Ezekiel 24:15-25:17

New International Version

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

¹⁵ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶ “Son of man, with one blow^(A) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.^(B) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.^{(C) 17} Groan quietly;^(D) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban^(E) fastened and your sandals^(F) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard^(G) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(H)”

¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.^(I)

¹⁹ Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?^(J) Why are you acting like this?”

²⁰ So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: ²¹ Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary^(K)—the stronghold in which you take pride,^(L) the delight of your eyes,^(M) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters^(N) you left behind will fall by the sword.^{(O) 22} And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard^(P) or eat the customary food of mourners.^{(Q) 23} You will keep your turbans^(R) on your heads and your sandals^(S) on your feet. You will not mourn^(T) or weep but will waste away^(U) because of^[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.^{(V) 24} Ezekiel^(W) will be a sign^(X) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

²⁵ “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,^(Y) their heart’s desire,^(Z) and their sons and daughters^(AA) as well— ²⁶ on that day a fugitive will come to tell you^(AB) the news. ²⁷ At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.^(AC) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.^(AD)”

A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against^(AE) the Ammonites^(AF) and prophesy against them.^{(AG) 3} Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!^(AH)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated^(AI) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,^{(AJ) 4} therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East^(AK) as a possession. They will set up their camps^(AL) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.^{(AM) 5} I will turn Rabbah^(AN) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.^(AO) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands^(AP) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,^{(AQ) 7} therefore I will stretch out my hand^(AR) against you and give you as plunder^(AS) to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy^(AT) you, and you will know that I am the Lord.^(AU)’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

⁸ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab^(AV) and Seir^(AW) said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,” ⁹ therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth^(AX), Baal Meon^(AY) and Kiriathaim^(AZ)—the glory of that land. ¹⁰ I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered^(BA) among the nations; ¹¹ and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”^(BB)

A Prophecy Against Edom

¹² “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom^(BC) took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, ¹³ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand^(BD) against Edom and kill both man and beast.^(BE) I will lay it waste, and from Teman^(BF) to Dedan^(BG) they will fall by the sword.^{(BH) 14} I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger^(BI) and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”^(BJ)

A Prophecy Against Philistia

¹⁵ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines^(BK) acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice^(BL) in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, ¹⁶ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines,^(BM) and I will wipe out the Kerethites^(BN) and destroy those remaining along the coast.^{(BO) 17} I will carry out great vengeance^(BP) on them and punish^(BQ) them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord,^(BR) when I take vengeance on them.^(BS)’”