Font Size
Ezekiel 17-21
New King James Version
Ezekiel 17-21
New King James Version
The Eagles and the Vine
17 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a (A)parable to the house of Israel, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
(B)“A great eagle with large wings and long pinions,
Full of feathers of various colors,
Came to Lebanon
And (C)took 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 in (D)a fertile field;
He placed it by abundant waters
And set it (E)like a willow tree.
6 And it grew and became a spreading vine (F)of 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 [a]another great eagle with large wings and many feathers;
And behold, (G)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 [b]good soil by many waters,
To bring forth branches, bear fruit,
And become a majestic vine.” ’
9 “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Will it thrive?
(H)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, it is planted,
Will it thrive?
(I)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 the Lord came to me, saying, 12 “Say now to (J)the rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Indeed (K)the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon. 13 (L)And he took the king’s offspring, made a covenant with him, (M)and put him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, 14 that the kingdom might be (N)brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. 15 But (O)he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, (P)that they might give him horses and many people. (Q)Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?
16 ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely (R)in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke—with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. 17 (S)Nor will Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company do anything in the war, (T)when they heap up a siege mound and build a [c]wall to cut off many persons. 18 Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact (U)gave[d] his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.’ ”
19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head. 20 I will (V)spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and (W)try him there for the [e]treason which he committed against Me. 21 (X)All his [f]fugitives with all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be (Y)scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”
Israel Exalted at Last(Z)
22 Thus says the Lord God: “I will take also one of the highest (AA)branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs (AB)a tender one, and will (AC)plant it on a high and prominent mountain. 23 (AD)On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. (AE)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, the Lord, (AF)have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; (AG)I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it.”
A False Proverb Refuted
18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying:
‘The (AH)fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
3 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel.
4 “Behold, all souls are (AI)Mine;
The soul of the father
As well as the soul of the son is Mine;
(AJ)The soul who sins shall die.
5 But if a man is just
And does what is lawful and right;
6 (AK)If he has not eaten [g]on the mountains,
Nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,
Nor (AL)defiled his neighbor’s wife,
Nor approached (AM)a woman during her impurity;
7 If he has not (AN)oppressed anyone,
But has restored to the debtor his (AO)pledge;
Has robbed no one by violence,
But has (AP)given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with (AQ)clothing;
8 If he has not [h]exacted (AR)usury
Nor taken any increase,
But has withdrawn his hand from iniquity
And (AS)executed true [i]judgment between man and man;
9 If he has walked in My statutes
And kept My judgments faithfully—
He is just;
He shall surely (AT)live!”
Says the Lord God.
10 “If he begets a son who is a robber
Or (AU)a shedder of blood,
Who does any of these things
11 And does none of those duties,
But has eaten [j]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,
Or (AV)committed 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;
(AW)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 (AX)Who has not eaten [k]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,
But has given his bread to the hungry
And covered the naked with clothing;
17 Who has withdrawn his hand from [l]the poor
And not 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 “As for his father,
Because he cruelly oppressed,
Robbed his brother by violence,
And did what is not good among his people,
Behold, (AY)he shall die for his iniquity.
Turn and Live
19 “Yet you say, ‘Why (AZ)should 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 (BA)The soul who sins shall die. (BB)The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. (BC)The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, (BD)and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
21 “But (BE)if 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 (BF)None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall (BG)live. 23 (BH)Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord God, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?
24 “But (BI)when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? (BJ)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, (BK)‘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 (BL)When a righteous man turns 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, (BM)when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness which he committed, and does what is lawful and right, he preserves himself alive. 28 Because he (BN)considers and turns away from all the transgressions which he committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 (BO)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 (BP)“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” says the Lord God. (BQ)“Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. 31 (BR)Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a (BS)new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? 32 For (BT)I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore turn and (BU)live!”
Israel Degraded
19 “Moreover (BV)take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, 2 and say:
‘What is your 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,
And (BW)he 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 of (BX)Egypt.
5 ‘When she saw that she waited, that her hope was lost,
She took (BY)another of her cubs and made him a young lion.
6 (BZ)He roved among the lions,
And (CA)became a young lion;
He learned to catch prey;
He devoured men.
7 [m]He knew their desolate places,
And laid waste their cities;
The land with its fullness was desolated
By the noise of his roaring.
8 (CB)Then the nations set against him from the provinces on every side,
And spread their net over him;
(CC)He was trapped in their pit.
9 (CD)They put him in a cage with [n]chains,
And brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in nets,
That his voice should no longer be heard on (CE)the mountains of Israel.
10 ‘Your mother was (CF)like a vine in your [o]bloodline,
Planted by the waters,
(CG)Fruitful and full of branches
Because of many waters.
11 She had strong branches for scepters of rulers.
(CH)She towered in stature above the thick branches,
And was seen in her height amid the [p]dense foliage.
12 But she was (CI)plucked up in fury,
She was cast down to the ground,
And the (CJ)east wind dried her fruit.
Her strong branches were broken and withered;
The fire consumed them.
13 And now she is planted in the wilderness,
In a dry and thirsty land.
14 (CK)Fire has come out from a rod of her branches
And devoured her fruit,
So that she has no strong branch—a scepter for ruling.’ ”
(CL)This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.
The Rebellions of Israel
20 It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that (CM)certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lord God, (CN)“I will not be inquired of by you.” ’ 4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then (CO)make known to them the abominations of their fathers.
5 “Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day when (CP)I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself (CQ)known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, (CR)‘I am the Lord your God.’ 6 On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, (CS)to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, (CT)‘flowing with milk and honey,’ (CU)the glory of all lands. 7 Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, (CV)throw away (CW)the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with (CX)the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they rebelled against Me and would not [q]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 will (CY)pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’ 9 (CZ)But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself (DA)known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
10 “Therefore I (DB)made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 (DC)And I gave them My statutes and [r]showed them My judgments, (DD)‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’ 12 Moreover I also gave them My (DE)Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 Yet the house of Israel (DF)rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they (DG)despised My judgments, (DH)‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly (DI)defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the (DJ)wilderness, to consume them. 14 (DK)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 So (DL)I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, (DM)‘flowing with milk and honey,’ (DN)the glory of all lands, 16 (DO)because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for (DP)their heart went after their idols. 17 (DQ)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 I am the Lord your God: (DR)Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 20 (DS)hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’
21 “Notwithstanding, (DT)the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, (DU)‘which, if a 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 [s]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, that (DV)I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, 24 (DW)because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and (DX)their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.
25 “Therefore (DY)I also gave them up to statutes that were not 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 [t]their firstborn to pass (DZ)through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they (EA)might know that I am the Lord.” ’
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “In this too your fathers have (EB)blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. 28 When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and (EC)they 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 their (ED)sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is this [u]high place to which you go?’ So its name is called [v]Bamah to this day.” ’ 30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your (EE)fathers, and committing harlotry according to their (EF)abominations? 31 For when you offer (EG)your 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? As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will (EH)not be inquired of by you. 32 (EI)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 “As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand, (EJ)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 there (EK)I will plead My case with you face to face. 36 (EL)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 Lord God.
37 “I will make you (EM)pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the (EN)covenant; 38 (EO)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, but (EP)they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God: (EQ)“Go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; (ER)but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols. 40 For (ES)on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord God, “there (ET)all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there (EU)I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your [w]sacrifices, together with all your holy things. 41 I will accept you as a (EV)sweet 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 (EW)Then you shall know that I am the Lord, (EX)when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. 43 And (EY)there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and (EZ)you shall [x]loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. 44 (FA)Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you (FB)for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord God.’ ”
Fire in the Forest
45 Furthermore the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 (FC)“Son of man, set your face toward the south; [y]preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the [z]South, 47 and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, (FD)I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour (FE)every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces (FF)from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. 48 All flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”
49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak (FG)parables?’ ”
Babylon, the Sword of God
21 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 (FH)“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, (FI)preach[aa] against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am (FJ)against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both (FK)righteous and wicked from you. 4 Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh (FL)from south to north, 5 that all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it (FM)shall not return anymore.” ’ 6 (FN)Sigh therefore, son of man, with [ab]a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes. 7 And it shall be when they say to you, ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall answer, ‘Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, (FO)all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’ says the Lord God.”
8 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ Say:
(FP)‘A sword, a sword is sharpened
And also polished!
10 Sharpened to make a dreadful slaughter,
Polished to flash like lightning!
Should we then make mirth?
It despises the scepter of My son,
As it does all wood.
11 And He has given it to be polished,
That it may be handled;
This sword is sharpened, and it is polished
To be given into the hand of (FQ)the slayer.’
12 “Cry and wail, son of man;
For it will be against My people,
Against all the princes of Israel.
Terrors including the sword will be against My people;
Therefore (FR)strike your thigh.
13 “Because it is (FS)a testing,
And what if the sword despises even the scepter?
(FT)The scepter shall be no more,”
says the Lord God.
14 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy,
And (FU)strike your hands together.
The third time let the sword do double damage.
It is the sword that slays,
The sword that slays the great men,
That enters their (FV)private chambers.
15 I have set the point of the sword against all their gates,
That the heart may melt and many may stumble.
Ah! (FW)It is made bright;
It is grasped for slaughter:
16 “Swords(FX)[ac] at the ready!
Thrust right!
Set your blade!
Thrust left—
Wherever your [ad]edge is ordered!
17 “I also will (FY)beat My fists together,
And (FZ)I will cause My fury to rest;
I, the Lord, have spoken.”
18 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying: 19 “And son of man, appoint for yourself two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to go; both of them shall go from the same land. Make a sign; put it at the head of the road to the city. 20 Appoint a road for the sword to go to (GA)Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to Judah, into fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the road, at the fork of the two roads, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the [ae]images, he looks at the liver. 22 In his right hand is the divination for Jerusalem: to set up battering rams, to call for a slaughter, to (GB)lift the voice with shouting, (GC)to set battering rams against the gates, to heap up a siege mound, and to build a wall. 23 And it will be to them like a false divination in the eyes of those who (GD)have sworn oaths with them; but he will bring their iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken.
24 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you shall be taken in hand.
25 ‘Now to you, O (GE)profane, wicked prince of Israel, (GF)whose day has come, whose iniquity shall end, 26 thus says the Lord God:
“Remove the turban, and take off the crown;
Nothing shall remain the same.
(GG)Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted.
27 [af]Overthrown, overthrown,
I will make it overthrown!
(GH)It shall be no longer,
Until He comes whose right it is,
And I will give it to (GI)Him.” ’
A Sword Against the Ammonites
28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God (GJ)concerning the Ammonites and concerning their reproach,’ and say:
‘A sword, a sword is drawn,
Polished for slaughter,
For consuming, for flashing—
29 While they (GK)see false visions for you,
While they divine a lie to you,
To bring you on the necks of the wicked, the slain
(GL)Whose day has come,
Whose iniquity shall end.
30 ‘Return(GM) it to its sheath.
(GN)I will judge you
In the place where you were created,
(GO)In the land of your [ag]nativity.
31 I will (GP)pour out My indignation on you;
I will (GQ)blow against you with the fire of My wrath,
And deliver you into the hands of brutal men who are skillful to (GR)destroy.
32 You shall be fuel for the fire;
Your blood shall be in the midst of the land.
(GS)You shall not be remembered,
For I the Lord have spoken.’ ”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 17:7 So with LXX, Syr., Vg.; MT, Tg. one
- Ezekiel 17:8 Lit. a good field
- Ezekiel 17:17 Or siege wall
- Ezekiel 17:18 Took an oath
- Ezekiel 17:20 Lit. unfaithful act
- Ezekiel 17:21 So with MT, Vg.; many Heb. mss., Syr. choice men; Tg. mighty men; LXX omits All his fugitives
- Ezekiel 18:6 At the mountain shrines
- Ezekiel 18:8 Lent money at interest
- Ezekiel 18:8 justice
- Ezekiel 18:11 At the mountain shrines
- Ezekiel 18:15 At the mountain shrines
- Ezekiel 18:17 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX iniquity (cf. v. 8)
- Ezekiel 19:7 LXX He stood in insolence; Tg. He destroyed its palaces; Vg. He learned to make widows
- Ezekiel 19:9 Or hooks
- Ezekiel 19:10 Lit. blood, so with MT, Syr., Vg.; LXX like a flower on a pomegranate tree; Tg. in your likeness
- Ezekiel 19:11 Or many branches
- Ezekiel 20:8 Lit. listen to
- Ezekiel 20:11 Lit. made known to
- Ezekiel 20:22 Refrained from judgment
- Ezekiel 20:26 Lit. that open the womb
- Ezekiel 20:29 Place for pagan worship
- Ezekiel 20:29 Lit. High Place
- Ezekiel 20:40 offerings
- Ezekiel 20:43 Or despise
- Ezekiel 20:46 proclaim, lit. drop
- Ezekiel 20:46 Heb. Negev
- Ezekiel 21:2 proclaim, lit. drop
- Ezekiel 21:6 Emotional distress, lit. the breaking of your loins
- Ezekiel 21:16 Lit. Sharpen yourself! or Unite yourself!
- Ezekiel 21:16 Lit. face
- Ezekiel 21:21 Heb. teraphim
- Ezekiel 21:27 Or Distortion, Ruin
- Ezekiel 21:30 Or origin
Ezekiel 17-21
New International Version
Ezekiel 17-21
New International Version
Two Eagles and a Vine
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.(A) 3 Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: A great eagle(B) with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon.(C) Taking hold of the top of a cedar, 4 he broke off(D) its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.
5 “‘He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water,(E) 6 and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches(F) turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.(G)
7 “‘But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water.(H) 8 It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches,(I) bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’
9 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.(J) 10 It has been planted,(K) but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?(L)’”
11 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?(M)’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,(N) bringing them back with him to Babylon.(O) 13 Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty(P) with him, putting him under oath.(Q) He also carried away the leading men(R) of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be brought low,(S) unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. 15 But the king rebelled(T) against him by sending his envoys to Egypt(U) to get horses and a large army.(V) Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?(W)
16 “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, he shall die(X) in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.(Y) 17 Pharaoh(Z) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps(AA) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.(AB) 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge(AC) and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.
19 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.(AD) 20 I will spread my net(AE) for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment(AF) on him there because he was unfaithful(AG) to me. 21 All his choice troops will fall by the sword,(AH) and the survivors(AI) will be scattered to the winds.(AJ) Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken.(AK)
22 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot(AL) from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.(AM) 23 On the mountain heights(AN) of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit(AO) and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.(AP) 24 All the trees of the forest(AQ) will know that I the Lord bring down(AR) the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.(AS)
“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.(AT)’”
The One Who Sins Will Die
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel:
“‘The parents eat sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?(AU)
3 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb(AV) in Israel. 4 For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins(AW) is the one who will die.(AX)
5 “Suppose there is a righteous man
who does what is just and right.
6 He does not eat at the mountain(AY) shrines
or look to the idols(AZ) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife
or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.(BA)
7 He does not oppress(BB) anyone,
but returns what he took in pledge(BC) for a loan.
He does not commit robbery(BD)
but gives his food to the hungry(BE)
and provides clothing for the naked.(BF)
8 He does not lend to them at interest
or take a profit from them.(BG)
He withholds his hand from doing wrong
and judges fairly(BH) between two parties.
9 He follows my decrees(BI)
and faithfully keeps my laws.
That man is righteous;(BJ)
he will surely live,(BK)
declares the Sovereign Lord.
10 “Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood(BL) or does any of these other things[a] 11 (though the father has done none of them):
“He eats at the mountain shrines.(BM)
He defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12 He oppresses the poor(BN) and needy.
He commits robbery.
He does not return what he took in pledge.(BO)
He looks to the idols.
He does detestable things.(BP)
13 He lends at interest and takes a profit.(BQ)
Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.(BR)
14 “But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:(BS)
15 “He does not eat at the mountain shrines(BT)
or look to the idols(BU) of Israel.
He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16 He does not oppress anyone
or require a pledge for a loan.
He does not commit robbery
but gives his food to the hungry(BV)
and provides clothing for the naked.(BW)
17 He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor
and takes no interest or profit from them.
He keeps my laws(BX) and follows my decrees.
He will not die for his father’s sin; he will surely live. 18 But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.
19 “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.(BY) 20 The one who sins is the one who will die.(BZ) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.(CA)
21 “But if(CB) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees(CC) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.(CD) 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.(CE) 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased(CF) when they turn from their ways and live?(CG)
24 “But if a righteous person turns(CH) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness(CI) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.(CJ)
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’(CK) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?(CL) Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.(CM) 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.(CN) 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent!(CO) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.(CP) 31 Rid(CQ) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart(CR) and a new spirit. Why(CS) will you die, people of Israel?(CT) 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent(CU) and live!(CV)
A Lament Over Israel’s Princes
19 “Take up a lament(CW) concerning the princes(CX) of Israel 2 and say:
“‘What a lioness(CY) was your mother
among the lions!
She lay down among them
and reared her cubs.(CZ)
3 She brought up one of her cubs,
and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he became a man-eater.
4 The nations heard about him,
and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks(DA)
to the land of Egypt.(DB)
5 “‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs(DC)
and made him a strong lion.(DD)
6 He prowled among the lions,
for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
and he became a man-eater.(DE)
7 He broke down[b] their strongholds
and devastated(DF) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
were terrified by his roaring.
8 Then the nations(DG) came against him,
those from regions round about.
They spread their net(DH) for him,
and he was trapped in their pit.(DI)
9 With hooks(DJ) they pulled him into a cage
and brought him to the king of Babylon.(DK)
They put him in prison,
so his roar(DL) was heard no longer
on the mountains of Israel.(DM)
10 “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard[c](DN)
planted by the water;(DO)
it was fruitful and full of branches
because of abundant water.(DP)
11 Its branches were strong,
fit for a ruler’s scepter.
It towered high
above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
and for its many branches.(DQ)
12 But it was uprooted(DR) in fury
and thrown to the ground.
The east wind(DS) made it shrivel,
it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
and fire consumed them.(DT)
13 Now it is planted in the desert,(DU)
in a dry and thirsty land.(DV)
14 Fire spread from one of its main[d] branches
and consumed(DW) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
fit for a ruler’s scepter.’(DX)
“This is a lament(DY) and is to be used as a lament.”
Rebellious Israel Purged
20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire(DZ) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.(EA)
2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders(EB) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire(EC) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(ED)’
4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors(EE) 5 and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose(EF) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand(EG) to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the Lord your God.(EH)” 6 On that day I swore(EI) to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(EJ) the most beautiful of all lands.(EK) 7 And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images(EL) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols(EM) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.(EN)”
8 “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;(EO) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.(EP) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.(EQ) 9 But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.(ER) I did it to keep my name from being profaned(ES) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.(ET) 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.(EU) 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths(EV) as a sign(EW) between us,(EX) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.(EY)
13 “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled(EZ) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws(FA)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.(FB) So I said I would pour out my wrath(FC) on them and destroy(FD) them in the wilderness.(FE) 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned(FF) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.(FG) 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore(FH) to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands(FI)— 16 because they rejected my laws(FJ) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts(FK) were devoted to their idols.(FL) 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy(FM) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents(FN) or keep their laws or defile yourselves(FO) with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God;(FP) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(FQ) 20 Keep my Sabbaths(FR) holy, that they may be a sign(FS) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.(FT)”
21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,(FU) of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger(FV) against them in the wilderness.(FW) 22 But I withheld(FX) my hand, and for the sake of my name(FY) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter(FZ) them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees(GA) and desecrated my Sabbaths,(GB) and their eyes lusted after(GC) their parents’ idols.(GD) 25 So I gave(GE) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;(GF) 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice(GG) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.(GH)’
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this also your ancestors(GI) blasphemed(GJ) me by being unfaithful to me:(GK) 28 When I brought them into the land(GL) I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.(GM) 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place(GN) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah[e] to this day.)
Rebellious Israel Renewed
30 “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves(GO) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?(GP) 31 When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children(GQ) in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.(GR)
32 “‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen. 33 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm(GS) and with outpoured wrath.(GT) 34 I will bring you from the nations(GU) and gather(GV) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand(GW) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.(GX) 35 I will bring you into the wilderness(GY) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment(GZ) upon you. 36 As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.(HA) 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,(HB) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.(HC) 38 I will purge(HD) you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(HE)
39 “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,(HF) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name(HG) with your gifts and idols.(HH) 40 For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,(HI) declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings(HJ) and your choice gifts,[f] along with all your holy sacrifices.(HK) 41 I will accept you as fragrant incense(HL) when I bring you out from the nations and gather(HM) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy(HN) through you in the sight of the nations.(HO) 42 Then you will know that I am the Lord,(HP) when I bring you into the land of Israel,(HQ) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.(HR) 43 There you will remember your conduct(HS) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves(HT) for all the evil you have done.(HU) 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake(HV) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.(HW)’”
Prophecy Against the South
45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, set your face toward(HX) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against(HY) the forest of the southland.(HZ) 47 Say to the southern forest:(IA) ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume(IB) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north(IC) will be scorched by it.(ID) 48 Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.(IE)’”
49 Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,(IF) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?(IG)’”[g]
Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment
21 [h]The word of the Lord came to me:(IH) 2 “Son of man, set your face against(II) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary.(IJ) Prophesy against(IK) the land of Israel 3 and say to her: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you.(IL) I will draw my sword(IM) from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.(IN) 4 Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword(IO) will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.(IP) 5 Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword(IQ) from its sheath; it will not return(IR) again.’(IS)
6 “Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.(IT) 7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?(IU)’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear(IV) and every hand go limp;(IW) every spirit will become faint(IX) and every leg will be wet with urine.’(IY) It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
8 The word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘A sword, a sword,
sharpened and polished—
10 sharpened for the slaughter,(IZ)
polished to flash like lightning!
“‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.(JA)
11 “‘The sword is appointed to be polished,(JB)
to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry out and wail, son of man,
for it is against my people;
it is against all the princes of Israel.
They are thrown to the sword
along with my people.
Therefore beat your breast.(JC)
13 “‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign Lord.’
14 “So then, son of man, prophesy
and strike your hands(JD) together.
Let the sword strike twice,
even three times.
It is a sword for slaughter—
a sword for great slaughter,
closing in on them from every side.(JE)
15 So that hearts may melt with fear(JF)
and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter[i]
at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
it is grasped for slaughter.(JG)
16 Slash to the right, you sword,
then to the left,
wherever your blade is turned.
17 I too will strike my hands(JH) together,
and my wrath(JI) will subside.
I the Lord have spoken.(JJ)”
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 19 “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword(JK) of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost(JL) where the road branches off to the city. 20 Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites(JM) and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots(JN) with arrows, he will consult his idols,(JO) he will examine the liver.(JP) 22 Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry,(JQ) to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp(JR) and to erect siege works.(JS) 23 It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind(JT) them of their guilt(JU) and take them captive.
24 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.
25 “‘You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come,(JV) whose time of punishment has reached its climax,(JW) 26 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.(JX) It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.(JY) 27 A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come;(JZ) to him I will give it.’(KA)
28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites(KB) and their insults:
“‘A sword,(KC) a sword,
drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
and to flash like lightning!
29 Despite false visions concerning you
and lying divinations(KD) about you,
it will be laid on the necks
of the wicked who are to be slain,
whose day has come,
whose time of punishment has reached its climax.(KE)
30 “‘Let the sword return to its sheath.(KF)
In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,(KG)
I will judge you.
31 I will pour out my wrath on you
and breathe(KH) out my fiery anger(KI) against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
men skilled in destruction.(KJ)
32 You will be fuel for the fire,(KK)
your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered(KL) no more;
for I the Lord have spoken.’”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 18:10 Or things to a brother
- Ezekiel 19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew
- Ezekiel 19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
- Ezekiel 19:14 Or from under its
- Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place.
- Ezekiel 20:40 Or and the gifts of your firstfruits
- Ezekiel 20:49 In Hebrew texts 20:45-49 is numbered 21:1-5.
- Ezekiel 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37.
- Ezekiel 21:15 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.