Old/New Testament
20 3 The Lord denieth that he will answer them when they pray, because of their wickedness. 33 He promiseth that his people shall return from captivity. 46 By the forest that should be burnt, is signified the burning of Jerusalem.
1 And in the [a]seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, came certain of the Elders of Israel to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me.
2 Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, speak unto the Elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Are ye come to inquire of me? as I live, saith the Lord God, when I am asked, I will not answer you.
4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man? wilt thou judge them? cause [b]them to understand the abominations of their fathers,
5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, In the day when I chose Israel, and [c]lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lift up mine hand unto them, and said, I am the Lord your God,
6 In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt, into a land that I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is pleasant among all lands,
7 Then said I unto them, Let every man cast away the abominations of his eyes, [d]and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: for I am the Lord your God.
8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hear me: for none cast away the abominations of [e]their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I thought to pour out mine indignation upon them, and to accomplish my wrath against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 But I had respect to my [f]Name, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, and in whose sight I made myself known unto them in bringing them forth of the land of Egypt.
10 Now I carried them out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11 And I gave them my statutes, and declared my judgments unto them, (A)which if a man do, he shall live in them.
12 Moreover I gave them also my (B)Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord, that sanctify them.
13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they cast away my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them, and my Sabbaths have they greatly polluted: then I thought to pour out mine indignation upon them (C)in the wilderness to consume them,
14 But I had respect to my name, that it should not be polluted before the [g]heathen in whose sight I brought them out.
15 Yet nevertheless, I lifted up mine hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land, which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which was pleasant above all lands,
16 Because they cast away my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but have polluted my [h]Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
17 Nevertheless, mine eye spared them, that I would not destroy them, neither would I consume them in the wilderness.
18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the ordinances of your [i]fathers, neither observe their manners, nor defile yourselves with their idols.
19 I am the Lord your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments and do them,
20 And sanctify my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.
21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, nor kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them, but they polluted my Sabbaths: then I thought to pour out mine indignation upon them, and to accomplish my wrath against them in the wilderness.
22 Nevertheless, I withdrew mine hand and had respect to my Name, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
23 Yet I lifted up mine hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries,
24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had cast away my statutes, and had polluted my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after [j]their fathers’ idols.
25 Wherefore I gave [k]them also statutes that were not good, and judgments, wherein they should not live.
26 And I polluted them in their own [l]gifts in that they caused to pass by the fire all that first openeth the womb, that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.
27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, though they had before grievously transgressed against me.
28 [m]For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented their offering of provocation: there also they made their sweet savor, and poured out there their drink offerings.
29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof was called [n]Bamah unto this day.
30 Wherefore, say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Are ye not polluted [o]after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye not whoredom after their abominations?
31 For when you offer your gifts, and make your sons to pass through the fire, you pollute yourselves with all your idols unto this day: shall I answer you when I am asked, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, [p]I will not answer you when I am asked.
32 Neither shall that be done that cometh into your mind: for ye say, we will be as the heathen, and as the families of the countries, and serve wood, and [q]stone.
33 As I live, saith the Lord God, I will surely rule you with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and in my wrath poured out,
34 And will bring you from the people, and will gather you out of the countries, wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and in my wrath poured out,
35 And I will bring you into the [r]wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.
37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 And I will [s]choose out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them out of the land where they dwell, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God, [t]Go you, and serve everyone his idol, seeing that ye will not obey me, and pollute mine holy Name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
40 For in mine holy mountain, even in the high mountain of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, and all in the land serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
41 I will accept your sweet savor, when I bring you from the people, and gather you out of the countries, wherein ye have been scattered, that I may be sanctified in you before the heathen.
42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the land for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your works, wherein ye have been defiled, and ye [u]shall judge yourselves worthy to be cut off, for all your evils, that ye have committed.
44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have respect unto you for my Name’s sake, and not after your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt works, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
45 ¶ Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
46 Son of man, Set thy face toward the way of Teman, and drop thy word toward [v]the South, and prophesy toward the forest of the field of the South,
47 And say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of the Lord: thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour all the [w]green wood in thee, and all the dry wood: the continual flame shall not be quenched, and every face from the South to the North shall be burnt therein.
48 And all flesh shall see, that I the Lord have kindled it, and it shall not be quenched. Then said I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doth not he speak [x]parables?
21 3 He threateneth the sword and destruction to Jerusalem. 25 He showeth the fall of king Zedekiah. 29 He is commanded to prophesy the destruction of the children of Ammon. 30 The Lord threateneth to destroy Nebuchadnezzar.
1 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying,
2 Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, [y]and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
3 And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I come against thee, and will draw my sword out of his sheath, and cut off from thee both the [z]righteous and the wicked.
4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee both the righteous and wicked, therefore shall my sword go out of his sheath against all flesh from the South to the [aa]North,
5 That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn my sword out of his sheath, and it shall not return anymore.
6 Mourn therefore thou son of man, as in the pain of thy [ab]reins, and mourn bitterly before them.
7 And if they say unto thee, Wherefore mournest thou? Then answer, Because [ac]of the bruit: for it cometh, and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be weak, and all minds shall faint, and all knees shall fall away as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be done, saith the Lord God.
8 ¶ Again, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord God, say, A sword, a sword both sharp and furbished.
10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter, and it is furbished that it may [ad]glitter: how shall we rejoice? for it contemneth the [ae]rod of my son, as [af]all other trees.
11 And he hath given it to be furbished, that he may handle it: this sword is sharp, and is furbished that he may give it into the hand of the [ag]slayer.
12 Cry and howl, son of man: for this shall come to my people, and it shall come unto all the princes of Israel: the terrors of the sword shall be upon my people, [ah]smite therefore upon thy thigh.
13 For it is a trial, [ai]and what shall this be, if the sword contemn even the rod? It shall be no more, saith the Lord God.
14 Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy and smite [aj]hand to hand, and let the sword be doubled: let the sword that hath killed, return the third time: it is the sword of the great slaughter entering into their privy chambers.
15 I have brought the fear of the sword into all their gates to make their heart to faint, and to multiply their ruins. Ah, it is made bright, and it is dressed for the slaughter.
16 Get thee [ak]alone: go to the right hand, or get thyself to the left hand, whithersoever thy face turneth.
17 I will also smite mine hands together, and will cause my wrath to cease. I the Lord have said it.
18 ¶ The word of the Lord came unto me again, saying,
19 Also thou son of man, appoint thee [al]two ways, that the sword of the King of Babel may come: both twain shall come out of one land, and choose a place, and choose it in the corner of the way of the city.
20 Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbah of the Ammonites, and [am]to Judah in Jerusalem the strong city.
21 And the King of Babel stood at the [an]parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, consulting by divination, and made his arrows bright: he consulted with idols, and looked in [ao]the liver.
22 At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem to appoint captains to open their mouth in the slaughter, and to lift up their voice with shouting, to lay engines of war against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fortress.
23 And it shall be unto them [ap]as a false divination in their sight for the oaths made unto them: [aq]but he will call to remembrance their iniquity, to the intent they should be taken.
24 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered in discovering your rebellion, that in all your works your sins might appear: because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
25 And thou [ar]Prince of Israel polluted, and wicked, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
26 Thus saith the Lord God, I will take away the [as]diadem, and take off the crown: this shall be no more the same: I will exalt the humble, and will abase him that is high.
27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and it shall be no more until he [at]come, whose right it is, and I will give it him.
28 ¶ And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord God to the children of Ammon, and to their blasphemy: say thou, I say, The sword, the sword is drawn forth and furbished to the slaughter, to consume, because of the glittering,
29 While they see [au]vanity unto thee, and prophesied a lie unto thee to bring thee upon the necks of the wicked that are slain, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
30 Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, even in the land of thine habitation.
31 And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, and will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of beastly men, and skillful to destroy.
32 Thou shalt be in the fire to be devoured: thy blood shall be in the midst of the land, and thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the Lord have spoken it.
5 1 He threateneth the rich with God’s severe judgment, for their pride, 7 that the poor hearing the miserable end of the rich, 8 may patiently bear afflictions, 11 as Job did, 14 even in their distresses.
1 Go [a]to now, ye rich men: weep, and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupt, and your garments are moth eaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh, as it were fire. Ye have heaped up treasure for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the laborers, which have reaped your fields (which is of you kept back by fraud) crieth, and the cries of them which have reaped, are entered into the [b]ears of the Lord of hosts.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and in wantonness. Ye have [c]nourished your hearts, as in a [d]day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned, and have killed the just, and he hath not resisted you.
7 [e]Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. [f]Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the former, and the latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient therefore, and settle your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth near.
9 [g][h]Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: [i]behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 [j]Take, my brethren, the Prophets for an example of suffering adversity, and of long patience, which have spoken in the name of the Lord.
11 Behold, we count them blessed which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have known what [k]end the Lord made. For the Lord is very pitiful and merciful.
12 [l]But before all things, my brethren, (A)swear not, neither by heaven, nor by earth, nor by any other oath: but let [m]your yea, be yea, and your nay, nay, lest ye fall into condemnation.
13 [n]Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing.
14 [o]Is any sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church, and let them pray for him, and anoint him with (B)[p]oil in the [q]Name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed [r]sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 [s]Acknowledge your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: [t]for the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, if it be fervent.
17 (C)Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again: and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 [u]Brethren, (D)If any of you hath erred from the truth, and some man hath [v]converted him,
20 Let him know that he which hath converted the sinner from going astray out of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.