Ezekiel 19-21

New International Version

A Lament Over Israel’s Princes

19 “Take up a lament^(A) concerning the princes^(B) of Israel ²and say:

“‘What a lioness^(C) was your mother
    among the lions!
She lay down among them
    and reared her cubs.^(D)
³She brought up one of her cubs,
    and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.
⁴The nations heard about him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks^(E)
    to the land of Egypt.^(F)

⁵“‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
    her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs^(G)
    and made him a strong lion.^(H)
⁶He prowled among the lions,
    for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.^(I)
⁷He broke down^[a] their strongholds
    and devastated^(J) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
    were terrified by his roaring.
⁸Then the nations^(K) came against him,
    those from regions round about.
They spread their net^(L) for him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.^(M)
⁹With hooks^(N) they pulled him into a cage
    and brought him to the king of Babylon.^(O)
They put him in prison,
    so his roar^(P) was heard no longer
    on the mountains of Israel.^(Q)

¹⁰“‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard^[b]^(R)
    planted by the water;^(S)
it was fruitful and full of branches
    because of abundant water.^(T)
¹¹Its 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.^(U)
¹²But it was uprooted^(V) in fury
    and thrown to the ground.
The east wind^(W) made it shrivel,
    it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
    and fire consumed them.^(X)
¹³Now it is planted in the desert,^(Y)
    in a dry and thirsty land.^(Z)
¹⁴Fire spread from one of its main^[c] branches
    and consumed^(AA) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.’^(AB)

“This is a lament^(AC) 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^(AD) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.^(AE)

²Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³“Son of man, speak to the elders^(AF) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire^(AG) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AH)’

⁴“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors^(AI) ⁵and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose^(AJ) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand^(AK) 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.^(AL)” ⁶On that day I swore^(AM) 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,^(AN) the most beautiful of all lands.^(AO) ⁷And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images^(AP) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols^(AQ) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.^(AR)”

⁸“‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;^(AS) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.^(AT) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.^(AU) ⁹But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.^(AV) I did it to keep my name from being profaned^(AW) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. ¹⁰Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.^(AX) ¹¹I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.^(AY) ¹²Also I gave them my Sabbaths^(AZ) as a sign^(BA) between us,^(BB) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.^(BC)

¹³“‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled^(BD) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws^(BE)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.^(BF) So I said I would pour out my wrath^(BG) on them and destroy^(BH) them in the wilderness.^(BI) ¹⁴But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned^(BJ) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.^(BK) ¹⁵Also with uplifted hand I swore^(BL) 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^(BM)— ¹⁶because they rejected my laws^(BN) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts^(BO) were devoted to their idols.^(BP) ¹⁷Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy^(BQ) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. ¹⁸I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents^(BR) or keep their laws or defile yourselves^(BS) with their idols. ¹⁹I am the Lord your God;^(BT) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(BU) ²⁰Keep my Sabbaths^(BV) holy, that they may be a sign^(BW) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.^(BX)”

²¹“‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,^(BY) 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^(BZ) against them in the wilderness.^(CA) ²²But I withheld^(CB) my hand, and for the sake of my name^(CC) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. ²³Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter^(CD) them through the countries, ²⁴because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees^(CE) and desecrated my Sabbaths,^(CF) and their eyes lusted after^(CG) their parents’ idols.^(CH) ²⁵So I gave^(CI) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;^(CJ) ²⁶I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice^(CK) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.^(CL)’

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^(CM) blasphemed^(CN) me by being unfaithful to me:^(CO) ²⁸When I brought them into the land^(CP) 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.^(CQ) ²⁹Then I said to them: What is this high place^(CR) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah^[d] to this day.)

Rebellious Israel Renewed

³⁰“Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves^(CS) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?^(CT) ³¹When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children^(CU) 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.^(CV)

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. ³³As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm^(CW) and with outpoured wrath.^(CX) ³⁴I will bring you from the nations^(CY) and gather^(CZ) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand^(DA) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.^(DB) ³⁵I will bring you into the wilderness^(DC) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment^(DD) upon you. ³⁶As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(DE) ³⁷I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,^(DF) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.^(DG) ³⁸I will purge^(DH) 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.^(DI)

³⁹“‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,^(DJ) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name^(DK) with your gifts and idols.^(DL) ⁴⁰For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,^(DM) 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^(DN) and your choice gifts,^[e] along with all your holy sacrifices.^(DO) ⁴¹I will accept you as fragrant incense^(DP) when I bring you out from the nations and gather^(DQ) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy^(DR) through you in the sight of the nations.^(DS) ⁴²Then you will know that I am the Lord,^(DT) when I bring you into the land of Israel,^(DU) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.^(DV) ⁴³There you will remember your conduct^(DW) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves^(DX) for all the evil you have done.^(DY) ⁴⁴You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake^(DZ) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(EA)’”

Prophecy Against the South

⁴⁵The word of the Lord came to me: ⁴⁶“Son of man, set your face toward^(EB) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against^(EC) the forest of the southland.^(ED) ⁴⁷Say to the southern forest:^(EE) ‘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^(EF) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north^(EG) will be scorched by it.^(EH) ⁴⁸Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.^(EI)’”

⁴⁹Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,^(EJ) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?^(EK)’”^[f]

Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment

21 ^[g]The word of the Lord came to me:^(EL) ²“Son of man, set your face against^(EM) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary.^(EN) Prophesy against^(EO) the land of Israel ³and say to her: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you.^(EP) I will draw my sword^(EQ) from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.^(ER) ⁴Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword^(ES) will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.^(ET) ⁵Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword^(EU) from its sheath; it will not return^(EV) again.’^(EW)

⁶“Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.^(EX) ⁷And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?^(EY)’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear^(EZ) and every hand go limp;^(FA) every spirit will become faint^(FB) and every leg will be wet with urine.’^(FC) It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

⁸The 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—
¹⁰sharpened for the slaughter,^(FD)
polished to flash like lightning!

“‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.^(FE)

¹¹“‘The sword is appointed to be polished,^(FF)
    to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
    made ready for the hand of the slayer.
¹²Cry 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.^(FG)

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^(FH) 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.^(FI)
¹⁵So that hearts may melt with fear^(FJ)
    and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter^[h]
    at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
    it is grasped for slaughter.^(FK)
¹⁶Slash to the right, you sword,
    then to the left,
    wherever your blade is turned.
¹⁷I too will strike my hands^(FL) together,
    and my wrath^(FM) will subside.
I the Lord have spoken.^(FN)”

¹⁸The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁹“Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword^(FO) of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost^(FP) where the road branches off to the city. ²⁰Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites^(FQ) and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. ²¹For 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^(FR) with arrows, he will consult his idols,^(FS) he will examine the liver.^(FT) ²²Into 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,^(FU) to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp^(FV) and to erect siege works.^(FW) ²³It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind^(FX) them of their guilt^(FY) 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,^(FZ) whose time of punishment has reached its climax,^(GA) ²⁶this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.^(GB) It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.^(GC) ²⁷A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come;^(GD) to him I will give it.’^(GE)

²⁸“And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites^(GF) and their insults:

“‘A sword,^(GG) a sword,
    drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
    and to flash like lightning!
²⁹Despite false visions concerning you
    and lying divinations^(GH) 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.^(GI)

³⁰“‘Let the sword return to its sheath.^(GJ)
    In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,^(GK)
    I will judge you.
³¹I will pour out my wrath on you
    and breathe^(GL) out my fiery anger^(GM) against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
    men skilled in destruction.^(GN)
³²You will be fuel for the fire,^(GO)
    your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered^(GP) no more;
    for I the Lord have spoken.’”