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Ezekiel 1

Ezekiel Sees the LORD ’s Throne

1On the fifth day of the fourth month in the thirtieth year, while I was living among the exiles by the Chebar River, the sky opened, and I saw visions from God. 2On the fifth day of the month, during the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiakin, 3the Lord spoke his word to the priest Ezekiel, son of Buzi, in Babylon by the Chebar River. The power of the Lord came over Ezekiel.

4As I looked, I saw a storm coming from the north. There was an immense cloud with flashing lightning surrounded by a bright light. The middle of the lightning looked like glowing metal. 5In the center of the cloud I saw what looked like four living creatures. They were shaped like humans, 6but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7Their legs were straight, their feet were like those of calves, and they glittered like polished bronze. 8They had human hands under their wings on each of their four sides. All four of them had faces and wings. 9Their wings touched each other. The creatures went straight ahead, and they did not turn as they moved.

10Their faces looked like this: From the front, each creature had the face of a human. From the right, each one had the face of a lion. From the left, each one had the face of a bull. And from the back, each one had the face of an eagle. 11That is what their faces looked like. Their wings were spread out, pointing upward. Each creature had two wings with which they touched each other. The other two wings covered their bodies. 12Each of the creatures went straight ahead. They went wherever their spirit wanted to go, and they didn’t turn as they moved. 13The living creatures looked like burning coals and torches. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures. The fire was bright, and lightning came out of the fire. 14The living creatures ran back and forth like lightning.

15As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each of them. 16This is how the wheels looked and how they were made: They looked like beryl. All four wheels looked the same. They looked like a wheel within a wheel. 17Whenever they moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. 18The rims of the wheels were large and frightening. They were covered with eyes.

19When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them. When the living creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose. 20Wherever their spirit wanted to go, the creatures went. The wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 21So whenever the creatures moved, the wheels moved. Whenever the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still. And whenever the creatures rose from the earth, the wheels rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

22Something like a dome was spread over the heads of the living creatures. It looked like dazzling crystal. 23Under the dome, each creature had two wings that were stretched out straight, touching one another. Each creature had two wings that covered its body. 24When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings. The sound was like the noise of rushing water, like the thunder of the Almighty, like the commotion in an army camp. When the creatures stood still, they lowered their wings.

25A voice came from above the dome over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered. 26Above the dome over their heads was something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. On the throne was a figure that looked like a human. 27Then I saw what he looked like from the waist up. He looked like glowing bronze with fire all around it. From the waist down, he looked like fire. A bright light surrounded him. 28The brightness all around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds. It was like the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I immediately bowed down, and I heard someone speaking.

Ezekiel 2

Ezekiel’s Vision of a Scroll

1He said to me, “Son of man, stand up, and I will speak to you.” 2As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me, stood me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.

3He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They are people from a nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have rebelled against me to this day. 4I am sending you to these defiant and stubborn children. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says.’ 5Whether these rebellious people listen or not, they will realize that a prophet has been among them. 6Son of man, don’t be afraid of them or the things they say. Don’t be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Don’t let the things they say frighten you. Don’t be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people. 7Speak my words to them whether they listen or not, because they are rebellious. 8But you, son of man, listen to what I say. Don’t be rebellious like those rebellious people. Open your mouth, and eat what I am giving to you.”

9As I looked, I saw a hand stretched out toward me. In it was a scroll. 10He spread the scroll in front of me. There was writing on the front and back. There were funeral songs, songs of mourning, and horrible things written on it.

Ezekiel 3

1The Lord said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll. Then speak to the people of Israel.” 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I’m giving you, and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.

4He said to me, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel, and speak my words to them. 5I am not sending you to people whose language is hard to understand or difficult to speak. I am sending you to Israel. 6I am not sending you to nations whose language is hard to understand, difficult to speak, or whose words you cannot understand. If I send you to those nations, they will certainly listen to you. 7But the people of Israel will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to me. All the people of Israel are very stubborn and hardheaded. 8Yet, I will make you as stubborn and as hardheaded as they are. 9I will make you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people.”

10He also said to me, “Son of man, take to heart everything I have spoken to you, and listen closely. 11Go to the exiles, to your people. Whether they listen or not, tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says.’ ”

12Then the Spirit lifted me, and behind me I heard a loud thundering voice say, “Blessed is the Lord’s glory, which left this place.” 13I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures touching one another and the noise of the wheels beside them as well as a loud rumbling. 14Then the Spirit lifted me and took me away. I went away feeling bitter and angry. The strong power of the Lord came over me. 15I went to Tel Abib, to the exiles who lived by the Chebar River. I sat there among them for seven days. I was stunned.

Ezekiel Is Appointed to Be a Watchman

16After seven days the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the people of Israel. Listen to what I say, and warn them for me. 18Suppose I tell you that wicked people will surely die, but you don’t warn them or speak out so that they can change their wicked ways in order to save their lives. Then these wicked people will die because of their sin, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 19But suppose you warn the wicked people, and they don’t turn from their wicked ways. Then they will die because of their sin, but you will save yourself. 20If righteous people turn from living the right way and do wrong, I will make them stumble, and they will die. If you don’t warn them, they will die because of their sin, and the right things they did will not be remembered. I will hold you responsible for their deaths. 21But if you warn righteous people not to sin, and they don’t sin, they will certainly live because they listened to the warning. You will save yourself.”

The LORD Gives Ezekiel Directions to Follow

22The power of the Lord came over me. He said, “Get up, and go to the plain. I will speak to you there.” 23I got up and went to the plain. The Lord’s glory was standing there like the glory I saw by the Chebar River, and I immediately bowed down.

24Then the Spirit entered me and stood me on my feet. He talked to me. He said, “Go into your home, and shut yourself inside. 25People will tie you up with ropes, son of man, so that you can’t go outside. 26I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you can’t talk or criticize them, even though they are rebellious people. 27But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth. You will tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says.’ Some will listen, and some will refuse to listen. They are rebellious people.”

Ezekiel 4

Ezekiel Plays Out the Blockade of Jerusalem

1⌞The Lord said,⌟ “Son of man, take clay, put it in front of you, and draw a map of Jerusalem on it. 2Set up a blockade against it, build attack walls around it, put up dirt ramps around it, have troops ready to attack it, and place battering rams all around it. 3Then take an iron pan, and set it up as a wall between you and the city. Turn your face toward the city as if you were going to attack it, and then attack it. This is a sign for the people of Israel.

4“Then lie on your left side and take the punishment of the nation of Israel yourself. You will bear its punishment as many days as you lie on that side. 5I have assigned to you one day for each year its punishment will last. So for 390 days, you will bear the punishment for the sins of the nation of Israel. 6When you finish this, you will lie down again, this time on your right side. You will bear the punishment for the sins of the nation of Judah for 40 days, one day for each year I have assigned to you. 7Turn your face toward the blockaded Jerusalem. Shake your fist and prophesy against it. 8I will tie you up with ropes so that you will not be able to turn from one side to the other until you have finished attacking ⌞Jerusalem⌟.

9“Then take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and winter wheat. Put them in a container, and use them to make bread for yourself. Eat it during the 390 days that you are lying on your side. 10The food that you eat should be weighed. Eat eight ounces of food every day at set times. 11Measure out two-thirds of a quart of water, and drink it at set times. 12Eat the bread as you would eat barley loaves. Bake the bread in front of people, using human excrement for fuel.”

13Then the Lord said, “In the same way, the people of Israel will eat unclean  (“Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.) bread among the nations where I scatter them.”

14I answered, “Almighty Lord, I have never dishonored myself. From the time I was young until now, I have never eaten an animal that died by itself or was killed by other wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth.”

15He said to me, “I will let you use cow manure in place of human excrement. Bake your bread over it.”

16He also said to me, “Son of man, I am going to cut off the bread supply in Jerusalem. People will anxiously eat rationed bread and fearfully drink rationed water. 17They will be shocked at the sight of each other because of the lack of food and water. They will waste away because of their sin.”

Ezekiel 5

The LORD Tells Ezekiel about the Fall of Jerusalem

1⌞The Lord said,⌟ “Son of man, take a sharp blade, and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and beard. Take scales to weigh your hair and divide it ⌞into three even parts⌟. 2When the blockade is over, burn one-third of your hair in a fire in the middle of the city. Take another third, and cut it up with a blade around the city. Then scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will draw a sword and go after it. 3Take a few strands of hair, and wrap them in the hem of your clothes. 4Later, take some of them, and throw them in a fire and burn them up. From there a fire will spread throughout the whole nation of Israel.

5“This is what the Almighty Lord says: This is Jerusalem! I have placed it in the center of the nations with countries all around it. 6The people of Jerusalem have rebelled against my rules and my laws more than the surrounding nations. They have rejected my rules, and they don’t live by my laws.

7“So this is what the Almighty Lord says: ⌞People of Jerusalem,⌟ you have caused more trouble than the nations around you. You haven’t lived by my laws or obeyed my rules. You haven’t even lived up to the standards of the nations around you.

8“So this is what the Almighty Lord says: I, too, am against you, and I will punish you in front of the nations. 9Because of all the detestable things that you do, I will do things to you that I have never done before and will never do again. 10That is why parents will eat their children, and children will eat their parents. I will punish you and scatter whoever is left to the wind.

11“As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, because you have dishonored my holy worship place with all your disgusting and detestable things, I will have you killed. I will not have compassion for you or feel sorry for you. 12One-third of you will die in plagues and be devoured in famines. Another third will die in battles against those around you. I will scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will pursue them with a sword.

13“I will unleash my anger. I will use my fury against you, and I will get revenge. When my fury is unleashed against you, you will know that I, the Lord, spoke to you while I was angry. 14I will turn you into a wasteland and an object of ridicule among the nations around you and in the presence of everyone who passes by you. 15The nations that are around you will ridicule you and laugh at you. When I punish you because of my anger, fury, and fierce revenge, you will become something ridiculed and something horrible. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16When I shoot my destructive arrows of famine at you, I will shoot to kill you. I will bring more and more famines into your land, and I will cut off your food supply. 17I will send famines and wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children. I will send plagues, violence, and wars to kill you. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Ezekiel 6

A Prophecy against the Mountains of Israel

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, look toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them. 3Say this, ‘You mountains of Israel, listen to the Almighty Lord’s word! This is what the Almighty Lord says to the mountains and hills and to the ravines and valleys: I am going to attack you with a sword and destroy your worship sites. 4Your altars will be destroyed, and your incense burners will be smashed. I will kill people in front of your idols. 5I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel in front of your idols, and I will scatter their bones around your altars. 6Wherever people live, the cities will be ruined, and the worship sites will be wrecked. Your altars will be ruined and demolished. Your idols will be smashed and completely destroyed. Your incense burners will be cut down, and everything you have done will be wiped out. 7People will be killed, and they will fall among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

8“ ‘But I will let some people live. Some people will escape the battle among the nations and be scattered throughout the countries. 9Then those who escape will remember me among the nations where they are taken captive. I was hurt by their adulterous hearts, which turned away from me, and by their eyes, which lusted after idols. They will hate themselves for the evil and disgusting things that they have done. 10Then you will know that I am the Lord and that the disaster I promised was not an empty threat.

11“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and say, “Oh no!” because the people of Israel have done evil and disgusting things. So they will die in wars, famines, and plagues. 12Plagues will kill those who are far away. Those who are near will die in wars, and anyone who is left and has escaped will die in famines. This is how I will unleash my anger. 13Then you will know that I am the Lord.

“ ‘Those who are killed will lie beside the idols around their altars. They will lie on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, and under every large tree and every leafy oak. These are the places where they made offerings to their disgusting idols. 14I will use my power against them and destroy the land, from the desert to Diblah. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 7

The LORD’s Judgment on Israel

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, this is what the Almighty Lord says to ⌞the people in⌟ the land of Israel: The end is coming! The end is coming to the four corners of the earth. 3Now the end is coming for you. I will send my anger against you. I will judge you for the way you have lived, and I will punish you for all the detestable things that you have done. 4I will not have compassion for you or feel sorry for you. I will pay you back for the way you have lived and for the detestable things you have done. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

5“This is what the Almighty Lord says: One disaster after another is coming. 6The end is coming. The end is coming. It is stirring itself up against you. It is coming! 7Destruction is coming to you, inhabitants of the land. The time is coming. The day is near. There will be confusion. There will be no joy in the mountains. 8Soon I will pour out my fury on you and unleash my anger on you. I will judge you for the way you have lived, and I will punish you for all the detestable things that you have done. 9I will not have compassion or feel sorry. I will pay you back for the way you have lived and for the detestable things that you are still doing. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am the one attacking ⌞you⌟.

10“The day is near! It is coming! Destruction is coming! Wrongdoing has blossomed. Arrogance has flourished. 11Violence has grown into a weapon for punishing wickedness. None of the people will be left. None of that crowd, none of their wealth, and nothing of value will be left. 12The time is coming. The day is near. Buyers will not rejoice, and sellers will not mourn, because ⌞my⌟ fury will be against the whole crowd. 13Sellers will not live long enough to buy back what they have sold. The visions against that crowd will not change. Because of their sins, none of the people will live. 14They have blown a ram’s horn, and everything is ready. But no one will go into battle, because my fury is against their whole crowd.

15“Outside are swords, and inside are plagues and famines. Whoever is in a field will die in battle. Whoever is in the city will be devoured by famines and plagues. 16Those who survive will escape to the mountains. They will moan like doves in the valleys. They will moan because of their sins. 17Every hand will hang limp, and every knee will be as weak as water. 18They will put on sackcloth, and horror will cover them. All their faces will be covered with shame, and every head will be shaved. 19They will throw their silver and gold into the streets like garbage. Their silver and gold won’t be able to rescue them on the day of the Lord’s anger. It will no longer satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs. Their silver and gold caused them to fall into sin. 20They were proud of their beautiful jewels and used them to make disgusting and detestable statues ⌞of false gods⌟. That is why I will make their jewels disgusting. 21I will hand their jewels over to foreigners as loot and to the most evil people on earth as prizes. These foreigners will dishonor the people of Israel. 22I will turn my face away from the people of Israel, and foreigners will dishonor my treasured place. Robbers will go in and dishonor it.

23“Get the chains ready! The land is filled with murder, and the city is filled with violence. 24So I will send the most evil nation, and it will take possession of people’s houses. I will stop those who are strong from feeling proud, and their holy places will be dishonored. 25Anguish is coming. People will look for peace, but there will be none. 26One disaster will happen after another. One rumor will follow another. People will ask for a vision from a prophet. The teachings of priests and the advice of leaders will disappear. 27Kings will mourn, and princes will give up hope. The common people will lose their courage. I will give them what they deserve and judge them as they have judged others. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 8

Idolatry in Jerusalem

1On the fifth day of the sixth month in the sixth year, I was sitting in my home. Judah’s leaders were sitting in front of me. The power of the Almighty Lord came over me. 2As I looked, I saw something that looked like a human. From the waist down its body looked like fire, and from the waist up its body looked like glowing metal. 3It stretched out what looked like a hand and grabbed me by the hair on my head. In these visions from God, the Spirit carried me between heaven and earth. He took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner courtyard of the temple. That was where an idol that stirs up ⌞God’s⌟ anger was located. 4There I saw the glory of Israel’s God as I did in the vision that I saw in the valley.

5God said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked toward the north, and there in the entrance to the north gate beside the altar, I saw the idol that stirs up ⌞God’s⌟ anger.

6He asked me, “Son of man, do you see what the people of Israel are doing? The people of Israel are doing very disgusting things here, things that will force me to go far away from my holy place. But you will see even more disgusting things.”

7Then he took me to the entrance of the courtyard. As I looked, I saw a hole in the wall. 8He said to me, “Son of man, dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall, and I saw a door.

9He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked, disgusting things that the people of Israel are doing here.” 10So I went in and looked. I saw that the walls were covered with drawings of every kind of crawling creature, every kind of disgusting animal, and all the idols in the nation of Israel. 11In front of these drawings stood 70 of Israel’s leaders. Jaazaniah, son of Shaphan, was standing with the leaders. Each of them was holding an incense burner in his hand, and a cloud of incense went up.

12God asked me, “Son of man, do you see what the leaders of the nation of Israel are doing in secret? Each of them is in the room where his god is, and each one of them is thinking, ‘The Lord doesn’t see me. The Lord has abandoned this land.’ ”

13Then he said to me, “You will see even more disgusting things that they are doing.”

14He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s temple. Women were sitting there and crying for the god Tammuz. 15He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this? You will see even more disgusting things than these.”

16Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the Lord’s temple. There at the entrance to the Lord’s temple, between the entrance and the altar, were about 25 men who had their backs turned to the Lord’s temple. They were facing east and worshiping the rising sun. 17He asked me, “Son of man, do you see this? Isn’t it bad enough that the people of Judah have done these disgusting things that you have seen here? Yet, they also fill the land with violence and continue to provoke me even more. Look how they insult me in the worst possible way. 18So I will take action because I’m angry, and I won’t have compassion for them or feel sorry for them. Even if they shout in my ears, I won’t listen to them.”

Ezekiel 9

The LORD Orders the Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

1Then I heard the Lord call out with a loud voice. He said, “Come here, those who are going to punish this city. Each of you should bring your weapon with you.” 2So six men came from the upper north gate. Each one brought a deadly weapon with him. Among them was a person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen. The men came in and stood by the bronze altar. 3Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the angels, (Or “cherubim.”) where it had been, to the temple’s entrance. The Lord called to the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen.

4The Lord said to that person, “Go throughout the city of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of those who sigh and groan about all the disgusting things that are being done in the city.”

5Then he said to the others as I was listening, “Follow him throughout the city and kill. Don’t have any compassion, and don’t feel sorry. 6Kill old men, young men, old women, young women, and children. But don’t come near anyone who has a mark on him. Start with my holy place.” So they started with the old men in front of the temple.

7He said to them, “Dishonor the temple! Fill its courtyards with dead people, and then leave.” So they went out and killed the people in the city.

8As they were killing people, I was left alone. So I immediately bowed down. I cried, “Almighty Lord, will you destroy everyone who is left in Israel while you pour out your anger on Jerusalem?”

9He answered me, “The wickedness of the nations of Israel and Judah is terrible. The land is filled with murder, and the city is filled with wrongdoing. They think that the Lord has abandoned the land and that he doesn’t see. 10But I will not have compassion or feel sorry. I will do to them what they have done to others.”

11Then the person dressed in linen who was carrying paper and pen reported, “I did everything you commanded.”

Ezekiel 10

The Glory of the LORD Leaves His Temple

1As I looked at the dome over the heads of the angels, (Or “cherubim.”) I saw something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. 2The Lord said to the person dressed in linen, “Go between the wheels under the angels, and fill your hands with burning coals. Then scatter them over the city.” So he went between the wheels as I watched.

3The angels were standing on the south side of the temple as the person went. A cloud filled the inner courtyard. 4The Lord’s glory rose from the angels to the entrance of the temple, the cloud filled the temple, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory filled the courtyard. 5The sound of the angels’ wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard. It was like the sound of the Almighty God when he speaks.

6After the Lord had commanded the person dressed in linen to take burning coals from between the wheels beside the angels, the person went in and stood beside one of the wheels. 7One of the angels reached into the fire that was between the angels and took out some coals. This angel put them in the hands of the person dressed in linen. The person took them and left.

8The angels appeared to have what looked like human hands under their wings. 9As I looked, I saw four wheels beside the angels, one wheel beside each of the angels. The wheels looked like beryl. 10All four wheels looked the same. Each was like a wheel within a wheel. 11Whenever the angels moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. They always moved in the direction they faced without turning as they moved. 12Their entire bodies, their backs, hands, wings, and wheels were covered with eyes. Each of the angels had a wheel. 13I heard that the wheels were called the whirling wheels. 14Each of the angels had four faces. The first was the face of an angel, the second was the face of a human, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.

15The angels rose. These were the living creatures that I saw at the Chebar River. 16When the angels moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the angels lifted their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels didn’t leave their side. 17When the angels stood still, the wheels stood still. When the angels rose, the wheels rose with them. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. 18Then the glory of the Lord left the temple’s entrance and stood over the angels. 19The angels lifted their wings and rose from the ground. I was watching them as they left with the wheels beside them. The angels stood at the door to the east gate of the Lord’s temple, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.

20These are the living creatures that I saw under the God of Israel at the Chebar River. I realized that they were angels. 21Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were what looked like human hands. 22Their faces looked exactly like the faces that I saw by the Chebar River. Each one went straight ahead.

Ezekiel 11

Judgment on the Rulers of Israel

1Then the Spirit lifted me and took me to the east gate of the Lord’s temple. (It’s the gate that faces east.) Twenty-five men were at the entrance of the gate. I saw among them Azzur’s son Jaazaniah and Benaiah’s son Pelatiah. They were leaders of the people.

2Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plan evil and give bad advice in this city. 3They say, ‘It’s almost time to rebuild homes. This city is a cooking pot, and we’re the meat.’ 4So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”

5The Lord’s Spirit came to me and told me to say, “This is what the Lord says: You are saying these things, nation of Israel. But I know what’s going through your mind. 6You have killed many people in this city and have filled its streets with corpses.

7“So this is what the Almighty Lord says: The corpses that you put in the middle of the city are the meat, and the city is the cooking pot. I will force you out of the city. 8You are afraid of swords, so I will bring swords to attack you, declares the Almighty Lord. 9I will force you out of the city. I will hand you over to foreigners, and I will punish you. 10You will die in battle. I will judge you at Israel’s borders. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 11The city will not be your cooking pot, and you will not be the meat in it. I will judge you at Israel’s borders. 12Then you will know that I am the Lord. You haven’t lived by my laws, and you haven’t obeyed my rules. You have followed the standards set by the nations around you.”

13While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died.

I immediately bowed down and cried out, “Almighty Lord, will you completely destroy all the remaining people in Israel?”

The LORD’s Promise to Gather Israel from the Nations

14Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 15“Son of man, the people who live in Jerusalem are talking about your own relatives and about the entire nation of Israel. The people who live in Jerusalem say, ‘They are far away from the Lord. This land has been given to us as our own property.’

16“So tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, I have been their sanctuary for a little while among the countries where they’ve gone.’

17“So tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will bring them together from the nations and gather them from the countries where I’ve scattered them. I will give them the land of Israel. 18They will come and remove all the disgusting and detestable things that are there. 19I will give them a single purpose and put a new spirit in them. I will remove their stubborn hearts and give them obedient hearts. 20Then they will live by my laws and obey my rules. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 21But as for those whose minds are set on following detestable and disgusting idols, I will pay them back for what they have done, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

The Glory of the LORD Leaves Jerusalem

22Then the angels  (Or “cherubim.”) raised their wings, with the wheels beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23The Lord’s glory left the middle of the city and stopped above the mountain east of the city.

24In this vision from God’s Spirit, the Spirit lifted me and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia. Then the vision I saw left me.

25I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.

Ezekiel 12

Ezekiel Plays Out Israel’s Exile

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear because they are rebellious people.

3“Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people. 4Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile. 5Dig a hole through the wall of your house, and leave through it. 6Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won’t see the land. I’ve made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel.”

7I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders.

8The next morning the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 9“Son of man, didn’t the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing?

10“Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.’

11“Tell them, ‘I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity. 12The prince who is among you will put his bags on his shoulders in the dark and leave. People will dig holes in the wall to go through. The prince will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. 13I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my net. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, but he will not see it. And that’s where he’ll die. 14I will scatter in every direction all those who are around him—his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword. 15Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. 16However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

17The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 18“Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.

19“Tell the people of this land, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says about the people who live in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will be worried as they eat their food and terrified as they drink their water. Their country will be stripped of everything because everyone who lives there is violent. 20The cities where people live will be destroyed, and the country will become a wasteland. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

21The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: ‘Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?

23“Tell the people, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Instead, tell them, ‘The time is near when every vision will come true. 24There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people. 25I, the Lord, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

26The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 27“Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees won’t happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.’

28“Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Everything that I say will no longer be delayed. Whatever I say will happen, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 13

False Prophets Condemned

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Tell those who make up their prophecies, ‘Listen to the Lord’s word.

3“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the foolish prophets. They follow their own ideas, and they have seen nothing. 4Israel, your prophets are like foxes among the ruins ⌞of a city⌟. 5They haven’t repaired the gaps in the wall or rebuilt the wall for the nation of Israel. So Israel will not be protected in battle on the day of the Lord. 6These foolish prophets see false visions, and their predictions don’t come true. They say, “The Lord said this.” But the Lord hasn’t sent them. Then they hope that their message will come true. 7Prophets of Israel, haven’t you seen false visions and predicted things that don’t come true? Don’t you say, “The Lord said this,” even though I haven’t said anything?

8“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your predictions are false, and your visions are lies. That is why I’m against you, declares the Almighty Lord. 9I will use my power against the prophets who see false visions and predict things that don’t come true. They will not help my people make decisions or be recorded in the records of the nation of Israel. They won’t even enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

10“ ‘They have deceived my people by saying that everything is alright, but it’s not alright. When someone builds a flimsy wall, the prophets cover it up with paint. 11Tell those who cover up the wall with paint that their wall will fall down. Rain will pour down, hailstones will fall on it, and stormy winds will break it to pieces. 12When the wall falls down, people will ask them, “Where’s the paint that you used to cover the wall?”

13“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: In my fury I’ll cause a storm to break out. In my anger rain will pour down, and hailstones will destroy the wall. 14I will tear down the wall that the prophets covered up with paint. I will level it and expose its foundation. When the wall falls, they will be destroyed by it. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 15I will unleash my fury on the wall and on those who covered it up with paint.

“ ‘Then I will say to you, “The wall is gone, and so are those who painted it. 16The prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem are gone. Those who said that everything was alright, when it wasn’t alright, are gone, declares the Almighty Lord.” ’

17“Son of man, look at the women among your people who make up prophecies, and prophesy against them.

18“Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for women who sew magic charms for people’s wrists and make magic veils of every size for people’s heads. You want to trap people. You want to control the lives of my people for your own profit. 19You dishonor me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who shouldn’t die, and you spare the lives of people who shouldn’t live. You lie to my people who are willing to listen.

20“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m against the magic charms that you use to trap people like birds. I will tear them from your arms and free the people that you have trapped. 21I will tear off your magic veils and rescue my people from your power so that they will no longer be under your control. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I hadn’t brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives. 23That is why you will no longer see false visions or make predictions. I will rescue my people from your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 14

Idolaters Condemned

1Some of Israel’s leaders came to me and sat down in front of me. 2Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 3“Son of man, these people are devoted to their idols, and they are allowing themselves to fall into sin. Should they be allowed to ask me for help?

4“So speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Suppose an Israelite is devoted to idols and allows himself to fall into sin. Suppose he goes to a prophet ⌞to ask for my help⌟. I, the Lord, will give that Israelite an answer, the answer that his many idols deserve. 5I will do this to recapture the hearts of the nation of Israel. They have deserted me because of their disgusting idols.’

6“So tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Change the way you think and act! Turn away from your idols, and don’t return to any of your disgusting things. 7Suppose an Israelite or a foreigner who lives in Israel deserts me by devoting himself to idols and by allowing himself to fall into sin. If he goes to a prophet to ask for my help, I, the Lord, will give him an answer. 8I will reject him, and I will make an example of him. I will exclude him from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

9“ ‘If a prophet is tricked into giving a prophecy, it is I, the Lord, who tricked the prophet. I will use my power against you and destroy you from among my people Israel. 10Both of you will suffer for your sins. The prophet will be as guilty as you are when you ask for his help. 11Then the people of Israel will no longer wander away from me. They will no longer dishonor me with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

12The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 13“Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful to me. I will use my power against it, cut off its food supply, send a famine to it, and destroy its people and animals. 14Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in that country, they would, by their righteousness, rescue only themselves,” declares the Almighty Lord.

15“Suppose I send wild animals through that country and they make it childless and turn it into such a wasteland that no one travels through it because of the animals. 16As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their own sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves. And the country would become a wasteland.

17“Suppose I bring a war against that country by saying, ‘I will let a war go throughout this country.’ Suppose I destroy the people and the animals in it. 18As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

19“Suppose I send a plague into that country or pour out my fury on it by killing people and destroying animals. 20As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could, by their righteousness, rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

21“This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will surely send four terrible punishments against Jerusalem. I will send wars, famines, wild animals, and plagues. They will destroy people and animals. 22But some people will survive. Some of your sons and daughters will be brought out. When they come out to you, you will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters that I will bring on Jerusalem, after every disaster that I will bring against it. 23You will be comforted when you see how they live. Then you will know that everything I have done was done for a reason,” declares the Almighty Lord.

Ezekiel 15

Jerusalem Is Compared to Wood from a Wild Vine

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, what good is the wood from a vine? Is it better than the wood from a tree in the forest? 3Do people use it to make something? Do they make a peg from it to hang things on? 4No! It is only thrown into the fire as fuel. The fire burns up both its ends and chars its middle. Then can it be used to make anything? 5When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn’t be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it?

6“So this is what the Almighty Lord says: As a vine is taken from among the trees in the forest to be used to feed the fire, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem to punish them. 7I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will turn against them. 8I will turn the country into a wasteland because they have been unfaithful,” declares the Almighty Lord.

Ezekiel 16

A Description of Jerusalem’s Sins

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, make known to the people of Jerusalem the disgusting things they have done. 3Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says to the people of Jerusalem: Your birthplace and your ancestors were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. 4When you were born, your umbilical cord wasn’t cut. You weren’t washed with water to make you clean. You weren’t rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloth. 5No one who saw you felt sorry enough for you to do any of these things. But you were thrown into an open field. You were rejected when you were born.

6“ ‘Then I went by you and saw you kicking around in your own blood. I said to you, “Live.” 7I made you grow like a plant in the field. You grew up, matured, and became a young woman. Your breasts developed, and your hair grew. Yet, you were naked and bare.

8“ ‘I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares the Almighty Lord.

9“ ‘Then I bathed you with water, and I washed off your blood. I poured olive oil over you. 10I put an embroidered dress on you and fine leather sandals on your feet. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. 11I gave you jewelry. I put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck. 12I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13So you wore gold and silver jewelry. You were dressed in fine linen, silk, and embroidered clothes. Your food was flour, honey, and olive oil. You were very beautiful, and eventually you became a queen. 14You became famous in every nation because of your beauty. Your beauty was perfect because I gave you my glory, declares the Almighty Lord.

15“ ‘But you trusted your beauty, and you used your fame to become a prostitute. You had sex with everyone who walked by. 16You took some of your clothes and made your worship sites colorful. This is where you acted like a prostitute. Such things shouldn’t happen. They shouldn’t occur. 17You took your beautiful gold and silver jewelry that I had given you and made male idols for yourself. Then you committed adultery with them. 18You took off your embroidered clothes and covered the idols with them. You offered my olive oil and incense in their presence. 19You also offered them sweet and fragrant sacrifices. You gave flour, olive oil, and honey—all the food that I gave you to eat. This is what happened, declares the Almighty Lord.

20“ ‘You took your sons and daughters, who belonged to me, and you sacrificed them as food to idols. Wasn’t your prostitution enough? 21You slaughtered my children and presented them as burnt offerings to idols. 22With all the disgusting things that you did and all your acts of prostitution, you didn’t remember the time when you were young. You didn’t remember when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your own blood.

23“ ‘How horrible! How horrible it will be for you! declares the Almighty Lord. After all your wickedness, 24you built yourself platforms and illegal worship sites in every city square. 25You also built worship sites at the head of every street. You used your beauty to seduce people there. You offered your body to everyone who passed by. You increased your acts of prostitution. 26You had sex with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians. You used your prostitution to make me angry.

27“ ‘So I used my power against you. I took away some of your land, and I handed you over to your greedy enemies, the Philistines, who were ashamed of what you had done.

28“ ‘You had sex with the Assyrians because you weren’t satisfied. You still weren’t satisfied. 29So you increased your acts of prostitution to include the land of the merchants, the Babylonians. Even after that, you weren’t satisfied.

30“ ‘You have no will power! declares the Almighty Lord. You do everything a shameless prostitute does. 31You build your platforms at the head of every street and place your illegal worship sites in every square. Yet, you aren’t like other prostitutes, because you don’t want to be paid. 32You are an adulterous wife who prefers strangers to her husband. 33All prostitutes get paid. But you give gifts to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all directions to have sex with you. 34You are a different kind of prostitute. No one goes after you for favors. You are the opposite. You pay them, and you don’t accept payment.

Jerusalem’s Punishment

35“ ‘Listen to the Lord’s word, you prostitute. 36This is what the Almighty Lord says: You exposed yourself and uncovered your naked body when you gave yourself to your lovers and to all your disgusting idols. You also killed your children and sacrificed their blood to these idols. 37That is why I will gather all your lovers with whom you found pleasure. I will have all those who love you and hate you gather around. I will uncover your body for them, and they will see you naked. 38I will punish you the same way that those who are guilty of prostitution and murder are punished. I will give you the death penalty in my fury and burning anger. 39I will hand you over to your lovers. They will destroy your platforms and tear down your illegal worship sites. They will tear off your clothes, take away your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. 40They will also bring a mob against you. They will stone you and cut you into pieces with their swords. 41They will burn your houses and punish you in the presence of many women. I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay others. 42Then I will rest from my fury against you, and I will stop being angry. I will be at peace. I will no longer be angry.

43“ ‘You didn’t remember the time when you were young, and you made me very angry with all these things. So I will pay you back for what you have done, declares the Almighty Lord. Didn’t you make wicked plans in addition to all your disgusting practices?

44“ ‘Everyone who uses proverbs will speak the following saying against you: Like mother, like daughter. 45You are your mother’s daughter. She rejected her husband and her children. You are exactly like your sisters. They rejected their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.

46“ ‘Your older sister was Samaria. She and her daughters lived north of you. Your younger sister is Sodom. She lives south of you with her daughters. 47You didn’t follow their ways. You didn’t do the same disgusting things that they did. It only took you a little time to be more corrupt than they ever were. 48As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. 49This is what your sister Sodom has done wrong. She and her daughters were proud that they had plenty of food and had peace and security. They didn’t help the poor and the needy. 50They were arrogant and did disgusting things in front of me. So I did away with them when I saw this.

51“ ‘Samaria didn’t commit half the sins you did. You have done many more disgusting things than they ever did. Because of all the disgusting things that you have done, you make your sisters look innocent. 52You will have to suffer disgrace because you accused your sisters. Yet, your sins are more disgusting than theirs. They look like they are innocent compared to you. Be ashamed of yourself and suffer disgrace, because you have made your sisters look like they are innocent.

53“ ‘I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and Samaria and her daughters. I will also restore your fortune along with theirs. 54You will have to suffer disgrace and be ashamed of everything you have done, including comforting them. 55When Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters return to what they once were, you and your daughters will return to what you once were. 56You didn’t mention your sister Sodom when you were arrogant. 57You didn’t mention her before your wickedness was revealed. Now the daughters of Aram  (Some Hebrew manuscripts; other Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac “Edom.”) and their neighbors despise you. The daughters of the Philistines also despise you. Those around you hate you. 58You must suffer because of all the crude and disgusting things you have done, declares the Lord.

59“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will give you what you deserve. You despised your marriage vows and rejected my promise. (Or “covenant.”) 60I will remember the promise that I made with you when you were young, and I will make it a promise that will last forever. 61Then you will remember what you have done. You will be ashamed when I return your older and younger sisters to you. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of my promise with you. 62Then I will make my promise with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. 63You will remember and be ashamed. You will never again open your mouth because of your disgrace when I forgive you for everything you did, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 17

Judah Is Compared to a Tree

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, tell this riddle. Give this illustration to the nation of Israel. 3Say, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: A large eagle came to Lebanon. It had large wings with long, colorful feathers. It took hold of the top of a cedar tree. 4It broke off the highest twig and carried it to a country of merchants. It planted the twig in a city of merchants.

5“ ‘Then it took a seedling from that country and planted the seedling in fertile soil. The eagle planted the seedling like a willow where there was plenty of water. 6The plant sprouted and grew into a low vine that spread over the ground. Its branches turned upward toward the eagle, but its roots grew downward. So it became a vine, producing branches and growing shoots.

7“ ‘There was another large eagle with large wings and many feathers. Now, the vine stretched its roots toward this eagle and sent its branches toward the eagle so that the eagle could water it. The vine turned away from the garden where it was planted. 8It was planted in good soil beside plenty of water so that it could grow branches, bear fruit, and become a wonderful vine.’

9“Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Will this vine live and grow? Won’t the first eagle uproot it and tear off its fruit? Then it will wither. All the leaves on its branches will wither. It won’t take much strength or many people to pull the vine up by its roots. 10It might be planted again, but will it live and grow? It will wither completely when the east wind blows on it. It will certainly wither in the garden where it is growing.’ ”

11The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 12“Ask these rebellious people, ‘Don’t you know what this means?’ Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured its king and its leaders. He brought them home with him to Babylon. 13Then he took someone from the royal family, made a treaty with him, and made him promise to be loyal. He took away the leading citizens from Judah 14so that it would remain a humiliated country and be unable to regain its power. The country could only survive by keeping the treaty. 15But the king of Judah rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending his messengers to Egypt to get horses and many soldiers. Will the king of Judah succeed? Will anyone who does such things escape? He can’t break a treaty and go unpunished.

16“ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, the king of Judah will die in Babylonia. He will die in the country of the king who appointed him king of Judah. The king of Judah broke his promise and his treaty with the king of Babylon. 17Even with a large army and many people, Pharaoh will not be able to help him in battle when the Babylonians put up dirt ramps and set up blockades to kill many people. 18The king of Judah broke the promise and the treaty that he pledged to keep. He did all these things, and he can’t go unpunished.

19“ ‘So this is what the Almighty Lord says: As I live, I will certainly punish you for rejecting my promise and hating my treaty. 20I will spread my net over you to catch you in my trap. I will take you to Babylon and judge you there for rebelling against me. 21The best of your troops will die in battle. Anyone who remains will be scattered in every direction that the wind blows. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.

22“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I, too, will take hold of the top of a cedar tree. I will break off the highest twig and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23I will plant it on a high mountain in Israel. It will grow branches and produce fruit. It will become a magnificent cedar tree. Every kind of bird will nest in it and find a home in the shelter of its branches. 24Then all the trees in the field will know that I am the Lord. I cut down tall trees, and I make small trees grow tall. I dry up green trees, and I make dry trees grow. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.’ ”

Ezekiel 18

Everyone Will Suffer for His Own Sins

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“What do you mean when you use this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you will no longer use this proverb in Israel. 4The life of every person belongs to me. Fathers and their children belong to me. The person who sins will die.

5“Suppose a righteous person does what is fair and right. 6He doesn’t eat at the illegal mountain worship sites or look for help from the idols of the nation of Israel. He doesn’t dishonor his neighbor’s wife or have sexual intercourse with a woman while she is having her period. 7He doesn’t oppress anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security for a loan. He doesn’t rob anyone. He gives food to people who are hungry, and he gives clothes to those who are naked. 8He doesn’t lend money for interest or make an excessive profit. He refuses to do evil things, and he judges everyone fairly. 9He lives by my rules and obeys my laws faithfully. This person is righteous. He will certainly live,” declares the Almighty Lord.

10“But suppose this person has a son who robs and murders. The son does all the things 11that his father never did. He eats at the illegal mountain worship sites. He dishonors his neighbor’s wife. 12He oppresses the poor and needy. He robs. He doesn’t return the security for a loan. He looks to idols for help. He does disgusting things. 13He lends money for interest and makes excessive profits. Will this person live? He will not live. He has done all these disgusting things. So he must die, and he will be responsible for his own death.

14“But suppose this person has a son. The son sees all the sins that his father does. He is afraid, so he doesn’t do such things. (Many Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “Although he sees them, he doesn’t do such things.”) 15He doesn’t eat at the illegal mountain worship sites or look for help from the idols of the nation of Israel. He doesn’t dishonor his neighbor’s wife. 16He doesn’t oppress anyone. He doesn’t keep the security for a loan. He doesn’t rob anyone. He gives food to people who are hungry, and he gives clothes to those who are naked. 17He refuses to hurt the poor. He doesn’t charge interest or make excessive profits. He obeys my rules and lives by my laws. He won’t die for his father’s sins. He will certainly live. 18But his father has oppressed others, robbed his relative, and done what is wrong among his people. So the father will die because of his sin.

19“But you ask, ‘Why isn’t the son punished for his father’s sin?’ It is because the son has done what is fair and right. He obeyed my rules and followed them. He will certainly live. 20The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.

21“But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die. 22All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did. 23I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.

24“But suppose a righteous person turns away from doing right and he does evil things. He does all the disgusting things that the wicked person did. Will he live? All the right things that he has done will not be remembered because of his unfaithfulness and because of his sin. He will die because of them.

25“But you say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Listen, nation of Israel, isn’t my way fair? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair? 26When a righteous person turns away from doing right and does evil things, he will die. He will die because of the evil things he has done. 27When a wicked person turns away from the wicked things that he has done and does what is fair and right, he will live. 28He realized what he was doing and turned away from all the rebellious things that he had done. He will certainly live. He will not die.

29“But the nation of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Isn’t my way fair, nation of Israel? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair?

30“That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel,” declares the Almighty Lord. “Change the way you think and act. Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin. 31Stop all the rebellious things that you are doing. Get yourselves new hearts and new spirits. Why do you want to die, nation of Israel? 32I don’t want anyone to die,” declares the Almighty Lord. “Change the way you think and act!”

Ezekiel 19

Funeral Songs for Israel’s Princes

1Sing a funeral song for the princes of Israel. 2Say:

 

Your mother was like a lioness.
She lay down among the lions.
She fed many cubs.
3 One of the cubs she raised became a young lion.
He learned to tear apart the animals he hunted.
He ate people.
4 The nations heard about him,
caught him in their pit,
and brought him with hooks to Egypt.
5 The lioness waited until she saw that there was no more hope.
Then she took another one of her cubs
and raised him into a young lion.

 

6 He became a young lion, and he prowled among the lions.
He learned to tear apart the animals he hunted.
He ate people.
7 He destroyed fortresses
and turned cities into wastelands.
The land and everyone living in it
were terrified by the sound of his roar.
8 The nations from every region came together against him.
They spread their net over him
and caught him in their pit.
9 With hooks they put him in a cage
and brought him to the king of Babylon.
They put him in prison
so that his roar wouldn’t be heard anymore
on the mountains of Israel.

 

10 Your mother was like a grapevine
that was planted near water.
It had a lot of fruit and many branches
because there was plenty of water.
11 Its branches were strong.
They were used to make scepters for kings.
It grew to be tall with many branches around it,
and everyone saw it because of its many branches.
12 But in anger it was uprooted and thrown to the ground.
The east wind dried up its fruit.
Its strong branches broke off.
They withered and were burned.
13 Now it is planted in the desert,
in a dry and waterless land.
14 Fire has spread from the vine’s main branch.
Fire has destroyed its fruit.
It no longer has any strong branches
that could be used as a king’s scepter.

 

This is a funeral song. It is to be used as a funeral song.

Ezekiel 20

Israel’s Past and Present Sins

1On the tenth day of the fifth month in the seventh year, some of the leaders of Israel came to ask for the Lord’s help. They sat in front of me.

2Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 3“Son of man, speak to the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Are you coming to ask me for help? As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you will not be allowed to ask me for help.’

4“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Tell them about the disgusting things their ancestors did. 5Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When I chose Israel, I raised my hand and swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob’s family. I made myself known to them in Egypt. I made a promise to them and said, “I am the Lord your God.” 6At that time I promised to bring them out of Egypt to a land that I had chosen for them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7I said to them, “Get rid of the detestable idols that you look to for help. Don’t dishonor yourselves with the disgusting idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

8“ ‘But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. Not one of them got rid of the detestable idols that they looked to for help. They didn’t abandon the disgusting idols of Egypt. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in Egypt. 9But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations where they were living. While other nations were watching, I made myself known to them by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.

10“ ‘So I brought the Israelites out of Egypt and led them into the desert. 11I gave them my laws and made my rules known to them. If people obey them they will live. 12I also gave them certain days to worship me as a sign between us so that they would know that I, the Lord, made them holy.

13“ ‘But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn’t live by my laws, and they rejected my rules. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days of rest—holy days on which to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them in the desert and completely wipe them out. 14But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟. 15I also swore an oath to them in the desert. I swore that I would not bring them into the land that I had promised to give them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 16They rejected my rules, and they didn’t live by my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, because their hearts chased disgusting idols. 17But I had compassion on them. I didn’t destroy them or completely wipe them out in the desert. 18I said to their children in the desert, “Don’t live by the laws of your ancestors. Don’t obey their rules or dishonor yourselves with their disgusting idols. 19I am the Lord your God. Live by my laws. Obey my rules and follow them. 20Set apart certain holy days to worship me. This will be a sign between me and you so that you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

21“ ‘But they rebelled against me. They didn’t live by my laws, and they didn’t obey my rules and follow them. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in the desert. 22But I didn’t use my power so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟. 23I raised my hand and swore an oath to them in the desert. I promised to scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. 24They didn’t follow my rules, and they rejected my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, and they looked to their ancestors’ disgusting idols for help. 25I also allowed them to follow laws that were no good and rules by which they could not live. 26I let them dishonor themselves when they sacrificed all their firstborn sons as gifts ⌞to their false gods⌟. I terrified them so that they would know that I am the Lord.’

27“Speak to the nation of Israel, son of man. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your ancestors insulted me again because they were unfaithful to me. 28I brought them to the land that I promised to give them. When they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, they made sacrifices and brought offerings there to make me angry. There they offered their sacrifices and poured out their wine offerings. 29Then I asked them, “What is this worship site you’re going to?” ’ (So it is still called ‘worship site’ today.)

30“Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Will you dishonor yourselves the way your ancestors did? Will you chase their detestable idols like a prostitute? 31You offer your children as sacrifices by burning them alive. You dishonor yourselves with all your disgusting idols to this day. Should you be allowed to ask me for help, nation of Israel?

“ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you won’t be allowed to ask me for help. 32What you have in mind will never happen. You think that you want to be like other nations, like the different people in other countries. You want to serve wood and stone.

33“ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I will rule you with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and I will pour out my fury. 34I will bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where I have scattered you with my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour out my fury. 35I will bring you into the desert of the nations. There I will put you on trial face to face. 36I will put you on trial as I put your ancestors on trial in the desert of Egypt, declares the Almighty Lord. 37Then I will make you suffer punishment and make you keep the terms of the promise. (Or “covenant.”) 38I will get rid of rebels and those who do wrong against me. I will bring you out of the land where you are living. You will never enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Israel’s Future

39“ ‘Nation of Israel, this is what the Almighty Lord says: Serve your disgusting idols. But afterwards, you will listen to me. You will no longer dishonor my holy name with your gifts and your disgusting idols.

40“ ‘The entire nation of Israel, everyone in the land, will worship me on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Almighty Lord. There I will accept you. There I will look for your offerings, your best gifts, and all your holy gifts. 41When I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as if you were a pleasing sacrifice. Through you I will reveal myself as holy to the nations that are watching. 42Then you will know that I am the Lord, because I will bring you to the land of Israel, the land that I promised to give your ancestors. 43There you will remember the way you lived and everything you did to dishonor yourselves. You will be disgusted by every wrong thing that you did. 44Then you will know that I am the Lord, because I will deal with you for the sake of my name. I will not deal with you based on the evil and corrupt things that you have done, nation of Israel, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”  (Ezekiel 20:45–49 in English Bibles is Ezekiel 21:1–5 in the Hebrew Bible.)

The Burning Forest

45The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 46“Son of man, turn to the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest in the Negev. 47Tell the forest in the Negev, ‘Listen to the Lord’s word. This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am about to set fire to you to destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The blazing fire will not be put out. It will burn the whole land from the south to the north. 48Then everyone will know that I, the Lord, started the fire. It will never be put out.’ ”

49Then I said, “Oh no! Almighty Lord, no! The people already say that I’m only telling stories.”

Ezekiel 21

The Sword of the LORD

1 (Ezekiel 21:1–32 in English Bibles is Ezekiel 21:6–37 in the Hebrew Bible.)The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, turn to Jerusalem, preach against the holy places. Prophesy against the land of Israel. 3Tell the land of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will take my sword out of its scabbard and kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you. 4I’m going to kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you. That is why my sword will come out of its scabbard to be used against everyone from the south to the north. 5Then everyone will know that I, the Lord, have taken my sword from its scabbard, and I will not put it back again.’

6“So, son of man, groan with a breaking heart and with bitter crying while the people watch you. 7When they ask you why you are groaning, say, ‘News has come that will discourage everyone. People’s hands will hang limp, their hearts will lose courage, and their knees will become as weak as water. It’s coming! It will surely take place!’ declares the Almighty Lord.”

8The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 9“Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

 

A sword, a sword is sharpened and polished,
10 It’s sharpened to kill
and polished to flash like lightning.
How can we rejoice?
My son has refused to be disciplined or punished.
11 The sword has been handed over to be polished,
to be placed in the hand.
The sword is being sharpened and polished
to be placed in the hands of killers.

 

12 “ ‘Cry and mourn, son of man,
because the sword will be used against my people
and against all the princes of Israel.
I will throw the princes and my people on the sword.
So beat your breast, and grieve.
13 Testing will surely come.
What if you refuse to be disciplined again?
Won’t you be tested? declares the Almighty Lord.
14 So prophesy, son of man.
Clap your hands!
Let the sword strike again and again.
It’s the sword for killing.
It’s the sword for killing many people.
It’s the sword that surrounds them.
15 I have appointed my sword to slaughter people at all their gates
so that their hearts will sink and many will die.
Yes! It’s ready to flash like lightning.
It’s polished to kill.
16 Sword, cut to the right.
Cut to the left
or wherever your blade is turned.
17 I will also clap my hands and rest from my fury.
I, the Lord, have spoken.’ ”

The Sword of the King of Babylon

18The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 19“Son of man, mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can take. Both of these roads should start from the same country. Make a sign, and put it where the roads start to fork toward the cities. 20Mark the road that the king and his sword can take to the Ammonite city of Rabbah, and mark the road that leads to Judah and the fortified city of Jerusalem. 21The king of Babylon will stop where the roads branch off, where there is a fork in the road. Then he will look for omens. He will shake some arrows, ask his household gods for help, and examine animal livers. 22The omens will indicate that he should go to the right, to Jerusalem. So he will set up his battering rams there, give the order to kill, raise a battle cry, aim the battering rams against the city gates, put up ramps, and set up blockades. 23The people won’t believe this because they have made treaties with other nations. But the king of Babylon will remind them of their sins, and they will be captured.

24“This is what the Almighty Lord says: You make people remember how sinful you are because you openly do wrong. You show your sins in everything you do. So you will be taken captive.

25“You dishonest and wicked prince of Israel, the time for your final punishment has come. 26This is what the Almighty Lord says: Take off your turban, and get rid of your crown. Things are going to change. Those who are unimportant will become important, and those who are important will become unimportant. 27Ruins! Ruins! I will turn this place into ruins! It will not be restored until its rightful owner comes. Then I will give it to him.

28“Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says about the Ammonites and their insults:

 

A sword, a sword is drawn ready to kill.
It’s polished to destroy and flash like lightning.
29 People see false visions about you
and prophesy lies about you.
The sword will be placed on the necks of dishonest, wicked people,
for whom the time of final punishment has come.

 

30 “ ‘Return your sword to its scabbard.
In the place where you were created,
in the land where you were born,
there I will judge you.
31 I will pour out my fury on you
and breathe on you with my fiery anger.

 

I will hand you over to cruel people who are skilled in destruction.
32 You will be fuel for the fire.
You will die in the land.
You will no longer be remembered.
I, the Lord, have spoken.’ ”

Ezekiel 22

Jerusalem Is Judged because of Its Murderous History

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Will you judge, son of man? Will you judge the city of murderers? Then tell it about all the disgusting things that it has done. 3Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: ⌞Jerusalem,⌟ you are the city that murders people who live in you. Your time has come. You dishonor yourself with disgusting idols. 4You are guilty because of the people you have killed. You are dishonored because of the disgusting idols you have made. You have brought an end to your days, and you have come to the end of your years. That is why I will make you a disgrace to the nations and a joke in every land. 5Those near and those far away will mock you. Your name will be dishonored, and you will be filled with confusion.

6“ ‘See how all the princes of Israel who live in you have used their power to murder people. 7People in you hate their fathers and mothers. They oppress foreigners in you. They oppress orphans and widows in you. 8You have despised my holy things and dishonored the day to worship me. 9Some of your people slander. They want to kill people. People who live in you eat food sacrificed to idols at the worship sites on the hills, and they sin sexually. 10Men have sex with their father’s wives. They have sex with women when the women are having their periods and are unclean. (“Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.) 11Men do disgusting things with their neighbors’ wives. Some men sexually dishonor their daughters-in-law. Other men who live in you have sex with their sisters, their father’s daughters. 12Other people take bribes to murder people. You collect interest and make excessive profits. You make profits by mistreating your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the Almighty Lord.

13“ ‘I will use my power against you because of the excessive profits you have made and the murders you have committed. 14Will you still be brave? Will you remain strong when I deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it. 15I will scatter you among the nations and force you into other countries. I will put an end to your uncleanness. 16You will be dishonored in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

17Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 18“Son of man, the people of Israel have become worthless to me. All of them are like copper, tin, iron, and lead in a smelting furnace. They are like the impurities left from silver. 19This is what the Almighty Lord says: All of you have become worthless. That is why I’m going to gather you in Jerusalem. 20People gather silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin together in a smelting furnace to melt them with a fiery blast. In the same way, in my anger and fury I will gather you and put you in the city. I will melt you there. 21Yes, I will gather you, breathe on you with my fiery anger, and melt you in the city. 22You will be melted in the city like silver that is melted in a furnace. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my fury on you.”

23The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 24“Son of man, tell the city, ‘You are an unclean land that has not had rain during the day of my anger. You have not been made clean. (“Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.) 25Your princes are like roaring lions who tear their prey into pieces. They eat people and take their treasures and precious belongings. They turn many women into widows. 26Your priests violate my teachings and dishonor my holy things. They don’t distinguish between what is holy and what is unholy. They don’t teach the difference between what is clean and what is unclean. They ignore the days to worship me. So I am dishonored among the people. 27Your leaders are like wolves that tear their prey into pieces. They murder and destroy people to make excessive profits. 28Your prophets cover up these things by seeing false visions and by prophesying lies. They say, “This is what the Almighty Lord says.” Yet, the Lord hasn’t spoken. 29The common people oppress and rob others. They do wrong to humble people and to poor people. They oppress foreigners for no reason.

30“ ‘I looked for someone among you who could build walls or stand in front of me by the gaps in the walls to defend the land and keep it from being destroyed. But I couldn’t find anyone. 31So I will pour out my anger on you, and with my fiery anger I will consume you. This is because of all the things you have done,’ declares the Almighty Lord.”

Ezekiel 23

Samaria and Jerusalem Acted Like Prostitutes

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, there were once two women, daughters of the same mother. 3They became prostitutes in Egypt when they were young. There men fondled and caressed their breasts.

4“The older girl was named Oholah, and the younger girl was named Oholibah. I married them, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem. 5Oholah acted like a prostitute, although she was my wife. She lusted after her Assyrian lovers who lived nearby. 6They were governors and commanders clothed in purple. They were all handsome young men who rode on horses. 7She became a prostitute for all the important men in Assyria. She dishonored herself with the idols of all those with whom she fell in love. 8She continued the prostitution that she started in Egypt. When she was young, men went to bed with her, caressed her breasts, and treated her like a prostitute.

9“That is why I handed her over to her lovers, to the Assyrians whom she lusted after. 10They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters, and killed her with a sword. Women gossiped about how she was punished.

11“Even though her younger sister Oholibah saw this, Oholibah lusted after men more than her sister did. Oholibah’s prostitution became worse than her sister’s prostitution. 12She lusted after the Assyrians who were nearby. They were governors and commanders in full dress. They were mounted horsemen, all of them desirable young men. 13I saw that she was dishonoring herself. Both sisters acted the same way. 14Yet, she carried her prostitution even further. She saw pictures of men carved on walls. They were figures of Babylonian men, painted in bright red. 15The men had belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads. All of them looked like Babylonian officers who were born in Babylon. 16She fell in love with them at first sight and sent messengers to them in Babylonia. 17So these men came from Babylon, went to bed with her, and dishonored her with their lust. After they had dishonored her, she turned away from them in disgust.

18“She carried out her prostitution openly, and she lay around naked. I turned away from her in disgust as I had turned away from her sister. 19She remembered how she had been a prostitute in Egypt when she was young. So she took part in even more prostitution. 20She lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose semen was like that of horses. 21So she longed to do the sinful things she did when she was young in Egypt, when young men caressed and fondled her breasts.

22“Oholibah, this is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to stir up your lovers against you. They are the lovers you turned away from in disgust. I will bring them against you from every side. 23I will bring men from Babylon and from all Babylonia, men from Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, as well as all the Assyrians. They are desirable young men, governors and commanders, military officers and important men. All of them ride on horses. 24They will attack you from the north, with chariots and wagons and with a large number of troops. They will attack you from all around with small and large shields and with helmets. I have handed you over to them for punishment. They will punish you with their own kind of punishment. 25I will direct my burning anger against you so that they will deal with you in anger. They will cut off your nose and ears and kill everyone who remains. They will take your sons and your daughters and burn down whatever is left. 26They will rip off your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels. 27I will put a stop to your sinning and to your prostitution, which you began in Egypt. You won’t desire these things anymore or remember Egypt anymore.

28“This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to hand you over to those you hate and to those you turned away from in disgust. 29They will treat you hatefully and take away everything that you have worked for. They will leave you naked and bare. The shame of your prostitution will be revealed. 30Your sinning and your prostitution have done this to you, because you lusted after the nations and dishonored yourself with their idols. 31You’ve acted the same way as your sister. That is why I will put her cup in your hand. 32This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

You will drink from your sister’s cup,
a cup that is deep and wide.
You will be scorned and mocked,
because this cup holds so much.
33 The cup of your sister Samaria will be filled
with drunkenness and sorrow.
34 You will drink from it and drain it.
You will break it into pieces
and tear your breasts off your body.
I have spoken, declares the Almighty Lord.

 

35“This is what the Almighty Lord says: You have forgotten me and turned your back on me. So you will be punished for your sinning and prostitution.”

36The Lord said to me, “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah and tell them about their disgusting practices? 37They have committed adultery. Their hands are covered with blood. They commit adultery with their idols. They have sacrificed the children they gave birth to for me as burnt offerings to idols. 38They have also done this to me: They have polluted my holy places when they do these things and dishonored the days to worship me. 39When they sacrificed their children to their idols, they came into my holy place and dishonored it. That is what they’ve done in my temple.

40“They even sent messengers to invite men to come from far away. When the men arrived, they washed themselves for the men, painted their eyes, and put on their jewels. 41They sat on their fine couches with tables in front of them. They put my incense and my olive oil on their tables.

42“I heard the noise from a carefree crowd. A large number of people came from the desert, and they put bracelets on the women’s wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43Then I said, ‘She is worn out from her acts of adultery.’ Yet, men continued to have sex with her. 44Men slept with her. They slept with those sinful women, Oholah and Oholibah just as they slept with a prostitute. 45Righteous people will punish these women for adultery and for murder, because these women have committed adultery and their hands are covered with blood.

46“This is what the Almighty Lord says: Bring together a mob ⌞against the people of Samaria and Jerusalem⌟. Hand them over to terror and looting. 47Then the mob will stone them and kill them with swords. The mob will kill their sons and daughters and burn their homes. 48So I will put a stop to the sinning in the land, and all the women will be warned not to sin as they do. 49They will be punished for their sins, and they will pay for their sin of idolatry. Then they will know that I am the Almighty Lord.”

Ezekiel 24

Judah Is Compared to a Boiling Pot

1On the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, write down today’s date. The king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem this very day. 3Tell these rebellious people a story. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

Put the pot on the fire; put it on.
Pour water in it.
4 Cut the meat into pieces,
all the best pieces, the thigh and shoulder.
Fill the pot with the meatiest bones
5 selected from the best sheep.
Pile wood under the pot.
Bring the mixture in the pot to a boil.
Cook the bones that are in it well.

 

6“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

How horrible it will be for that city of murderers,
for that tarnished pot.
Its tarnish will not come off.
Empty the meat out of it piece by piece
without choosing any particular piece.
7 Blood is still in that city.
The blood was poured on a bare rock.
It wasn’t poured on the ground where dust would cover it.
8 In order to stir up my fury so that I would pay that city back,
I put the blood of its victims on a bare rock.
Now that blood can’t be covered.

 

9“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

How horrible it will be for that city of murderers.
I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 Pile it high, and light the fire.
Cook the meat thoroughly, stir the mixture,
and let the bones burn.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
so that it gets hot and its copper glows.
Its impurities will melt away,
and its tarnish will burn off.

 

12“ ‘I have worn myself out trying to clean this pot. Even the fire can’t take away its thick tarnish. 13I tried to clean you of your filthy lust, but you wouldn’t clean yourself from your filth. You will never be clean until I unleash my fury on you. 14I, the Lord, have spoken. It will happen, and I will do it. I will not ignore you, pity you, or change my plans. I will punish you because of the way you lived and because of everything you have done,’ ” declares the Almighty Lord.

Ezekiel’s Silent Sorrow over the Destruction of Jerusalem

15Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 16“Son of man, with one blow I’m going to take away from you the person you love the most. But you must not mourn, cry, or let tears run down your face. 17Groan silently. Don’t grieve for the person who dies. Tie on your turban, and put on your sandals. Don’t cover your face or eat the food that mourners eat.”

18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I was ordered.

19The people asked me, “Tell us, what do these things that you are doing mean to us?”

20I told them, “The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 21‘Tell the nation of Israel, “This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to dishonor my holy place. You brag that my holy place gives you strength. It’s the thing you love the most. It’s your hearts’ desire. So the sons and daughters that you left behind will die in battle. 22Then you must do as I did. Don’t cover your faces or eat the food that mourners eat. 23Leave your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. Don’t grieve or cry! You will waste away because of your guilt and groan to one another. 24Ezekiel is a sign to you. You will do everything he has done. Then you will know that I am the Almighty Lord.” ’

25“Son of man, on that day I will take their stronghold away from them. It makes them happy and proud. It is their hearts’ desire and the thing they love the most. I will also take away their sons and daughters. 26On that day a refugee will come to you to tell you the news. 27On that very day your mouth will be opened, and you will talk to the refugee. You will speak and not be silent anymore. You will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 25

Judgment on Ammon

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, turn to the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3Tell the Ammonites, ‘Listen to the Almighty Lord’s word. This is what the Almighty Lord says: You were glad when my holy place was dishonored, when the land of Israel was ruined, and when the nation of Judah went into exile. 4That is why I’m going to hand you over to the people in the east. They will possess your land. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your crops and drink your milk. 5I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels, and I will turn Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

6“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: You clapped your hands and stomped your feet. You rejoiced and felt contempt for the land of Israel. 7That is why I will use my power against you and hand you over to the nations as loot. I will wipe you out from among the nations, make you disappear, and destroy you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Judgment on Moab

8“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Moab and Seir said, “The nation of Judah is like all the other nations.” 9That is why I’m going to open up the cities that protect Moab’s borders. They are the beautiful cities of Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim. 10I will hand the Moabites and the Ammonites over to the people in the east. So the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. 11I will punish Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Judgment on Edom

12“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Edom took revenge on the nation of Judah and became guilty because of it. 13So this is what the Almighty Lord says: I will use my power against Edom. I will wipe out people and animals. I will turn the land into ruins from Teman to Dedan. People will die in battle. 14I will use my people Israel to take revenge on Edom. My people will deal with Edom based on my anger and my fury. Then the Edomites will know my revenge, declares the Almighty Lord.

Judgment on the Philistines

15“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: The Philistines have taken revenge with spiteful hearts. They have tried to destroy their long-time enemies. 16So this is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to use my power against the Philistines, cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the people that are left on the coast. 17I will take fierce revenge on them and punish them with fury. I will take revenge on them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 26

Judgment on Tyre

1On the first day of the month in the eleventh year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, Tyre said this about Jerusalem: ‘The city that was the gateway for the nations is destroyed, and its doors are swung open to me. I’ll get rich now that it’s ruined.’ 3So this is what the Almighty Lord says: I am against you, Tyre. I will bring many nations against you as the waves on the sea rise. 4They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down its towers. Then I will sweep up the dust and turn Tyre into a bare rock. 5It will become a place by the sea where people spread their fishing nets. I have spoken, declares the Almighty Lord. It will become a prize for the nations. 6The people in the villages and on the mainland will die in battle. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

7“This is what the Almighty Lord says: From the north I’m going to bring King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon against you, Tyre. He is the greatest king. He will bring horses, chariots, war horses, many people, and many troops. 8He will destroy the villages on your mainland. He will set up blockades, put up dirt ramps, and raise his shields against you. 9He will direct his battering rams against your walls, and he will cut down your towers with his axes. 10He will have so many horses that their dust will cover you. The noise from the war horses, wagon wheels, and chariots will shake your walls when he enters your gates. He will enter as people enter a conquered city. 11With his horses’ hoofs he will trample all your streets. He will kill your people in battle, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground. 12His troops will loot your riches and take your goods as prizes. They will destroy your walls and tear down your delightful homes. They will throw your stones, wood, and soil into the water.

13“I will put a stop to your noisy songs, and the music from your harps will no longer be heard. 14I will turn you into bare rock. You will become a place to spread fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt. I, the Lord, have spoken, declares the Almighty Lord.

15“This is what the Almighty Lord says to Tyre: The people who live on the coast will shake with fear when they hear about your defeat. They will groan when your people are wounded and slaughtered. 16Then the princes from the coast will come down from their thrones. They will remove their robes and take off their embroidered clothes. Dressed in terror, they will sit on the ground. They will tremble constantly and be shocked at you. 17Then they will sing this funeral song for you:

 

Tyre, you famous city, you have been destroyed.
You have been shattered by the sea.
You and your people ruled the sea.
All your people terrified those who lived by the coast.
18 Your defeat will make the people who live by the coast tremble.
Your end will terrify the islands in the sea.

 

19“This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will turn your city into ruins like cities that have no one living in them. I will bring the deep ocean over you, and the Mediterranean Sea will cover you. 20I will bring you down with those who descend to the grave to join the people of long ago. I will make you live below the earth among the ancient ruins with those who go down to the grave. You will never return or take your place in the land of the living. 21I will turn you into a terror, and you will no longer exist. People will look for you, but they will never see you again,” declares the Almighty Lord.

Ezekiel 27

A Funeral Song about Tyre

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, sing a funeral song about Tyre. 3Tyre is the city at the entrance to the sea. It is the merchant to the nations. Say to Tyre, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

Tyre, you used to brag about your perfect beauty.
4 Your home is the sea.

 

“ ‘Your builders made your beauty perfect.
5 Your builders made all your boards from pine trees on Mount Hermon.
They took cedar trees from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6 They made your oars from oaks in Bashan.
They made your deck from pine trees on the shores of Cyprus.
It had ivory set in it.
7 Your sails were made out of fine embroidered linen from Egypt.
They were like your flags.
Your awnings were violet and purple.
They came from the coasts of Elishah.
8 People from Sidon and Arvad used to row you.
Your own skilled people were your sailors.
9 Master shipbuilders from Gebal went inside you to caulk your seams.
All the ships on the sea and their sailors
docked alongside you to trade with you.
10 People from Persia, Lud, and Put were soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields and helmets inside you.
Their victories made you look good.

 

11“ ‘People from Arvad and Helech  (Or “Celicia.”) were guards all around your walls. People from Gammad guarded your towers. They hung their shields all around your walls, making your beauty perfect.

12“ ‘People from Tarshish traded with you because you were so very rich. They exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your merchandise. 13People from Greece, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you. They exchanged slaves and bronze items for your goods. 14People from Beth Togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your merchandise. 15People from Dedan traded goods with you. You traded with many people on the coasts, and they brought you ivory and ebony as payment.

16“ ‘People from Syria traded with you because you had so many products. They exchanged emeralds, purple cloth, richly woven cloth, linen, coral, and rubies for your merchandise. 17Judah and Israel traded with you. They exchanged wheat from Minnith, baked goods, honey, olive oil, and balsam for your goods. 18People from Damascus traded with you because you had so many products. They exchanged wine from Helbon and wool from Sahar.

19“ ‘Danites and Greeks from Uzal traded for your merchandise. They exchanged wrought iron, cassia, and sugar cane for your goods. 20Dedan traded saddle blankets with you. 21Arabia and all the officials of Kedar traded with you. They traded lambs, rams, and male goats. 22The merchants from Sheba and Raamah traded with you. They traded the finest spices, precious stones, and gold for your merchandise. 23Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants from Sheba, Assyria, and Kilmad traded with you. 24In your marketplace they traded for beautiful clothes, purple robes, embroidered cloth, and many multicolored rugs with woven and twisted cords.

 

25 “ ‘Ships from Tarshish carried your goods.
You were like a ship filled with heavy cargo in the sea.
26 Your rowers took you out to the high seas,
and an east wind wrecked you in the sea.
27 Your wealth, your merchandise, and the goods you sell,
your mariners and your sailors,
your caulkers and your merchants,
your soldiers and everyone else on board
sank into the sea when your ship was wrecked.

 

28 “ ‘When your sailors cried out, people on the shore trembled.
29 All the rowers, the sailors,
and all the mariners came down from their ships
and stood on the shore.
30 They cried loudly and bitterly over you.
They put dust on their heads and covered themselves with ashes.
31 They shaved their heads because of you and put on sackcloth.
They cried over you with bitterness and with bitter mourning.
32 They sang a funeral song for you with loud crying:
“Who is like Tyre, the city destroyed in the sea?”
33 Your merchandise was sent overseas.
You filled many people with your great wealth and your goods.
You made the kings of the earth rich.
34 Now you are wrecked in the sea, at the bottom of the sea.
Your goods and your whole crew sank with you.
35 All those who live on the coasts are horrified because of you.
Their kings are terribly afraid.
Their faces show their fear.
36 The merchants among the nations laugh at you.
You have come to a terrible end,
and you will never exist again.’ ”

Ezekiel 28

Judgment on the King of Tyre

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

In your arrogance you say,
“I’m a god. I sit on God’s throne in the sea.”
But you’re only human and not a god,
although you think you are a god.
3 You think that you are wiser than Daniel
and that no secret can be hidden from you.
4 Because you are wise and understanding,
you’ve made yourself rich.
You saved gold and silver in your treasuries.
5 Because of your great skill in trading,
you’ve made yourself very wealthy.
You have become arrogant because of your wealth.

 

6“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

You think you are wise like God.
7 That is why I am going to bring foreigners against you,
the most ruthless foreigners among the nations.
They will draw their swords against your fine wisdom
and dishonor your greatness.
8 They will throw you into a pit,
and you will die a violent death in the sea.
9 You will no longer say that you are a god
when you face those who kill you.
You will be a human, not a god, in the hands of those who kill you.
10 You will die at the hands of foreigners like a godless person.
I have spoken,’ ” declares the Lord.

 

11The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 12“Son of man, sing a funeral song for the ruler of Tyre. Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

You were the perfect example,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13 You were in Eden, God’s garden.
You were covered with every kind of precious stone:
red quartz, topaz, crystal,
beryl, onyx, gray quartz, sapphire,
turquoise, and emerald.
Your settings and your sockets
were made of gold when you were created.
14 I appointed an angel *Or “one of the cherubim.” to guard you.
You were on God’s holy mountain.
You walked among fiery stones.
15 Your behavior was perfect from the time you were created,
until evil was found in you.
16 You traded far and wide. You learned to be violent, and you sinned.
So I threw you down from God’s mountain in disgrace.
The guardian angel forced you out from the fiery stones.
17 You became too proud because of your beauty.
You wasted your wisdom because of your greatness.
So I threw you to the ground
and left you in front of the kings
so that they could see you.
18 You dishonored your own holy places
because of your many sins and dishonest trade.
So I set fire to you to burn you up.
I turned you into ashes on the ground
in the presence of all who saw you.
19 All the nations who knew you are horrified because of you.
You have come to a terrible end,
and you will never exist again.’ ”

Judgment on Sidon Means Hope for Israel

20The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 21“Son of man, turn to Sidon and prophesy against it. 22Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

I’m against you, Sidon.
I will show my greatness through you.
Then people will know that I am the Lord,
because I will punish you and show you how holy I am.
23 I will send a plague against you
and make blood flow in your streets.
Your people will fall dead.
People with swords will attack you from every side.
Then they will know that I am the Lord.
24 The nation of Israel will no longer be hurt
by prickly thorns or sharp briars from everyone around them.
Then they will know that I am the Almighty Lord.

 

25“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they were scattered, I will show that I am holy as the nations watch. The people of Israel will live in their own land, the land I gave to my servant Jacob. 26They will live there in safety. They will build homes and plant vineyards. They will live in safety when I punish all the surrounding people who treat them with scorn. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’ ”

Ezekiel 29

Judgment on Egypt

1On the twelfth day of the tenth month in the tenth year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, turn to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt. 3Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

I’m against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
You are like a monster crocodile lying in the Nile River.
You say, “The Nile River is mine. I made it for myself.”

 

4 “ ‘I will put hooks in your jaws
and make the fish in the Nile River stick to your scales.
I will pull you out of your river
with all the fish in the Nile sticking to your scales.
5 I will leave you in the desert, you and all the fish from the Nile.
You will fall in an open field.
No one will pick you up or bury you.
I will feed you to wild animals and birds.
6 Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the Lord.
Egypt, you have become like a ⌞broken⌟ walking stick
to the nation of Israel.
7 When Israel grabbed you, you splintered and tore up their shoulders.
When they leaned on you, you broke, and they wrenched their backs.

 

8“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am going to attack you with a sword. I will kill people and animals. 9Egypt will become a wasteland and a pile of rubble. Then you will know that I am the Lord. You said, “The Nile River is mine. I made it.” 10That is why I’m against you and the Nile River. I will turn Egypt into a pile of rubble. It will become a wasteland, from Migdol to Syene, all the way to the border of Sudan. 11No human or animal will walk through it, and no one will live there for 40 years. 12I will make Egypt the most desolate country in the world. For 40 years Egypt’s cities will lie in ruins. They will be ruined more than any other city. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and force them into other countries.

13“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: After 40 years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they have been scattered. 14I will bring back the Egyptian captives and return them to Pathros, (Or “southern Egypt.”) the land they came from. There they will be a weak kingdom. 15They will be the weakest kingdom, and they will never rule the nations again. I will make them so weak that they will never rule the nations again. 16The nation of Israel will never trust Egypt again. The people of Israel will remember how wrong they were whenever they turned to Egypt ⌞for help⌟. Then they will know that I am the Almighty Lord.’ ”

17On the first day of the first month in the twenty-seventh year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 18“Son of man, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his army fight hard against Tyre. Every soldier’s head was worn bald, and every soldier’s shoulder was rubbed raw. Yet, he and his army got no reward for their hard-fought battle against Tyre. 19This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to give Egypt to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He will carry off its wealth, take its prized possessions, and loot it. That will be the pay for his army. 20I have given him Egypt as pay for what he has done. Nebuchadnezzar and his army worked for me, declares the Almighty Lord.

21“On that day I will make the people of Israel strong again, and I will give you, Ezekiel, something to say among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 30

Nebuchadnezzar Will Conquer Egypt

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, prophesy. Say, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

Cry for that day!
3 The day is near. The day of the Lord is near.
It will be a gloomy day, a time of trouble for the nations.
4 There will be war in Egypt and anguish in Ethiopia.
Many Egyptians will fall dead.
People will take away Egypt’s wealth,
and its foundations will be torn down.
5 Sudan, Put, Lud, all the Arabs, the Libyans,
and people from the promised land will die in battle.

 

6“ ‘This is what the Lord says:

 

All Egypt’s allies will die.
Egypt’s strength will disappear.
People will die in war from Migdol to Syene,
declares the Almighty Lord.

 

7“ ‘Egypt will become the most desolate country in the world, and Egypt’s cities will lie in ruins. They will be ruined more than other cities. 8Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will set fire to Egypt and all her defenders will be killed. 9On that day I will send messengers in ships to terrify those who live in safety in Sudan. The people of Sudan will be in anguish when Egypt is in trouble. That day is coming!

10“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will use King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to bring an end to Egypt. 11He and his troops, the most ruthless troops among the nations, will be brought to destroy the land. They will draw their swords to attack Egypt and fill the land with dead bodies. 12I will dry up the Nile River and sell the land to wicked people. I will have foreigners destroy the land and everything in it. I, the Lord, have spoken.

13“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will destroy the statues and put an end to the idols in Memphis. A prince will never rise again in Egypt. I will spread fear throughout Egypt. 14I will destroy Pathros, set fire to Zoan, and bring punishment on Thebes. 15I will pour out my fury on Sin, Egypt’s fortress, and I will kill many people in Thebes. 16I will set fire to Egypt. Sin will be in much pain. Thebes will be broken into pieces, and Memphis will be in trouble every day. 17The young men from Heliopolis and Bubastis will die in battle, and people from these cities will go into exile. 18At Tahpanhes the day will turn dark when I break Egypt’s power. Egypt’s strong army will be defeated. Clouds will cover Egypt, and people from its villages will go into exile. 19Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will bring punishment on Egypt.’ ”

20On the seventh day of the first month in the eleventh year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 21“Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. His arm isn’t bandaged, so it can’t heal and be strong enough to hold a sword.

22“This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m against Pharaoh, king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the healthy one and the broken one. I will make the sword fall from his hand. 23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and force them into other countries. 24I will make the arms of the king of Babylon strong. I will put my sword in his hand, but I will break Pharaoh’s arms. Pharaoh will groan like a person who is dying. 25I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but Pharaoh’s arms will fall. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will put my sword in the hand of the king of Babylon. He will strike Egypt with it. 26I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and force them into other countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 31

Egypt Will Be Conquered as Assyria Was Conquered

1On the first day of the third month in the eleventh year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, say to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his many people,

 

‘Was there ever anyone as great as you?
3 What about Assyria?
It was a cedar in Lebanon
with fine branches that shaded the forest.
It was very tall.
Its top was among the clouds.
4 Water made the tree grow,
and underground springs made it tall.
Rivers flowed around the place where the tree was planted.
Streams ran beside all the other trees around it.
5 That is why it grew taller than all the other trees in the field.
Its branches became large and long because of so much water.
6 All the birds made their nests in its branches.
All the wild animals gave birth to their young under it.
All the powerful nations lived in its shade.
7 So the tree was big and beautiful with its long branches.
Its roots reached down to many sources of water.
8 The cedar trees in God’s garden couldn’t compare to it.
The pine trees couldn’t equal its branches.
The plane trees couldn’t measure up to its branches.
All the trees in God’s garden couldn’t match its beauty.
9 I was the one who made it beautiful with its many branches.
This tree was the envy of all the trees in Eden, in God’s garden.

 

10“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: The tree grew very tall, and its top reached the clouds. It became arrogant because it was so tall. 11So I handed it over to a mighty ruler among the nations, and he surely dealt with it. I forced it out because of its wickedness. 12Foreigners from the most ruthless nation cut it down and threw it away. Its branches fell on the mountains and in every valley. Its broken branches fell in every ravine in the land. All the nations in the world came out from under its shade and left. 13All the birds perched on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived in its branches. 14Then all the other trees growing by the water were kept from becoming arrogant because of their height, and their tops were no longer allowed to reach the clouds. So no tree, even if it is well-watered, will ever stand that tall. Every tree is going to die and go below the earth to join those who have died and gone down to the pit.

15“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When the tree went down to the grave, I made people mourn. I covered the underground springs and held back the rivers. The many water sources stopped flowing. I made Lebanon mourn for the tree, and all the trees in the field fainted as they grieved over it. 16I made the nations tremble in fear at the sound of the tree’s crash. I brought the tree down to the grave to join those who had gone down to the pit. Then all the trees in Eden, the choicest and best trees of Lebanon, and all the trees that were well-watered were comforted below the earth. 17They had gone down with the tree in the grave to join others killed in battle. All who lived in its shadow were scattered among the nations.

18“ ‘This tree is you, Pharaoh, and all your many people. No tree in Eden has ever been as honorable and as great as you. But you will be brought down below the earth with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the godless people who were killed in battle, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 32

A Funeral Song about Pharaoh

1On the first day of the twelfth month in the twelfth year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, sing a funeral song for Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Tell him,

 

‘You think you are like a lion among the nations.
Instead, you are like a crocodile in the water.
You splash around in the water.
You stir up the water with your feet.
You make the streams muddy.

 

3“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When many nations gather together, I will spread my net over you, and they will haul you up in a net. 4I will throw you on the ground and toss you into an open field. I will make birds perch on you, and wild animals from all over the earth will feed on you. 5I will scatter your flesh on the hills and fill the valleys with your rotting corpse. 6I will drench the earth with your flowing blood all the way to the mountains. Ravines will be filled with your dead body.

7“ ‘When I put out your light, I will cover the sky and darken the stars. I will cover the sun with clouds, and the moon won’t shine anymore. 8I will darken all the lights shining in the sky above you. I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Almighty Lord.

9“ ‘I will make many people troubled when I spread the news of your destruction among the nations to countries that you haven’t heard of. 10Many people will be shocked by what I will do to you. Their kings will shudder when I swing my sword in their faces. When you die, all of them will tremble in fear for their own lives.

11“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: The sword of the king of Babylon will attack you. 12I will cut down your people with the swords of warriors. All of them will be the most ruthless warriors among the nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt and destroy its many people. 13I will also destroy all the animals beside its many water sources. The feet of humans and the hoofs of animals won’t stir up the water anymore. 14Then I will make its water clear and make its streams flow like oil, declares the Almighty Lord. 15I will turn Egypt into a wasteland. I will take everything in the land, and I will kill all the people who live there. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’

16“This is a funeral song. The people from the nations will sing this song. They will sing it as they mourn for Egypt and its many people,” declares the Almighty Lord.

The Egyptians Will Join the Other Nations in the Grave

17On the fifteenth day of the month in the twelfth year, the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 18“Son of man, cry for the many people of Egypt. Bring them down along with the other mighty nations. Send them down below the earth to be with those who have gone down to the pit.

19“⌞Tell them,⌟ ‘Are you more beautiful than anyone else? Go down and join the godless people.’

20“The Egyptians will lie among those who were killed in battle. A sword has been drawn. Drag Egypt and all its people away. 21The mightiest warriors will say to Pharaoh from the grave, ‘You and your defenders have come down, and you now lie with the godless people who were killed in battle.’

22“Assyria is there with its whole army, and the graves of its soldiers are all around it. All of its soldiers are dead. They have been killed in battle. 23Their graves are in the deepest parts of the pit. Assyria’s army lies around its grave. All of its soldiers are dead. They have been killed in battle. They once terrified people in the land of the living.

24“Elam is there with all its soldiers, and the graves of its soldiers are all around it. All of its soldiers are dead. They have been killed in battle. They went down below the earth as godless people. They once terrified people in the land of the living. Now they suffer disgrace with those who have gone down to the pit. 25A bed has been made for Elam among the dead. The graves of its soldiers are all around it. The soldiers were godless people. They were killed in battle because they terrified others in the land of the living. Now they suffer disgrace with those who have gone down to the pit. They lie among the dead.

26“Meshech and Tubal are there with all their soldiers, and the graves of their soldiers are all around them. Their soldiers were all godless people. They were killed in battle because they terrified others in the land of the living. 27They don’t lie with the godless warriors who died and went down to the grave with their weapons of war. Their swords were placed under their heads. Their shields were placed on their bones because they terrified others in the land of the living.

28“You Egyptians will be crushed with the godless people, and you will lie with those who were killed in battle.

29“Edom is there with its kings and its princes. They used to be powerful, but now they lie with those who were killed in battle. They lie there with the godless people and with those who have gone down to the pit.

30“All the rulers from the north and all the people from Sidon are there. They, too, went down with the dead. They are disgraced because they terrified people with their power. They were godless people. Now they lie with those who were killed in battle. They suffer disgrace with those who went down to the pit.

31“Pharaoh and his army will see these things and be comforted over all the soldiers who have been killed in battle, declares the Almighty Lord. 32I terrified people in the land of the living. Pharaoh and all his soldiers will be laid among the godless people who were killed in battle,” declares the Almighty Lord.

Ezekiel 33

Ezekiel Is Called to Be a Watchman

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, speak to your people. Tell them, ‘Suppose I bring war on this country, and the people of this country choose one of their men and make him their watchman. 3If he sees the enemy coming to attack the country, he will blow his horn to warn the people. 4If the people hear the horn and ignore the warning and the enemy comes and takes them, they will be responsible for their own deaths. 5They heard the sound of the horn but ignored its warning. So they are responsible for their own deaths. If they had taken the warning, they would have saved themselves.

6“ ‘But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t blow his horn to warn the people and the enemy comes and kills someone, that watchman must die because of his sin. I will hold him responsible for their deaths.’

7“Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for the people of Israel. Listen to what I say, and warn them for me. 8Suppose I say to a wicked person, ‘You wicked person, you will certainly die,’ and you say nothing to warn him to change his ways. That wicked person will die because of his sin, and I will hold you responsible for his death. 9But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his ways and he doesn’t turn from them, then he will die because of his sin. However, you will save yourself.

10“Son of man, say to the people of Israel, ‘You have said this, “Our wickedness and our sins weigh us down, and we are rotting away because of them. How can we live?” ’

11“Tell them, ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I don’t want wicked people to die. Rather, I want them to turn from their ways and live. Change the way you think and act! Turn from your wicked ways! Do you want to die, people of Israel?’

12“Son of man, say to your people, ‘The right things that a righteous person has done will not save him when he rebels. The wicked things that a wicked person has done will not make him stumble when he turns from his wickedness. The righteous person will not live when he sins.’ 13I may promise the righteous person that he will certainly live. But if he trusts in the right things that he has done and he does evil, none of the right things that he has done will be remembered. He will die because of the evil things he has done. 14I may warn the wicked person that he will certainly die. But suppose he turns from his sin and does what is fair and right. 15He returns the security for a loan, pays back everything he stole, lives by the rules of life, and does nothing evil. Then he will certainly live. He will not die. 16None of the sins that he has done will be remembered. He has done what is fair and right. He will certainly live.

17“But your people say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Yet, their ways are unfair. 18If the righteous person turns from the right things that he has done and does evil, he will die because of it. 19If the wicked person turns from his wickedness and does what is fair and right, he will live because of it. 20Yet, the people of Israel say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ I will judge each of you by your own ways, people of Israel.”

21On the fifth day of the tenth month in the twelfth year of our captivity, a refugee from Jerusalem came to me. He said, “The city has been captured.” 22The evening before the refugee arrived, the power of the Lord came over me. On the morning the refugee arrived, the Lord made me speak. So I spoke, and I was no longer quiet.

23The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 24“Son of man, those who live in the ruined cities in Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one person, and he was given the land. But we are many. Certainly the land has been given to us.’ 25So tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: You eat meat with blood in it. You look to your idols for help. You murder people. Should the land be given to you? 26You rely on your swords. You do disgusting things. You dishonor your neighbor’s wife. Should the land be given to you?’

27“Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: As I live, whoever is in the ruined cities will be killed in battle. Whoever is in the open field will become food for wild animals. Whoever is in fortified places and caves will die from plagues. 28I will turn the land into a barren wasteland. People will no longer brag about its power. The mountains of Israel will become so ruined that no one will travel through them. 29Then people will know that I am the Lord, when I make the land a barren wasteland because of all the disgusting things that they have done.’

30“Son of man, your people are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of their homes. They are saying to each other, ‘Let’s go and hear the word that has come from the Lord.’ 31Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they don’t do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits. 32To them you are nothing more than a singer with a beautiful voice who sings love songs or a musician who plays an instrument. They listen to your words, but they don’t do them. 33When all your words come true—and they certainly will come true—these people will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Ezekiel 34

The Promise of a New Shepherd for the LORD ’s Sheep

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy to these shepherds. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Shouldn’t shepherds take care of the sheep? 3You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in the wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you don’t take care of the sheep. 4You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those that were sick, or bandaged those that were injured. You have not brought back those that strayed away or looked for those that were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently. 5So they were scattered because there was no shepherd. When they were scattered, they became food for every wild animal. 6My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered throughout the whole earth. No one searched or looked for them.

7“ ‘So, you shepherds, listen to the Lord’s word. 8As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, because there is no shepherd, my sheep have become prey. My sheep have become food for every wild animal. My shepherds haven’t searched for my sheep. They have taken care of only themselves, not my sheep. 9So, you shepherds, listen to the Lord’s word. 10This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am against the shepherds. I will demand that they hand over my sheep. I won’t let them take care of my sheep anymore, and they will no longer take care of only themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, and my sheep will no longer be their food.

11“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will search for my sheep myself, and I will look after them. 12As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them on a cloudy and gloomy day from every place where they have been scattered. 13I will bring them out from the nations, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own land. I will take care of them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. 14I will feed them in good pasture, and they will graze on the mountains of Israel. They will rest on the good land where they graze, and they will feed on the best pastures in the mountains of Israel. 15I will take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares the Almighty Lord. 16I will look for those that are lost, bring back those that have strayed away, bandage those that are injured, and strengthen those that are sick. I will destroy those that are fat and strong. I will take care of my sheep fairly.

17“ ‘As for you, my sheep, this is what the Almighty Lord says: I will judge disputes between one sheep and another, between rams and male goats. 18Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you trample the rest of the pasture with your feet? You drink clean water. Must you muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19Must my sheep eat what your feet have trampled and drink what your feet have muddied?

20“ ‘So this is what the Almighty Lord says to them: I will judge disputes between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep. 21You fat sheep push the skinny sheep with your sides and shoulders, and you knock down all the sick sheep with your horns. You have scattered them all over. 22So I will rescue my sheep, and they will no longer be prey. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23Then I will place one shepherd over them, my servant David, and he will take care of them. He will take care of them and be their shepherd. 24I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be their prince. I, the Lord, have spoken.

25“ ‘I will promise them peace. I will remove the wild animals from the land so that my sheep can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26I will bless them and the places around my hill. I will send rain at the right time. These showers will be a blessing to them. 27Then the trees in the field will produce fruit, the land will yield crops, and my sheep will live safely in their land. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will break off the bars on their yokes  (A yoke is a wooden bar placed over the necks of work animals so that they can pull plows or carts.) and rescue them from the people who made them slaves. 28They will no longer be prey to the nations, and the wild animals will no longer eat them. They will live safely, and no one will frighten them. 29I will give them a place that is known for its good crops. They will no longer experience hunger in the land, and they will no longer suffer the insults of other nations. 30Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the people of Israel, are my people, declares the Almighty Lord. 31You, my sheep, are the sheep in my pasture. You are mortal, and I am your God, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 35

Judgment on Edom

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, turn to Mount Seir, and prophesy against it. 3Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:

 

I’m against you, Mount Seir.
I will use my power against you,
and you will become a wasteland.
4 I will turn your cities into ruins,
and you will become a wasteland.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.

 

5 “ ‘You have always been an enemy of Israel.
You deserted the people of Israel in battle
when they were in trouble during their final punishment.
6 That is why, as I live, declares the Almighty Lord,
I will let you be murdered.
Murderers will pursue you.
Since you don’t hate murdering people, murder will pursue you.
7 I will turn Mount Seir into a barren wasteland,
and I will destroy everyone who comes or goes from there.
8 I will fill your mountains with those who have been killed.
Those killed in battle will fall on your hills
and in your valleys and ravines.
9 I will turn you into a permanent wasteland.
Your cities will not be lived in.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.

 

10“ ‘You said, “These two nations, Israel and Judah, along with their land, belong to us. We will take possession of them.” But the Lord was there. 11That is why, as I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I will do to you what you did to them. When you were angry and jealous, you acted hatefully toward them. 12Then you will know that I, the Lord, heard all the insults that you spoke about the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been deserted and handed over to us to use up.” 13You bragged and continually talked against me. I heard you.

14“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: The whole earth will be glad when I turn you into a wasteland. 15You were happy when the land of Israel became a wasteland. I will do the same thing to you. You will become a wasteland, Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 36

Blessings for the Mountains of Israel

1⌞The Lord said,⌟ “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel. Tell them, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the Lord’s word. 2This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your enemies said this about you, “Aha! The ancient worship sites now belong to us.” ’

3“So prophesy. Say, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your enemies turned you into ruins and crushed you from every side. You became the possession of the rest of the nations, and people began to talk and gossip about you.

4“ ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the Almighty Lord’s word. This is what the Almighty Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, and to the empty ruins and abandoned cities that have become prey and are mocked by the rest of the surrounding nations: 5In my fiery anger I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all of Edom. The Edomites have taken possession of my land with wholehearted joy and with complete scorn. They forced out the people and took their land.’

6“So prophesy about Israel. Tell the mountains and hills and the ravines and valleys, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am speaking in my anger and fury because you have been insulted by the nations. 7So this is what the Almighty Lord says: I raise my hand and swear that the nations which surround you will be insulted.

8“ ‘But you, mountains of Israel, will grow branches and bear fruit for my people Israel. My people will come home soon. 9I am for you. I will turn to you, and you will be plowed and planted. 10I will increase the number of people who live on you. All the people of Israel, all of them, will live on you. The cities will be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 11I will increase the number of people and animals that live on you. They will grow and become many. I will let people live on you as in the past, and I will make you better off than ever before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 12I will bring people, my people Israel, to you. They will take possession of you, and you will be their inheritance. You will no longer take their children away from them.

13“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: People say that you devour your people and take the children away from your nation. 14So you will no longer devour your people or take the children away from your nation, declares the Almighty Lord. 15I will no longer let you hear the insults from the nations. You will no longer suffer the disgrace of the people. You will never again take the children away from your own nation, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

16The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 17“Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they dishonored it by the way they lived and by everything they did. Their ways were as unclean  (“Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.) as a woman’s menstrual period. 18So I poured out my fury on them because they poured out blood on the land and they dishonored the land with their idols. 19I forced them into other nations, and they became scattered among the nations. I judged them based on the way that they lived and based on everything that they had done. 20But wherever they went among the nations, they dishonored my holy name. People said about them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, yet they had to leave his land.’ 21I became concerned about my holy name because my people dishonored it among the nations wherever they went.

22“So tell the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am about to do something, people of Israel. I will not do this for your sake but for the sake of my holy name, which you have dishonored among the nations wherever you have gone. 23I will reveal the holiness of my great name, which has been dishonored by the nations, ⌞the name⌟ that you have dishonored among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, because I will reveal my holiness among you as they watch, declares the Almighty Lord.

24“ ‘I will take you from the nations and gather you from every country. I will bring you back to your own land. 25I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean  (“Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.) instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts. 27I will put my Spirit in you. I will enable you to live by my laws, and you will obey my rules. 28Then you will live in the land that I gave your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God. 29I will rescue you from all your uncleanness. I will make the grain grow so that you will never again have famines. 30I will make fruit grow on the trees and crops grow in the fields so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famines. 31Then you will remember your evil ways and the bad things that you did, and you will hate yourselves for all these wicked and disgusting things. 32I want you to know that I’m not doing this for your sake, declares the Almighty Lord. Be ashamed and disgraced because of your ways, people of Israel.

33“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: On the day that I cleanse you from all your wickedness, I will cause your cities to be lived in again, and your ruins will be rebuilt. 34The wasteland will be plowed. It will no longer remain empty for everyone passing by to see. 35People will say, “This wasteland has become like the garden of Eden. The cities were destroyed. They were empty and ruined, but now they are fortified and have people living in them.” 36The surrounding nations that are left will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted crops in the land that was empty. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.’

37“This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will also let the people of Israel ask me to make them as numerous as sheep. 38They will be like the sheep for sacrifices, like the sheep in Jerusalem during the appointed festivals. Their ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 37

The Valley of Dry Bones

1The power of the Lord came over me. The Lord brought me out by his Spirit and put me down in the middle of a valley. The valley was filled with bones. 2He led me all around them. I saw that there were very many bones at the bottom of the valley, and they were very dry.

3Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I answered, “Only you know, Almighty Lord.”

4Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones. Tell them, ‘Dry bones, listen to the Lord’s word. 5This is what the Almighty Lord says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. 6I will put ligaments on you, place muscles on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

7So I prophesied as I was commanded. While I was prophesying, suddenly there was a rattling noise, and the bones came together, one bone ⌞attaching itself⌟ to another. 8As I looked, I saw that ligaments were on them, muscles were on them, and skin covered them. Yet, there was no breath in them.

9Then the Lord said to me, “Prophesy to the breath!  (Or “Spirit.”) Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Come from the four winds, Breath, and breathe on these people who were killed so that they will live.’ ”

10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them. Then they came to life and stood on their feet. There were enough of them to form a very large army.

11The Lord also said to me, “Son of man, all the people of Israel are like these bones. The people say, ‘Our bones are dry, and our hope has vanished. We are completely destroyed.’ 12So prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: My people, I will open your graves and take you out of them. I will bring you to Israel. 13Then, my people, you will know that I am the Lord, because I will open your graves and bring you out of your graves. 14I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’ ”

15The Lord spoke his word to me again. He said, 16“Son of man, take a stick and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the Israelites who are associated with it.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘The stick of Ephraim, for Joseph and for all the people of Israel associated with it.’ 17Then join both sticks together so that they will be one in your hand. Your people will say to you, 18‘Tell us what you mean by this.’ 19Then say to them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will take Joseph’s stick, which is in Ephraim’s hand, and the tribes of Israel associated with it, and I will put them with Judah’s stick. I will make them into one stick. They will be one in my hand.’ 20When you hold the sticks in your hand, let the people see them.

21“Then tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they’ve gone. I will gather them from everywhere and bring them to their own land. 22I will form them into one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule all of them. They will no longer be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23They will no longer dishonor themselves with their idols, with their detestable things, or with their rebellious acts. I will forgive them for all the times they turned away from me and sinned. I will cleanse them so that they will be my people, and I will be their God.

24“ ‘My servant David will be their king, and all of them will have one shepherd. They will live by my rules, and they will obey my laws. 25They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They, their children, and their grandchildren will live in it permanently. My servant David will always be their prince. 26I will promise them peace. This promise  (Or “covenant.”) will last forever. I will establish them, make them increase in number, and put my holy place among them permanently. 27My dwelling place will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28Then the nations will know that I, the Lord, have set Israel apart as holy, because my holy place will be among them permanently.’ ”

Ezekiel 38

The Destruction of Gog and Its Army

1The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2“Son of man, turn to Gog from the land of Magog. He is the chief prince of ⌞the nations of⌟ Meshech and Tubal. Prophesy against him. 3Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4I will turn you around and put hooks in your jaws. I will lead you out with all your military forces, with horses and riders. Your soldiers will be fully armed. They will carry large and small shields and be able to use swords. 5Persia, Sudan, and Put will be with you. They, too, will have shields and helmets. 6Gomer will come with all its troops and with the nation of Togarmah from the far north. There will be many armies with you.

7“ ‘Be prepared! Be prepared, you and all the soldiers assembled around you. You will be their leader. 8After a long time you will be called to service. In the years to come, you will attack a land that has been rebuilt after a war. Its people have been gathered from many nations and brought to the mountains of Israel, mountains that have been ruined for a long time. These people were brought there from the nations, and all of them live there safely. 9You will attack like a storm and cover the land like a cloud. Your troops and the many armies will be with you.

10“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: At that time ideas will enter your head, and you will make wicked plans. 11You will say, “I’ll attack a land with unwalled villages. I will attack peaceful people who live safely. All of them live without walls, locks, or gates. 12I will come to rob them and loot them. I will use my power against the ruins that people are living in again. I will use it against the people who were gathered from the nations. These people have cattle and property, and they live in the world.”

13“ ‘Sheba, Dedan, the merchants from Tarshish, and all their villages will ask you, “Did you come to rob these people of their possessions? Did you assemble all these soldiers to carry away large amounts of silver and gold and to take cattle and property?” ’

14“So prophesy, son of man. Tell Gog, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: At that time my people Israel will live safely, and you will know it. 15You will come from your place in the far north and many armies will be with you. All of you will ride on horses. You will be a large crowd and a mighty army. 16You will attack my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In the days to come, I will let you attack my land so that nations will know me. I will use you for my holy purpose as they watch.

17“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: You are the one I spoke about long ago through my servants the prophets of Israel. They prophesied in those days that I would bring you to attack them. 18On the day that Gog attacks the land of Israel, I will be filled with burning anger, declares the Almighty Lord. 19In my fiery anger I tell you this. On that day there will be a large earthquake in the land of Israel. 20Fish, birds, wild animals, everything that crawls on the ground, and every person on earth will tremble in my presence. The mountains will be torn down, the cliffs will crumble, and every wall will fall to the ground. 21I will declare war against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Almighty Lord. Each person will use his sword against his relative. 22I will punish Gog with plagues and death. I will send rainstorms, large hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur on his troops and on the many armies with him. 23I will show my greatness and my holiness. I will reveal myself to many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Ezekiel 39

1⌞The Lord said,⌟ “Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am against you, Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 2I will turn you around and lead you. I will bring you from the far north and have you attack the mountains of Israel. 3Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand and make you drop the arrows in your right hand. 4You will die on the mountains of Israel with your troops and the armies that are with you. I will let you become food for every bird of prey and for every wild animal. 5You will die in the open field because I said so, declares the Almighty Lord. 6I will send fire on Magog and on those who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord. 7I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, and I will never let them dishonor my holy name again. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.

8“ ‘It’s coming! It will happen! declares the Almighty Lord. This is the day I have spoken about. 9Those living in the cities of Israel will go out. They will set fire to weapons and burn them. They will burn small and large shields, bows and arrows, and war clubs and spears. They will burn them for seven years. 10They will not need to get wood from the field or cut down trees in the woods. They will make fires with the weapons. They will loot those who looted them, and they will grab things back from those who grabbed their things, declares the Almighty Lord.

11“ ‘When that day comes, I will give Gog a burial place in Israel. It will be in Travelers Valley, east of the Dead Sea. It will block those who travel ⌞through the valley⌟. Gog and his whole army will be buried there. So it will be called the valley of Gog’s troops. 12The people of Israel will be burying them there for seven months to make the land clean. (“Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God.) 13All the common people will be burying them. The people of Israel will be honored on the day of my victory, declares the Almighty Lord.

14“ ‘People will be chosen to go through the land and make it clean. With the help of others they will bury the dead soldiers that are still on the ground. At the end of seven months they will begin their search. 15Whenever they go through the land and see a human bone, they will set up a marker beside it until the grave diggers have buried that bone in the valley of Gog’s troops. 16(A city named Hamonah  (There is a play on words here between Hebrew hamon (troops) and Hamonah.) will also be there.) In this way they will cleanse the land.’

17“Son of man, this is what the Almighty Lord says: Tell every kind of bird and every wild animal, ‘Assemble, and come together from all around for the sacrifice that I’m preparing for you. It will be a huge feast on the mountains of Israel. You can eat meat and drink blood there. 18You can eat the meat of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the earth. All of them will be killed like rams, lambs, goats, bulls and all the best animals of Bashan. 19You can eat the best meat until you are full and drink blood until you are drunk at the sacrifice that I am preparing for you. 20At my table you will be filled with horses and riders, warriors, and soldiers of every kind, declares the Almighty Lord.’

21“I will show my greatness among the nations. All the nations will see how I will turn my power against them to punish them. 22From that day on, the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. 23Then the nations will know that the people of Israel went into captivity because they did wrong and rebelled against me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies. They were killed in battle. 24I paid them back for their uncleanness and their sins, and I hid my face from them.

25“So this is what the Almighty Lord says: Now I will bring back Jacob’s captives and have compassion for the whole nation of Israel. I will stand up for my holy name. 26When they live safely in a land where no one will frighten them, they will forget their shame and all the unfaithful things they have done against me. 27I will bring them back from the other nations and gather them from the countries of their enemies. Many nations will see that I am holy. 28Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God. I sent them into captivity among the nations, and I brought them back again to their land. I left none of them behind. 29I will no longer hide my face from them, because I will pour out my Spirit on the nation of Israel, declares the Almighty Lord.”

Ezekiel 40

The New Temple of God

1It was the tenth day of the month in the beginning of the twenty-fifth year of our captivity and fourteen years after Jerusalem was captured. At that time the Lord’s power came over me, and he brought me to Jerusalem. 2In visions, God brought me to Israel and set me down on a very high mountain. On the south side of the mountain were some buildings that looked like those in a city. 3He brought me closer. I saw a man who looked like he was covered with bronze. The man was holding a linen tape measure and a measuring stick, and he stood in a gateway. 4He said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes, and listen with your ears. Pay close attention to everything I’m going to show you. You were brought here to be shown these things. Tell the nation of Israel everything that you see.”

The East Gateway

5I saw a wall that surrounded the temple. The man had a measuring stick that was 10½ feet long. He measured the wall. It was 10½ feet thick and 10½ feet high.

6Then the man went to the gateway that faced east. He went up its steps and measured the entrance to the gateway. It was 10½ feet wide. 7There were also guardrooms. Each guardroom was 10½ feet long and 10½ feet wide. The space between the guardrooms was 9 feet thick. And the entrance to the gateway by the entrance hall of the temple was 10½ feet wide. 8He also measured the entrance hall of the gateway. 9It extended 14 feet from the temple. Its recessed walls were 3½ feet thick. The gateway’s entrance hall faced the temple.

10Now, there were three guardrooms on each side of the eastern gateway. All three rooms on each side were the same size, and the recessed walls on each side were the same size.

11Then the man measured the width of the entrance to the gateway. It was 17½ feet wide, and the gateway was 23 feet long. 12There was a barrier about 21 inches in front of each guardroom. The guardrooms were 10½ feet square.

13He measured the gateway from the top of one guardroom to the top of the opposite guardroom. It was 44 feet wide from one door to the opposite door. 14He also measured the entrance hall. It was 35 feet wide. In front of the entrance hall to the gateway was a courtyard on all sides.

15The total length of the gateway from the front of the outer part to the front of the inner part of the entrance hall was 87½ feet.

16The guardrooms and recessed walls inside the gateway had small windows all around. The entrance hall also had windows all around on the inside. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls.

The Outer Courtyard

17Then the man brought me into the outer courtyard. I saw rooms there and pavement all around the courtyard. There were 30 rooms along the edge of the pavement. 18The pavement in the lower courtyard ran alongside the gateways. It was as wide as it was long. 19The man measured the distance from the inside of the lower gateway to the outside of the inner courtyard. It was 175 feet from east to north.

The North Gateway

20Then the man measured the length and width of the gateway, leading to the outer courtyard. This was the gateway that faced north. 21Its three guardrooms, its recessed walls, and its entrance hall were the same size as those in the east gateway. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 22Its windows, recessed walls, and palm tree pictures were the same size as those in the east gateway. Seven steps went up to it and led to its entrance hall. 23The inner courtyard had a gateway opposite the north gate just like the east gateway. The man measured the distance from one gate to the other gate. It was 175 feet.

The South Gateway

24Then the man led me to the south side, and I saw a gateway that faced south. He measured its recessed walls and its entrance hall. They were the same size as those of the other gateways. 25The gateway and its entrance hall had windows on all sides like the windows in the other gateways. It was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 26Seven steps went up to it and led to its entrance hall. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, one picture on each side. 27The inner courtyard had a gateway facing south. The man measured the distance from the gateway on the south side to its opposite gateway. It was 175 feet.

The Inner Courtyard

28Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard through the south gateway. He measured the south gateway. It was the same size as the others. 29Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance hall were the same size as the other gateways. The guardrooms and the entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 30There were entrance halls all around the inner courtyard. They were all 44 feet long and 9 feet wide. 31The entrance halls faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to each gateway.

32Then the man brought me to the east side of the inner courtyard. He measured the gateway. It was the same size as the others. 33Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance halls were the same size as those of the other gateways. Its guardrooms and entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 34Its entrance hall faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to the gateway.

35Then the man brought me to the north gateway. He measured it. It was the same size as the others. 36Its guardrooms, recessed walls, and entrance hall had windows all around. The gateway was 87½ feet long and 44 feet wide. 37Its recessed walls faced the outer courtyard. Pictures of palm trees were carved on the recessed walls, and eight steps led up to the gateway.

Special Rooms

38There was a room with a door that opened toward the entrance hall of the gateway. This is the room where the priests washed the animals for the burnt offerings. 39In the entrance hall of the gateway there were two tables on each side of the room. On these tables the animals were slaughtered for burnt offerings, offerings for sin, and guilt offerings. 40On each side of the entrance to the north gateway there were two tables, and on the other side of the entrance hall of the gateway there were two tables. 41So there were four tables on each side of the gateway, eight tables in all, on which they slaughtered animals. 42There were four tables made of cut stone for burnt offerings. They were 3 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 21 inches high. On these tables the priests laid the utensils that were used to slaughter animals for burnt offerings and sacrifices. 43Double-pronged hooks, three inches long, were attached to the wall all around the room, and the tables were for the meat of the animals. 44Outside the gateways to the inner courtyard were the rooms for the singers in the inner courtyards. One room was at the side of the north gateway. It faced south. The other room was at the side of the south gateway. It faced north. 45The man said to me, “This room that faces south is for the priests who serve in the temple. 46The room that faces north is for the priests who serve at the altar. These priests are Zadok’s descendants. They are the only Levites who are able to come near the Lord and serve him.” 47The man measured the courtyard. It was a perfect square—175 feet long and 175 feet wide. And the altar was in front of the temple.

48Then the man brought me to the entrance hall of the temple and measured its recessed walls. They were 9 feet on each side. The gateway was 24½ feet wide, and the walls on each side were 5 feet wide. 49The entrance hall was 35 feet long and 21 feet wide. Steps led up to it. Pillars stood by the recessed walls, one on each side of the entrance hall.

Ezekiel 41

The Holy Place in the Temple

1Then the man brought me into the holy place in the temple and measured the recessed walls. They were 10½ feet wide on each side. 2The entrance was 17½ feet wide, and on each side of the entrance the walls were 9 feet wide. Then he measured the length of the holy place. It was 70 feet long and 35 feet wide.

3Then the man went inside and measured the passageway. It was 3½ feet thick. The entrance was 10½ feet high and 12 feet wide. 4Then he measured the room at the end of the holy place. It was 35 feet long and 35 feet wide. The man said to me, “This is the most holy place.”

5Next, the man measured the temple wall. It was 10½ feet wide. The width of each side room around the temple was 7 feet. 6The rooms were arranged on three different stories. There were 30 rooms on each story. These rooms had supports all the way around the temple wall, but these supports were not fastened to the temple wall. 7The side rooms grew wider all the way around as they went up, story after story. The surrounding structure went from story to story all around the temple. The structure grew wider as it went higher. A stairway went from the first story through the second story to the third story.

8I also saw a raised base all around the temple. This base was the foundation for the side rooms. It measured the full length of the measuring rod, 10½ feet. 9The outer wall of the side rooms was 9 feet thick. There was an open area between the side rooms connected to the temple 10and the priests’ rooms. It was 35 feet wide and went all around the temple. 11The doors in the side rooms were entrances into the open area. There was one door to the north and another to the south. The base of the open area was 9 feet wide all the way around.

12At the far end of the open area, on the west side of the temple, was a building 122½ feet wide. The wall of the building was 9 feet thick all the way around, and it was 157½ feet long.

13Then the man measured the temple. It was 175 feet long. This included the open area with the building and its walls. All together it was 175 feet long. 14The eastern side of the temple, including the open area, was also 175 feet wide. 15He also measured the length of the building facing the courtyard on the west side along with its corridors on both sides. It was 175 feet long.

The holy place and the most holy place were paneled. 16The doorposts, the small windows, and the corridors of all three stories were paneled. The walls, from the floor up to the windows, were paneled. 17In the space above the door to the most holy place and on the walls all around it, 18there were pictures of angels  (Or “cherubim.”) and palm trees. Palm trees were positioned between each of the angels, and each angel had two faces: 19the face of a man, which was turned toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion, which was turned toward a palm tree on the other side. These pictures were carved all around the temple. 20Pictures of angels and palm trees were carved on the walls from the floor to the space above the door.

21The doorframes in the holy place were square. In front of the most holy place was something similar. 22There was a wooden altar, 5 feet high and 3½ feet wide. Its corners, its base, and its sides were made of wood. Then the man told me, “This is the table that is in the presence of the Lord.”

23The holy place and the most holy place had two doors. 24Each of the doors were double doors that swung open. 25Pictures of angels and palm trees were carved on the doors of the holy place as on the walls. There was a wooden roof hanging over the outer entrance hall. 26There were small windows and palm trees on both sides of the entrance hall, on the side rooms of the temple, and on the roofs.

Ezekiel 42

The Courtyards of the LORD ’s New Temple

1Then the man led me out toward the north to the outer courtyard. He brought me to the side rooms opposite both the open area and the northern building. 2The building that faced north was 175 feet long and 87½ feet wide. 3Opposite the inner courtyard was an area that was 35 feet wide, and opposite the pavement of the outer courtyard were corridors facing corridors on all three stories. 4In front of the side rooms was a walkway, 17½ feet wide and 175 feet long. The doors of these side rooms faced north.

5The side rooms on the third story were narrower than those on the first or second stories of the building because the corridors took space away from them. 6The rooms were in three stories. They didn’t have pillars like the pillars in the courtyards. That is why the rooms on the third story were set farther back than those on the first and second stories. 7There was a wall which ran parallel to the side rooms and the outer courtyard. It ran alongside the side rooms for 87½ feet. 8The row of rooms in the outer courtyard was 87½ feet long. The rooms that faced the temple were 175 feet long. 9These lower side rooms had an entrance on the east side. A person was able to enter the outer courtyard through them.

10There were side rooms parallel to the wall of the courtyard on the south side. (Greek; Masoretic Text “east side.”) They faced the open area and the building. 11There was a walkway in front of them like the one that was in front of the side rooms on the north side. These side rooms were as long and as wide as the northern rooms. They had the same exits, dimensions, and doors. 12The doors to the south rooms were the same as the doors to the north rooms. There was a doorway at the other end of the walkway that was parallel to the corresponding wall that ran eastward. People entered through that doorway.

13Then the man said to me, “The northern and southern side rooms that face the open area are holy rooms. These rooms are where the priests who come near the Lord eat the holiest offerings. Because these rooms are holy, the priests keep the holiest offerings there: the grain offerings, the offerings for sin, and the guilt offerings. 14Once the priests enter the holy place, they must not go out of the holy place into the outer courtyard until they leave behind the clothes that they wore as they served. These clothes are holy. The priests must put on other clothes. Then they can go into the area that is for the people.”

15When the man had finished measuring the inner part of the temple area, he led me out through the east gate. Then he measured all the way around the outer area. 16He measured the east side with a measuring stick. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 17He measured the north side. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 18He measured the south side. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 19He came around to the west side and measured it. It was 875 feet long according to the measuring stick. 20So he measured all four sides. There was a wall all around it. The wall was 875 feet long and 875 feet wide. It separated what was holy from what was unholy.

Ezekiel 43

The Glory of the LORD Fills the New Temple

1Then the man took me to the east gate. 2I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the sound of rushing water, and the earth was shining because of his glory. 3This vision was like the one I saw when he came  (Some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek, Latin; other Hebrew manuscripts “When I came.”) to destroy Jerusalem and like the one I saw by the Chebar River. I immediately bowed down. 4The Lord’s glory came into the temple through the east gate.

5The Spirit lifted me and brought me into the inner courtyard. I saw the Lord’s glory fill the temple. 6I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple while the man was standing beside me. 7The voice said to me, “Son of man, this is the place where my throne is and the place where my feet rest. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. Then the people of Israel and their kings will no longer dishonor my holy name by acting like prostitutes, nor will they dishonor it with the dead bodies of their kings. 8They put their doorway by my doorway and their doorposts by my doorposts. Only a wall separated me from them. They dishonored my holy name because of the disgusting things that they have done. So I destroyed them in my anger. 9Now they must stop acting like prostitutes and take the dead bodies of their kings far away from me. Then I will live among them forever.

10“Son of man, describe this temple to the people of Israel. Then they will be ashamed because of their sins. Let them study the plans. 11Suppose they are ashamed of everything that they have done. Then show them the design of the temple, its arrangements, its exits and entrances—its entire design. Tell them about all its rules and regulations. Then write these things down for them so that they can remember its design and follow all its rules.

12“This is a regulation of the temple: The whole area all the way around the top of the mountain is most holy. Yes, this is a regulation of the temple.”

The Altar in the New Temple

13These are the measurements of the altar, using royal measurements. (The royal measuring stick was 21 inches long.) The base of the altar was 21 inches high and 21 inches wide. All around the edge of the altar was a rim measuring 9 inches wide. This was the height of the altar: 14From the base on the ground to the lower ledge it was 3½ feet high, and from the lower ledge to the upper ledge it was 7 feet high and 21 inches wide. 15The place where the sacrifices were burned was 7 feet high. There were four horns above it. 16It was square, 21 feet wide and 21 feet long. 17The upper ledge was also square. It was 24½ feet long and 24½ feet wide. It had a rim all the way around that was 10½ inches wide. Its base was 21 inches. The steps to the altar faced east.

18Then the man said to me, “Son of man, this is what the Almighty Lord says: These are the rules for sacrificing burnt offerings and for sprinkling blood on the altar after the altar is built. 19Give a young bull to the priests as an offering for sin. These priests are Zadok’s descendants, men from the tribe of Levi, who can come near me and serve me. 20Take some of the bull’s blood, and put it on the altar’s four horns, on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim all the way around the altar. When you do this, you will remove sin from the altar and make peace with the Lord. 21Then take a young bull as an offering for sin, and burn it in the place appointed near the temple, outside the holy place.

22“On the second day bring a male goat that has no defects as an offering for sin. Remove sin from the altar as you did with the young bull. 23When you finish removing sin, offer a young bull and a ram that have no defects. 24Offer them to the Lord. The priests must throw salt on them and offer them as burnt offerings to the Lord. 25Every day for seven days you must sacrifice a goat, a young bull, and a ram from the flock as an offering for sin. They must be animals that have no defects. 26For seven days the priests should make peace with the Lord at the altar, purify it, and consecrate it. 27When those days are over, on the eighth day, the priests must sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the altar. Then I will accept them, declares the Almighty Lord.”

Ezekiel 44

The East Gate Is Sealed Shut

1Then the man took me back to the outer east gate of the holy place, and the gate was shut. 2The Lord said to me, “This gate will stay shut and will not be opened. No one may enter through it because the Lord God of Israel entered through it. It must be kept shut. 3Only the prince may sit there and eat food in the presence of the Lord. He will enter through the entrance hall of the gateway and leave the same way.”

4The man brought me through the north gate in front of the temple. When I looked, I saw the Lord’s glory fill the Lord’s temple. I immediately bowed down.

The People Serving in the New Temple

5The Lord said to me, “Son of man, pay close attention. Look, and listen to everything I’m going to tell you. Listen to all the rules and regulations for the Lord’s temple. Pay close attention to everyone who enters the temple and leaves from the holy place. 6Tell the rebellious people of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’ve had enough of all the disgusting things that you have done, people of Israel. 7You brought godless foreigners  (Or “foreigners whose hearts and bodies are uncircumcised.”) into my holy place. You dishonored my temple when you offered fat and blood to me. You rejected my promise so that you could do all your disgusting things. 8You didn’t take care of my holy things. You put foreigners in charge of my temple. 9So this is what the Almighty Lord says: Any godless foreigner who lives among the Israelites may not enter my holy place.

10“ ‘Some Levites went far away from me when Israel wandered off to follow their idols. They must be punished for their sins. 11They could have served in my holy place. They could have guarded the gates of the temple. They could have served in the temple by slaughtering the animals for the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people. They could have stood in front of the people and served them. 12But they served the people by standing in front of their idols and by making Israel fall into sin. So I raised my hand and swore that they would be punished for their sins, declares the Lord. 13They must not come near me and serve me as priests. They must not come near any of my holy things or my most holy things. They must suffer disgrace because of the disgusting things that they have done. 14I will assign them all of the less important work in the temple.

15“ ‘But the priests who are Levites and descendants of Zadok took care of my holy place when the Israelites wandered away from me. They may come near me and serve me, and they may stand in my presence. They may bring fat and blood to me, declares the Almighty Lord. 16They may enter my holy place, come near my table to serve me, and take care of everything I gave them. 17When they enter the gateways to the inner courtyard, they must wear linen clothes. They must have no wool on them while they serve in the gateways to the inner courtyard and in the temple. 18They must wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments. They must not wear anything that makes them sweat. 19When they go out among the people in the outer courtyard, they must take off the clothes that they wore as they served. They must leave their clothes in the side rooms of the holy place and put on other clothes so that they do not transfer the holiness from their clothes to the people.

20“ ‘They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long. They must keep the hair on their heads trimmed. 21None of the priests may drink wine when they enter the inner courtyard. 22They must not marry widows or women who have been divorced. They may marry only virgins from the nation of Israel or widows of priests. 23They must teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is unholy. They must show the people how to tell the difference between what is clean and what is unclean. (“Clean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is presentable to God. “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God.) 24In all disputes the priests must act as judges and make decisions based on my laws. They must obey my rules and my regulations at all my festivals. They must observe holy days to worship me.

25“ ‘A priest must not make himself unclean by going near a dead body. But a priest may become unclean if the dead person is his father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or unmarried sister. 26After a priest is made clean, he must wait seven days. 27When he enters the inner courtyard of the holy place to serve in the holy place, he must bring his offering for sin, declares the Almighty Lord.

28“ ‘The priests will have no inheritance. I am their inheritance. Don’t give them any possessions in Israel. The priests belong to me. 29They will eat grain offerings, offerings for sin, and guilt offerings. Everything in Israel that is devoted to the Lord will belong to them. 30The priests should have the best of all the first ripened fruits. The best of every gift from all your contributions must go to the priests. The best of your dough must go to the priests. This will cause a blessing to rest on your home. 31The priests must never eat any bird or animal that has died naturally or was killed by other wild animals.

Ezekiel 45

Land for the Priests, Levites, and the Prince

1“ ‘Divide the land by drawing lots for the property you will inherit. Set aside an area 43,750 feet long and 35,000 feet wide for the Lord. The entire area will be holy. 2An area of 875 feet square will be for the holy place with an open area 87½ feet wide. 3Measure off an area 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide. The holy place, that is, the most holy place, will be in this area. 4This holy part of the land will belong to the priests who serve in the holy place, the priests who come near to serve the Lord. They will use this place for their homes, and it will be the location for the holy place. 5An area 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide will belong to the Levites who serve in the temple. It will be given to them so that they have cities to live in.

6“ ‘You must designate an area 8,750 feet wide and 43,750 feet long as the city’s property. It will be located alongside the holy area. It will belong to all the people of Israel.

7“ ‘The prince will have all the land on both sides of the holy area and on both sides of the property belonging to the city. From the western boundary of the holy area, his land will extend to the Mediterranean Sea. From the eastern boundary of the holy area, his land will extend to the eastern border ⌞of the country⌟. His territory will be as large as the territory of one of the tribes. 8This land will belong to the prince in Israel. Then my princes will no longer oppress my people. They will give land to each tribe of the nation of Israel.

Honest Weights and Measures for the LORD ’s People

9“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’ve had enough of you, you princes of Israel. Stop your violence and looting, and do what is fair and right. Stop evicting my people, declares the Almighty Lord. 10You must have honest scales and honest dry and liquid measures. 11The dry and liquid measures must always be the same: The ephah and the bath should hold the same as one-tenth of a homer. The homer must be the standard measure. (A homerwtas about 60 gallons as a liquid measure or 6 bushels as a dry measure.) 12One shekel must weigh 20 gerahs. One mina must weigh 60 shekels. (A shekel was about four-tenths of an ounce.)

Rules for Worship

13“ ‘This is the contribution you must give to the Lord: seventeen percent of your wheat and seventeen percent of your barley. 14You must give one percent of your olive oil using the standard measure. 15You must take one sheep out of every 200 from the well-watered pastures of Israel. You must sacrifice them with grain offerings, burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings to make peace with the Lord, declares the Almighty Lord. 16All the common people must give this contribution to the prince in Israel. 17Then the prince is responsible to provide burnt offerings, grain offerings, and wine offerings at the annual festivals, the New Moon Festivals, the weekly days of rest—holy days, and all the other appointed festivals of the nation of Israel. He must prepare offerings for sin, grain offerings, burnt offerings, and fellowship offerings to make peace with the Lord for the nation of Israel.

18“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: On the first day of the first month, take a young bull that has no defects and remove sin from the holy place. 19The priest must take some blood from the offering for sin and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the doorposts of the gateways of the inner courtyard. 20You must do the same on the seventh day of the month for everyone who unintentionally does something wrong and is unaware of it. So you must make peace with the Lord for the temple.

21“ ‘On the fourteenth day of the first month, you will celebrate the Passover, a festival lasting seven days when unleavened bread is eaten. 22At that time the prince must prepare for himself and for all the common people a young bull as an offering for sin. 23Every day during the seven days of the festival, he must prepare burnt offerings for the Lord: seven young bulls that have no defects, seven rams that have no defects, and one male goat as an offering for sin. 24He must also give as a grain offering a half-bushel for each young bull and a half-bushel for each ram. He must also give one gallon of olive oil for every half-bushel of grain. 25On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, at the Festival of Booths, he must do the same as on those seven days. He must prepare the same offerings for sin, burnt offerings, grain offerings, and olive oil.

Ezekiel 46

1“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: The east gate of the inner courtyard must be closed during the six working days, but it must be opened on the weekly day of rest—a holy day. It must also be opened on the New Moon Festival. 2The prince must enter from the outside through the entrance hall of the gateway. He must stand by the doorposts of the gateway. Then the priests must prepare the prince’s burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He must worship at the entrance of the gateway and then leave. The gate must not be closed until evening. 3The common people must worship at the door of the gateway in the presence of the Lord on the weekly days of rest—holy days, and on New Moon Festivals. 4The prince must offer to the Lord six lambs that have no defects and one ram that has no defects as a burnt offering on the day of rest—a holy day. 5The grain offering that is to be brought with the ram must be a half-bushel, and the grain offering that is to be brought with the lambs must be whatever the prince can bring. One gallon of olive oil must be brought with each half-bushel of grain. 6On the first day of the month, the burnt offering must be one young bull, six lambs, and one ram—all animals that have no defects. 7With each young bull and each ram the offering must include a half-bushel of grain, and with each lamb the offering must be whatever the prince wants to bring. One gallon of olive oil must be offered with each half-bushel of grain. 8When the prince enters, he must enter through the entrance hall of the gateway. He must enter and leave the same way.

9“ ‘The people will enter the Lord’s presence at the time of the appointed festivals. Those entering through the north gate to worship must leave through the south gate. Those entering through the south gate must leave through the north gate. They must not leave through the same gate they entered. They must leave through the opposite gate. 10The prince must be among them. When they enter, he must enter. When they leave, he must leave.

11“ ‘On festival days and at appointed festivals, a grain offering of a half-bushel must be brought with each young bull, and a half-bushel must be brought with each ram. But with the lambs, the prince may bring whatever he wants to bring. One gallon of olive oil must be brought with each half-bushel of grain. 12When the prince prepares a freewill burnt offering, either a burnt offering or a fellowship offering to the Lord, the east gate must be opened for him. He must sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings as he does on the day of rest—a holy day. When he leaves, the gate must be shut after him.

13“ ‘Prepare a year-old lamb that has no defects every day as a burnt offering to the Lord. Do this every morning. 14Also, prepare a grain offering with it every morning: three-and-a-third quarts of grain and one-and-a-third quarts of olive oil to moisten the flour. It will be a grain offering dedicated to the Lord. These rules are to be followed always. 15Prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the olive oil every morning as a daily burnt offering.

16“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Suppose the prince offers one of his sons a gift from his property. The gift will belong to his descendants because it is their inheritance. 17But suppose the prince offers a gift from his property to one of his servants. The gift will belong to the servant only until the year of freedom. Then the gift will go back to the prince. Only his sons can inherit his property. 18The prince must not take any of the people’s property. He must not force them to give up their property. He must give his own property as an inheritance to his sons so that none of my people will be separated from their property.’ ”

19The man brought me through a passage beside the gateway to the side rooms that faced north. These rooms were reserved for the priests. He showed me a place on the west side of the rooms. 20He said to me, “This is the place where the priests must boil the meat for the guilt offering and the offering for sin. This is the place where they must bake grain offerings so that they don’t have to bring the offerings into the outer courtyard. This way they won’t transfer holiness to the people.”

21Then the man led me to the outer courtyard and took me past the four corners of the courtyard. I saw that in each corner of the courtyard there was a smaller courtyard. 22The smaller courtyards that were in each of the four corners of the courtyard were 60 feet long and 45 feet wide. All four of the smaller courtyards in the corners of the courtyard were the same size. 23Around each of the four courtyards were stone walls, and these walls were equipped with fireplaces.

24Then the man said to me, “These are the kitchens where the temple servants must boil the people’s sacrifices.”

Ezekiel 47

Water Flowing from the Temple

1Then the man took me back to the door of the temple. I saw water flowing from under the entrance of the temple toward the east. (The temple faced east.) The water was flowing under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. 2Then he led me through the north gate and around to the outer east gate. The water was flowing down the south side of the gate.

3With a measuring line in his hand, the man went eastward. He measured off 1,500 feet and led me through the water. The water came up to my ankles. 4Then he measured off another 1,500 feet and led me through the water. The water came up to my knees. He measured off another 1,500 feet and led me through the water. The water came up to my waist. 5Then he measured another 1,500 feet. But the water had risen so much that it became a river which I couldn’t cross. The river was too deep to cross except by swimming. 6Then he asked me, “Son of man, do you see this?”

7Then the man led me back along the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw many trees on both sides of the river. 8Then the man said to me, “This water flows through the land to the east, down into the Jordan Valley, and into the Dead Sea. When the water flows into the Dead Sea, it will replace the salt water there with fresh water. 9Wherever the river flows, there will be many fish and animals. The river will make the water in the Dead Sea fresh. Wherever the river flows, it will bring life. 10From En Gedi to En Eglaim people will be standing on the shore of the sea with their fishing nets spread out. As many kinds of fish will be there as there are in the Mediterranean Sea. 11But the water in the swamps and marshes won’t become fresh. It will remain salty. 12All kinds of fruit trees will grow on both sides of the river. Their leaves won’t wither, and they won’t fail to produce fruit. Each month they will produce fresh fruit because this water flows from the holy place. The fruit will be good food, and the leaves will be used for healing.”

Dividing the Land for the LORD ’s People

13This is what the Almighty Lord says: These are the borders of the land that is to be divided among the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph gets two parts. 14Divide the land equally. I raised my hand and swore that I would give the land to your ancestors. So this land will be your inheritance.

15This is the northern border for the land: On the north side the border will run from the Mediterranean Sea all the way to Hethlon and Hamath Pass. It will run through the city of Zedad and through 16Berothah and Sibraim, which are between the borders of Damascus and Hamath. It will run to Hazer Hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran. 17So the border will run from the Mediterranean Sea to Hazar Enon on the border of Damascus. The border of Hamath will lie to the north. This is the north side.

18On the east side the border will run between Hauran and Damascus. The Jordan River will serve as the border between Gilead and the land of Israel. The border will continue from the Dead Sea down to Tamar. This is the east side.

19On the south side the border will run from Tamar to the oasis at Meribah in Kadesh along the ravine to the Mediterranean Sea. This is the southern border.

20On the west side the Mediterranean Sea is the border up to a point opposite Hamath Pass. This is the west side.

21Divide this land among yourselves for each of the tribes of Israel. 22Divide it by drawing lots. This land will be for you. It will also be for the foreign residents who live among you and have given birth to children while they lived with you. Think of them as Israelites. They will draw lots with you for their inheritance among the tribes of Israel. 23Foreign residents will receive their share of the inheritance with the people of the tribe among whom they are living, declares the Almighty Lord.

Ezekiel 48

1These are the names of the tribes. Beginning at the northern border, Dan will have one part of the land. It will extend from the road to Hethlon to Hamath Pass and Hazar Enon, on the northern border of Damascus near Hamath, from the eastern border to the western border.

2Asher will have one part of the land and border Dan on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

3Naphtali will have one part of the land and border Asher on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

4Manasseh will have one part of the land and border Naphtali on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

5Ephraim will have one part of the land and border Manasseh on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

6Reuben will have one part of the land and border Ephraim on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

7Judah will have one part of the land and border Reuben on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

8The land that you set aside as a special gift for the Lord will border Judah on the south. It will be 43,750 feet wide, and it will be as long as one of the sections of the tribes. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border, and the holy place will be in the middle of it.

9This special land that you set aside for the Lord will be 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide. 10This holy area will belong to the priests. On the north side it will be 43,750 feet long. On the west side it will be 17,500 feet wide. On the east side it will be 17,500 feet wide. On the south side it will be 43,750 feet long. The Lord’s holy place will be in the middle of it. 11This land that has been set apart will belong to the priests who are descendants of Zadok. They took care of my holy place. They didn’t wander away with the Israelites as the Levites did. 12So they will have a special portion from the land. It will be the holiest part of land, next to the land belonging to the Levites.

13Alongside the land belonging to the priests will be the land belonging to the Levites. It will be 43,750 feet long and 17,500 feet wide. 14They must not sell any of it or trade any of it. They must not let others have the best part of the land, because the land is the Lord’s and it is holy.

15A strip of land, 8,750 feet wide by 43,750 feet long, will be left for cities, homes, and pastures. The city will be in the middle of it. 16These will be the measurements for the city: On the north side it will be 7,875 feet long. On the south side it will be 7,875 feet long. On the east side it will be 7,875 feet wide. And on the west side it will be 7,875 feet wide. 17The city’s pastureland will be 4,375 feet on the north, 4,375 feet on the south, 4,375 feet on the east, and 4,375 feet on the west. 18The rest of the land borders the holy area and runs lengthwise. This land will be 17,500 feet on its east side and 17,500 feet on its west side. It will be used to provide food for the city workers. 19City workers from all the tribes in Israel will farm it. 20The whole area will be 43,750 feet square. You must give this land as a special gift to the Lord along with the city property.

21Whatever is left on the east side and west side of the holy area and the city property will belong to the prince. This land will extend eastward from the holy area to the eastern border, and it will extend westward to the western border. Both of these areas are as long as one of the sections of the tribes. These areas belong to the prince, and the holy area with the holy place of the temple will be between them. 22So the Levites’ property and the city’s property will be between the prince’s part of the land. What is between Judah’s and Benjamin’s boundaries will belong to the prince.

23This is what the rest of the tribes will receive: Benjamin will have one part of the land. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

24Simeon will have one part of the land and border Benjamin on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

25Issachar will have one part of the land and border Simeon on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

26Zebulun will have one part of the land and border Issachar on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

27Gad will have one part of the land and border Zebulun on the south. It will extend from the eastern border to the western border.

28The southern border of Gad will run south from Tamar to the oasis at Meribah in Kadesh, and it will run along the Brook of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. 29This is the land you will divide as your inheritance among the tribes of Israel, and these are their areas, declares the Almighty Lord.

The New City of God

30These will be the exits for the city: The north side will be 7,875 feet long. 31The gates of the city will be named after the tribes of Israel. The three gates on the north side will be Reuben Gate, Judah Gate, and Levi Gate.

32The east side will be 7,875 feet long. The three gates on the east side will be Joseph Gate, Benjamin Gate, and Dan Gate.

33The south side will be 7,875 feet long. The three gates on the south side will be Simeon Gate, Issachar Gate, and Zebulun Gate.

34The west side will be 7,875 feet long. The three gates on the west side will be Gad Gate, Asher Gate, and Naphtali Gate.

35The city will measure about 31,500 feet all the way around. From then on the city’s name will be: The Lord Is There.

New Testament

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