Bible in 90 Days

²¹ The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ²² “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: ‘Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?

²³ “Tell the people, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Instead, tell them, ‘The time is near when every vision will come true. ²⁴ There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people. ²⁵ I, the Lord, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

²⁶ The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ²⁷ “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees won’t happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.’

²⁸ “Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Everything that I say will no longer be delayed. Whatever I say will happen, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

False Prophets Condemned

13 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Tell those who make up their prophecies, ‘Listen to the Lord’s word.

³ “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the foolish prophets. They follow their own ideas, and they have seen nothing. ⁴ Israel, your prophets are like foxes among the ruins ⌞of a city⌟. ⁵ They haven’t repaired the gaps in the wall or rebuilt the wall for the nation of Israel. So Israel will not be protected in battle on the day of the Lord. ⁶ These foolish prophets see false visions, and their predictions don’t come true. They say, “The Lord said this.” But the Lord hasn’t sent them. Then they hope that their message will come true. ⁷ Prophets of Israel, haven’t you seen false visions and predicted things that don’t come true? Don’t you say, “The Lord said this,” even though I haven’t said anything?

⁸ “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your predictions are false, and your visions are lies. That is why I’m against you, declares the Almighty Lord. ⁹ I will use my power against the prophets who see false visions and predict things that don’t come true. They will not help my people make decisions or be recorded in the records of the nation of Israel. They won’t even enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

¹⁰ “ ‘They have deceived my people by saying that everything is alright, but it’s not alright. When someone builds a flimsy wall, the prophets cover it up with paint. ¹¹ Tell those who cover up the wall with paint that their wall will fall down. Rain will pour down, hailstones will fall on it, and stormy winds will break it to pieces. ¹² When the wall falls down, people will ask them, “Where’s the paint that you used to cover the wall?”

¹³ “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: In my fury I’ll cause a storm to break out. In my anger rain will pour down, and hailstones will destroy the wall. ¹⁴ I will tear down the wall that the prophets covered up with paint. I will level it and expose its foundation. When the wall falls, they will be destroyed by it. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹⁵ I will unleash my fury on the wall and on those who covered it up with paint.

“ ‘Then I will say to you, “The wall is gone, and so are those who painted it. ¹⁶ The prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem are gone. Those who said that everything was alright, when it wasn’t alright, are gone, declares the Almighty Lord.” ’

¹⁷ “Son of man, look at the women among your people who make up prophecies, and prophesy against them.

¹⁸ “Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for women who sew magic charms for people’s wrists and make magic veils of every size for people’s heads. You want to trap people. You want to control the lives of my people for your own profit. ¹⁹ You dishonor me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who shouldn’t die, and you spare the lives of people who shouldn’t live. You lie to my people who are willing to listen.

²⁰ “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m against the magic charms that you use to trap people like birds. I will tear them from your arms and free the people that you have trapped. ²¹ I will tear off your magic veils and rescue my people from your power so that they will no longer be under your control. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ²² You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I hadn’t brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives. ²³ That is why you will no longer see false visions or make predictions. I will rescue my people from your power. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of Israel’s leaders came to me and sat down in front of me. ² Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ³ “Son of man, these people are devoted to their idols, and they are allowing themselves to fall into sin. Should they be allowed to ask me for help?

⁴ “So speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Suppose an Israelite is devoted to idols and allows himself to fall into sin. Suppose he goes to a prophet ⌞to ask for my help⌟. I, the Lord, will give that Israelite an answer, the answer that his many idols deserve. ⁵ I will do this to recapture the hearts of the nation of Israel. They have deserted me because of their disgusting idols.’

⁶ “So tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Change the way you think and act! Turn away from your idols, and don’t return to any of your disgusting things. ⁷ Suppose an Israelite or a foreigner who lives in Israel deserts me by devoting himself to idols and by allowing himself to fall into sin. If he goes to a prophet to ask for my help, I, the Lord, will give him an answer. ⁸ I will reject him, and I will make an example of him. I will exclude him from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

⁹ “ ‘If a prophet is tricked into giving a prophecy, it is I, the Lord, who tricked the prophet. I will use my power against you and destroy you from among my people Israel. ¹⁰ Both of you will suffer for your sins. The prophet will be as guilty as you are when you ask for his help. ¹¹ Then the people of Israel will no longer wander away from me. They will no longer dishonor me with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

¹² The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ¹³ “Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful to me. I will use my power against it, cut off its food supply, send a famine to it, and destroy its people and animals. ¹⁴ Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in that country, they would, by their righteousness, rescue only themselves,” declares the Almighty Lord.

¹⁵ “Suppose I send wild animals through that country and they make it childless and turn it into such a wasteland that no one travels through it because of the animals. ¹⁶ As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their own sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves. And the country would become a wasteland.

¹⁷ “Suppose I bring a war against that country by saying, ‘I will let a war go throughout this country.’ Suppose I destroy the people and the animals in it. ¹⁸ As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

¹⁹ “Suppose I send a plague into that country or pour out my fury on it by killing people and destroying animals. ²⁰ As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could, by their righteousness, rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

²¹ “This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will surely send four terrible punishments against Jerusalem. I will send wars, famines, wild animals, and plagues. They will destroy people and animals. ²² But some people will survive. Some of your sons and daughters will be brought out. When they come out to you, you will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters that I will bring on Jerusalem, after every disaster that I will bring against it. ²³ You will be comforted when you see how they live. Then you will know that everything I have done was done for a reason,” declares the Almighty Lord.

Jerusalem Is Compared to Wood from a Wild Vine

15 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, what good is the wood from a vine? Is it better than the wood from a tree in the forest? ³ Do people use it to make something? Do they make a peg from it to hang things on? ⁴ No! It is only thrown into the fire as fuel. The fire burns up both its ends and chars its middle. Then can it be used to make anything? ⁵ When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn’t be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it?

⁶ “So this is what the Almighty Lord says: As a vine is taken from among the trees in the forest to be used to feed the fire, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem to punish them. ⁷ I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will turn against them. ⁸ I will turn the country into a wasteland because they have been unfaithful,” declares the Almighty Lord.

A Description of Jerusalem’s Sins

16 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, make known to the people of Jerusalem the disgusting things they have done. ³ Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says to the people of Jerusalem: Your birthplace and your ancestors were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. ⁴ When you were born, your umbilical cord wasn’t cut. You weren’t washed with water to make you clean. You weren’t rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloth. ⁵ No one who saw you felt sorry enough for you to do any of these things. But you were thrown into an open field. You were rejected when you were born.

⁶ “ ‘Then I went by you and saw you kicking around in your own blood. I said to you, “Live.” ⁷ I made you grow like a plant in the field. You grew up, matured, and became a young woman. Your breasts developed, and your hair grew. Yet, you were naked and bare.

⁸ “ ‘I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares the Almighty Lord.

⁹ “ ‘Then I bathed you with water, and I washed off your blood. I poured olive oil over you. ¹⁰ I put an embroidered dress on you and fine leather sandals on your feet. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ I gave you jewelry. I put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck. ¹² I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ So you wore gold and silver jewelry. You were dressed in fine linen, silk, and embroidered clothes. Your food was flour, honey, and olive oil. You were very beautiful, and eventually you became a queen. ¹⁴ You became famous in every nation because of your beauty. Your beauty was perfect because I gave you my glory, declares the Almighty Lord.

¹⁵ “ ‘But you trusted your beauty, and you used your fame to become a prostitute. You had sex with everyone who walked by. ¹⁶ You took some of your clothes and made your worship sites colorful. This is where you acted like a prostitute. Such things shouldn’t happen. They shouldn’t occur. ¹⁷ You took your beautiful gold and silver jewelry that I had given you and made male idols for yourself. Then you committed adultery with them. ¹⁸ You took off your embroidered clothes and covered the idols with them. You offered my olive oil and incense in their presence. ¹⁹ You also offered them sweet and fragrant sacrifices. You gave flour, olive oil, and honey—all the food that I gave you to eat. This is what happened, declares the Almighty Lord.

²⁰ “ ‘You took your sons and daughters, who belonged to me, and you sacrificed them as food to idols. Wasn’t your prostitution enough? ²¹ You slaughtered my children and presented them as burnt offerings to idols. ²² With all the disgusting things that you did and all your acts of prostitution, you didn’t remember the time when you were young. You didn’t remember when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your own blood.

²³ “ ‘How horrible! How horrible it will be for you! declares the Almighty Lord. After all your wickedness, ²⁴ you built yourself platforms and illegal worship sites in every city square. ²⁵ You also built worship sites at the head of every street. You used your beauty to seduce people there. You offered your body to everyone who passed by. You increased your acts of prostitution. ²⁶ You had sex with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians. You used your prostitution to make me angry.

²⁷ “ ‘So I used my power against you. I took away some of your land, and I handed you over to your greedy enemies, the Philistines, who were ashamed of what you had done.

²⁸ “ ‘You had sex with the Assyrians because you weren’t satisfied. You still weren’t satisfied. ²⁹ So you increased your acts of prostitution to include the land of the merchants, the Babylonians. Even after that, you weren’t satisfied.

³⁰ “ ‘You have no will power! declares the Almighty Lord. You do everything a shameless prostitute does. ³¹ You build your platforms at the head of every street and place your illegal worship sites in every square. Yet, you aren’t like other prostitutes, because you don’t want to be paid. ³² You are an adulterous wife who prefers strangers to her husband. ³³ All prostitutes get paid. But you give gifts to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all directions to have sex with you. ³⁴ You are a different kind of prostitute. No one goes after you for favors. You are the opposite. You pay them, and you don’t accept payment.

Jerusalem’s Punishment

³⁵ “ ‘Listen to the Lord’s word, you prostitute. ³⁶ This is what the Almighty Lord says: You exposed yourself and uncovered your naked body when you gave yourself to your lovers and to all your disgusting idols. You also killed your children and sacrificed their blood to these idols. ³⁷ That is why I will gather all your lovers with whom you found pleasure. I will have all those who love you and hate you gather around. I will uncover your body for them, and they will see you naked. ³⁸ I will punish you the same way that those who are guilty of prostitution and murder are punished. I will give you the death penalty in my fury and burning anger. ³⁹ I will hand you over to your lovers. They will destroy your platforms and tear down your illegal worship sites. They will tear off your clothes, take away your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. ⁴⁰ They will also bring a mob against you. They will stone you and cut you into pieces with their swords. ⁴¹ They will burn your houses and punish you in the presence of many women. I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay others. ⁴² Then I will rest from my fury against you, and I will stop being angry. I will be at peace. I will no longer be angry.

⁴³ “ ‘You didn’t remember the time when you were young, and you made me very angry with all these things. So I will pay you back for what you have done, declares the Almighty Lord. Didn’t you make wicked plans in addition to all your disgusting practices?

⁴⁴ “ ‘Everyone who uses proverbs will speak the following saying against you: Like mother, like daughter. ⁴⁵ You are your mother’s daughter. She rejected her husband and her children. You are exactly like your sisters. They rejected their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.

⁴⁶ “ ‘Your older sister was Samaria. She and her daughters lived north of you. Your younger sister is Sodom. She lives south of you with her daughters. ⁴⁷ You didn’t follow their ways. You didn’t do the same disgusting things that they did. It only took you a little time to be more corrupt than they ever were. ⁴⁸ As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. ⁴⁹ This is what your sister Sodom has done wrong. She and her daughters were proud that they had plenty of food and had peace and security. They didn’t help the poor and the needy. ⁵⁰ They were arrogant and did disgusting things in front of me. So I did away with them when I saw this.

⁵¹ “ ‘Samaria didn’t commit half the sins you did. You have done many more disgusting things than they ever did. Because of all the disgusting things that you have done, you make your sisters look innocent. ⁵² You will have to suffer disgrace because you accused your sisters. Yet, your sins are more disgusting than theirs. They look like they are innocent compared to you. Be ashamed of yourself and suffer disgrace, because you have made your sisters look like they are innocent.

⁵³ “ ‘I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and Samaria and her daughters. I will also restore your fortune along with theirs. ⁵⁴ You will have to suffer disgrace and be ashamed of everything you have done, including comforting them. ⁵⁵ When Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters return to what they once were, you and your daughters will return to what you once were. ⁵⁶ You didn’t mention your sister Sodom when you were arrogant. ⁵⁷ You didn’t mention her before your wickedness was revealed. Now the daughters of Aram ^[a] and their neighbors despise you. The daughters of the Philistines also despise you. Those around you hate you. ⁵⁸ You must suffer because of all the crude and disgusting things you have done, declares the Lord.

⁵⁹ “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will give you what you deserve. You despised your marriage vows and rejected my promise.^{[b] 60} I will remember the promise that I made with you when you were young, and I will make it a promise that will last forever. ⁶¹ Then you will remember what you have done. You will be ashamed when I return your older and younger sisters to you. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of my promise with you. ⁶² Then I will make my promise with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. ⁶³ You will remember and be ashamed. You will never again open your mouth because of your disgrace when I forgive you for everything you did, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”

Judah Is Compared to a Tree

17 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, tell this riddle. Give this illustration to the nation of Israel. ³ Say, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: A large eagle came to Lebanon. It had large wings with long, colorful feathers. It took hold of the top of a cedar tree. ⁴ It broke off the highest twig and carried it to a country of merchants. It planted the twig in a city of merchants.

⁵ “ ‘Then it took a seedling from that country and planted the seedling in fertile soil. The eagle planted the seedling like a willow where there was plenty of water. ⁶ The plant sprouted and grew into a low vine that spread over the ground. Its branches turned upward toward the eagle, but its roots grew downward. So it became a vine, producing branches and growing shoots.

⁷ “ ‘There was another large eagle with large wings and many feathers. Now, the vine stretched its roots toward this eagle and sent its branches toward the eagle so that the eagle could water it. The vine turned away from the garden where it was planted. ⁸ It was planted in good soil beside plenty of water so that it could grow branches, bear fruit, and become a wonderful vine.’

⁹ “Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Will this vine live and grow? Won’t the first eagle uproot it and tear off its fruit? Then it will wither. All the leaves on its branches will wither. It won’t take much strength or many people to pull the vine up by its roots. ¹⁰ It might be planted again, but will it live and grow? It will wither completely when the east wind blows on it. It will certainly wither in the garden where it is growing.’ ”

¹¹ The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ¹² “Ask these rebellious people, ‘Don’t you know what this means?’ Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured its king and its leaders. He brought them home with him to Babylon. ¹³ Then he took someone from the royal family, made a treaty with him, and made him promise to be loyal. He took away the leading citizens from Judah ¹⁴ so that it would remain a humiliated country and be unable to regain its power. The country could only survive by keeping the treaty. ¹⁵ But the king of Judah rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending his messengers to Egypt to get horses and many soldiers. Will the king of Judah succeed? Will anyone who does such things escape? He can’t break a treaty and go unpunished.

¹⁶ “ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, the king of Judah will die in Babylonia. He will die in the country of the king who appointed him king of Judah. The king of Judah broke his promise and his treaty with the king of Babylon. ¹⁷ Even with a large army and many people, Pharaoh will not be able to help him in battle when the Babylonians put up dirt ramps and set up blockades to kill many people. ¹⁸ The king of Judah broke the promise and the treaty that he pledged to keep. He did all these things, and he can’t go unpunished.

¹⁹ “ ‘So this is what the Almighty Lord says: As I live, I will certainly punish you for rejecting my promise and hating my treaty. ²⁰ I will spread my net over you to catch you in my trap. I will take you to Babylon and judge you there for rebelling against me. ²¹ The best of your troops will die in battle. Anyone who remains will be scattered in every direction that the wind blows. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.

²² “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I, too, will take hold of the top of a cedar tree. I will break off the highest twig and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. ²³ I will plant it on a high mountain in Israel. It will grow branches and produce fruit. It will become a magnificent cedar tree. Every kind of bird will nest in it and find a home in the shelter of its branches. ²⁴ Then all the trees in the field will know that I am the Lord. I cut down tall trees, and I make small trees grow tall. I dry up green trees, and I make dry trees grow. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.’ ”

Everyone Will Suffer for His Own Sins

18 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “What do you mean when you use this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge’? ³ As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you will no longer use this proverb in Israel. ⁴ The life of every person belongs to me. Fathers and their children belong to me. The person who sins will die.

⁵ “Suppose a righteous person does what is fair and right. ⁶ He doesn’t eat at the illegal mountain worship sites or look for help from the idols of the nation of Israel. He doesn’t dishonor his neighbor’s wife or have sexual intercourse with a woman while she is having her period. ⁷ He doesn’t oppress anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security for a loan. He doesn’t rob anyone. He gives food to people who are hungry, and he gives clothes to those who are naked. ⁸ He doesn’t lend money for interest or make an excessive profit. He refuses to do evil things, and he judges everyone fairly. ⁹ He lives by my rules and obeys my laws faithfully. This person is righteous. He will certainly live,” declares the Almighty Lord.

¹⁰ “But suppose this person has a son who robs and murders. The son does all the things ¹¹ that his father never did. He eats at the illegal mountain worship sites. He dishonors his neighbor’s wife. ¹² He oppresses the poor and needy. He robs. He doesn’t return the security for a loan. He looks to idols for help. He does disgusting things. ¹³ He lends money for interest and makes excessive profits. Will this person live? He will not live. He has done all these disgusting things. So he must die, and he will be responsible for his own death.

¹⁴ “But suppose this person has a son. The son sees all the sins that his father does. He is afraid, so he doesn’t do such things.^{[c] 15} He doesn’t eat at the illegal mountain worship sites or look for help from the idols of the nation of Israel. He doesn’t dishonor his neighbor’s wife. ¹⁶ He doesn’t oppress anyone. He doesn’t keep the security for a loan. He doesn’t rob anyone. He gives food to people who are hungry, and he gives clothes to those who are naked. ¹⁷ He refuses to hurt the poor. He doesn’t charge interest or make excessive profits. He obeys my rules and lives by my laws. He won’t die for his father’s sins. He will certainly live. ¹⁸ But his father has oppressed others, robbed his relative, and done what is wrong among his people. So the father will die because of his sin.

¹⁹ “But you ask, ‘Why isn’t the son punished for his father’s sin?’ It is because the son has done what is fair and right. He obeyed my rules and followed them. He will certainly live. ²⁰ The person who sins will die. A son will not be punished for his father’s sins, and a father will not be punished for his son’s sins. The righteousness of the righteous person will be his own, and the wickedness of the wicked person will be his own.

²¹ “But suppose a wicked person turns away from all the sins that he has done. He obeys all my laws and does what is fair and right. He will certainly live. He will not die. ²² All the rebellious things that he did will not be remembered. He will live because of the right things that he did. ²³ I don’t want wicked people to die.” declares the Almighty Lord. “I want them to turn from their evil ways and live.

²⁴ “But suppose a righteous person turns away from doing right and he does evil things. He does all the disgusting things that the wicked person did. Will he live? All the right things that he has done will not be remembered because of his unfaithfulness and because of his sin. He will die because of them.

²⁵ “But you say, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Listen, nation of Israel, isn’t my way fair? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair? ²⁶ When a righteous person turns away from doing right and does evil things, he will die. He will die because of the evil things he has done. ²⁷ When a wicked person turns away from the wicked things that he has done and does what is fair and right, he will live. ²⁸ He realized what he was doing and turned away from all the rebellious things that he had done. He will certainly live. He will not die.

²⁹ “But the nation of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way is unfair.’ Isn’t my way fair, nation of Israel? Isn’t it your ways that are unfair?

³⁰ “That is why I will judge each of you by what you have done, people of Israel,” declares the Almighty Lord. “Change the way you think and act. Turn away from all the rebellious things that you have done so that you will not fall into sin. ³¹ Stop all the rebellious things that you are doing. Get yourselves new hearts and new spirits. Why do you want to die, nation of Israel? ³² I don’t want anyone to die,” declares the Almighty Lord. “Change the way you think and act!”

Funeral Songs for Israel’s Princes

19 Sing a funeral song for the princes of Israel. ² Say:

This is a funeral song. It is to be used as a funeral song.

Israel’s Past and Present Sins

20 On the tenth day of the fifth month in the seventh year, some of the leaders of Israel came to ask for the Lord’s help. They sat in front of me.

² Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ³ “Son of man, speak to the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Are you coming to ask me for help? As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you will not be allowed to ask me for help.’

⁴ “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Tell them about the disgusting things their ancestors did. ⁵ Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When I chose Israel, I raised my hand and swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob’s family. I made myself known to them in Egypt. I made a promise to them and said, “I am the Lord your God.” ⁶ At that time I promised to bring them out of Egypt to a land that I had chosen for them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁷ I said to them, “Get rid of the detestable idols that you look to for help. Don’t dishonor yourselves with the disgusting idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

⁸ “ ‘But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. Not one of them got rid of the detestable idols that they looked to for help. They didn’t abandon the disgusting idols of Egypt. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in Egypt. ⁹ But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations where they were living. While other nations were watching, I made myself known to them by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.

¹⁰ “ ‘So I brought the Israelites out of Egypt and led them into the desert. ¹¹ I gave them my laws and made my rules known to them. If people obey them they will live. ¹² I also gave them certain days to worship me as a sign between us so that they would know that I, the Lord, made them holy.

¹³ “ ‘But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn’t live by my laws, and they rejected my rules. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days of rest—holy days on which to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them in the desert and completely wipe them out. ¹⁴ But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟. ¹⁵ I also swore an oath to them in the desert. I swore that I would not bring them into the land that I had promised to give them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁶ They rejected my rules, and they didn’t live by my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, because their hearts chased disgusting idols. ¹⁷ But I had compassion on them. I didn’t destroy them or completely wipe them out in the desert. ¹⁸ I said to their children in the desert, “Don’t live by the laws of your ancestors. Don’t obey their rules or dishonor yourselves with their disgusting idols. ¹⁹ I am the Lord your God. Live by my laws. Obey my rules and follow them. ²⁰ Set apart certain holy days to worship me. This will be a sign between me and you so that you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

²¹ “ ‘But they rebelled against me. They didn’t live by my laws, and they didn’t obey my rules and follow them. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in the desert. ²² But I didn’t use my power so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟. ²³ I raised my hand and swore an oath to them in the desert. I promised to scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. ²⁴ They didn’t follow my rules, and they rejected my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, and they looked to their ancestors’ disgusting idols for help. ²⁵ I also allowed them to follow laws that were no good and rules by which they could not live. ²⁶ I let them dishonor themselves when they sacrificed all their firstborn sons as gifts ⌞to their false gods⌟. I terrified them so that they would know that I am the Lord.’

²⁷ “Speak to the nation of Israel, son of man. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your ancestors insulted me again because they were unfaithful to me. ²⁸ I brought them to the land that I promised to give them. When they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, they made sacrifices and brought offerings there to make me angry. There they offered their sacrifices and poured out their wine offerings. ²⁹ Then I asked them, “What is this worship site you’re going to?” ’ (So it is still called ‘worship site’ today.)

³⁰ “Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Will you dishonor yourselves the way your ancestors did? Will you chase their detestable idols like a prostitute? ³¹ You offer your children as sacrifices by burning them alive. You dishonor yourselves with all your disgusting idols to this day. Should you be allowed to ask me for help, nation of Israel?

“ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you won’t be allowed to ask me for help. ³² What you have in mind will never happen. You think that you want to be like other nations, like the different people in other countries. You want to serve wood and stone.

³³ “ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I will rule you with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and I will pour out my fury. ³⁴ I will bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where I have scattered you with my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour out my fury. ³⁵ I will bring you into the desert of the nations. There I will put you on trial face to face. ³⁶ I will put you on trial as I put your ancestors on trial in the desert of Egypt, declares the Almighty Lord. ³⁷ Then I will make you suffer punishment and make you keep the terms of the promise.^{[d] 38} I will get rid of rebels and those who do wrong against me. I will bring you out of the land where you are living. You will never enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Israel’s Future

³⁹ “ ‘Nation of Israel, this is what the Almighty Lord says: Serve your disgusting idols. But afterwards, you will listen to me. You will no longer dishonor my holy name with your gifts and your disgusting idols.

⁴⁰ “ ‘The entire nation of Israel, everyone in the land, will worship me on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Almighty Lord. There I will accept you. There I will look for your offerings, your best gifts, and all your holy gifts. ⁴¹ When I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as if you were a pleasing sacrifice. Through you I will reveal myself as holy to the nations that are watching. ⁴² Then you will know that I am the Lord, because I will bring you to the land of Israel, the land that I promised to give your ancestors. ⁴³ There you will remember the way you lived and everything you did to dishonor yourselves. You will be disgusted by every wrong thing that you did. ⁴⁴ Then you will know that I am the Lord, because I will deal with you for the sake of my name. I will not deal with you based on the evil and corrupt things that you have done, nation of Israel, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ” ^[e]

The Burning Forest

⁴⁵ The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ⁴⁶ “Son of man, turn to the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest in the Negev. ⁴⁷ Tell the forest in the Negev, ‘Listen to the Lord’s word. This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am about to set fire to you to destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The blazing fire will not be put out. It will burn the whole land from the south to the north. ⁴⁸ Then everyone will know that I, the Lord, started the fire. It will never be put out.’ ”

⁴⁹ Then I said, “Oh no! Almighty Lord, no! The people already say that I’m only telling stories.”

The Sword of the Lord

21 ^[f]The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, turn to Jerusalem, preach against the holy places. Prophesy against the land of Israel. ³ Tell the land of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will take my sword out of its scabbard and kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you. ⁴ I’m going to kill the righteous people and the wicked people among you. That is why my sword will come out of its scabbard to be used against everyone from the south to the north. ⁵ Then everyone will know that I, the Lord, have taken my sword from its scabbard, and I will not put it back again.’

⁶ “So, son of man, groan with a breaking heart and with bitter crying while the people watch you. ⁷ When they ask you why you are groaning, say, ‘News has come that will discourage everyone. People’s hands will hang limp, their hearts will lose courage, and their knees will become as weak as water. It’s coming! It will surely take place!’ declares the Almighty Lord.”

⁸ The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ⁹ “Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

The Sword of the King of Babylon

¹⁸ The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ¹⁹ “Son of man, mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can take. Both of these roads should start from the same country. Make a sign, and put it where the roads start to fork toward the cities. ²⁰ Mark the road that the king and his sword can take to the Ammonite city of Rabbah, and mark the road that leads to Judah and the fortified city of Jerusalem. ²¹ The king of Babylon will stop where the roads branch off, where there is a fork in the road. Then he will look for omens. He will shake some arrows, ask his household gods for help, and examine animal livers. ²² The omens will indicate that he should go to the right, to Jerusalem. So he will set up his battering rams there, give the order to kill, raise a battle cry, aim the battering rams against the city gates, put up ramps, and set up blockades. ²³ The people won’t believe this because they have made treaties with other nations. But the king of Babylon will remind them of their sins, and they will be captured.

²⁴ “This is what the Almighty Lord says: You make people remember how sinful you are because you openly do wrong. You show your sins in everything you do. So you will be taken captive.

²⁵ “You dishonest and wicked prince of Israel, the time for your final punishment has come. ²⁶ This is what the Almighty Lord says: Take off your turban, and get rid of your crown. Things are going to change. Those who are unimportant will become important, and those who are important will become unimportant. ²⁷ Ruins! Ruins! I will turn this place into ruins! It will not be restored until its rightful owner comes. Then I will give it to him.

²⁸ “Son of man, prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says about the Ammonites and their insults:

Jerusalem Is Judged because of Its Murderous History

22 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Will you judge, son of man? Will you judge the city of murderers? Then tell it about all the disgusting things that it has done. ³ Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: ⌞Jerusalem,⌟ you are the city that murders people who live in you. Your time has come. You dishonor yourself with disgusting idols. ⁴ You are guilty because of the people you have killed. You are dishonored because of the disgusting idols you have made. You have brought an end to your days, and you have come to the end of your years. That is why I will make you a disgrace to the nations and a joke in every land. ⁵ Those near and those far away will mock you. Your name will be dishonored, and you will be filled with confusion.

⁶ “ ‘See how all the princes of Israel who live in you have used their power to murder people. ⁷ People in you hate their fathers and mothers. They oppress foreigners in you. They oppress orphans and widows in you. ⁸ You have despised my holy things and dishonored the day to worship me. ⁹ Some of your people slander. They want to kill people. People who live in you eat food sacrificed to idols at the worship sites on the hills, and they sin sexually. ¹⁰ Men have sex with their father’s wives. They have sex with women when the women are having their periods and are unclean.^{[g] 11} Men do disgusting things with their neighbors’ wives. Some men sexually dishonor their daughters-in-law. Other men who live in you have sex with their sisters, their father’s daughters. ¹² Other people take bribes to murder people. You collect interest and make excessive profits. You make profits by mistreating your neighbors. You have forgotten me, declares the Almighty Lord.

¹³ “ ‘I will use my power against you because of the excessive profits you have made and the murders you have committed. ¹⁴ Will you still be brave? Will you remain strong when I deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it. ¹⁵ I will scatter you among the nations and force you into other countries. I will put an end to your uncleanness. ¹⁶ You will be dishonored in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”

¹⁷ Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ¹⁸ “Son of man, the people of Israel have become worthless to me. All of them are like copper, tin, iron, and lead in a smelting furnace. They are like the impurities left from silver. ¹⁹ This is what the Almighty Lord says: All of you have become worthless. That is why I’m going to gather you in Jerusalem. ²⁰ People gather silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin together in a smelting furnace to melt them with a fiery blast. In the same way, in my anger and fury I will gather you and put you in the city. I will melt you there. ²¹ Yes, I will gather you, breathe on you with my fiery anger, and melt you in the city. ²² You will be melted in the city like silver that is melted in a furnace. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my fury on you.”

²³ The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ²⁴ “Son of man, tell the city, ‘You are an unclean land that has not had rain during the day of my anger. You have not been made clean.^{[h] 25} Your princes are like roaring lions who tear their prey into pieces. They eat people and take their treasures and precious belongings. They turn many women into widows. ²⁶ Your priests violate my teachings and dishonor my holy things. They don’t distinguish between what is holy and what is unholy. They don’t teach the difference between what is clean and what is unclean. They ignore the days to worship me. So I am dishonored among the people. ²⁷ Your leaders are like wolves that tear their prey into pieces. They murder and destroy people to make excessive profits. ²⁸ Your prophets cover up these things by seeing false visions and by prophesying lies. They say, “This is what the Almighty Lord says.” Yet, the Lord hasn’t spoken. ²⁹ The common people oppress and rob others. They do wrong to humble people and to poor people. They oppress foreigners for no reason.

³⁰ “ ‘I looked for someone among you who could build walls or stand in front of me by the gaps in the walls to defend the land and keep it from being destroyed. But I couldn’t find anyone. ³¹ So I will pour out my anger on you, and with my fiery anger I will consume you. This is because of all the things you have done,’ declares the Almighty Lord.”

Samaria and Jerusalem Acted Like Prostitutes

23 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, there were once two women, daughters of the same mother. ³ They became prostitutes in Egypt when they were young. There men fondled and caressed their breasts.

⁴ “The older girl was named Oholah, and the younger girl was named Oholibah. I married them, and they gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem. ⁵ Oholah acted like a prostitute, although she was my wife. She lusted after her Assyrian lovers who lived nearby. ⁶ They were governors and commanders clothed in purple. They were all handsome young men who rode on horses. ⁷ She became a prostitute for all the important men in Assyria. She dishonored herself with the idols of all those with whom she fell in love. ⁸ She continued the prostitution that she started in Egypt. When she was young, men went to bed with her, caressed her breasts, and treated her like a prostitute.

⁹ “That is why I handed her over to her lovers, to the Assyrians whom she lusted after. ¹⁰ They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters, and killed her with a sword. Women gossiped about how she was punished.

¹¹ “Even though her younger sister Oholibah saw this, Oholibah lusted after men more than her sister did. Oholibah’s prostitution became worse than her sister’s prostitution. ¹² She lusted after the Assyrians who were nearby. They were governors and commanders in full dress. They were mounted horsemen, all of them desirable young men. ¹³ I saw that she was dishonoring herself. Both sisters acted the same way. ¹⁴ Yet, she carried her prostitution even further. She saw pictures of men carved on walls. They were figures of Babylonian men, painted in bright red. ¹⁵ The men had belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads. All of them looked like Babylonian officers who were born in Babylon. ¹⁶ She fell in love with them at first sight and sent messengers to them in Babylonia. ¹⁷ So these men came from Babylon, went to bed with her, and dishonored her with their lust. After they had dishonored her, she turned away from them in disgust.

¹⁸ “She carried out her prostitution openly, and she lay around naked. I turned away from her in disgust as I had turned away from her sister. ¹⁹ She remembered how she had been a prostitute in Egypt when she was young. So she took part in even more prostitution. ²⁰ She lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose semen was like that of horses. ²¹ So she longed to do the sinful things she did when she was young in Egypt, when young men caressed and fondled her breasts.

²² “Oholibah, this is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to stir up your lovers against you. They are the lovers you turned away from in disgust. I will bring them against you from every side. ²³ I will bring men from Babylon and from all Babylonia, men from Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, as well as all the Assyrians. They are desirable young men, governors and commanders, military officers and important men. All of them ride on horses. ²⁴ They will attack you from the north, with chariots and wagons and with a large number of troops. They will attack you from all around with small and large shields and with helmets. I have handed you over to them for punishment. They will punish you with their own kind of punishment. ²⁵ I will direct my burning anger against you so that they will deal with you in anger. They will cut off your nose and ears and kill everyone who remains. They will take your sons and your daughters and burn down whatever is left. ²⁶ They will rip off your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels. ²⁷ I will put a stop to your sinning and to your prostitution, which you began in Egypt. You won’t desire these things anymore or remember Egypt anymore.

²⁸ “This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to hand you over to those you hate and to those you turned away from in disgust. ²⁹ They will treat you hatefully and take away everything that you have worked for. They will leave you naked and bare. The shame of your prostitution will be revealed. ³⁰ Your sinning and your prostitution have done this to you, because you lusted after the nations and dishonored yourself with their idols. ³¹ You’ve acted the same way as your sister. That is why I will put her cup in your hand. ³² This is what the Almighty Lord says:

³⁵ “This is what the Almighty Lord says: You have forgotten me and turned your back on me. So you will be punished for your sinning and prostitution.”

³⁶ The Lord said to me, “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah and tell them about their disgusting practices? ³⁷ They have committed adultery. Their hands are covered with blood. They commit adultery with their idols. They have sacrificed the children they gave birth to for me as burnt offerings to idols. ³⁸ They have also done this to me: They have polluted my holy places when they do these things and dishonored the days to worship me. ³⁹ When they sacrificed their children to their idols, they came into my holy place and dishonored it. That is what they’ve done in my temple.