A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against^(A) the Ammonites^(B) and prophesy against them.^{(C) 3} Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!^(D)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated^(E) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,^{(F) 4} therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East^(G) as a possession. They will set up their camps^(H) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.^{(I) 5} I will turn Rabbah^(J) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.^(K) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands^(L) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,^{(M) 7} therefore I will stretch out my hand^(N) against you and give you as plunder^(O) to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy^(P) you, and you will know that I am the Lord.^(Q)’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

⁸ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Moab^(R) and Seir^(S) 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^(T), Baal Meon^(U) and Kiriathaim^(V)—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^(W) among the nations; ¹¹ and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”^(X)

A Prophecy Against Edom

¹² “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom^(Y) 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^(Z) against Edom and kill both man and beast.^(AA) I will lay it waste, and from Teman^(AB) to Dedan^(AC) they will fall by the sword.^{(AD) 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^(AE) and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”^(AF)

A Prophecy Against Philistia

¹⁵ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines^(AG) acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice^(AH) 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,^(AI) and I will wipe out the Kerethites^(AJ) and destroy those remaining along the coast.^{(AK) 17} I will carry out great vengeance^(AL) on them and punish^(AM) them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord,^(AN) when I take vengeance on them.^(AO)’”

A Prophecy Against Tyre

26 In the eleventh month of the twelfth^[a] year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:^{(A) 2} “Son of man, because Tyre^(B) has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha!^(C) The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ ³ therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea^(D) casting up its waves. ⁴ They will destroy^(E) the walls of Tyre^(F) and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. ⁵ Out in the sea^(G) she will become a place to spread fishnets,^(H) for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. She will become plunder^(I) for the nations,^{(J) 6} and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am the Lord.

⁷ “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar^[b](K) king of Babylon, king of kings,^(L) with horses and chariots,^(M) with horsemen and a great army. ⁸ He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works^(N) against you, build a ramp^(O) up to your walls and raise his shields against you. ⁹ He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.^{(P) 10} His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the warhorses, wagons and chariots^(Q) when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. ¹¹ The hooves^(R) of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars^(S) will fall to the ground.^{(T) 12} They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.^{(U) 13} I will put an end^(V) to your noisy songs,^(W) and the music of your harps^(X) will be heard no more.^{(Y) 14} I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt,^(Z) for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁵ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands^(AA) tremble^(AB) at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan^(AC) and the slaughter takes place in you? ¹⁶ Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered^(AD) garments. Clothed^(AE) with terror, they will sit on the ground,^(AF) trembling^(AG) every moment, appalled^(AH) at you. ¹⁷ Then they will take up a lament^(AI) concerning you and say to you:

¹⁹ “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths^(AM) over you and its vast waters cover you,^{(AN) 20} then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit,^(AO) to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your place^[c] in the land of the living.^{(AP) 21} I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more.^(AQ) You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.”^(AR)

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, take up a lament^(A) concerning Tyre. ³ Say to Tyre,^(B) situated at the gateway to the sea,^(C) merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

¹² “‘Tarshish^(V) did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;^(W) they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

¹³ “‘Greece,^(X) Tubal and Meshek^(Y) did business with you; they traded human beings^(Z) and articles of bronze for your wares.

¹⁴ “‘Men of Beth Togarmah^(AA) exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

¹⁵ “‘The men of Rhodes^[c](AB) traded with you, and many coastlands^(AC) were your customers; they paid you with ivory^(AD) tusks and ebony.

¹⁶ “‘Aram^[d](AE) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,^(AF) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,^(AG) coral^(AH) and rubies for your merchandise.

¹⁷ “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat^(AI) from Minnith^(AJ) and confections,^[e] honey, olive oil and balm^(AK) for your wares.^(AL)

¹⁸ “‘Damascus^(AM) did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.^(AN) They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar ¹⁹ and casks of wine from Izal^(AO) in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia^(AP) and calamus.

²⁰ “‘Dedan^(AQ) traded in saddle blankets with you.

²¹ “‘Arabia^(AR) and all the princes of Kedar^(AS) were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

²² “‘The merchants of Sheba^(AT) and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices^(AU) and precious stones, and gold.^(AV)

²³ “‘Harran,^(AW) Kanneh and Eden^(AX) and merchants of Sheba, Ashur^(AY) and Kilmad traded with you. ²⁴ In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

Doing Good to All

6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit^(A) should restore^(B) that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{(C) 3} If anyone thinks they are something^(D) when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{(E) 4} Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,^(F) without comparing themselves to someone else,^{(G) 5} for each one should carry their own load.^{(H) 6} Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(I)

⁷ Do not be deceived:^(J) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.^{(K) 8} Whoever sows to please their flesh,^(L) from the flesh will reap destruction;^(M) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.^{(N) 9} Let us not become weary in doing good,^(O) for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.^{(P) 10} Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good^(Q) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family^(R) of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹ See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!^(S)

¹² Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh^(T) are trying to compel you to be circumcised.^(U) The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted^(V) for the cross of Christ. ¹³ Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,^(W) yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.^{(X) 14} May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(Y) through which^[a] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.^{(Z) 15} Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^(AA) what counts is the new creation.^{(AB) 16} Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to^[b] the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks^(AC) of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ^(AD) be with your spirit,^(AE) brothers and sisters. Amen.