Ezekiel 24-27

New International Version

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:^(A) ²“Son of man, record^(B) this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.^(C) ³Tell this rebellious people^(D) a parable^(E) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot;^(F) put it on
    and pour water into it.
⁴Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;^(G)
⁵    take the pick of the flock.^(H)
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.^(I)

⁶“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe^(J) to the city of bloodshed,^(K)
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order^(L) it comes.^(M)

⁷“‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.^(N)
⁸To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

⁹“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
¹⁰So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
¹¹Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.^(O)
¹²It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

¹³“‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed^(P) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.^(Q)

¹⁴“‘I the Lord have spoken.^(R) The time has come for me to act.^(S) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,^(T) nor will I relent.^(U) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,^(V) declares the Sovereign Lord.^(W)’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

¹⁵The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶“Son of man, with one blow^(X) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.^(Y) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.^(Z) ¹⁷Groan quietly;^(AA) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban^(AB) fastened and your sandals^(AC) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard^(AD) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(AE)”

¹⁸So 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.^(AF)

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

²⁰So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: ²¹Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary^(AH)—the stronghold in which you take pride,^(AI) the delight of your eyes,^(AJ) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters^(AK) you left behind will fall by the sword.^(AL) ²²And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard^(AM) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(AN) ²³You will keep your turbans^(AO) on your heads and your sandals^(AP) on your feet. You will not mourn^(AQ) or weep but will waste away^(AR) because of^[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.^(AS) ²⁴Ezekiel^(AT) will be a sign^(AU) 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,^(AV) their heart’s desire,^(AW) and their sons and daughters^(AX) as well— ²⁶on that day a fugitive will come to tell you^(AY) the news. ²⁷At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.^(AZ) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.^(BA)”

A Prophecy Against Ammon

25 The word of the Lord came to me: ²“Son of man, set your face against^(BB) the Ammonites^(BC) and prophesy against them.^(BD) ³Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you said “Aha!^(BE)” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated^(BF) and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,^(BG) ⁴therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East^(BH) as a possession. They will set up their camps^(BI) and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.^(BJ) ⁵I will turn Rabbah^(BK) into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep.^(BL) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you have clapped your hands^(BM) and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,^(BN) ⁷therefore I will stretch out my hand^(BO) against you and give you as plunder^(BP) to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy^(BQ) you, and you will know that I am the Lord.^(BR)’”

A Prophecy Against Moab

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

A Prophecy Against Edom

¹²“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because Edom^(BZ) took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so, ¹³therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stretch out my hand^(CA) against Edom and kill both man and beast.^(CB) I will lay it waste, and from Teman^(CC) to Dedan^(CD) they will fall by the sword.^(CE) ¹⁴I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger^(CF) and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”^(CG)

A Prophecy Against Philistia

¹⁵“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because the Philistines^(CH) acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice^(CI) in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah, ¹⁶therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines,^(CJ) and I will wipe out the Kerethites^(CK) and destroy those remaining along the coast.^(CL) ¹⁷I will carry out great vengeance^(CM) on them and punish^(CN) them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am the Lord,^(CO) when I take vengeance on them.^(CP)’”

A Prophecy Against Tyre

26 In the eleventh month of the twelfth^[b] year, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me:^(CQ) ²“Son of man, because Tyre^(CR) has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha!^(CS) The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’ ³therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea^(CT) casting up its waves. ⁴They will destroy^(CU) the walls of Tyre^(CV) and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. ⁵Out in the sea^(CW) she will become a place to spread fishnets,^(CX) for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord. She will become plunder^(CY) for the nations,^(CZ) ⁶and 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^[c]^(DA) king of Babylon, king of kings,^(DB) with horses and chariots,^(DC) with horsemen and a great army. ⁸He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works^(DD) against you, build a ramp^(DE) up to your walls and raise his shields against you. ⁹He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.^(DF) ¹⁰His 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^(DG) when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through. ¹¹The hooves^(DH) of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars^(DI) will fall to the ground.^(DJ) ¹²They 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.^(DK) ¹³I will put an end^(DL) to your noisy songs,^(DM) and the music of your harps^(DN) will be heard no more.^(DO) ¹⁴I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt,^(DP) for I the Lord have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.

¹⁵“This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands^(DQ) tremble^(DR) at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan^(DS) and the slaughter takes place in you? ¹⁶Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered^(DT) garments. Clothed^(DU) with terror, they will sit on the ground,^(DV) trembling^(DW) every moment, appalled^(DX) at you. ¹⁷Then they will take up a lament^(DY) concerning you and say to you:

“‘How you are destroyed, city of renown,
    peopled by men of the sea!
You were a power on the seas,
    you and your citizens;
you put your terror
    on all who lived there.^(DZ)
¹⁸Now the coastlands tremble^(EA)
    on the day of your fall;
the islands in the sea
    are terrified at your collapse.’^(EB)

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^(EC) over you and its vast waters cover you,^(ED) ²⁰then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit,^(EE) 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^[d] in the land of the living.^(EF) ²¹I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more.^(EG) You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the Sovereign Lord.”^(EH)

A Lament Over Tyre

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

“‘You say, Tyre,
    “I am perfect in beauty.^(EL)”
⁴Your domain was on the high seas;
    your builders brought your beauty to perfection.^(EM)
⁵They made all your timbers
    of juniper from Senir^[e];^(EN)
they took a cedar from Lebanon^(EO)
    to make a mast for you.
⁶Of oaks^(EP) from Bashan
    they made your oars;
of cypress wood^[f] from the coasts of Cyprus^(EQ)
    they made your deck, adorned with ivory.
⁷Fine embroidered linen^(ER) from Egypt was your sail
    and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple^(ES)
    from the coasts of Elishah.^(ET)
⁸Men of Sidon and Arvad^(EU) were your oarsmen;
    your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.^(EV)
⁹Veteran craftsmen of Byblos^(EW) were on board
    as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea^(EX) and their sailors
    came alongside to trade for your wares.

¹⁰“‘Men of Persia,^(EY) Lydia^(EZ) and Put^(FA)
    served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields^(FB) and helmets on your walls,
    bringing you splendor.
¹¹Men of Arvad and Helek
    guarded your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
    were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
    they brought your beauty to perfection.^(FC)

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

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

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

¹⁵“‘The men of Rhodes^[g]^(FJ) traded with you, and many coastlands^(FK) were your customers; they paid you with ivory^(FL) tusks and ebony.

¹⁶“‘Aram^[h]^(FM) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,^(FN) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,^(FO) coral^(FP) and rubies for your merchandise.

¹⁷“‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat^(FQ) from Minnith^(FR) and confections,^[i] honey, olive oil and balm^(FS) for your wares.^(FT)

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

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

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

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

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

²⁵“‘The ships of Tarshish^(GH) serve
    as carriers for your wares.
You are filled with heavy cargo
    as you sail the sea.^(GI)
²⁶Your oarsmen take you
    out to the high seas.
But the east wind^(GJ) will break you to pieces
    far out at sea.
²⁷Your wealth,^(GK) merchandise and wares,
    your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,
your merchants and all your soldiers,
    and everyone else on board
will sink into the heart of the sea^(GL)
    on the day of your shipwreck.
²⁸The shorelands will quake^(GM)
    when your sailors cry out.
²⁹All who handle the oars
    will abandon their ships;
the mariners and all the sailors
    will stand on the shore.
³⁰They will raise their voice
    and cry bitterly over you;
they will sprinkle dust^(GN) on their heads
    and roll^(GO) in ashes.^(GP)
³¹They will shave their heads^(GQ) because of you
    and will put on sackcloth.
They will weep^(GR) over you with anguish of soul
    and with bitter mourning.^(GS)
³²As they wail and mourn over you,
    they will take up a lament^(GT) concerning you:
“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,
    surrounded by the sea?^(GU)”
³³When your merchandise went out on the seas,^(GV)
    you satisfied many nations;
with your great wealth^(GW) and your wares
    you enriched the kings of the earth.
³⁴Now you are shattered by the sea
    in the depths of the waters;
your wares and all your company
    have gone down with you.^(GX)
³⁵All who live in the coastlands^(GY)
    are appalled^(GZ) at you;
their kings shudder with horror
    and their faces are distorted with fear.^(HA)
³⁶The merchants among the nations scoff at you;^(HB)
    you have come to a horrible end
    and will be no more.^(HC)’”

Footnotes

Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in
Ezekiel 26:1 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have month of the twelfth.
Ezekiel 26:7 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, of which Nebuchadnezzar is a variant; here and often in Ezekiel and Jeremiah
Ezekiel 26:20 Septuagint; Hebrew return, and I will give glory
Ezekiel 27:5 That is, Mount Hermon
Ezekiel 27:6 Targum; the Masoretic Text has a different division of the consonants.
Ezekiel 27:15 Septuagint; Hebrew Dedan
Ezekiel 27:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom
Ezekiel 27:17 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.