World English Bible

1 Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east gate of Yahweh’s house, which looks eastward: and see, at the door of the gate twenty-five men; and I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

2 He said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity, and who give wicked counsel in this city;

3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’

4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man.”

5 Yahweh’s Spirit fell on me, and he said to me, “Speak, ‘Yahweh says: “Thus you have said, house of Israel; for I 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 Lord Yahweh: “Your slain whom you have laid in the middle of it, they are the meat, and this is the cauldron; but you will be brought out of the middle of it.

8 You have feared the sword; and I will bring the sword on you,” says the Lord Yahweh.

9 “I will bring you out of the middle of it, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.

10 You will fall by the sword. I will judge you in the border of Israel; and you will know that I am Yahweh.

11 This will not be your cauldron, neither will you be the meat in the middle of it. I will judge you in the border of Israel.

12 You will know that I am Yahweh, for you have not walked in my statutes, neither have you executed my ordinances, but have done after the ordinances of the nations that are around you.”’”

13 When I prophesied, Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down on my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?”

14 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

15 “Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, the men of your relatives, and all the house of Israel, all of them, to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far away from Yahweh. This land has been given to us for a possession.’”

16 “Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet I will be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they have come.”’

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

18 “‘They will come there, and they will take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from there.

19 I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;

20 that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

21 But as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way on their own heads,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”

22 Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels were beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

23 Yahweh’s glory went up from the middle of the city, and stood on the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

24 The Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity.

So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

25 Then I spoke to them of the captivity all the things that Yahweh had shown me.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/11-cf95498802ddebf62999e62c10eed4f9.mp3?version_id=206—

1 Yahweh’s word also came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house.

3 “Therefore, you son of man, prepare your stuff for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.

4 You shall bring out your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for moving; and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile.

5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your stuff out that way.

6 In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”

7 I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my stuff by day, as stuff for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.

8 In the morning, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

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

10 “Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.”’

11 “Say, ‘I am your sign. As I have done, so will it be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.

12 “‘The prince who is among them will bear on his shoulder in the dark, and will go out. They will dig through the wall to carry out that way. He will cover his face, because he will not see the land with his eyes.

13 I will also spread my net on him, and he will be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.

14 I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands. I will draw out the sword after them.

15 “‘They shall know that I am Yahweh, when I shall disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries.

16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they come; and they will know that I am Yahweh.’”

17 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

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

19 Tell the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein.

20 The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation; then you will know that I am Yahweh.”’”

21 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?’

23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel;”’ but tell them, ‘“The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.

24 For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

25 For I am Yahweh. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word, and will perform it,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”

26 Again Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

27 “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many day to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’

28 “Therefore tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “None of my words shall be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/12-6c54aa382bca985d000352be260de06f.mp3?version_id=206—

1 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word:

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

4 Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.

5 You have not gone up into the gaps, neither built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of Yahweh.

6 They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but Yahweh has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed.

7 Haven’t you seen a false vision, and haven’t you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but I have not spoken?”

8 “‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord Yahweh.

9 “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who divine lies. They will not be in the council of my people, neither will they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither will they enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh”

10 “‘Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;” and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they plaster it with whitewash.

11 Tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall. There will be an overflowing shower; and you, great hailstones, will fall. A stormy wind will tear it.

12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, won’t it be said to you, “Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it?”

13 “‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There shall be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it.

14 So will I break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with whitewash; and I will tell you, ‘The wall is no more, neither those who plastered it;

16 to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,’” says the Lord Yahweh.’”

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

18 and say, “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Woe to the women who sew pillows on all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves?

19 You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’

20 “Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I am against your pillows, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms. I will let the souls go, even the souls whom you hunt to make them fly.

21 I will also tear your kerchiefs, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they will be no more in your hand to be hunted. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

22 Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive.

23 Therefore you shall no more see false visions, nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/13-625be5205b8c6b5ae5465c507cee7031.mp3?version_id=206—

1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel to me, and sat before me.

2 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

3 “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?

4 Therefore speak to them, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet; I Yahweh will answer him therein according to the multitude of his idols;

5 that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.”’

6 “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Return, and turn yourselves from your idols! Turn away your faces from all your abominations.

7 “‘“For everyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live in Israel, who separates himself from me, and takes his idols into his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet to inquire for himself of me; I Yahweh will answer him by myself.

8 I will set my face against that man, and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among my people; and you will know that I am Yahweh.

9 “‘“If the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, Yahweh, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand on him, and will destroy him from among my people Israel.

10 They will bear their iniquity. The iniquity of the prophet will be even as the iniquity of him who seeks him;

11 that the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither defile themselves any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”

12 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

13 “Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand on it, and break the staff of its bread, and send famine on it, and cut off from it man and animal;

14 though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord Yahweh.

15 “If I cause evil animals to pass through the land, and they ravage it, and it is made desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the animals;

16 though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They only would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

17 “Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off from it man and animal;’

18 though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only would be delivered themselves.

19 “Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath on it in blood, to cut off from it man and animal;

20 though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.”

21 For thus says the Lord Yahweh: “How much more when I send my four severe judgments on Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil animals, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and animal!

22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be carried out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they shall come out to you, and you shall see their way and their doings; and you shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought on it.

23 They will comfort you, when you see their way and their doings; and you will know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it,” says the Lord Yahweh.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/14-9e9169c6ef2d031f4c412f0718d5a76f.mp3?version_id=206—

1 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, the vine-branch which is among the trees of the forest?

3 Will wood be taken of it to make anything? Will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel on it?

4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire has devoured both its ends, and the middle of it is burned. Is it profitable for any work?

5 Behold, when it was whole, it was suitable for no work. How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned, will it yet be suitable for any work?”

6 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: “As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

7 I will set my face against them. They will go out from the fire, but the fire will devour them; and you will know that I am Yahweh, when I set my face against them.

8 I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass,” says the Lord Yahweh.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/15-de5d77992cc66f2997a1150c6e873134.mp3?version_id=206—

1 Again Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

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

3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh to Jerusalem: “Your origin and your birth is of the land of the Canaanite. An Amorite was your father, and your mother was a Hittite.

4 As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to cleanse you. You weren’t salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you, to have compassion on you; but you were cast out in the open field, because you were abhorred in the day that you were born.

6 “‘“When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’ Yes, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’

7 I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you increased and grew great, and you attained to excellent ornament. Your breasts were formed, and your hair grew; yet you were naked and bare.

8 “‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord Yahweh, “and you became mine.

9 “‘“Then washed I you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.

10 I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin shoes on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

11 I decked you with ornaments. put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck.

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

13 Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.

14 Your renown went out among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you,” says the Lord Yahweh.

15 “‘“But you trusted in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who passed by. It was his.

16 You took some of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them. This shall not come, neither shall it be.

17 You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and played the prostitute with them.

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

19 My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you even set it before them for a pleasant aroma; and so it was,” says the Lord Yahweh.

20 “‘“Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter,

21 that you have slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them?

22 In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were wallowing in your blood.

23 “‘“It has happened after all your wickedness. Woe, woe to you!” says the Lord Yahweh,

24 “that you have built for yourselves a vaulted place, and have made yourselves a lofty place in every street.

25 You have built your lofty place at the head of every way, and have made your beauty an abomination, and have opened your feet to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your prostitution.

26 You have also committed sexual immorality with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh; and have multiplied your prostitution, to provoke me to anger.

27 See therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your portion, and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd way.

28 You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren’t satisfied.

29 You have moreover multiplied your prostitution to the land of merchants, to Chaldea; and yet you weren’t satisfied with this.

30 “‘“How weak is your heart,” says the Lord Yahweh, “since you do all these things, the work of an impudent prostitute;

31 in that you build your vaulted place at the head of every way, and make your lofty place in every street, and have not been as a prostitute, in that you scorn pay.

32 “‘“A wife who commits adultery! Who takes strangers instead of her husband!

33 People give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution.

34 You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different.”’

35 “Therefore, prostitute, hear Yahweh’s word:

36 ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you gave to them;

37 therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you have hated; I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.

38 I will judge you, as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.

39 I will also give you into their hand, and they will throw down your vaulted place, and break down your lofty places; and they will strip you of your clothes, and take your beautiful jewels. They will leave you naked and bare.

40 They will also bring up a company against you, and they will stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords.

41 They will burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women. I will cause you to cease from playing the prostitute, and you will also give no hire any more.

42 So will I cause my wrath toward you to rest, and my jealousy will depart from you. I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.

43 “‘“Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring your way on your head,” says the Lord Yahweh: “and you shall not commit this lewdness with all your abominations.

44 “‘“Behold, everyone who uses proverbs shall use this proverb against you, saying, ‘As is the mother, so is her daughter.’

45 You are the daughter of your mother, who loathes her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite.

46 Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells at your left hand, she and her daughters; and your younger sister, who dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

47 Yet you have not walked in their ways, nor done after their abominations; but, soon you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.

48 As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters.

49 “‘“Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50 They were haughty, and committed abomination before me. Therefore I took them away when I saw it.

51 Neither has Samaria committed half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all your abominations which you have done.

52 You also, bear your own shame yourself, in that you have given judgment for your sisters; through your sins that you have committed more abominable than they, they are more righteous that you. Yes, be also confounded, and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters.

53 “‘“I will turn again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of your captives among them;

54 that you may bear your own shame, and may be ashamed because of all that you have done, in that you are a comfort to them.

55 Your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, will return to their former estate; and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former estate; and you and your daughters will return to your former estate.

56 For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride,

57 before your wickedness was uncovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all who are around her, the daughters of the Philistines, who do despite to you all around.

58 You have borne your lewdness and your abominations,” says Yahweh.

59 “‘For thus says the Lord Yahweh: “I will also deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant.

60 Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish to you an everlasting covenant.

61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your sisters, your elder sisters and your younger; and I will give them to you for daughters, but not by your covenant.

62 I will establish my covenant with you; and you will know that I am Yahweh;

63 that you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more, because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/16-7536b89348931814aa99737fb56d24ac.mp3?version_id=206—

1 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, tell a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar.

4 He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, and carried it to a land of traffic. He planted it in a city of merchants.

5 “‘“He also took some of the seed of the land, and planted it in fruitful soil. He placed it beside many waters. He set it as a willow tree.

6 It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him. So it became a vine, produced branches, and shot out sprigs.

7 “‘“There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers. Behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and shot out its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

8 It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might produce branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a good vine.”’

9 “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Will it prosper? Won’t he pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? Not by a strong arm or many people can it be raised from its roots.

10 Yes, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? Won’t it utterly wither when the east wind touches it? It will wither in the beds where it grew.”’”

11 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

12 “Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Don’t you know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took its king, and its princes, and brought them to him to Babylon.

13 He took some of the royal offspring,and made a covenant with him. He also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;

14 that the kingdom might be brought low, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and many people. Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the covenant, and still escape?

16 “‘As I live,’ says the Lord Yahweh, ‘surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the middle of Babylon he will die.

17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many persons.

18 For he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things. He won’t escape.

19 “Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it on his own head.

20 I will spread my net on him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me.

21 All his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it.’

22 “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘I will also take some of the lofty top of the cedar, and will plant it. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

23 I will plant it in the mountain of the height of Israel; and it will produce boughs, and bear fruit, and be a good cedar. Birds of every kind will dwell in the shade of its branches.

24 All the trees of the field will know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish.

I, Yahweh, have spoken and have done it.’”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/17-bae1f7a464df779a820549dd2cc3ec14.mp3?version_id=206—

1 Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying,

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

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,

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

3 “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “you shall not use this proverb any more in Israel.

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.

5 “But if a man is just,

and does that which is lawful and right,

6 and has not eaten on the mountains,

neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,

neither has defiled his neighbor’s wife,

neither has come near to a woman in her impurity,

7 and has not wronged any,

but has restored to the debtor his pledge,

has taken nothing by robbery,

has given his bread to the hungry,

and has covered the naked with a garment;

8 he who has not lent on interest,

neither has taken any increase,

who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity,

has executed true justice between man and man,

9 has walked in my statutes,

and has kept my ordinances,

to deal truly;

he is just,

he shall surely live,” says the Lord Yahweh.

10 “If he fathers a son who is a robber who sheds blood, and who does any one of these things,

11 or who does not do any of those things,

but even has eaten at the mountain shrines,

and defiled his neighbor’s wife,

12 has wronged the poor and needy,

has taken by robbery,

has not restored the pledge,

and has lifted up his eyes to the idols,

has committed abomination,

13 has lent on interest,

and has taken increase;

shall he then live? He shall not live. He has done all these abominations. He shall surely die. His blood shall be on him.

14 “Now, behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father’s sins, which he has done, and fears, and does not such like;

15 who has not eaten on the mountains,

neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,

has not defiled his neighbor’s wife,

16 neither has wronged any,

has not taken anything to pledge,

neither has taken by robbery,

but has given his bread to the hungry,

and has covered the naked with a garment;

17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor,

who has not received interest nor increase,

has executed my ordinances,

has walked in my statutes;

he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why doesn’t the son bear the iniquity of the father?’ When the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live.

20 The soul who sins, he shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.

21 “But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live. He shall not die.

22 None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him. In his righteousness that he has done, he shall live.

23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” says the Lord Yahweh; “and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

24 “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered. In his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.

25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren’t your ways unequal?

26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die.

27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live. He shall not die.

29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ House of Israel, aren’t my ways fair? Aren’t your ways unfair?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Return, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies,” says the Lord Yahweh. “Therefore turn yourselves, and live!

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/18-fedc1cd5c4861295db4426b6334da499.mp3?version_id=206—

1 “Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

2 and say,

‘What was your mother?

A lioness.

She couched among lions,

in the middle of the young lions she nourished her cubs.

3 She brought up one of her cubs.

He became a young lion,

and he learned to catch the prey.

He devoured men.

4 The nations also heard of him.

He was taken in their pit;

and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

5 “‘Now when she saw that she had waited,

and her hope was lost,

then she took another of her cubs,

and made him a young lion.

6 He went up and down among the lions;

he became a young lion,

and he learned to catch the prey.

He devoured men.

7 He knew their palaces,

and laid waste their cities;

and the land was desolate,

with its fullness,

because of the noise of his roaring.

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

and they spread their net over him.

He was taken in their pit.

9 They put him in a cage with hooks,

and brought him to the king of Babylon.

They brought him into strongholds,

that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.

10 “‘Your mother was like a vine,

in your blood,

planted by the waters.

It was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.

11 It had strong rods for the scepters of those who bore rule,

and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs,

and they were seen in their height

with the multitude of their branches.

12 But it was plucked up in fury,

it was cast down to the ground,

and the east wind dried up its fruit.

Its strong rods were broken off and withered.

The fire consumed them.

13 Now it is planted in the wilderness,

in a dry and thirsty land.

14 Fire has gone out of the rods of its branches.

It has devoured its fruit,

so that there is in it no strong rod to be a scepter to rule.’

This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/19-0bec0c87d787c3e828ab1f0e46a1ba47.mp3?version_id=206—

1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.

2 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’

4 “Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;

5 and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspringof the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am Yahweh your God;’

6 in that day I swore 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, which is the glory of all lands.

7 I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes, and don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’

8 “‘“But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.

9 But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

10 So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them.

12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

13 “‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16 because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

18 I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

19 I am Yahweh your God. Walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them;

20 and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God. ’

21 “‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, neither kept my ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

23 Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

24 because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

25 Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live;

26 and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.”’

27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “In this moreover your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28 For when I had brought them into the land, which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their pleasant aroma, and they poured out there their drink offerings.

29 Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamahto this day. ”’

30 “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?

31 When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you!

32 “‘“That which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’

33 As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.

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

35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord Yahweh.

37 “I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

38 I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am Yahweh.”

39 “‘As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts, and with your idols.

40 For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.

41 As a pleasant aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

42 You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.

43 There you shall remember your ways, and all your doings, in which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

44 You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”

45 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

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

47 and tell the forest of the South, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned thereby.

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

49 Then I said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/9/32k/EZK/20-dfef8dec906526371d3771ce825a4961.mp3?version_id=206—