Bible in 90 Days

The Coming Fulfillment of Visions

²¹ Later, this message came to me from the Lord: ²² “Son of Man, what’s this proverb you have concerning Israel’s land that says, ‘The days pass slowly and every vision ends in nothing.’?^{[a] 23} Therefore you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “I’m about to put an end to use of this proverb in Israel. It will never be used again as a proverb in Israel. Instead, tell them that the days are drawing near when every vision will be fulfilled. ²⁴ There will no longer be worthless visions and flattering divinations in the midst of Israel’s house. ²⁵ Because I am the Lord, I’ll speak and the message that I communicate will be accomplished without delay. While you continue to be a rebellious house, I’ll speak the message and then fulfill it,” declares the Lord God.’”

The Imminent Fulfillment

²⁶ Later, this message came to me from the Lord: ²⁷ “Son of Man, pay attention! The house of Israel keeps on saying, ‘The vision that he’s talking about concerns the distant future. He’s prophesying concerning times that are far in the future!’ ²⁸ Therefore tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “None of my messages will be delayed any longer. Any message that I speak will be fulfilled,” declares the Lord God.’”

A Prophecy against Prophets

13 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who even now are prophesying, and tell those prophets that keep on prophesying according to what they wish would happen,^[b] ‘Listen to what the Lord says.’”

³ “This is what the Lord God says, ‘How terrible it will be for the false prophets who walk according to their own wrong inclinations^[c] and see nothing. ⁴ Israel, your prophets have become like foxes among ruins. ⁵ You didn’t go up to repair^[d] the breaches in the walls and you didn’t build the walls so Israel’s house would be able to endure battle on the Day of the Lord. ⁶ Instead, they crafted^[e] false prophecies and divination.

“‘They say, “…declares the Lord,” even though the Lord didn’t send them. And they hope for the fulfillment of their message. ⁷ You’ve crafted^[f] a false prophesy and spoken deceptive divination, haven’t you? But then you say, “…declares the Lord,” although I haven’t spoken a single word.

⁸ “‘Therefore this is what the Lord God says, “Because you’ve spoken falsehood and deceptions, I am therefore opposing^[g] you,” declares the Lord God. ⁹ My hand will oppose the prophets who see false visions and speak deceptive divinations. They won’t be included with the council of my people, nor will they be entered into the registry of Israel’s house or enter Israel’s land. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord God, ¹⁰ because they’ve truly caused my people to stray saying, “Peace,” but there’s no peace.’”

Metaphor of the Whitewashed Wall

“When someone builds a wall, they coat it with whitewash. ¹¹ Tell those who coat it with whitewash that it will fall. It will be washed off by the rain. Great hailstones will fall and a stormy wind will strip it off.^{[h] 12} Look! When the wall collapses, won’t it be said of you, ‘Where’s the coat of paint that you spread all over the wall?’

¹³ “Therefore this is what the Lord God says, ‘In my burning anger, I’ll rip it open with a windstorm. In my anger, I’ll rinse it off with rain, and put an end to it with a hailstorm in my destructive rage. ¹⁴ I’ll tear down the wall that you’ve smeared with whitewash, level it to the ground, and tear out its foundation. Then it will collapse—and you’ll perish with it! Then you’ll know that I am the Lord.

¹⁵ “‘That’s how I’ll vent my anger on the wall and on the ones who coated it with whitewash. And I’ll say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who coated it.”^{[i] 16} The prophets of Israel prophesied about Jerusalem and saw visions of peace concerning her, yet there’s no peace,’” declares the Lord God.

A Rebuke to Israel’s Women

¹⁷ “And now, Son of Man, turn toward and oppose^[j] the women^[k] of your people who prophesy according to their own wrong inclinations^[l] and prophesy against them. ¹⁸ Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “How terrible it will be for those women who sew magical bracelets on all their wrists and make one-size-fits all headbands,^[m] in order to entrap their souls. Will you hunt for the souls of my people and remain alive? ¹⁹ You’ve profaned me among my people for a handful of barley and a morsel of bread. You’re causing people to die who shouldn’t have to die, and you’re causing people to live who shouldn’t survive, when you deceive my people who tend to listen to lies.”

²⁰ “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says, “Watch out! I’m opposing your amulets with which you hunt souls as one would swat at a flying insect.^[n] I’ll tear them off your arms and then deliver those people, whom you’ve hunted like birds. ²¹ I’ll also tear off your headbands^[o] and deliver my people from your grip so that they won’t be under your control anymore. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord.

²² “‘“Because you’ve dismayed the heart of the righteous—whom I never intended to dismay—with lies, and because you’ve encouraged^[p] the wicked so that he wouldn’t abandon his evil behavior and by doing so live, ²³ you’ll no longer see false visions or again practice divination, because I’m going to deliver my people from your power. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord.”’”

A Prophecy against Idolatry

14 Later, some men from the elders of Israel came to visit me. After they had sat down in my presence, ² this message came to me from the Lord.

³ “Son of Man, these men have taken idols into their hearts. They’ve placed the stumbling block that is their own iniquity right in front of their faces. Should I be consulted by them at all? ⁴ Therefore, speak up and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “Every person from Israel’s house who follows his idols and sets the stumbling block that is his own sin in front of his face, and then consults a prophet, I the Lord will answer him according to how many idols he embraces. ⁵ I’ll do this in order to capture the hearts of Israel’s house who have become alienated from me due to all of their idols.”’”

An Exhortation to Turn Away

⁶ “Therefore you are to tell Israel’s house, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “Turn away! Turn away from your idols, and abandon your detestable practices! ⁷ For when a native Israeli or a resident alien abandons me to set up idols in his heart behind my back, and then places the stumbling block of his iniquity right in front of his own face, then approaches a prophet to inquire of me on behalf of his own self-interest, I, the Lord will answer him myself. ⁸ I’m determined to oppose that person^[q] and make him an example. Proverbs will be written about him^[r] when I eliminate him from my people. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord.”’”

On False Prophets

⁹ “Now as to the prophet, if through deceit he delivers a message, I the Lord have deceived that prophet! I’ll reach out in opposition to him and exterminate him from among my people Israel. ¹⁰ They’ll bear the consequences of their guilt, and the prophet will be just as guilty as the one who seeks that prophet’s guidance. ¹¹ Then Israel’s house won’t wander away from me again, nor will they defile themselves again with all their transgressions. They’ll become my people and I’ll be their God,” declares the Lord God.

On Noah, Daniel, and Job

¹² This message came to me from the Lord: ¹³ “Son of Man, when a nation^[s] sins against me by a treacherous act,^[t] I’ll reach out to oppose it, destroying its source of food,^[u] by sending famine against it, and by destroying both people and beast within it. ¹⁴ Though these three men, Noah, Daniel,^[v] and Job lived in that land, they would only save their own lives on account of their righteousness,” declares the Lord God.

¹⁵ “If I were to make wild animals pass throughout the land, so that they kill its residents^[w] and it were to become desolate because no one will travel through it due to those wild animals,^{[x] 16} then even though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord God, “they wouldn’t be able to deliver even their sons or daughters. They would only save themselves, but the land would become desolate.

¹⁷ “Or if I were to bring war to^[y] that land and say, ‘Hey, sword! Pass throughout the land so I can destroy both man and beasts in it,’ ¹⁸ though these three men lived there, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they couldn’t deliver their own sons and daughters. They would only save themselves.

¹⁹ “Or if I were to send a pestilence against that land and pour out my anger in it with bloodshed, destroying both man and beast in it, ²⁰ even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were among them, as I live” says the Lord God, “they couldn’t save their own sons or daughters. They would only save their own souls due to their own righteousness.”

²¹ This is what the Lord God says, “I’m sending four of my most destructive judgments—military invasion,^[z] famine, wild animals, and pestilence—into Jerusalem to destroy both human beings and livestock in it. ²² But look! There will be a remnant who escapes, a few sons and daughters to be brought out. Look! They’ll come out to you and you’ll see how they’ve lived and what they’ve done, and you’ll be comforted concerning the catastrophe that I brought on Jerusalem, including everything that I brought against her. ²³ They’ll comfort you when you see how they’ve lived and what they’ve done, because you’ll know for certain that I haven’t done anything that I’ve done against them without any reason,”^[aa] declares the Lord God.

A Message about Vines

15 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, how does wood from a vine compare to a branch taken from any of the trees in the forest? ³ Is wood ever taken from it to make anything practical? Can it even be made into a peg to hang something on? ⁴ After all, it’s useful only for kindling a fire, isn’t it? And once you’ve burnt up the ends and charred through the middle of it, is it useful for anything else? ⁵ If it was useless before it was burned, now that it’s been burned and charred through, it’s even more useless!

⁶ Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Just as the wood from a grape vine is removed from the forest and used for kindling fires, I’m giving the inhabitants of Jerusalem over ⁷ to punishment. They may have escaped one fire, but the coming fire will burn them up completely, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I set myself in opposition to^[ab] them ⁸ and dedicate the land to desolation because of their unfaithful unbelief,” declares the Lord God.

A Prophecy Confronting Jerusalem

16 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, make known to Israel her detestable practices. ³ You are to declare, ‘This is what the Lord God says to Jerusalem: “Your birth place^[ac] was the territory that belonged to the Canaanites. Your father was an Ammonite and your mother was a Hittite. ⁴ Now as to your birth, on the day you were born your umbilical cord wasn’t cut. You weren’t washed with water to clean you, and nobody rubbed you with salt. And it’s certain that you weren’t wrapped in strips of cloth. ⁵ Nobody pitied you to do any of these things for you, and nobody showed you any compassion. You were tossed outside on the ground, because you^[ad] were detested from the day you were born.

⁶ “‘“When I passed by you, I saw you kicking around, covered in your own blood. That’s when I told you, ‘Live!’—while you were wallowing in your blood. I commanded you to live, even as you lay there in your own blood. ⁷ I made you increase like sprouting grain^[ae] in the field. As a result, you multiplied greatly. Eventually, you reached the age when young women start wearing jewelry. Your breasts were formed, your hair had grown, but you were still bare and naked.”’”

God’s Betrothal to Jerusalem

⁸ “When I passed by you again, I looked at you, and noticed that it was your proper time for love. I spread my cloak^[af] over you to cover your nakedness. I made a solemn promise to you and entered into a covenant with you,” declares the Lord God. “You belong to me. ⁹ I bathed you with water, rinsed your own blood from you, and anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ Then I covered you with embroidered clothing, clothed your feet with leather sandals, wrapped^[ag] you with fine linen, and dressed you in silk. ¹¹ I adorned you with jewels, placing bracelets on your hand and necklaces on your neck. ¹² I put a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a crown encrusted with jewels on your head. ¹³ You were adorned with gold, silver, clothing of fine linen, silk, and embroidery. You ate food made from the finest flour, honey, and olive oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, attaining royal status. ¹⁴ Your fame^[ah] spread throughout the nations because of your beauty. You were perfectly beautiful due to my splendor with which I endowed you,” declares the Lord God.

Jerusalem’s Arrogant Unfaithfulness

¹⁵ “But you trusted in your beauty. You did what whores do, as a result of your fame. You passed out your sexual favors^[ai] to anyone who passed by, giving yourself to anyone. ¹⁶ You took some of your clothes and made gaily-colored high places and prostituted yourself all around them—something which had never happened before nor will ever happen again.

¹⁷ “You also took your fine jewelry—including my gold and my silver that I had given you. Then you made for yourself male images and had sex with them! ¹⁸ You took your embroidered gowns and made clothes to cover them. Then you offered my olive oil and incense to them.

¹⁹ “Not only that, you took the food I gave you—my fine flour, olive oil, and honey with which I fed you, and you offered^[aj] them to those gods^[ak] in order to appease them.^[al] That’s exactly what happened,” says the Lord God. ²⁰ “Then you took your sons and daughters whom you bore for me and sacrificed them for your idols to eat. As though your prostitutions were an insignificant thing, ²¹ you also slaughtered my sons and offered them to idols, incinerating them in fire.^{[am] 22} Throughout all of your detestable practices and immorality, you never did remember your earlier life when you were bare, naked, and wallowing in your own blood.”

The Unfaithfulness of God’s People

²³ “How terrible! How terrible it will be for all of your wickedness!” declares the Lord God. ²⁴ “You built raised mounds and high places for yourself on every plaza. ²⁵ At every street corner you made your beauty abhorrent when you made yourself available for sex to^[an] anyone who was passing by. By doing this, you kept on committing more and more immorality. ²⁶ Then you committed immorality with your neighbors, the Egyptians,^[ao] with perverted lust,^[ap] and by doing so you fornicated even more, provoking me to anger.

²⁷ “Therefore, look out! I’ve reached out to oppose you. I withdrew your rations and delivered you^[aq] to those Philistine women who hate you. Even they were embarrassed at your wicked ways! ²⁸ You committed immorality with the Assyrians,^[ar] because you still weren’t satisfied. You committed immorality with them, but you still weren’t satisfied. ²⁹ You committed even more immorality with that land of the merchants, the Chaldeans. But you weren’t satisfied even with these!

³⁰ “How weak is your heart,” declares the Lord God, “when you committed all of these deeds, the acts of an imperious whore! ³¹ When you built your mound on every street corner and constructed your high place at every plaza, you weren’t like a common prostitute, in that you’ve insulted the wages of a prostitute ³² who commits adultery, preferring a stranger over her husband!

³³ “All prostitutes receive gifts, but you give your gifts to all your lovers, then you bribe them to come to you from everywhere to get your sexual favors!^{[as] 34} You’re different from other women when you commit immorality—no one can match you in that!^[at] After all, you pay fees, but no fee is given to you. You’re certainly different!”

The Coming Punishment

³⁵ “Therefore listen to this message from the Lord, you whore! ³⁶ This is what the Lord God says: ‘Because your lust has been poured out and your nakedness has been uncovered by your acts of fornication with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols and the blood of your sons, whom you offered to them, ³⁷ therefore, watch out! I’m about to gather all your lovers from whom you’ve received your pleasure, everyone whom you’ve loved, and those whom you’ve hated. I’ll gather them together to oppose you from every side, and they’ll uncover your nakedness in their presence. Then they’ll see you completely naked. ³⁸ I’ll judge you with the same standards by which I issue verdicts against a woman who commits adultery and murder.^[au] I’ll avenge the blood you’ve shed with impassioned wrath.^[av]

³⁹ “I’ll also deliver you into their control, and they’ll break down your mounds, tear down your high places, strip off your clothes, remove your fine jewels, and then they’ll leave you stark naked! ⁴⁰ They’ll bring a mob against you to stone you to death^[aw] and cut you into pieces with their swords. ⁴¹ Then they’ll burn your houses and carry out my sentence^[ax] against you in the sight of many women.

“That’s how I’ll make you stop your prostitution so you won’t pay any prostitute’s fees anymore. ⁴² I’ll stop being angry with you, and I’ll cease being jealous.^[ay] I’ll be calm and not be indignant anymore. ⁴³ Because you didn’t remember the time when you were young, but instead you provoked me to anger because of all these things, watch out! I’m going to bring your behavior back to haunt^[az] you!” declares the Lord God. “Didn’t you do this wicked thing, in addition to all your other^[ba] detestable practices?”

Like Mother, Like Daughter

⁴⁴ “Now, everyone who likes proverbs will quote this proverb about you, ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ ⁴⁵ You’re the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You’re the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children.

“Your mother was a Hittite and your father was an Amorite. ⁴⁶ Your elder sister was Samaria. She and her daughters lived in the north,^[bb] while your younger sister who lived in the south^[bc] with her daughters was Sodom. ⁴⁷ It wasn’t just that you lived like they did and committed their detestable practices, but in just a little while your behavior led you to become more corrupt than they were!”

Sins of Sodom

⁴⁸ “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “your sister Sodom and her daughters didn’t do what you and your daughters have done. ⁴⁹ Look! This was the sin of your sister Sodom and her daughters: Pride, too much food, undisturbed peace, and failure to help^[bd] the poor and needy. ⁵⁰ In their arrogance, they committed detestable practices in my presence, so when I saw it, I removed them. ⁵¹ Samaria didn’t commit half of your sins—you practiced more detestable deeds than they did! You’ve caused your sister to be more righteous than you, because of the detestable practices that you’ve committed. ⁵² So now, bear your own shame as you mediate for your sisters. The sins that you’ve committed are more detestable than theirs. That makes them more righteous than you. Indeed, be ashamed and bear your reproach, because you’ve made your sisters to be more righteous than you.”

A Change in Circumstances

⁵³ “I’ll bring them back from their captivity—that is, from the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, along with the captivity of Samaria and her daughters and the captivity of your captives among them. ⁵⁴ But you’ll continue to bear your own reproach and be humiliated for everything that you’ve done. You’ll be a comfort to them. ⁵⁵ Your sister Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former status. Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former status. Then you and your daughters will be restored to your former status.

⁵⁶ “When you were being so arrogant, you never once mentioned your sister Sodom ⁵⁷ before your wickedness was revealed. Now you’ve become an object of derision to the inhabitants^[be] of Aram and its neighbors, including the Philistines^[bf]—all those around you who despise you. ⁵⁸ You are to bear the punishment of your wickedness and detestable practices,” declares the Lord, ⁵⁹ “since the Lord God says, ‘I’ll deal with you according to what you’ve done, when you despised your oath by breaking the covenant.

⁶⁰ “‘Meanwhile, as for me, I’ll remember my covenant with you from when you were young, because I’ll establish an eternal covenant with you. ⁶¹ Then you’ll remember your behavior and be ashamed when you greet your sisters—your elder sister and your younger sister. I’ll give them to you as daughters, but not on account of my covenant with you. ⁶² I’ll establish my covenant with you, and then you’ll know that I am the Lord. ⁶³ Then you will remember, be ashamed, and you won’t open your mouth anymore due to humiliation when I will have made atonement for you for everything that you’ve done,’ declares the Lord God.”

The Parable of the Eagle

17 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, compose a riddle and relate a parable to Israel’s house. ³ Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “A massive eagle with gigantic wings, long pinions, and full, multi-colored plumage came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.^{[bg] 4} He plucked off the top of its shoot, brought it to a land of merchants, and set it down in a city full of traders. ⁵ Then the eagle took a seed from the land and planted it in fertile ground. He planted it like a willow tree next to abundant waters. ⁶ It flourished and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, and its roots spread under him to become a vine that put out shoots and spread out its branches.

⁷ “‘“All of a sudden, there was another eagle with gigantic wings and thick plumage. The vine stretched its roots hungrily toward him and spread its branches out to him in order to be watered on the terraces where it was planted. ⁸ It was transplanted into good soil^[bh] near abundant water, and it produced branches and bore fruit, becoming a magnificent vine.”’

⁹ “Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “Will it prosper? Won’t he pull up its roots, and strip it bare so all its fresh foliage dries up? It won’t be by great strength or by a great army that it will be uprooted. ¹⁰ Look! Because it’s a transplanted vine, won’t it wither when the east wind hits it? It will surely wither in the terraces where it had started to sprout.”’”

The Meaning of the Parable

¹¹ This message came to me from the Lord: ¹² “Tell my^[bi] rebellious house, ‘Don’t you know what these things mean? Look! The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, captured her king and princes, and took them with him to Babylon. ¹³ Then he took one of the royal descendants, made a covenant with him, and put him under an oath of loyalty, taking the leaders of the land captive ¹⁴ in order to humiliate the kingdom so it wouldn’t be able to return to power, but would still be able to continue as long as he keeps his covenant. ¹⁵ But he rebelled against the king of Babylon^[bj] by sending his messengers to Egypt to obtain horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Or will the one who did this escape? Will he break the covenant, but still be delivered?’”

God will Punish the King

¹⁶ “As long as I live,” declares the Lord God, “in Babylon, that place where the king has enthroned him, whose oath he despised so as to break his covenant, he’ll die with him. ¹⁷ Pharaoh, with his massive army and large battalions won’t protect him when mounds and siege walls are built to destroy many people.^{[bk] 18} He despised the oath he had made and broke the covenant. Look! Because he willingly submitted,^[bl] yet he has done all these things, he won’t escape.

¹⁹ Therefore, this is what the Lord God says, “As long as I live, because he despised my oath and broke my covenant, he’s going to suffer the consequences.^{[bm] 20} I’ll spread my net over him so that he’ll be caught in my snare. I’ll bring him to Babylon and carry out my sentence there because of his treachery toward me. ²¹ The fugitives of his troops will die by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to the four^[bn] winds. Then you’ll know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”

The Transplanted Vine

²² This is what the Lord God says, “I’m also going to take a shoot from the top of a cedar and plant it. I’ll pluck off its delicate twigs and transplant it on a high and lofty mountain. ²³ I’ll transplant it on Israel’s land, and it will grow branches, bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. All sorts^[bo] of birds will rest under it, and they’ll settle down in the shade of its branches. ²⁴ Then all the trees of the fields will know that I, the Lord, bring down the lofty tree and exalt the lowly tree. I dry up the green^[bp] tree and cause the dry tree to bud. I the Lord have spoken this, and I will fulfill it.”

The Outdated Proverb

18 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Why do you cite this proverb when you talk about Israel’s land: ‘The fathers eat sour grapes but it’s their children’s teeth that have become numb.’ ³ As long as I live,” declares the Lord, “you won’t use this proverb about Israel anymore. ⁴ Look! Every living soul belongs to me—the father’s as well as the son’s.^[bq] So pay attention! The person who keeps on sinning is going to die.”

Standards of Righteous Behavior

⁵ “If a person is righteous, and practices what’s lawful and right, ⁶ if he doesn’t eat at mountain shrines, and doesn’t look to the idols that have been erected in Israel’s house, if he doesn’t defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her time of menstrual separation, ⁷ if he doesn’t oppress anyone, but instead returns the debtor’s security for his debt, if he doesn’t rob anyone, but instead shares his food with the hungry and gives clothes to those who are naked, ⁸ if he doesn’t lend with usury or exact interest, but instead refuses to participate in^[br] what is unjust, if he administers true justice between people,^{[bs] 9} if he lives his life^[bt] consistent with my statutes and keeps my ordinances by practicing what’s true, then he’s righteous and will certainly live,” declares the Lord God.

Standards of Unrighteous Behavior

¹⁰ “Now suppose that person produces a son who’s violent, a murderer, and practices any of these things, ¹¹ even though the father^[bu] hasn’t done any of these things. The son who eats at mountain shrines, defiles his neighbor’s wife, ¹² oppresses the afflicted and the poor, robs others, doesn’t return security for a debt, looks to idols, does detestable things, ¹³ loans with usury, and exacts interest; will he live? He certainly will not! He has done all these detestable practices. He will certainly die, and his guilt will be his own fault.”^[bv]

Personal Accountability for Sin

¹⁴ “Now suppose that he produced a son who practiced all of his father’s sins, but then that son^[bw] began to fear me and stopped doing all of these things. ¹⁵ That is, suppose he doesn’t eat at the mountain shrines, doesn’t look to the idols of Israel’s house, doesn’t defile his neighbor’s wife, ¹⁶ doesn’t oppress anyone, doesn’t take possession of a debtor’s pledge, or doesn’t steal, but instead shares his food with the hungry, gives clothes to those who are naked, ¹⁷ doesn’t refuse to help the afflicted, or refuses to loan with usury or exact interest, but instead follows my ordinances and lives his life consistent with my statutes. He won’t die because of his father’s sin, will he? No! He’ll certainly live. ¹⁸ As for his father, watch out! If he wrongfully oppressed or robbed his brother and did what wasn’t good among his people, he’ll die because of^[bx] his own sin.”

The Person who Sins will Die

¹⁹ “Yet you keep asking, ‘Why wouldn’t the son bear the punishment of his father’s sin?’ Because the son has done what was lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes and obeyed them, he’s certainly going to live. ²⁰ The soul who sins dies. The son won’t bear the punishment of his father’s sin and the father won’t bear the punishment of his son’s sin. The righteous deeds of that righteous person will be attributed to him, while the wicked deeds of the wicked person will be charged against him. ²¹ But if the wicked person turns from all his sins, which he did and keeps my statutes, then he’ll live. He won’t die. ²² None of the transgressions that he had committed will be held^[by] against him. Because of the righteous deeds that he had done, he’ll live.

²³ “I don’t take delight in the death of the wicked, do I?” asks the Lord God. “Shouldn’t I rather delight^[bz] when he turns from his wicked ways and lives? ²⁴ But when the righteous person abandons his righteous deeds and commits evil, detestable practices, as wicked people do, he won’t live, will he? None of the righteous acts that he had done will be remembered. He’ll die in his treacherous unfaithfulness and sins that he had committed.”

Accusing God of Unrighteousness

²⁵ “Yet you keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t being consistent with his standards.’ Pay attention, you house of Israel: Is my behavior really inconsistent with my standards? Isn’t it your behavior that isn’t just?

²⁶ “When a righteous person turns from his righteous deeds and does evil, he’ll die because of that evil. He’ll die because of his unrighteous acts that he committed. ²⁷ When a wicked person quits^[ca] his wicked behavior^[cb] and does what’s just and right, he’ll be enabled to live.^{[cc] 28} Because he reconsidered his transgression and turned away from everything that he had been doing, he’ll certainly live and not die. ²⁹ Yet Israel’s house keeps saying, ‘The Lord isn’t being consistent with his standards.’ Is it my behavior that’s inconsistent with my standards?^[cd] Is it not your behavior that’s inconsistent with my standards?”^[ce]

A Command to Repent

³⁰ “Therefore, Israel, I’m going to judge you according to the behavior of each and every one of you,” declares the Lord God. “So repent and turn from all your sins so that sin won’t keep on being a stumbling block for you. ³¹ Stop your transgressing—the deeds by which you’ve rebelled—and then make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, you house of Israel? ³² I don’t take pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord. “So repent, so you may live!”

A Prophecy against Israel’s Nobles

19 “Now as for you, publish^[cf] this mourning psalm about Israel’s leaders. ² Tell them:

“This is a lamentation, and it is to be used in mourning.”

A Prophecy against Israel’s Elders

20 On the seventh year, on the tenth day^[ck] of the fifth month, men came from the elders of Israel to seek the Lord. They sat down in front of me.

² “Son of Man,” the Lord told me, ³ “Tell the elders of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God asks, “Did you come to inquire of me? As long as I live, I won’t let myself be sought by you,” declares the Lord God.’

⁴ “Will you judge them? Son of Man, will you indeed judge them? Teach them about the detestable things that their ancestors did. ⁵ Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says, “The day I chose Israel, when I made my commitment^[cl] to the descendants of Jacob’s house, I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt and I made my promise to them with the words, ‘I am the Lord your God.’ ⁶ That day I promised to bring them out of the land of Egypt to the land that I had explored for them—a land flowing with milk and honey. It’s the most beautiful of all lands. ⁷ Then I told them, ‘Each of you are to abandon your detestable practices.^[cm] You are not to defile yourselves with Egypt’s idols. I am the Lord your God.’”’”

A Brief History of Israel’s Rebellion

⁸ “But they rebelled against me and weren’t willing to obey me. None of them abandoned their detestable practices^[cn] or their Egyptian idols. So I said, ‘I’ll pour out my anger on them, extending my fury in the middle of the land of Egypt.’ ⁹ I did this so my reputation^[co] might not be tarnished among the nations where they were living, among whom I made myself known in their presence when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁰ I brought them out of the land of Egypt to bring them to the wilderness ¹¹ where I gave them my statutes and revealed my ordinances to them, which if a person^[cp] observes, he’ll live by them. ¹² Also, I instituted^[cq] my Sabbath for them as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the Lord, who has set them apart.”

Israel Rebels in the Wilderness

¹³ “But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t live by^[cr] my statutes. They despised my ordinances, which if a person observes, he’ll live by them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my anger on them and bring them to an end in the wilderness. ¹⁴ I did this so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations in whose presence I had brought them out.

¹⁵ “Moreover, I solemnly swore to them in the wilderness that I wouldn’t bring them to the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands— ¹⁶ because they kept on rejecting my ordinances. They didn’t live life consistent with my statutes, they profaned my Sabbaths, and their hearts followed^[cs] their idols. ¹⁷ Even then, I^[ct] looked on them with compassion and didn’t completely destroy them in the wilderness. ¹⁸ I told their children in the wilderness, ‘You are not to follow the statutes of your ancestors, observe their ordinances, or be defiled by their idols. ¹⁹ I am the Lord your God. You are to follow my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. ²⁰ You are to make my Sabbaths holy, and you are to let them serve as a sign between you and me, so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’”

More of Israel’s Rebellion

²¹ “But they rebelled against me. They didn’t live according to my statutes, observe my ordinances, or practice them, by which a person will live. They also kept profaning my Sabbaths. So I said that I was going to pour out my anger on them and in my anger I’m going to bring about a complete end to them in the wilderness. ²² But I withdrew my decision^[cu] so my reputation wouldn’t be tarnished among the nations before whose eyes I brought them out.

²³ “Furthermore, I solemnly swore in the wilderness to disperse them among the nations and scatter them to other^[cv] lands ²⁴ because they didn’t observe my ordinances. Instead, they rejected my statutes, profaned my Sabbaths, and worshipped^[cw] their ancestors’ idols. ²⁵ So I gave them statutes that weren’t good and ordinances by which they could not live. ²⁶ I made them unclean because of their offerings, so they made all their firstborn^[cx] to pass through the fire, so that I could make them astonished. Then they’ll know that I am the Lord.”

The Blasphemy of Israel’s Ancestors

²⁷ “Therefore, Son of Man, you are to speak to the children of Israel and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Your ancestors also blasphemed me in their treacherous behavior against me. ²⁸ I brought them to the land that I had promised to give them. But whenever they saw any high hill and or any leafy tree, they slaughtered their sacrifices there and presented their offerings that provoked my anger. There they presented their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offering. ²⁹ So I asked them, ‘What is the high place to which you’re going?’ That’s why the name of the place has been called Bamah^[cy] to this day.”’

³⁰ “Therefore you are to say to Israel’s house, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Will you defile yourselves like your ancestors did by acting as a prostitute, consistent with their horrible deeds? ³¹ When you present your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with your idols to this day. Should I be inquired of by you, you house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord, “I certainly won’t be inquired of by you.” ³² The thing that you’re imagining^[cz] is never going to happen, since you’re thinking, “We’ll be like the nations, like the clans of other^[da] lands who serve gods made from wood and stone.”’”

The Coming Discipline of Israel

³³ “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “with my powerful hand and outstretched arm, along with my wrath poured out, I’ll reign as king over you. ³⁴ I’ll bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered. With a powerful hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, ³⁵ I’ll bring you into the wilderness of the nations. I’ll judge you right there, face to face. ³⁶ Just as I judged your ancestors in the wilderness in the land of Egypt, so I’ll judge you,” declares the Lord. ³⁷ “I’ll cause you to pass under the rod until I will have brought you into the bond of the covenant. ³⁸ I’ll eliminate the rebels among you, along with those who are transgressing against me. I’ll bring them out of the land where you’ve lived, but they won’t be able to enter the land of Israel. Then you’ll know that I am the Lord.”

The Coming Regathering of Israel

³⁹ And now, you house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says, “Go ahead and serve your idols, both now and later, but later you’ll listen to me, and you won’t profane my sacred name again by your offerings and idols. ⁴⁰ For on my holy mountain, on Israel’s high mountains,” declares the Lord God, “the whole of Israel’s house—all of it—will serve me there in the land. I’ll accept them there. And there I’ll demand your offerings, the first fruits of your portions of all your sacred things.

⁴¹ “When I will have brought you from among the people and have gathered you from the lands where you were scattered, I’ll accept you as a pleasing aroma. I’ll reveal my holiness among you, and the entire world will see it. ⁴² Then you’ll know that I, the Lord, brought you to the land of Israel, to the land that I promised to give to your ancestors. ⁴³ You’ll remember all your practices and evil actions by which you’ve become defiled. You’ll loathe yourselves^[db] because of all the evil things you’ve done. ⁴⁴ Then you’ll know that I am the Lord, when I will have dealt with you for the benefit of my own reputation and not according to your evil attitudes or corrupt practices, you house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.

Coming Judgment on the South

^45 [dc]This message came to me from the Lord: ⁴⁶ “Son of Man, turn to the south and oppose it, talking toward the south. ⁴⁷ Prophesy against the forest of the Negev,^[dd] ‘Listen to this message from the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: “Look out! I’m about to ignite a fire and set it against you. It will devour every tree—whether green or dry—that lives in you. This powerful flame will not be extinguishable, and the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. ⁴⁸ Then everyone^[de] will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, because it won’t be extinguished.”’”

Ezekiel’s Complaint to God

⁴⁹ Then I said, “O Lord God! They’re saying about me, ‘Isn’t he one to propound parables?’”

A Prophecy against Jerusalem

21 ^[df]This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, look toward Jerusalem, preach^[dg] against its sanctuaries, and prophesy against Israel’s land. ³ Declare to Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Watch out! I’m against you! I’m going to unsheathe my sword to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you. ⁴ Since I’m going to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you, I’ll be unsheathing my sword against everyone from south to north. ⁵ Then everyone will know that I am the Lord, who unsheathed my sword, and who won’t have to unsheathe it again.”’

⁶ “And now, Son of Man, you are to start groaning until you’re sick to your stomach.^[dh] You are to groan bitterly right in front of them.^{[di] 7} When they’ll ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that just arrived. Every heart will melt with fear, every hand will grow limp, every spirit will grow faint, and every knee will glisten with sweat.’ Look! It has come and it will be fulfilled,” declares the Lord God.

God’s Sword and Scepter

⁸ This message came to me from the Lord: ⁹ “Son of Man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

‘In putting the sword to the test along with the scepter, it won’t keep on rejecting, will it?’ declares the Lord God.”

A Double and Triple Judgment

Two Pathways to Invasion

¹⁸ This message came to me from the Lord: ¹⁹ “Now, Son of Man, demarcate two pathways by which the sword of Babylon’s king will arrive in the land. Both pathways will lead from a single land.

“Make a sign,^[do] carving it out and installing it at the junction on the way to the city. ²⁰ Set it to point one way for bringing the sword against Rabbah, the descendants of Ammon, and the other way against Judah and fortified Jerusalem.

²¹ “Meanwhile, Babylon’s king is standing at the fork of the road,^[dp] where he can head in either of two directions, and that’s where he is practicing divination. Shaking his arrows, he’s asking questions of his teraphim while he examines livers. ²² On his right hand he is divining against Jerusalem, preparing to set up battering rams, preparing^[dq] for the slaughter, getting ready to sound the alarm for battle,^[dr] setting the battering rams in place at the gates, building siege mounds, and erecting a siege wall. ²³ In their view, it will seem to be a false prophecy, but because they swore allegiance, he’ll make them remember their guilt as he takes them captive.”

Imminent Invasion

²⁴ Therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Because you remembered your sins when your transgressions were uncovered, your sins are visibly evident in everything you’ve done. And since you’ve remembered them, you’ll be taken captive.

A Rebuke to Ammon

²⁸ And now Son of Man, prophesy to the Ammonites that this is what the Lord God says to the Ammonites about their approaching humiliation:

A Prophecy against Jerusalem

22 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Now, Son of Man, will you truly judge that blood-stained city? Then make her aware of all of her detestable practices.

³ “You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “The city keeps on shedding blood within her, hastening her time to be judged. She crafts idols that defile her.

⁴ “‘“You’re guilty because of the blood that you’ve shed. You were defiled by the idols that you’ve made. You’ve caused your judgment day to draw near and have even come to the end of^[du] your life. Therefore, I’ve made you an object of derision among the nations and to other^[dv] lands. ⁵ Those who are both near and far away from you will scoff at you, because your reputation will be infamous and full of turmoil.

⁶ “‘“Watch out! Each of the princes of Israel has misused his authority to shed blood. ⁷ They’ve treated mothers and fathers among you with contempt. They’ve oppressed the foreigner among you. They’ve maltreated the orphan and the widow among you.

⁸ “‘“You have despised my sacred things and profaned my Sabbaths. ⁹ Slanderous men live among you, intent on shedding blood. They’ve eaten at the top of mountain shrines. They’ve crafted plans to do evil things among you. ¹⁰ They’ve revealed the nakedness of their father in your midst. They’ve humiliated those among you who were unclean due to their impurity. ¹¹ One of you commits detestable practices with his neighbor’s wife. Another sexually defiles his daughter-in-law. Another humiliates his sister, his own father’s daughter. ¹² They take bribes among you to shed blood. You’ve taken usury and exacted interest. You’ve gained control over your neighbor through extortion. And you’ve forgotten me,” declares the Lord God.

¹³ “Watch out! I’m vehemently angry about^[dw] the unjust gains that you’ve earned, and about the blood that has been shed among you. ¹⁴ Can your heart stand up to this? Can your hands remain strong when I deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken and will fulfill this. ¹⁵ I’m going to disperse you among the nations and scatter you to other lands. I’m going to put an end to your uncleanness. ¹⁶ When you’ve been defiled in the sight of the nations, then you’ll know that I am the Lord.”’”

God’s Purging Fire

¹⁷ This message came to me from the Lord: ¹⁸ “Son of Man, Israel has become like dross to me. All of them are like remnants of bronze, tin, iron, and lead in a furnace—the dross left over from smelting silver. ¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord God says, ‘Because all of you have become dross, watch out! I’m going to gather all of you at the center of Jerusalem, ²⁰ just like a smelter gathers all the silver, bronze, lead, and tin to the center of a furnace and injects fire in order to melt it, I’m going to gather you in my anger and rage, make you settle down—and then I’m going to melt you down. ²¹ Indeed, I’m going to gather you together and exhale the fire of my fury, and then you’ll be melted from the inside out ²² like melting silver at the center of a furnace. When you’ve been melted from the center out, then you’ll know that I am the Lord. I’ll pour out my anger on you.’”

God Rebukes Prophets and Priests

²³ This message came to me from the Lord: ²⁴ “Son of Man, tell her,^[dx] ‘You’re a land that hasn’t been purified, one that hasn’t been rained on in the day of indignation. ²⁵ There’s a conspiracy of prophets within her, and like a roaring lion tearing its prey, they’ve devoured people, and confiscated treasures, and taken precious things. They’ve added to the population of widows within her. ²⁶ Her priests have violated my Law and profaned my sacred things. They didn’t differentiate between what’s sacred and what’s common. They didn’t instruct others to discern clean from unclean things. They refused to keep^[dy] my Sabbaths.

“‘I’m constantly being profaned among them. ²⁷ Her princes within her are like wolves tearing their prey apart. They shed blood, destroying souls, and make unjust gain.

²⁸ “‘Her prophets whitewashed all of these things through false visions and lying divinations. They kept on saying, “This is what the Lord God says…”, when the Lord has not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land were vigorously oppressive and took possession of plunder by violence. They’ve afflicted the poor and the needy and unjustly treated the foreigner. ³⁰ I sought for a man among them to build the wall and stand in the breach in my presence on behalf of the land so that it won’t be destroyed, but I found no one, ³¹ so I poured my indignation over them. With my fierce anger, I’ve consumed them. I brought the consequences of^[dz] their behavior upon them,’^[ea] declares the Lord God.”

Introducing Oholah and Oholibah

23 This message came to me from the Lord: ² “Son of Man, here are two sisters who are daughters from the same mother. ³ They committed sexual immorality in Egypt. They did this^[eb] in their youth. There, their breasts were caressed. Their virgin breasts were fondled. ⁴ The older one was named Oholah^[ec] and her sister was named Oholibah.^[ed] They belonged to me and gave birth to sons and daughters. Now as to their real identities, Oholah refers to Samaria and Oholibah to Jerusalem.”

The Sins of Samaria

⁵ “Oholah committed sexual immorality while she belonged to me. She lusted for Assyria’s warriors, ⁶ who were clothed in blue—including governors and commanders. All of them were desirable young men—horsemen mounted on horses. ⁷ She bestowed her sexual favors^[ee] on them—all of them, the best of the Assyrians—and with whomever she lusted for.

“She defiled herself with all their idols. ⁸ She never abandoned the immorality that she practiced in Egypt during her youth, where they laid down with her and fondled her virgin breasts, lavishing her with all kinds of favors. ⁹ Therefore, I turned her over to the control^[ef] of her lovers, that is, into the control^[eg] of the Assyrians for whom she lusted. ¹⁰ They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters, and executed her with a sword. She became an object of ridicule^[eh] among other nations^[ei] when they punished her.”

The Sins of Jerusalem

¹¹ “Her sister Oholibah saw this, but she was more corrupt in her lust and sexual immorality than her sister had been in her own sexual immorality. ¹² She lusted after the Assyrians—governors, commanders, warriors clothed in gorgeous attire, cavalry mounted on their horses—all of them desirable young men. ¹³ I saw that she was defiled, because the two of them both were on the same^[ej] path.

¹⁴ “She became even more sexually immoral when she saw the images of the Chaldean men who had been carved in red on their walls. ¹⁵ Girded with waistbands around their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looked like chariot officers, similar to the Babylonians from Chaldea, where they had been born.

¹⁶ “She lusted after them when she saw them, so she sent messengers to summon them from Chaldea. ¹⁷ The Babylonians came to her love nest^[ek] and defiled her with their sexual immorality. As a result, she was defiled by them. Even so, she turned away from them in disgust. ¹⁸ She displayed her immorality publicly and stripped herself naked, so I turned away in disgust from her, just as I had turned away in disgust from her sister.

¹⁹ “Nevertheless, she became even more sexually immoral, even reminiscing about when she was young, when she kept on practicing sexual immorality in the land of Egypt. ²⁰ She lusted after her paramours, whose genitals are^[el] like those of donkeys, and whose emissions are like those of horses. ²¹ Think about the wickedness that you practiced when you were young, when the Egyptians fondled your breasts, the breasts of your youth.”

God’s Rebuke to Jerusalem

²² “Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord God says: ‘Look! I’m about to stir up your lovers against you, the ones from whom you’ve turned away in disgust. I’m going to bring them against you from every direction— ²³ the Babylonians, all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and all of the Assyrians with them. They’re all desirable young men, governors, commanders, chariot officers, and famous men, all of them mounted on horses.

²⁴ “‘They’ll invade you with weapons, chariots, wagons, and a vast army. They’ll set themselves in place to attack you from every direction with large shields, small shields, and helmets. I’ll turn over judgment to them, and they’ll punish you according to their own standards.^{[em] 25} I’ll expend my jealousy on you so they’ll deal with you in anger. They’ll cut off your noses and your ears. Your survivors will die violently.^[en] They’ll take your sons and daughters away from you, but your survivors will be incinerated. ²⁶ They’ll strip off your clothes and confiscate your jewelry.^{[eo] 27} That’s how I’ll put an end to your obscene conduct and sexual immorality that you kept on practicing since the day you left^[ep] the land of Egypt so that you won’t look in Egypt’s direction or even remember it anymore.’

²⁸ “This is what the Lord God says, ‘I’m about to turn you over to the control^[eq] of those you hate, to the control of those from whom you turned away in disgust. ²⁹ They’ll deal with you with hatred. They’ll take away your productivity, leaving you naked and defenseless, so that the nakedness of your sexual immorality will be uncovered—your licentious sexual immorality. ³⁰ These things will happen to you because of your sexual immorality that was patterned after what the nations do. You’ve been defiled by their idols. ³¹ You took the path of your sister, so I’ll place her cup in your hand.’

³² “This is what the Lord God says: ‘You’ll drink from your sister’s cup, which is both large and deep. You’ll become a laughing stock and an object of derision, since the cup is so full! ³³ You’ll be filled with drunkenness and grief. The cup that belongs to your sister Samaria is filled with horror and devastation, ³⁴ but you’ll drink from it and drain it completely. As for the vessel, you’ll break it to pieces and you’ll tear at your breasts, for I’ve spoken,’ declares the Lord God.

³⁵ “Therefore this is what the Lord God says: ‘Because you abandoned me and threw me behind your back, you will bear the consequences of your obscene conduct and sexual immorality.’”

What Israel and Samaria Did

³⁶ Then the Lord spoke to me. “Son of Man, speak out in judgment of both Oholah and Oholibah. Make their detestable practices widely known, ³⁷ because they’ve committed adultery, and blood covers their hands. They’ve also committed adultery with their idols, making their sons born to me to pass through the fire^[er] as an offering to^[es] them.

³⁸ “They’ve also done this to me: They defiled my sanctuary and profaned my Sabbaths, all at the same time!^{[et] 39} When they killed their sons as offerings to^[eu] their idols, they brought them to my sanctuary and defiled it.^[ev] Look what they’ve done with my Temple!