New King James Version (NKJV)

Judgment on Wicked Counselors

1 Thenthe Spirit lifted me up and brought me tothe East Gate of theLord’s house, which faces eastward; and thereat the door of the gate were twenty-five men, among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

2 And He said to me: “Son of man, thesearethe men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city,

3 who say, ‘Thetimeisnotnear to build houses;thiscityisthe caldron, and wearethe meat.’

4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!”

5 Thenthe Spirit of theLordfell upon me, and said to me, “Speak! ‘Thus says theLord: “Thus you have said, O house of Israel; forI know the things that come into your mind.

6 You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.”

7 Therefore thus says the LordGod:“Your slain whom you have laid in its midst, theyarethe meat, and thiscityisthe caldron;but I shall bring you out of the midst of it.

8 You havefeared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you,” says the LordGod.

9 “And I will bring you out of its midst, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, andexecute judgments on you.

10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you atthe border of Israel.Then you shall know that IamtheLord.

11 Thiscityshall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the meat in its midst. I will judge you at the border of Israel.

12 And you shall know that IamtheLord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, buthave done according to the customs of the Gentiles whichareall around you.” ’ ”

13 Now it happened, while I was prophesying, thatPelatiah the son of Benaiah died. ThenI fell on my face and cried with a loud voice, and said, “Ah, LordGod! Will You make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?”

God Will Restore Israel

14 Again the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

15 “Son of man, your brethren, your relatives, your countrymen, and all the house of Israel in its entirety,arethose about whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Get far away from theLord; this land has been given to us as a possession.’

16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries,yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.” ’

17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the LordGod:“I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.” ’

18 And they will go there, and they will take away all itsdetestable things and all its abominations from there.

19 ThenI will give them one heart, and I will puta new spirit within them, and takethe stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,

20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them;and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

21 Butasforthosewhose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations,I will recompense their deeds on their own heads,” says the LordGod.

22 So the cherubimlifted up their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israelwashigh above them.

23 Andthe glory of theLordwent up from the midst of the city and stoodon the mountain,whichison the east side of the city.

24 Thenthe Spirit took me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to those in captivity. And the vision that I had seen went up from me.

25 So I spoke to those in captivity of all the things theLordhad shown me.

Judah’s Captivity Portrayed

1 Now the word of theLordcame to me, saying:

2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst ofa rebellious house, whichhas eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear;for theyarea rebellious house.

3 “Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity by day in their sight. You shall go from your place into captivity to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though theyarea rebellious house.

4 By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity.

5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and carryyourbelongingsout through it.

6 In their sight you shall bearthemonyourshouldersandcarrythemout at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground,for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”

7 So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I broughtthemout at twilight,andI borethemonmyshoulder in their sight.

8 And in the morning the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel,the rebellious house, said to you,‘What are you doing?’

10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Thisburdenconcernsthe prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.” ’

11 Say,‘Iama sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them;they shall be carried away into captivity.’

12 Andthe prince whoisamong them shall bearhisbelongingsonhisshoulder at twilight and go out. They shall dig through the wall to carrythemout through it. He shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground withhiseyes.

13 I will also spread Mynet over him, and he shall be caught in My snare.I will bring him to Babylon,tothe land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there.

14 I will scatter to every wind all whoarearound him to help him, and all his troops; andI will draw out the sword after them.

15 “Then they shall know that IamtheLord, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.

16 But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that IamtheLord.”

Judgment Not Postponed

17 Moreover the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

18 “Son of man,eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and anxiety.

19 And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the LordGodto the inhabitants of Jerusalemandto the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land maybe emptied of all who are in it,because of the violence of all those who dwell in it.

20 Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you shall know that IamtheLord.” ’ ”

21 And the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

22 “Son of man, whatisthis proverbthatyoupeoplehave about the land of Israel, which says,‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?

23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” ’ But say to them, ‘“The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.

24 Forno more shall there be anyfalse vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

25 For IamtheLord. I speak, andthe word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word andperform it,” says the LordGod.’ ”

26 Again the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

27 “Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he seesisfor many daysfromnow,and he prophesies of times far off.’

28 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speakwill be done,” says the LordGod.’ ”

Woe to Foolish Prophets

1 And the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, prophesyagainst the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say tothose who prophesy out of their ownheart, ‘Hear the word of theLord!’ ”

3 Thus says the LordGod: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!

4 O Israel, your prophets arelike foxes in the deserts.

5 Youhave not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of theLord.

6 They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says theLord!’ But theLordhasnot sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed.

7 Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘TheLordsays,’ but I have not spoken.”

8 Therefore thus says the LordGod: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore Iamindeed against you,” says the LordGod.

9 “My hand will beagainst the prophets who envision futility and whodivine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people,nor be written in the record of the house of Israel,nor shall they enter into the land of Israel.Then you shall know that Iamthe LordGod.

10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying,‘Peace!’ whenthereisno peace—and one builds a wall, and theyplaster it with untemperedmortar—

11 say to those who plasteritwith untemperedmortar,that it will fall.There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tearitdown.

12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Whereisthe mortar with which you plasteredit?’ ”

13 Therefore thus says the LordGod: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consumeit.

14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untemperedmortar,and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it.Then you shall know that IamtheLord.

15 “Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untemperedmortar;and I will say to you, ‘The wallisnomore,nor those who plastered it,

16 thatis,the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and whosee visions of peace for her whenthereisno peace,’ ” says the LordGod.

17 “Likewise, son of man,set your face against the daughters of your people,who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them,

18 and say, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Woe to thewomenwho sewmagiccharms on their sleeves and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will youhunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?

19 And will you profane Me among My peoplefor handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”

20 ‘Therefore thus says the LordGod: “Behold, Iamagainst yourmagiccharms by which you hunt souls there like birds. I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds.

21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand.Then you shall know that IamtheLord.

22 “Because withlies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you havestrengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.

23 Thereforeyou shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that IamtheLord.” ’ ”

Idolatry Will Be Punished

1 Nowsome of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.

2 And the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before themthat which causes them to stumble into iniquity.Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?

4 “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I theLordwill answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols,

5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” ’

6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Repent, turn away from your idols, andturn your faces away from all your abominations.

7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I theLordwill answer him by Myself.

8 I will set My face against that man and make him asign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people.Then you shall know that IamtheLord.

9 “And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I theLordhave induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

10 And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired,

11 that the house of Israel mayno longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions,but that they may be My people and I may be their God,“ says the LordGod.’ ”

Judgment on Persistent Unfaithfulness

12 The word of theLordcame again to me, saying:

13 “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off itssupply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.

14 Evenifthese three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliveronlythemselvesby their righteousness,” says the LordGod.

15 “If I causewild beasts to pass through the land, and they empty it, and make it so desolate that no man may pass through because of the beasts,

16 eventhough these three menwerein it,asI live,” says the LordGod, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would bedesolate.

17 “OrifI bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,’ and Icut off man and beast from it,

18 eventhoughthese three menwerein it,asI live,” says the LordGod, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but only they themselves would be delivered.

19 “OrifI senda pestilence into that land andpour out My fury on it in blood, and cut off from it man and beast,

20 eventhoughNoah, Daniel, and Jobwerein it,asI live,” says the LordGod, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliveronlythemselves by their righteousness.”

21 For thus says the LordGod: “How much more it shall be whenI send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence—to cut off man and beast from it?

22 Yet behold, there shall be left in it a remnant who will bebrought out,bothsons and daughters; surely they will come out to you, andyou will see their ways and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it.

23 And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothingwithout cause that I have done in it,” says the LordGod.

The Outcast Vine

1 Then the word of theLordcame to me, saying:

2 “Son of man, how is the wood of the vinebetterthan any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?

3 Is wood taken from it to make any object? Or canmenmake a peg from it to hang any vessel on?

4 Instead,it is thrown into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it, and its middle is burned. Is it useful foranywork?

5 Indeed, when it was whole, no object could be made from it. How much less will it be useful foranywork when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned?

6 “Therefore thus says the LordGod: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

7 andI will set My face against them.They will go out fromonefire, butanotherfire shall devour them.Then you shall know that IamtheLord, when I set My face against them.

8 Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have persisted in unfaithfulness,’ says the LordGod.”

God’s Love for Jerusalem

1 Again the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

2 “Son of man,cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

3 and say, ‘Thus says the LordGodto Jerusalem: “Your birthand your nativityarefrom the land of Canaan;your fatherwasan Amorite and your mother a Hittite.

4 Asforyour nativity,on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanseyou;you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths.

5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born.

6 “And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’

7 I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful.Yourbreasts were formed, your hair grew, but youwerenaked and bare.

8 “When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your timewasthe time of love;so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, Iswore an oath to you and entered into acovenant with you, andyou became Mine,” says the LordGod.

9 “Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil.

10 I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

11 I adorned you with ornaments,put bracelets on your wrists,and a chain on your neck.

12 And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.

13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothingwasoffine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth.You atepastryoffine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedinglybeautiful, and succeeded to royalty.

14 Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for itwasperfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the LordGod.

Jerusalem’s Harlotry

15 “But you trusted in your own beauty,played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by whowouldhaveit.

16 You took some of your garments and adorned multicolored high places for yourself, and played the harlot on them.Suchthings should not happen, nor be.

17 You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with them.

18 You took your embroidered garments and covered them, and you set My oil and My incense before them.

19 AlsoMy food which I gave you—the pastry of fine flour, oil, and honeywhichI fed you—you set it before them as sweet incense; andsoit was,” says the LordGod.

20 “Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured.Wereyouractsof harlotry a small matter,

21 that you have slain My children and offered them up to them by causing them to pass throughthefire?

22 And in all your abominations and acts of harlotry you did not remember the days of youryouth,when you were naked and bare, struggling in your blood.

23 “Then it was so, after all your wickedness—‘Woe, woe to you!’ says the LordGod—

24 thatyou also built for yourself a shrine, andmade a high place for yourself in every street.

25 You built your high placesat the head of every road, and made your beauty to be abhorred. You offered yourself to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your acts of harlotry.

26 You also committed harlotry withthe Egyptians, your very fleshly neighbors, and increased your acts of harlotry toprovoke Me to anger.

27 “Behold, therefore, I stretched out My hand against you, diminished your allotment, and gave you up to the will of those who hate you,the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your lewd behavior.

28 You also played the harlot with theAssyrians, because you were insatiable; indeed you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied.

29 Moreover you multiplied your acts of harlotry as far as the land of the trader,Chaldea; and even then you were not satisfied.

30 “How degenerate is your heart!” says the LordGod, “seeing you do all thesethings,the deeds of a brazen harlot.

Jerusalem’s Adultery

31 “You erected your shrine at the head of every road, and built your high place in every street. Yet you were not like a harlot, because you scornedpayment.

32 Youarean adulterous wife,whotakes strangers instead of her husband.

33 Men make payment to all harlots, butyou made your payments to all your lovers, and hired them to come to you from all around for your harlotry.

34 You are the opposite ofotherwomen in your harlotry, because no one solicited you to be a harlot. In that you gave payment but no payment was given you, therefore you are the opposite.”

Jerusalem’s Lovers Will Abuse Her

35 ‘Now then, O harlot, hear the word of theLord!

36 Thus says the LordGod: “Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because ofthe blood of your children which you gave to them,

37 surely, therefore,I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, all those you loved,andall those you hated; I will gather them from all around against you and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.

38 And I will judge you aswomen who break wedlock orshed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy.

39 I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your shrines and break downyour high places.They shall also strip you of your clothes, take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare.

40 “They shall also bring up an assembly against you,and they shall stone you with stones and thrust you through with their swords.

41 They shallburn your houses with fire, andexecute judgments on you in the sight of many women; and I will make youcease playing the harlot, and you shall no longer hire lovers.

42 SoI will lay to rest My fury toward you, and My jealousy shall depart from you. I will be quiet, and be angry no more.

43 Becauseyou did not remember the days of your youth, but agitated Me with all thesethings,surelyI will also recompense your deeds onyourownhead,” says the LordGod. “And you shall not commit lewdness in addition to all your abominations.

More Wicked than Samaria and Sodom

44 “Indeed everyone who quotes proverbs will usethisproverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter!’

45 Youareyour mother’s daughter, loathing husband and children; and youarethesister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children;your motherwasa Hittite and your father an Amorite.

46 “Your elder sisterisSamaria, who dwells with her daughters to the north of you; andyour younger sister, who dwells to the south of you,isSodom and her daughters.

47 You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, asifthatweretoo little,you became more corrupt than they in all your ways.

48 “AsI live,” says the LordGod, “neitheryour sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done.

49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride,fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50 And they were haughty andcommitted abomination before Me; thereforeI took them away as I sawfit.

51 “Samaria did not commithalf of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, andhave justified your sisters by all the abominations which you have done.

52 You who judged your sisters, bear your own shame also, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs; they are more righteous than you. Yes, be disgraced also, and bear your own shame, because you justified your sisters.

53 “When I bring back their captives, the captives of Sodom and her daughters, and the captives of Samaria and her daughters, thenIwillalsobringbackthe captives of your captivity among them,

54 that you may bear your own shame and be disgraced by all that you did whenyou comforted them.

55 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state.

56 For your sister Sodom was not a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride,

57 before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of thereproach of the daughters of Syria and allthosearound her, and ofthe daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere.

58 You have paid for your lewdness and your abominations,” says theLord.

59 For thus says the LordGod: “I will deal with you as you have done, whodespisedthe oath by breaking the covenant.

An Everlasting Covenant

60 “Nevertheless I willremember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establishan everlasting covenant with you.

61 Thenyou will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you fordaughters,but not because of My covenant with you.

62 And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that IamtheLord,

63 that you mayremember and be ashamed,and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the LordGod.’ ”

The Eagles and the Vine

1 And the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak aparable to the house of Israel,

3 and say, ‘Thus says the LordGod:

# “A great eagle with large wings and long pinions,

Full of feathers of various colors,

Came to Lebanon

# Andtook from the cedar the highest branch.

4 He cropped off its topmost young twig

And carried it to a land of trade;

He set it in a city of merchants.

5 Then he took some of the seed of the land

# And planted it ina fertile field;

He placeditby abundant waters

# Andset itlike a willow tree.

6 And it grew and became a spreading vineof low stature;

Its branches turned toward him,

But its roots were under it.

So it became a vine,

Brought forth branches,

And put forth shoots.

7 “But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers;

# And behold,this vine bent its roots toward him,

And stretched its branches toward him,

From the garden terrace where it had been planted,

That he might water it.

8 It was planted in good soil by many waters,

To bring forth branches, bear fruit,

Andbecome a majestic vine.” ’

9 “Say, ‘Thus says the LordGod:

“Will it thrive?

# Will he not pull up its roots,

Cut off its fruit,

And leave it to wither?

All of its spring leaves will wither,

And no great power or many people

Will be needed to pluck it up by its roots.

10 Behold,itisplanted,

Will it thrive?

# Will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it?

It will wither in the garden terrace where it grew.” ’ ”

11 Moreover the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

12 “Say now tothe rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what thesethingsmean?’ Tellthem,‘Indeedthe king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon.

13 And he took the king’s offspring, made a covenant with him,and put him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land,

14 that the kingdom might bebrought low and not lift itself up,butthat by keeping his covenant it might stand.

15 Buthe rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt,that they might give him horses and many people.Will he prosper? Will he who does suchthingsescape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?

16 ‘AsI live,’ says the LordGod, ‘surelyin the placewherethe kingdwellswho made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke—with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

17 Nor will Pharaoh withhismighty army and great company do anything in the war,when they heap up a siege mound and build a wall to cut off many persons.

18 Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in factgave his hand and still did all thesethings,he shall not escape.’ ”

19 Therefore thus says the LordGod: “AsI live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head.

20 I willspread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon andtry him there for the treason which he committed against Me.

21 All his fugitives with all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall bescattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, theLord, have spoken.”

Israel Exalted at Last

22 Thus says the LordGod: “I will take alsooneof the highestbranches of the high cedar and setitout. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigsa tender one, and willplantiton a high and prominent mountain.

23 On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar.Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell.

24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, theLord,have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish;I, theLord, have spoken and have doneit.”

A False Proverb Refuted

1 The word of theLordcame to me again, saying,

2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:

# ‘Thefathers have eaten sour grapes,

And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

3 “AsI live,” says the LordGod, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.

4 “Behold, all souls areMine;

The soul of the father

As well as the soul of the son is Mine;

# The soul who sins shall die.

5 But if a man is just

And does what is lawful and right;

6 If he has not eaten on the mountains,

Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,

# Nordefiled his neighbor’s wife,

# Nor approacheda woman during her impurity;

7 If he has notoppressed anyone,

# Buthas restored to the debtor hispledge;

Has robbed no one by violence,

# Buthasgiven his bread to the hungry

# And covered the naked withclothing;

8 If he has not exactedusury

Nor taken any increase,

Buthas withdrawn his hand from iniquity

# Andexecuted true judgment between man and man;

9 Ifhe has walked in My statutes

And kept My judgments faithfully—

Heisjust;

# He shall surelylive!”

Says the LordGod.

10 “If he begets a sonwhoisa robber

# Ora shedder of blood,

Whodoes any of thesethings

11 And does none of thoseduties,

But has eaten on the mountains

Or defiled his neighbor’s wife;

12 If he has oppressed the poor and needy,

Robbed by violence,

Not restored the pledge,

Lifted his eyes to the idols,

# Orcommitted abomination;

13 If he has exacted usury

Or taken increase—

Shall he then live?

He shall not live!

If he has done any of these abominations,

He shall surely die;

# His blood shall be upon him.

14 “If,however, he begets a son

Who sees all the sins which his father has done,

And considers but does not do likewise;

15 Whohas not eaten on the mountains,

Nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,

Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife;

16 Has not oppressed anyone,

Nor withheld a pledge,

Nor robbed by violence,

Buthas given his bread to the hungry

And covered the naked with clothing;

17 Whohas withdrawn his hand from the poor

Andnot received usury or increase,

But has executed My judgments

And walked in My statutes—

He shall not die for the iniquity of his father;

He shall surely live!

18 “Asforhis father,

Because he cruelly oppressed,

Robbed his brother by violence,

And did whatisnot good among his people,

# Behold,he shall die for his iniquity.

Turn and Live

19 “Yet you say, ‘Whyshould the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul who sins shall die.The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself,and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 “Butif a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shalllive.

23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the LordGod, “andnot that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 “Butwhen a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wickedmandoes, shall he live?All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.

25 “Yet you say,‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?

26 When a righteousmanturns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity, and dies in it, it is because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.

27 Again,when a wickedmanturns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive.

28 Because heconsiders and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the LordGod.“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin.

31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves anew heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?

32 ForI have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the LordGod. “Therefore turn andlive!”

Israel Degraded

1 “Moreovertake up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

2 and say:

‘Whatisyour mother? A lioness:

She lay down among the lions;

Among the young lions she nourished her cubs.

3 She brought up one of her cubs,

# Andhe became a young lion;

He learned to catch prey,

And he devoured men.

4 The nations also heard of him;

He was trapped in their pit,

# And they brought him with chains to the land ofEgypt.

5 ‘When she saw that she waited,thather hope was lost,

# She tookanother of her cubsandmade him a young lion.

6 He roved among the lions,

# Andbecame a young lion;

He learned to catch prey;

He devoured men.

7 He knew their desolate places,

And laid waste their cities;

The land with its fullness was desolated

By the noise of his roaring.

8 Then the nations set against him from the provinces on every side,

And spread their net over him;

# He was trapped in their pit.

9 They put him in a cage with chains,

And brought him to the king of Babylon;

They brought him in nets,

# That his voice should no longer be heard onthe mountains of Israel.

10 ‘Your motherwaslike a vine in your bloodline,

Planted by the waters,

# Fruitful and full of branches

Because of many waters.

11 She had strong branches for scepters of rulers.

# She towered in stature above the thick branches,

And was seen in her height amid the dense foliage.

12 But she wasplucked up in fury,

She was cast down to the ground,

# And theeast wind dried her fruit.

Her strong branches were broken and withered;

The fire consumed them.

13 And now sheisplanted in the wilderness,

In a dry and thirsty land.

14 Fire has come out from a rod of her branches

Anddevoured her fruit,

So that she has no strong branch— a scepter for ruling.’ ”

# Thisisa lamentation, and has become a lamentation.

The Rebellions of Israel

1 It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifthmonth,on the tenthdayof the month,thatcertain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of theLord, and sat before me.

2 Then the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Have you come to inquire of Me?AsI live,” says the LordGod,“I will not be inquired of by you.” ’

4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judgethem?Thenmake known to them the abominations of their fathers.

5 “Say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “On the day whenI chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myselfknown to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying,‘IamtheLordyour God.’

6 On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them,to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them,‘flowing with milk and honey,’the glory of all lands.

7 Then I said to them, ‘Each of you,throw awaythe abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves withthe idols of Egypt. IamtheLordyour God.’

8 But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I willpour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’

9 But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom theywere,in whose sight I had made Myselfknown to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10 “Therefore Imade them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments,‘which,ifa man does, he shall live by them.’

12 Moreover I also gave them MySabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that IamtheLordwho sanctifies them.

13 Yet the house of Israelrebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; theydespised My judgments,‘which,ifa man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatlydefiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in thewilderness, to consume them.

14 But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out.

15 SoI also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had giventhem,‘flowing with milk and honey,’the glory of all lands,

16 because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; fortheir heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 “But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

19 IamtheLordyour God:Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them;

20 hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that IamtheLordyour God.’

21 “Notwithstanding,the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments,‘which,ifa man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out.

23 Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, thatI would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries,

24 because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, andtheir eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.

25 “ThereforeI also gave them up to statutesthatwerenot good, and judgments by which they could not live;

26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to passthroughthefire,that I might make them desolate and that theymight know that I am theLord.” ’

27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “In this too your fathers haveblasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me.

28 When I brought them into the landconcerningwhich I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, andthey saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up theirsweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings.

29 Then I said to them, ‘Whatisthis high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.” ’

30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the LordGod: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of yourfathers, and committing harlotry according to theirabominations?

31 For when you offeryour gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel?AsI live,” says the LordGod, “I willnot be inquired of by you.

32 What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’

God Will Restore Israel

33 “AsI live,” says the LordGod, “surely with a mighty hand,with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you.

34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and thereI will plead My case with you face to face.

36 Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the LordGod.

37 “I will make youpass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of thecovenant;

38 I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, butthey shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that IamtheLord.

39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the LordGod:“Go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me;but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols.

40 Foron My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the LordGod, “thereall the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; thereI will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things.

41 I will accept you as asweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles.

42 Then you shall know that IamtheLord,when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the countryforwhich I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers.

43 Andthere you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; andyou shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed.

44 Then you shall know that IamtheLord, when I have dealt with youfor My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the LordGod.’ ”

Fire in the Forest

45 Furthermore the word of theLordcame to me, saying,

46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South,

47 and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of theLord! Thus says the LordGod: “Behold,I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devourevery green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all facesfrom the south to the north shall be scorched by it.

48 All flesh shall see that I, theLord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”

49 Then I said, “Ah, LordGod! They say of me, ‘Does he not speakparables?’ ”