Old/New Testament
Evil Rulers to Be Judged
11 Moreover, the (A)Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the Lord’s house which faced eastward. And behold, there were twenty-five men at the entrance of the gate, and among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and (B)Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. 2 He said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and (C)give evil advice in this city, 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. [a]This (D)city is the pot and we are the flesh.’ 4 Therefore, (E)prophesy against them, son of man, prophesy!”
5 Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord, “So you think, house of Israel, for (F)I know [b]your (G)thoughts. 6 You have (H)multiplied your slain in this city, filling its streets with [c]them.” 7 Therefore, thus says the Lord [d]God, “Your (I)slain whom you have laid in the midst of [e]the city are the flesh and this city is the pot; but [f]I will (J)bring you out of it. 8 You have (K)feared a sword; so I will (L)bring a sword upon you,” the Lord God declares. 9 “And I will bring you out of the midst of [g]the city and deliver you into the hands of (M)strangers and (N)execute judgments against you. 10 You will (O)fall by the sword. I will judge you to the (P)border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the Lord. 11 This city will (Q)not be a pot for you, nor will you be flesh in the midst of it, but I will judge you to the border of Israel. 12 Thus you will know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you (R)executed My ordinances, but have acted according to the ordinances of the (S)nations around you.”’”
13 Now it came about as I prophesied, that (T)Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “(U)Alas, Lord God! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”
Promise of Restoration
14 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15 “Son of man, your brothers, your [h]relatives, [i]your fellow exiles and the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far from the Lord; this land has been given (V)us as a possession.’ 16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Though I had removed them far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a (W)sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where they had gone.”’ 17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will (X)gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”’ 18 When they come there, they will (Y)remove all its (Z)detestable things and all its abominations from it. 19 And I will (AA)give them one heart, and put a new spirit within [j]them. And I will take the (AB)heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a (AC)heart of flesh, 20 that they may (AD)walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be (AE)My people, and I shall be their God. 21 [k]But as for those whose hearts go after their (AF)detestable things and abominations, I will (AG)bring their conduct down on their heads,” declares the Lord God.
22 Then the cherubim (AH)lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and (AI)the glory of the God of Israel [l]hovered over them. 23 The (AJ)glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and (AK)stood over the mountain which is east of the city. 24 And the (AL)Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles [m]in Chaldea. So the vision that I had seen [n](AM)left me. 25 Then I (AN)told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me.
Ezekiel Prepares for Exile
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, you live in the (AO)midst of the (AP)rebellious house, who (AQ)have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. (AR)Perhaps they will [o]understand though they are a rebellious house. 4 Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out (AS)at evening in their sight, as those going into exile. 5 Dig a hole through the wall in their sight and [p]go out through it. 6 Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall (AT)cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a (AU)sign to the house of Israel.”
7 I (AV)did so, as I had been commanded. By day I (AW)brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the dark and carried the baggage on my shoulder in their sight.
8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the (AX)rebellious house, said to you, ‘(AY)What are you doing?’ 10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord [q]God, “This [r](AZ)burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are [s]in it.”’ 11 Say, ‘I am [t]a (BA)sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will (BB)go into exile, into captivity.’ 12 The (BC)prince who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. [u]They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out. He will cover his face so that he can not see the land with his eyes. 13 I will also spread My (BD)net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will (BE)not see it, though he will die there. 14 I will (BF)scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them. 15 So they will (BG)know that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries. 16 But I will [v]spare a few of them from the (BH)sword, the famine and the pestilence that they may tell all their abominations among the nations where they go, and [w]may (BI)know that I am the Lord.”
17 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, 18 “Son of man, (BJ)eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. 19 Then say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because [x]their land will be [y](BK)stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it. 20 The inhabited (BL)cities will be laid waste and the (BM)land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the Lord.”’”
21 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22 “Son of man, what is this (BN)proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The (BO)days are long and every (BP)vision fails’? 23 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “(BQ)The days draw near as well as the [z]fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there will no longer be any [aa](BR)false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I the Lord will speak, and whatever (BS)word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in (BT)your days, O (BU)rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”
26 Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 “Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for (BV)many [ab]years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord God.
False Prophets Condemned
13 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the (BW)prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own [ac]inspiration, ‘(BX)Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 Thus says the Lord [ad]God, “Woe to the (BY)foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have (BZ)seen nothing. 4 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. 5 You have not (CA)gone up into the (CB)breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the (CC)day of the Lord. 6 They see [ae](CD)falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; (CE)yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. 7 (CF)Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’”
8 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken [af]falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, (CG)I am against you,” declares the Lord God. 9 “So My hand will be against the (CH)prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will [ag]have no place in the council of My people, (CI)nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, [ah]that you may know that I am the Lord God. 10 It is definitely because they have (CJ)misled My people by saying, ‘(CK)Peace!’ when there is (CL)no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; 11 so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A (CM)flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out. 12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?’” 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and (CN)hailstones to consume it in wrath. 14 So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and bring it down to the ground, so that its (CO)foundation is laid bare; and when it falls, you will be (CP)consumed in its midst. And you will (CQ)know that I am the Lord. 15 Thus I will spend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, ‘The wall [ai]is gone and its plasterers are gone, 16 along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who (CR)see visions of peace for her when there is (CS)no peace,’ declares the Lord God.
17 “Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are (CT)prophesying (CU)from their own [aj]inspiration. Prophesy against them 18 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on [ak]all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to (CV)hunt down [al]lives! Will you hunt down the [am]lives of My people, but preserve the [an]lives of others for yourselves? 19 (CW)For handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned Me to My people to put to death [ao]some who should not die and to (CX)keep [ap]others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”’”
20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against your magic bands by which you hunt [aq]lives there as [ar]birds and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let [as]them go, even those [at]lives whom you hunt as [au]birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and (CY)deliver My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your hands to be hunted; and you will know that I am the Lord. 22 Because you (CZ)disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have [av](DA)encouraged the wicked not to (DB)turn from his wicked way and preserve his life, 23 therefore, you women will no longer see [aw](DC)false visions or practice divination, and I will (DD)deliver My people out of your hand. Thus you will (DE)know that I am the Lord.”
Testing Your Faith
1 [a](A)James, a (B)bond-servant of God and (C)of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To (D)the twelve tribes who are [b](E)dispersed abroad: (F)Greetings.
2 (G)Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter (H)various [c]trials, 3 knowing that (I)the testing of your (J)faith produces [d](K)endurance. 4 And let [e](L)endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g](M)perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you (N)lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and (O)it will be given to him. 6 But he must (P)ask in faith (Q)without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, (R)driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a [i](S)double-minded man, (T)unstable in all his ways.
9 (U)But the [j]brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because (V)like [k]flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with [l](W)a scorching wind and (X)withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
12 (Y)Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [m]been approved, he will receive (Z)the crown of life which the Lord (AA)has promised to those who (AB)love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “(AC)I am being tempted [n]by God”; for God cannot be tempted [o]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then (AD)when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when (AE)sin [p]is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 (AF)Do not be [q]deceived, (AG)my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is (AH)from above, coming down from (AI)the Father of lights, (AJ)with whom there is no variation or [r]shifting shadow. 18 In the exercise of (AK)His will He (AL)brought us forth by (AM)the word of truth, so that we would be [s]a kind of (AN)first fruits [t]among His creatures.
19 [u]This (AO)you know, (AP)my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, (AQ)slow to speak and (AR)slow to anger; 20 for (AS)the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, (AT)putting aside all filthiness and all [v]that remains of wickedness, in [w]humility receive (AU)the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 (AV)But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his [x]natural face (AW)in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [y]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, (AX)the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but [z]an effectual doer, this man will be (AY)blessed in [aa]what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not [ab](AZ)bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion (BA)in the sight of our God and Father is this: to (BB)visit (BC)orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [ac]by (BD)the world.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.