Ezekiel 28

New International Reader's Version

“ ‘ “In your proud heart
    you say, ‘I am a god.
I sit on the throne of a god
    in the Mediterranean Sea.’
But you are only a human being. You are not a god.
    In spite of that, you think you are as wise as a god.
³ Are you wiser than Daniel?
    Isn’t even one secret hidden from you?
⁴ You are wise and understanding.
    So you have become very wealthy.
You have piled up gold and silver
    among your treasures.
⁵ You have used your great skill in trading
    to increase your wealth.
You are very rich.
    So your heart has become proud.” ’ ”

“You think you are wise.
    In fact, you claim to be as wise as a god.
⁷ So I am going to bring outsiders against you.
    They will not show you any pity at all.
They will use their swords against your beauty and wisdom.
    They will strike down your shining glory.
⁸ They will bring you down to the grave.
    You will die a horrible death
    in the middle of the sea.
⁹ Then will you say, ‘I am a god’?
    Will you say that to those who kill you?
You will be only a human being to those who kill you.
    You will not be a god to them.
¹⁰ You will die just like those who have not been circumcised.
    Outsiders will kill you.

“ ‘ “You were the model of perfection.
    You were full of wisdom.
    You were perfect and beautiful.
¹³ You were in Eden.
    It was my garden.
All kinds of jewels decorated you.
Here is a list of them:
    carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,
    topaz, onyx and jasper,
    lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings were made out of gold.
    On the day you were created,
    they were prepared.
¹⁴ I appointed you to be like a guardian angel.
    I anointed you for that purpose.
You were on my holy mountain.
    You walked among the gleaming jewels.
¹⁵ Your conduct was without blame
    from the day you were created.
    But soon you began to sin.
¹⁶ You traded with many nations.
    You harmed people everywhere.
    And you sinned.
So I sent you away from my mountain in shame.
    Guardian angel, I drove you away
    from among the gleaming jewels.
¹⁷ You thought you were so handsome
    that it made your heart proud.
You thought you were so glorious
    that it spoiled your wisdom.
So I threw you down to the earth.
    I made an example out of you in front of kings.
¹⁸ Your many sins and dishonest trade
    made your holy places impure.
So I made you go up in flames.
    I turned you into nothing but ashes on the ground.
    I let everyone see it.
¹⁹ All the nations that knew you
    are shocked because of what happened to you.
You have come to a horrible end.
    And you will be gone forever.” ’ ”

“ ‘ “Sidon, I am against your people.
    Among you I will display my glory.
I will punish your people.
    Among you I will prove that I am holy.
    Then you will know that I am the Lord.
²³ I will send a plague on you.
    I will make blood flow in your streets.
Those who are killed will fall inside you.
    Swords will strike your people on every side.
    Then they will know that I am the Lord.