Old/New Testament
Prophecies Against Evil Leaders
11 ·The Spirit [or A spirit/or wind] lifted me up and brought me to the ·front [L eastern] gate of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, which faces east. ·I saw [T And behold] twenty-five men at the entrance of the gate, among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were ·leaders [princes; officials] of the people. 2 Then the Lord said to me, “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], these are the men who plan evil and give wicked advice in this city [C Jerusalem]. 3 They say, ‘·It is almost time [or Isn’t it a good time…?; or The time is not near] for us to build houses [C meaning either (1) let’s keep building, since no judgment is coming, or (2) we don’t need to build our own houses, since we can seize the houses of others (Mic. 2:1–2)]. This city is ·like a cooking pot [the cauldron], and we are ·like the best meat [L the meat; C the city will protect them; see 24:3–11 for the same image used differently].’ 4 So prophesy against them, prophesy, ·human [T son of man; 2:1].”
5 Then the ·Spirit [or spirit] of the Lord ·entered [fell upon] me and told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: You have said these things, ·people [L house] of Israel, and I know ·what you are thinking [L the steps of your spirits]. 6 You have killed many people in this city, filling its streets with ·their bodies [the slain].
7 “So this is what the Lord God says: Those people you have killed and left in the middle of the city are ·like the best meat [L the meat], and this city is ·like the cooking pot [L the cauldron]. But I will ·force [drive; take] you out of the city. 8 You have feared the sword, ·but [so] I will bring a sword against you, says the Lord God. 9 I will ·force [drive; take] you out of the city and hand you over to ·strangers [foreigners] and ·punish [execute judgments upon] you. 10 You will die by the sword. I will ·punish [judge] you at the border of Israel so you will know that I am the Lord. 11 This city will not be ·your cooking pot [the cauldron], and you will not be ·the best meat [L meat] in the middle of it. I will ·punish [judge] you at the border of Israel. 12 Then you will know that I am the Lord. You did not live by my ·rules [statutes] or obey my ·laws [rules; judgments]. Instead, you ·did the same things as [obeyed the laws/rules/judgments of] the nations around you.”
13 While I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I ·bowed [fell] facedown on the ground and ·shouted [cried out] with a loud voice, “·Oh no [Ah], Lord God! Will you completely destroy the ·Israelites who are left alive [remnant of Israel]?”
Promise to Those Remaining
14 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying, 15 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], the people still in Jerusalem have spoken about your ·own relatives[a] [L brothers, your kinsmen redeemers; Lev. 25:25–55] and all the ·people [L house] of Israel, saying, ‘They are far from the Lord. This land has been given to us as our ·property [possession].’
16 “So say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I sent the people far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries. But ·for a little while [or in a small measure] I have become a ·Temple [sanctuary] to them in the countries where they have gone.’
17 “So say: ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you together from the countries where you have been scattered. Then I will give you back the land of Israel.’
18 “When they come to this land, they will remove all the ·evil idols [detestable things] and all the ·hateful images [abominations]. 19 I will give them ·a desire to respect me completely [a unified heart; L one heart], and ·I will put inside them a new way of thinking [L a new spirit]. I will take away their ·stubborn heart [L heart of stone], and I will give them an ·obedient heart [or tender heart; L heart of flesh]. 20 Then they will ·live by my rules [walk in my statutes/decrees] and obey my ·laws [rules; judgments] and keep them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But those who ·want to serve [are devoted to; pursue] their ·evil statues [detestable things] and ·hateful idols [abominations], I will ·pay back for their evil ways [L bring their way/path down upon their head], says the Lord God.”
Ezekiel’s Vision Ends
22 Then the ·living creatures [L cherubim] lifted their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel [C his manifest presence] was above them. 23 The glory of the Lord went up from inside Jerusalem and stopped on the mountain on the east side of the city. 24 ·The Spirit [or A wind/or spirit] lifted me up and brought me to the ·captives [exiles] who had been taken from Judah to ·Babylonia [L Chaldea]. This happened in a vision given by the ·Spirit [spirit] of God, and then the vision I had seen ·ended [L went up from me]. 25 And I told the ·captives [exiles] from Judah all the things the Lord had shown me.
Ezekiel Moves Out
12 Again the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], you are living among a ·people who refuse to obey [L rebellious house]. They have eyes to see, but they do not see, and they have ears to hear, but they do not hear [Is. 42:18; Matt. 13:13], because they are a ·people who refuse to obey [L rebellious house].
3 “So, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], ·pack your things as if you will be taken away captive [L make yourself bags of exile], and ·walk away like a captive [go into exile] in the daytime with the people watching. Move from your place to another with the people watching. Maybe they will understand, even though they are a ·people who refuse to obey [L rebellious house]. 4 During the day when the people are watching, bring out ·the things you would pack as captive [your bags of exile]. At evening, with the people watching, leave your place like those ·who are taken away as captives from their country [going out as exiles]. 5 Dig a hole through the wall while they watch, and bring your things out through it. 6 Lift them onto your shoulders with the people watching, and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so you cannot see the ·ground [or land], because I have made you a sign to the ·people [L house] of Israel.”
7 I did these things as I was commanded. In the daytime I brought what I had packed as ·if I were being taken away captive [bags of exile]. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I brought my things out in the dark and carried them on my shoulders as the people watched.
8 Then in the morning the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 9 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], didn’t [L the house of] Israel, ·who refuses to obey [L the rebellious house], ask you, ‘What are you doing?’
10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: This ·message [oracle; burden] is about the ·king [prince; ruler; C referring to King Zedekiah] in Jerusalem and all the ·people [L house] of Israel who live there.’ 11 Say, ‘I am a sign to you.’
“The same things I have done will be done to the people in Jerusalem. They will be taken ·away from their country [into exile] as captives. 12 The ·king [prince; ruler] among them will put his things on his shoulder in the dark and will leave. ·The people[b] [L They] will dig a hole through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the ·ground [land] with his eyes. 13 But I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my ·trap [snare]. Then I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans]. He will not see that land, but he will die there. 14 All who are around the king—his ·helpers [attendants] and all his ·army [troops]—I will scatter ·in every direction [L to every wind], and I will ·chase them with a sword [L draw/unsheathe a sword after them].
15 “They will know that I am the Lord when I ·scatter [disperse] them among the nations and ·spread [scatter] them among the countries. 16 But I will save a few of them from the sword and from ·hunger [famine] and ·disease [plague; pestilence]. Then they can tell about their ·hateful [detestable; abominable] actions among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
The Lesson of Ezekiel’s Shaking
17 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 18 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], tremble as you eat your ·food [bread], and shake with fear as you drink your water. 19 Then say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Lord God says about the ·people who live in [inhabitants of] Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their food with ·fear [anxiety] and drink their water in ·shock [dread; despair], because their land will be stripped bare because of the violence of the people who live in it. 20 The ·cities [towns] where people live will become ruins, and the land will become ·empty [desolate; devastated]. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
The Visions Will Come True
21 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 22 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], what is this ·saying [proverb] you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days ·go by [pass slowly; grow long] and every vision comes to nothing’? 23 So say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will ·make them stop saying this [L put an end to this proverb], and nobody in Israel will use this ·saying [proverb] anymore.’ But tell them, ‘The ·time is [days are] near when every vision will ·come true [be fulfilled]. 24 There will be no more false visions or ·pleasing prophecies [flattering omens/divinations] inside the ·nation [L house] of Israel, 25 but I, the Lord, will speak. What I say will be done, and it will not be delayed. You ·refuse to obey [are a rebellious house], but in your ·time [days] I will say the word and do it, says the Lord God.’”
26 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 27 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], the ·people [L house] of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees is for a time many ·years [L days] from now. He is prophesying about times far away.’
28 “So say to them: ‘The Lord God says this: None of my words will be delayed anymore. ·What I have said [L The word I speak] will be done, says the Lord God.’”
Ezekiel Speaks Against False Prophets
13 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Say to those who ·make up their own prophecies [prophesy from their hearts/imagination]: ‘Listen to the word of the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to] the foolish prophets who follow their own ·ideas [L spirit] and have ·not seen a vision from me [L seen nothing]! 4 People of Israel, your prophets have been like ·wild dogs [jackals] among ruins. 5 You have not gone up into the ·broken places [breaches] or repaired the wall for the ·nation [L house of] Israel [C Israel is portrayed as a house or fortress in ruins]. So how can Israel ·hold back the enemy [stand firm] in the battle on the ·Lord’s day of judging [L Day of the Lord]? 6 ·Your prophets [L They] see false visions and ·prophesy [their divinations are] lies. They say, “This is the message of the Lord,” when the Lord has not sent them. But they still hope their words will ·come true [stand]. 7 You said, “This is the message of the Lord,” but ·you have seen false visions and your prophecies are lies [L have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination…?], because I have not spoken.
8 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: Because you prophets spoke things that are false and saw ·visions that do not come true [lying visions], [L look; T behold] I am against you, says the Lord God. 9 ·I will punish [L My hand will be against] the prophets who see false visions and ·prophesy lies [utter lying divinations]. They will ·have no place among [L not be in the council of] my people. Their names will not be written on the ·list [records; registry] of the ·people [L house] of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord God.
10 “‘It is because they lead my people ·the wrong way [astray] by saying, “Peace!” when there is no peace. When the people build a ·weak [flimsy] wall, the prophets cover it with whitewash [C to make it look strong or to cover its flaws]. 11 So tell those who cover ·a weak wall [L it] with whitewash that it will fall down. ·Rain will pour down [There will be a deluge of rain], hailstones will fall, and a windstorm will break the wall down. 12 When the wall has fallen, people will ask you, “Where is the whitewash you used on the wall?”
13 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will break the wall with a windstorm. In my ·anger [wrath; rage] ·rain will pour down [there will be a deluge of rain], and hailstones will ·destroy the wall [fall with destructive fury]. 14 I will tear down the wall on which you put whitewash. I will level it to the ground so that ·people will see the wall’s foundation [L its foundations will be laid bare/exposed]. And when the wall falls, you will ·be destroyed [perish] ·under [or within] it. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will ·carry out my anger [spend my wrath/rage] on the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. Then I will tell you, “The wall is gone, and those who covered it with whitewash are gone. 16 The prophets of Israel who prophesy ·to [or about] Jerusalem and who see visions of peace for the city, when there is no peace, will be gone, says the Lord God.”’
False Women Prophets
17 “Now, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], look toward the ·women among [L daughters of] your people who ·make up their own prophecies [L prophesy from their own hearts/imaginations]. Prophesy against them. 18 Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·How terrible it will be for [L Woe to the] women who sew ·magic charms [L bands] on their wrists and make ·veils [or headbands] of every length to trap people! You ·ruin [entrap; ensnare] the ·lives [souls] of my people but ·try to [will you…?] save your own ·lives [souls]. 19 For handfuls of barley and ·pieces [scraps] of bread, you have ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] me among my people. By lying to my people, who listen to lies, you have ·killed people [put to death souls] who should not die, and you have kept alive those who should not live.
20 “‘So this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic ·charms [bands], by which you ·trap [ensnare; hunt] ·people [souls] as if they were birds. I will tear ·those charms [L them] off your arms, and I will free those ·people [souls] you have ·trapped [ensnare; hunt] like birds. 21 I will also tear off your ·veils [or headbands] and save my people from your hands. They will no longer be ·trapped by your power [L prey in your hand]. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 22 By your lies you have ·caused those who did right to be sad [disheartened the righteous], when I did not ·make them sad [grieve them]. And you have encouraged the wicked not to ·stop being wicked [turn from their wicked ways], which would have saved their lives. 23 So you will not see false visions or ·prophesy [practice divination] anymore, and I will save my people from your ·power [L hands] so you will know that I am the Lord.’”
1 From James [C one of Jesus’ brothers and a leader in the early church; Gal. 1:19; Acts 12:17; 15:13–21; 21:17], a ·servant [slave; bond-servant] of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To ·all of God’s people [L the twelve tribes; C an allusion to the twelve tribes of Israel; referring either to Jewish Christians or all believers as the new covenant people of God] ·who are scattered everywhere in the world [L in the Diaspora/Dispersion; C a reference to the scattering of the Jews during the Babylonian captivity, now applied to the church]: Greetings.
Faith and Wisdom
2 My brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], when you have many kinds of ·troubles [trials; testing], ·you should be full of joy [L consider it all/pure joy], 3 because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you ·patience [perserverance; endurance]. 4 [L And] Let your ·patience [perserverance; endurance] ·show itself perfectly in what you do [have its full effect; finish its work]. Then you will be ·perfect and complete [mature and whole; or completely mature] and will ·have everything you need [L lack nothing]. 5 But if any of you ·needs [lacks] wisdom, you should ask God for it [Prov. 2:6]. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom ·without criticizing you [without finding fault; ungrudgingly; Matt. 7:7]. 6 But when you ask God, you must ·believe [ask with faith] and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, ·blown up and down [driven and tossed] by the wind.
True Riches
9 ·Believers [Brothers or sisters] who are ·poor [in lowly/humble circumstances] should ·take pride [boast] ·that God has made them spiritually rich [in being raised up; in their exaltation; in their high position]. 10 [L But] Those who are ·rich [wealthy] should ·take pride [boast] ·that God has shown them that they are spiritually poor [in their humiliation; in their lowly state; Jer. 9:23–24]. [L Because] The rich will ·die [pass away; wither] like a ·wild flower in the grass [or flower in the field]. 11 [L For] The sun rises with ·burning [scorching] heat and ·dries up [withers] the ·plants [or grass]. The flower falls off, and its beauty is ·gone [destroyed]. In the same way the rich will ·die [L wither away] ·while they are still taking care of business [in the midst of their pursuits; L in his journeys; Ps. 49:16–17; 103:15–16; Is. 40:6–8].
Temptation Is Not from God
12 ·When people are tempted and still continue strong, they should be happy [L Blessed is the one who perserveres/endures trials/temptations]. After they have ·proved their faith [stood/endured/passed the test], ·God will reward them with life forever [L they will receive the crown of life; C alludes to the laurel crown given for a victory]. ·God [L He] promised this to all those who love him. 13 When people are ·tempted [undergoing a trial], they should not say, “God is tempting me.” [L For] God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But ·people are [L each person is] tempted when their own evil desire ·leads [lures; drags] them away and ·traps [entices; lures] them. 15 ·This desire leads to sin [L Then, after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin], and then the sin ·grows [or becomes full-grown] and ·brings [gives birth to] death.
16 My ·dear [beloved] brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], do not be ·fooled [deceived] about this. 17 Every good ·action [or act of giving] and every perfect gift ·is from God [L comes from above]. These good gifts come down from the ·Creator of the sun, moon, and stars [L the father of lights; C referring to God’s creation of the heavenly bodies (Gen. 1:14–19; Ps. 136:7–9; Jer. 31:35)], who does not change like their shifting shadows. 18 God ·decided [chose; willed] to give us ·life [birth] through the ·word of truth [true message] so we might be ·the most important [or the first of many; L a kind of firstfruits; C firstfruits were the first crops to be harvested and guaranteed the coming harvest; Ex. 34:22; 2 Thess. 2:13; Rev. 14:4] of all ·the things he made [or his creatures].
Listening and Obeying
19 My ·dear [L beloved] brothers and sisters [C fellow believers], [L under-stand/know this:] ·always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily [L be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; Prov. 17:28], 20 ·because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants [L because human anger does not produce God’s righteousness]. 21 So ·put out of your life [get rid of; lay aside] every ·evil thing [moral filth/defilement] and every ·kind of wrong [excessive evil]. Then in ·gentleness [humility] ·accept [welcome] God’s ·teaching [word] that is planted in your hearts, which can save ·you [L your souls; C referring to the whole person].
22 ·Do what God’s teaching says; when you only listen and do nothing, you are fooling yourselves [L Be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deceiving yourselves; Luke 11:28; Rom. 2:13]. 23 Those who hear God’s ·teaching [word] and do nothing are like people who look at ·themselves [their natural face; L the face of their birth] in a mirror. 24 [L For] They ·see their faces [gaze at themselves] and then go away and quickly forget what they looked like. 25 But ·the truly happy people are [L blessed are] those who ·carefully study [look intently into; L stoop down to look at] God’s perfect law that makes people free [C probably refers to the law of Moses as it is fulfilled in Christ; 2:8, 12], and they ·continue to study it [persevere in it]. ·They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God’s teaching says [L not being a forgetful hearer but an active doer]. Those who do this will be ·made happy [blessed].
The True Way to Worship God
26 People who think they are religious but ·say things they should not say [L do not bridle their tongues; 3:1–12; 4:11–12] are just ·fooling [deceiving] themselves. Their “religion” is ·worth nothing [empty; meaningless]. 27 Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and ·without fault [undefiled] is this: caring for orphans and widows [2:1–13, 15–16; Ex. 22:22; Deut. 14:29] ·who need help [L in their trouble/distress/persecution], and keeping yourself ·free from the world’s evil influence [L unstained/unpolluted by the world; 4:4–10].
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