to listen to me. They did not throw away the ·hateful idols [detestable/abominable things] which they ·saw and liked [L set your eyes on]; they did not give up the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them while they were still in Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] in ·full view [L the eyes] of the nations where the Israelites lived. I made myself known to ·the Israelites [L them] by bringing them out of Egypt ·while the nations were watching [before their eyes]. 10 So I took them out of Egypt and brought them into the ·desert [wilderness]. 11 I gave them my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and told them about my ·laws [judgments], by which people will live if they ·obey [do; practice] them. 12 I also gave them my Sabbaths [Ex. 20:8–11; Deut. 5:12–15] to be a sign [Ex. 31:13] between us so they would know that I am the Lord who ·made them holy [sanctified them; set them apart].
13 “‘But in the ·desert [wilderness] ·Israel [L the house of Israel] ·turned [rebelled] against me. They did not follow my ·rules [statutes], and they rejected my ·laws [rules; judgments], by which people will live if they obey them. They ·dishonored [desecrated; profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out my ·anger [wrath] against them and destroy them in the ·desert [wilderness]. 14 But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] in ·full view [L the eyes] of the nations ·who watched as [before whose eyes] I had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. 15 And in the ·desert [wilderness] I ·swore [L lifted my hand] to the Israelites that I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It is a ·fertile land [land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8], the ·best [most beautiful] land in the world. 16 This was because they rejected my ·laws [judgments] and did not ·follow [L walk in] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. They ·dishonored [desecrated; profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths and ·wanted to worship [L their hearts went after] their idols. 17 But I ·had pity on [or spared] them. I did not destroy them or put an end to them in the ·desert [wilderness]. 18 I said to their children in the ·desert [wilderness], “Don’t ·live by [L walk in] the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] of your ·parents [fathers], or obey their ·laws [judgments]. Don’t ·make yourselves unclean [defile yourselves] with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. ·Live by [L Walk in] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements], obey my ·laws [judgments], and follow them. 20 Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you [Ex. 31:13]. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
21 “‘But the children turned against me. They did not ·live by [walk in] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements], nor were they careful to obey my ·laws [judgments], by which people will live if they obey them. They ·dishonored [desecrated; profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my anger and ·rage [L vent/exhaust my rage] against them in the ·desert [wilderness]. 22 But I ·held back my anger [L withdrew my hand]. I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] in ·full view [L the eyes] of the nations ·who watched as [L before whose eyes] I brought the Israelites out. 23 And in the ·desert [wilderness] I swore to the Israelites that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them among the ·countries [lands], 24 because they had not obeyed my ·laws [judgments]. They had rejected my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths and ·worshiped [L set their eyes on] the idols of their ·parents [fathers]. 25 I also allowed them to follow ·rules [statutes] that were not good and ·laws [judgments] by which they could not live. 26 I ·let the Israelites make themselves unclean [L defiled them; C ritually] by the gifts they brought to their gods when they sacrificed their first children in the fire [16:20–21]. I wanted to ·terrify [or devastate] them so they would know that I am the Lord.’
27 “So, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], speak to the ·people [L house] of Israel. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Your ·ancestors [fathers] ·spoke against [blasphemed] me by being unfaithful to me in another way. 28 When I had brought them into the land I ·promised [L lifted my hand] to give them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they offered their sacrifices to gods. They brought offerings that ·made me angry [provoked my anger] and burned their incense and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place where you go to worship?’” (It is still called ·High Place [L Bamah] today.)
30 “So say to the ·people [L house] of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you going to ·make yourselves unclean [defile yourselves; C ritually] as your ·ancestors [fathers] did? Are you going to ·be unfaithful and desire [prostitute yourselves with] their ·hateful idols [detestable/abominable things]? 31 When you offer your children as gifts and sacrifice them in the fire, you ·are making yourselves unclean [defile yourselves; C ritually] with all your idols even today. So, ·people [L house] of Israel, should I let you ·ask me questions [consult with me]? As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will not ·accept questions from you [let you seek/inquire of me].
32 “‘What you ·want [or plan] will not come true. You say, “We want to be like the other nations, like the ·people [clans; families] in other lands. We want to worship ·idols made of wood and stone [L wood and stone].” 33 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, ·I will use my great power and strength and anger to [L with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm I will; Deut. 4:34; 5:15] ·rule [be king] over you. 34 I will bring you out from the foreign nations. With ·my great power and strength [L a mighty hand and an outstretched arm] and anger I will gather you from the lands where you are scattered. 35 I will bring you into the ·desert [wilderness] of the ·peoples [nations]. There I will judge you face to face. 36 I will judge you the same way I judged your ·ancestors [fathers] in the ·desert [wilderness] of the land of Egypt, says the Lord God. 37 I will ·count you like sheep [L make you pass under the rod/shepherd’s staff; Lev. 27:32] and will bring you into ·line with [L the bond of] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty]. 38 I will ·get rid of [purge out] those who ·refuse to obey me [revolt] and ·who turn [rebel] against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are now living, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “‘This is what the Lord God says: ·People [L House] of Israel, go serve your idols for now. ·But later you will [or …if you will not] listen to me; you will not continue to ·dishonor [profane; C ritually] my holy name with your gifts and ·gods [idols]. 40 [L For] On my holy mountain [C Mount Zion; Ps. 2:6; 3:4; 15:1], the high mountain of Israel, all [L the house of] Israel will serve me in the land, says the Lord God. There I will accept you. There I will ·expect [require] your ·offerings [contributions], ·the first harvest of your offerings [or your choicest gifts], and all your holy gifts. 41 I will accept you like ·the pleasing smell of sacrifices [a pleasing aroma; a fragrant incense; Ps. 141:2] when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the lands where you are scattered. Then through you I will ·show how holy I am [manifest/display my holiness] ·so the nations will see [L in the eyes/sight of the nations]. 42 When I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I ·promised [swore to] your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord. 43 There you will remember ·everything you did [L your ways and deeds] that ·made you unclean [defiled you; C ritually], and then you will ·hate [despise; loathe] yourselves for all the evil things you have done. 44 I will deal with you for the sake of my name, not because of your evil ways or ·unclean [corrupt] actions. Then you will know I am the Lord, ·people [L house] of Israel, says the Lord God.’”
Babylon, the Lord’s Sword
45 Now the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 46 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], ·look [L set your face] toward the south. Prophesy against the south and against the ·forest [or shrubland] of the ·southern area [L Negev]. 47 Say to that ·forest [or shrubland]: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: I am ready to start a fire in you that will destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The flames that burn will not be put out. Every face from south to north will ·feel their heat [or be scorched by it]. 48 Then all ·the people [L flesh] will see that I, the Lord, have ·started the fire [kindled it]. It will not be ·put out [extinguished].’”
49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! The people are saying about me, ‘·He is only [L Isn’t he just…?] telling ·stories [parables].’”
21 Then the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], ·look [L set your face] toward Jerusalem and speak against the ·holy place [sanctuary]. Prophesy against the land of Israel. 3 Say to Israel: ‘This is what the Lord says: [L Look; T Behold] I am against you. I will pull my sword out of its ·holder [sheath], and I will cut off from you both the wicked and ·those who do right [the righteous]. 4 Because I am going to cut off the wicked and ·those who do right [the righteous], my sword will ·come out from its holder [be unsheathed] and attack all ·people [L flesh] from south to north. 5 Then all people will know that I, the Lord, have pulled my sword out from its ·holder [sheath]. My sword will not go back in again.’
6 “So, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], groan with breaking heart and ·great sadness [bitter grief]. Groan ·in front of the people [L before their eyes]. 7 When they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you will say, ‘Because of what I have heard is going to happen. When it happens, every heart will melt with fear, and all hands will become ·weak [limp; feeble]. ·Everyone [L Every spirit] will ·be afraid [faint]; all knees will ·become weak as water [or be wet with urine]. ·Look [T Behold], it is coming, and it will happen, says the Lord God.’”
8 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 9 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says:
A sword, a sword,
sharpened and polished.
10 It is sharpened for the ·killing [slaughter].
It is polished to flash like lightning.
“‘·You are not happy [or Should you rejoice…?] ·about this horrible punishment by the sword [L in the scepter of my son]. ·But my son Judah, you did not change when you were only beaten with a rod [L The sword despises every stick].
11 The sword ·should [L is appointed to] be polished.
It is meant to be ·held [grasped] in the hand.
It is sharpened and polished,
ready for the hand of a ·killer [slayer].
12 Shout and ·yell [wail], ·human [T son of man; 2:1],
because the sword is meant for my people,
for all the ·rulers [princes] of Israel.
They ·will be killed by [L are thrown to] the sword,
along with my people.
So beat your chest [C a sign of grief or sadness].
13 “‘The test will come. ·And [L What if…?] the scepter [C symbolizing Judah; Gen. 49:10], who is hated by the sword [C representing the armies of Babylon], will not last, says the Lord God.’
14 “So, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], prophesy
and ·clap [strike together] your hands [C a sign of scorn].
Let the sword strike
two or three times.
It is a sword meant for ·killing [slaughter],
a sword meant for ·much killing [great slaughter].
This sword ·surrounds [or closes in on] ·the people to be killed [L them].
15 Their hearts will ·melt with fear [L melt],
and many people will ·die [stumble; fall].
I have placed the ·killing sword [sword for slaughter]
at all their city gates.
Oh! The sword is made to flash like lightning.
It is ·held [drawn], ready for killing.
16 Sword, ·cut [slash; cut sharp] on the right side;
then ·cut on [swing; L put to] the left side.
Cut anywhere your ·blade [or face] is turned.
17 I will also clap my hands [v. 14; C a sign of scorn]
and ·use up [satisfy; exhaust] my ·anger [wrath].
I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Jerusalem to Be Destroyed
18 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 19 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can follow. Both of these roads will start from the same country. And make signs where the road divides and one way goes toward the city. 20 Mark one sign to show the road ·he can take with his sword [L for the sword to come] to Rabbah in the land of the Ammonites. Mark the other sign to show the road to Judah and Jerusalem, which is protected with strong walls [C moving south from Syria, the roads branch east and west of the Jordan River]. 21 The king of Babylon has come to where the road divides, and he is using ·magic [divination]. He ·throws lots with [L shakes] arrows and ·asks questions of his family idols [L consults the teraphim]. He looks at the ·liver of a sacrificed animal [L liver; C methods of divination, used here to determine which road to take]. 22 The lot in his right hand tells him to go to Jerusalem. It tells him to use ·logs to break down the city gates [battering rams], to shout the battle cry and give the ·order to kill [command for slaughter], and to build ·a dirt road to the top of the walls [siege ramps] and ·devices to attack the walls [siege walls]. 23 The people of Jerusalem will think this ·prediction is wrong [is a false omen/divination] because of their ·agreement with Babylon [or treaty with other nations; or covenant with God; L sworn oaths/allegiance] But ·the king of Babylon will remind them of their rebellion [or the siege will remind them of their guilt] and they will be captured.
24 “So this is what the Lord God says: ‘You have ·shown how sinful you are [L caused your guilt to be remembered] by ·turning against the Lord [L uncovering your trangressions]. Your sins are ·seen [revealed] in all the things you do. Because of this proof against you, you will be taken captive by the enemy.
25 “‘You ·unclean [profane; C ritually] and evil ·leader [prince] of Israel, ·you will be killed [L whose day has come]! The time of your final punishment has come. 26 This is what the Lord God says: Take off the royal turban, and remove the crown. Things will change. ·Those who are unimportant now will be made important [The lowly will be exalted], and ·those who are important now will be made unimportant [the exalted will be made lowly]. 27 A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! ·This place will not be rebuilt [or The kingdom will not be restored] until the one comes ·who has a right to be king [to whom judgment belongs; Gen. 49:10]. Then I will give ·him that right [it to him].’
The Punishment of Ammon
28 “And you, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people of Ammon and their ·insults [mockery; or humiliation]:
A sword, a sword
is ·pulled out of its holder [drawn] ·to kill [for slaughter].
It is polished to ·destroy [consume],
to flash like lightning!
29 ·Prophets [L They] see false visions about you
and ·prophesy lies [false divinations] about you.
The sword will be put on the necks
of these ·unclean [profane; C ritually] and ·evil [wicked] people.
Their ·day of judging [L day] has come;
the time of final punishment has come.
30 Put the sword back in its ·holder [sheath].
I will judge you
in the place where you were created,
in the land where you were born.
31 I will pour out my anger against you
and ·blast you with [breathe/blow out] the fire of my anger.
I will hand you over to ·cruel [brutal] men,
experts in destruction.
32 You will be fuel for the fire;
·you will die in [L your blood will be in the midst of] the land.
You will not be remembered,
because I, the Lord, have spoken.’”
A Warning to the Rich
5 You rich people, ·listen [L Come now; 4:13]! Cry [Weep] and be very sad because of the ·troubles [miseries] that are coming to you. 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have been eaten by moths. 3 Your gold and silver have ·rusted [corroded], and that ·rust [corrosion] will be a ·proof that you were wrong [L witness/testimony/evidence against you]. It will eat your ·bodies [flesh] like fire. You ·saved [hoarded; stored up] your treasure ·for [or in] the last days [C just before judgment day, when such treasures will be useless]. 4 [L Listen; T Behold] The ·pay [wages] you ·did not give [defrauded from] the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you [Lev. 19:13; Deut. 24:14–15], and the cries of the ·workers [L harvesters] have ·been heard by [L reached the ears of] the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Hosts/Armies; L Sabaoth; C God’s warrior name referring to the angelic army]. 5 Your life on earth was full of ·rich living [luxury] and ·pleasing yourselves with everything you wanted [pleasure; self-indulgence]. You made ·yourselves [L your hearts] fat, ·like an animal ready to be killed [in/for a day of slaughter; C a farm animal gorging itself, unaware it is being fattened for slaughter]. 6 You have ·judged guilty [condemned] and then murdered innocent people, who ·were not against [did not resist/oppose] you.
Be Patient
7 [L Therefore] Brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], be patient until the Lord comes again. [L See; T Behold,] A farmer patiently waits for his ·valuable [precious] ·crop [fruit] to grow from the earth and for it to receive the ·autumn and spring [L early and late] rains [Deut. 11:14]. 8 You, too, must be patient. ·Do not give up hope [L Strengthen your hearts], because ·the Lord is coming soon [L the Lord’s coming draws near/is at hand]. 9 Brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], do not ·complain [grumble] against each other or you will be judged guilty [Matt. 7:1]. ·And [L Look; T Behold] the Judge is ·ready to come [L standing at the door]! 10 Brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], follow the example of the prophets who spoke ·for [L in the name of] the Lord. They suffered many hard things, but they ·were patient [endured]. 11 [L Look; or Indeed] ·We say they are happy [or We consider them blessed] because they ·did not give up [endured; persevered]. You have heard about Job’s ·patience [or endurance; perseverance], and you know the Lord’s purpose for him in the end. You know the Lord is full of mercy and is ·kind [compassionate].
Be Careful What You Say
12 My brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], above all, do not ·use an oath when you make a promise [swear; take a vow]. Don’t use the name of heaven, earth, or anything else to prove what you say. ·When you mean yes, say only yes, and when you mean no, say only no [T Let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no; Matt. 5:33–37] so you will not be ·judged guilty [condemned].
The Power of Prayer
13 Anyone who is ·having troubles [suffering] should pray. Anyone who is ·happy [joyful] should ·sing praises [sing psalms]. 14 Anyone who is sick should call the church’s elders. They should pray for and ·pour oil on the person [L anoint that person with olive oil; C anointing probably indicates dedicating or setting aside the person to God’s care; Mark 6:13] in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer that is said with faith will ·make the sick person well [save the sick; C the same Greek word is commonly used for both physical healing and spiritual salvation]; the Lord will ·heal [L raise up] that person [1 Cor. 12:9, 28]. And if the person has sinned, the sins will be forgiven. 16 [L Therefore,] Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so God can heal you. ·When a believing person prays, great things happen [L The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective]. 17 Elijah was a human being just like us. He prayed [earnestly; L with prayer] that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years! 18 Then Elijah prayed again, and ·the rain came down from the sky [or heaven gave rain], and the land produced crops again [1 Kin. 17—18].
Saving a Soul
19 My brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], if one of you ·wanders away [strays] from the truth, and someone helps that person come back, 20 ·remember [L know] this: Anyone who brings a sinner back from the ·wrong way [L error/wandering of his ways] will save that sinner’s soul from death and will ·cause many sins to be forgiven [L cover a multitude of sins].
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