Ezekiel 20; Ezekiel 21

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Ezekiel 20

1 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 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.

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.

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.'"

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 word of the LORD. 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."

Ezekiel 21

1 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: A sword, a sword is sharpened and polished,

10 It's sharpened to kill and polished to flash like lightning. How can we rejoice? My son has refused to be disciplined or punished.

11 The sword has been handed over to be polished, to be placed in the hand. The sword is being sharpened and polished to be placed in the hands of killers.

12 "'Cry and mourn, son of man, because the sword will be used against my people and against all the princes of Israel. I will throw the princes and my people on the sword. So beat your breast, and grieve.

13 Testing will surely come. What if you refuse to be disciplined again? Won't you be tested? declares the Almighty LORD.

14 So prophesy, son of man. Clap your hands! Let the sword strike again and again. It's the sword for killing. It's the sword for killing many people. It's the sword that surrounds them.

15 I have appointed my sword to slaughter people at all their gates so that their hearts will sink and many will die. Yes! It's ready to flash like lightning. It's polished to kill.

16 Sword, cut to the right. Cut to the left or wherever your blade is turned.

17 I will also clap my hands and rest from my fury. I, the LORD, have spoken.'"

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: A sword, a sword is drawn ready to kill. It's polished to destroy and flash like lightning.

29 People see false visions about you and prophesy lies about you. The sword will be placed on the necks of dishonest, wicked people, for whom the time of final punishment has come.

30 "'Return your sword to its scabbard. In the place where you were created, in the land where you were born, there I will judge you.

31 I will pour out my fury on you and breathe on you with my fiery anger. I will hand you over to cruel people who are skilled in destruction.

32 You will be fuel for the fire. You will die in the land. You will no longer be remembered. I, the LORD, have spoken.'"

Ezekiel 20; Ezekiel 21

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Ezekiel 20

Ezekiel 21