New Century Version NCV
Good News Translation GNT
1 Some of the older leaders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.
1
Some of the leaders of the Israelites came to consult me about the Lord's will.
2 Then the Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
2
Then the Lord spoke to me.
3 "Human, these men want to worship idols. They put up evil things that cause people to sin. Should I allow them to ask me for help?
3
"Mortal man," he said, "these men have given their hearts to idols and are letting idols lead them into sin. Do they think I will give them an answer?
4 So speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Lord God says: When any of the people of Israel want to worship idols and put up evil things that cause people to sin and then come to the prophet, I, the Lord, will answer them myself for worshiping idols.
4
"Now speak to them and tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them: Each of you Israelites who have given your heart to idols and let them lead you into sin and who then come to consult a prophet, will get an answer from me - the answer that your many idols deserve!
5 Then I will win back my people Israel, who have left me because of all their idols.'
5
All those idols have turned the Israelites away from me, but by my answer I hope to win back their loyalty.
6 "So say to the people of Israel, 'This is what the Lord God says: Change your hearts and lives, and stop worshiping idols. Stop doing all the things I hate.
6
"Now then, tell the Israelites what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: Turn back and leave your disgusting idols.
7 Any of the Israelites or foreigners in Israel can separate themselves from me by wanting to worship idols or by putting up the things that cause people to sin. Then if they come to the prophet to ask me questions, I, the Lord, will answer them myself.
7
"Whenever one of you Israelites or one of you foreigners who live in the Israelite community turn away from me and worship idols, and then go to consult a prophet, I, the Lord, will give you your answer!
8 I will reject them. I will make them a sign and an example, and I will separate them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
8
I will oppose you. I will make an example of you. I will remove you from the community of my people, so that all of you will know that I am the Lord.
9 "'But if the prophet is tricked into giving a prophecy, it is because I, the Lord, have tricked that prophet to speak. Then I will use my power against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.
9
"If any prophets are deceived into giving a false answer, it is because I, the Lord, have deceived them. I will remove them from the people of Israel.
10 The prophet will be as guilty as the one who asks him for help; both will be responsible for their guilt.
10
Both prophets and anyone who consults them will get the same punishment.
11 Then the nation of Israel will not leave me anymore or make themselves unclean anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord God.'"
11
I will do this to keep the Israelites from deserting me and defiling themselves by their sins. They are to be my people, and I will be their God." The Sovereign Lord has spoken.
12 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
12
The Lord spoke to me.
13 "Human, if the people of a country sin against me by not being loyal, I will use my power against them. I will cut off their supply of food and send a time of hunger, destroying both people and animals.
13
"Mortal man," he said, "if a country sins and is unfaithful to me, I will reach out and destroy its supply of food. I will send a famine and kill people and animals alike.
14 Even if three great men like Noah, Daniel, and Job were in that country, their goodness could save only themselves, says the Lord God.
14
Even if those three men, Noah, Danel, and Job, were living there, their goodness would save only their own lives." The Sovereign Lord has spoken.
15 "Or I might send wild animals into that land, leaving the land empty and without children. Then no one would pass through it because of the animals.
15
"Or I might send wild animals to kill the people, making the land so dangerous that no one could travel through it,
16 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They could save only themselves, but that country would become empty.
16
and even if those three men lived there - as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God - they would not be able to save even their own children. They would save only their own lives, and the land would become a wilderness.
17 "Or I might bring a war against that country. I might say, 'Let a war be fought in that land,' in this way destroying its people and its animals.
17
"Or I might bring war on that country and send destructive weapons to wipe out people and animals alike,
18 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if those three men were in the land, they could not save their sons or daughters. They could save only themselves.
18
and even if those three men lived there - as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God - they would not be able to save even their children, but only their own lives.
19 "Or I might cause a disease to spread in that country. I might pour out my anger against it, destroying and killing people and animals.
19
"If I send an epidemic on that country and in my anger take many lives, killing people and animals,
20 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they could not save their son or daughter. They could save only themselves because they did what was right.
20
even if Noah, Danel, and Job lived there - as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God - they would not be able to save even their own children. Their goodness would save only their own lives."
21 "This is what the Lord God says: My plans for Jerusalem are much worse! I will send my four terrible punishments against it -- war, hunger, wild animals, and disease -- to destroy its people and animals.
21
This is what the Sovereign Lord is saying: "I will send my four worst punishments on Jerusalem - war, famine, wild animals, and disease - to destroy people and animals alike.
22 But some people will escape; some sons and daughters will be led out. They will come out to you, and you will see what happens to people who live as they did. Then you will be comforted after the disasters I have brought against Jerusalem, after all the things I have brought against it.
22
If some survive and save their children, look at them when they come to you. See how evil they are, and be convinced that the punishment I am bringing on Jerusalem is justified;
23 You will be comforted when you see what happens to them for living as they did, because you will know there was a good reason for what I did to Jerusalem, says the Lord God."
23
then you will know that there was good reason for everything I did." The Sovereign Lord has spoken.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.