A Valley of Dried Bones; A Renewed Nation of Israel
1 The hand of Yahweh was upon me, and he brought me by the Spirit of Yahweh, and he {let me rest} in the midst of the valley, and it [was] full of bones.
2
And he led me {all around} over them, and look, very many on the surface of the valley, and look, very dry.
3
And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I said, "Lord Yahweh, you know."
4
And he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and you must say to them, [to] the dry bones, 'Hear the word of Yahweh!
5
Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: "Look! I [am] bringing into you breath, and you will live!
6
And I will lay on you sinews, and I will let flesh come upon you, and I will cover you over [with] skin, and I will put breath into you, and you will live, and you will know that I [am] Yahweh." '"
7
And I prophesied {just as} I had been commanded, and [there] was a sound at my prophesying, and look! A rattling, and they came together--[the] bones! Bone to its bone!
8
And I looked, and indeed, sinews [were] on them, and flesh went up, and skin covered over them {upward}, but breath [was] not in them.
9
And he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and you must say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh {from the four winds}, "Come, O spirit and breath, on these dead ones, so that they may live!" '"
10
And I prophesied {as} he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they became alive, and they stood on their feet, a very, very large group.
11
And he said to me, "Son of man, these bones [are] all of the house of Israel; look! [they are] saying, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is destroyed; {we are cut off as far as we are concerned}.'
12
Therefore prophesy, and you must say to them, 'Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Look! I [am] opening your graves, and I will bring you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to the land of Israel!
13
And you will know that I [am] Yahweh when I open your graves when I bring you up from your graves, my people!
14
And I will put my breath into you so that you may live, and I will cause you to rest on your soil, and you will know that I, Yahweh, I have spoken, and I will act!" ' {declares} Yahweh."