Ezekiel 20; Ezekiel 21

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Ezekiel 20

1 It was the seventh year of our captivity, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month. Some of the older leaders of Israel came to ask about the Lord and sat down in front of me.

2 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

3 "Human, speak to the older leaders of Israel and say to them: 'This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ask me questions? As surely as I live, I will not let you ask me questions.'

4 "Will you judge them? Will you judge them, human? Let them know the hateful things their ancestors did.

5 Say to them: 'This is what the Lord God says: When I chose Israel, I made a promise to the descendants of Jacob. I made myself known to them in Egypt, and I promised them, "I am the Lord your God."

6 At that time I promised them I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had found for them, a fertile land, the best land in the world.

7 I said to them, "Each one of you must throw away the hateful idols you have seen and liked. Don't make yourselves unclean with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

8 "'But they turned against me and refused to listen to me. They did not throw away the hateful idols which they saw and liked; they did not give up the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them while they were still in Egypt.

9 But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored in full view of the nations where the Israelites lived. I made myself known to the Israelites with a promise to bring them out of Egypt while the nations were watching.

10 So I took them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.

11 I gave them my rules and told them about my laws, by which people will live if they obey them.

12 I also gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between us so they would know that I am the Lord who made them holy.

13 "'But in the desert Israel turned against me. They did not follow my rules, and they rejected my laws, by which people will live if they obey them. They dishonored my Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them and destroy them in the desert.

14 But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored in full view of the nations who watched as I had brought the Israelites out of Egypt.

15 And in the desert I swore to the Israelites that I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It is a fertile land, the best land in the world.

16 This was because they rejected my laws and did not follow my rules. They dishonored my Sabbaths and wanted to worship their idols.

17 But I had pity on them. I did not destroy them or put an end to them in the desert.

18 I said to their children in the desert, "Don't live by the rules of your parents, or obey their laws. Don't make yourselves unclean with their idols.

19 I am the Lord your God. Live by my rules, obey my laws, and follow them.

20 Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God."

21 "'But the children turned against me. They did not live by my rules, nor were they careful to obey my laws, by which people will live if they obey them. They dishonored my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my anger against them in the desert.

22 But I held back my anger. I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored in full view of the nations who watched as I brought the Israelites out.

23 And in the desert I swore to the Israelites that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries,

24 because they had not obeyed my laws. They had rejected my rules and dishonored my Sabbaths and worshiped the idols of their parents.

25 I also allowed them to follow rules that were not good and laws by which they could not live.

26 I let the Israelites make themselves unclean by the gifts they brought to their gods when they sacrificed their first children in the fire. I wanted to terrify them so they would know that I am the Lord.'

27 "So, human, speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, 'This is what the Lord God says: Your ancestors spoke against me by being unfaithful to me in another way.

28 When I had brought them into the land I promised to give them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they offered their sacrifices to gods. They brought offerings that made me angry and burned their incense and poured out their drink offerings.

29 Then I said to them: What is this high place where you go to worship?'" (It is still called High Place today.)

30 "So say to the people of Israel: 'This is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean as your ancestors did? Are you going to be unfaithful and desire their hateful idols?

31 When you offer your children as gifts and sacrifice them in the fire, you are making yourselves unclean with all your idols even today. So, people of Israel, should I let you ask me questions? As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will not accept questions from you.

32 "'What you want will not come true. You say, "We want to be like the other nations, like the people in other lands. We want to worship idols made of wood and stone."

33 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will use my great power and strength and anger to rule over you.

34 I will bring you out from the foreign nations. With my great power and strength and anger I will gather you from the lands where you are scattered.

35 I will bring you among the nations as I brought your ancestors into the desert with Moses. There I will judge you face to face.

36 I will judge you the same way I judged your ancestors in the desert of the land of Egypt, says the Lord God.

37 I will count you like sheep and will bring you into line with my agreement.

38 I will get rid of those who refuse to obey me and who turn against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are now living, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

39 "'This is what the Lord God says: People of Israel, go serve your idols for now. But later you will listen to me; you will not continue to dishonor my holy name with your gifts and gods.

40 On my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all Israel will serve me in the land, says the Lord God. There I will accept you. There I will expect your offerings, the first harvest of your offerings, and all your holy gifts.

41 I will accept you like the pleasing smell of sacrifices when I bring you out from the foreign nations and gather you from the lands where you are scattered. Then through you I will show how holy I am so the nations will see.

42 When I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I promised your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord.

43 There you will remember everything you did that made you unclean, and then you will hate yourselves for all the evil things you have done.

44 I will deal with you for the sake of my name, not because of your evil ways or unclean actions. Then you will know I am the Lord, people of Israel, says the Lord God.'" Babylon, the Lord's Sword

45 Now the Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

46 "Human, look toward the south. Prophesy against the south and against the forest of the southern area.

47 Say to that forest: 'Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: I am ready to start a fire in you that will destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The flames that burn will not be put out. Every face from south to north will feel their heat.

48 Then all the people will see that I, the Lord, have started the fire. It will not be put out.'"

49 Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! The people are saying about me, 'He is only telling stories.'"

Ezekiel 21

1 Then the Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

2 "Human, look toward Jerusalem and speak against the holy place. Prophesy against the land of Israel.

3 Say to Israel: 'This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will pull my sword out of its holder, and I will cut off from you both the wicked and those who do right.

4 Because I am going to cut off the wicked and those who do right, my sword will come out from its holder and attack all people from south to north.

5 Then all people will know that I, the Lord, have pulled my sword out from its holder. My sword will not go back in again.'

6 "So, human, groan with breaking heart and great sadness. Groan in front of the people.

7 When they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' you will say, 'Because of what I have heard is going to happen. When it happens, every heart will melt with fear, and all hands will become weak. Everyone will be afraid; all knees will become weak as water. Look, it is coming, and it will happen, says the Lord God.'"

8 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

9 "Human, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Lord says: A sword, a sword, made sharp and polished.

10 It is made sharp for the killing. It is polished to flash like lightning. "'You are not happy about this horrible punishment by the sword. But my son Judah, you did not change when you were only beaten with a rod.

11 The sword should be polished. It is meant to be held in the hand. It is made sharp and polished, ready for the hand of a killer.

12 Shout and yell, human, because the sword is meant for my people, for all the rulers of Israel. They will be killed by the sword, along with my people. So beat your chest in sadness.

13 "'The test will come. And Judah, who is hated by the armies of Babylon, will not last, says the Lord God.'

14 "So, human, prophesy and clap your hands. Let the sword strike two or three times. It is a sword meant for killing, a sword meant for much killing. This sword surrounds the people to be killed.

15 Their hearts will melt with fear, and many people will die. I have placed the killing sword at all their city gates. Oh! The sword is made to flash like lightning. It is held, ready for killing.

16 Sword, cut on the right side; then cut on the left side. Cut anywhere your blade is turned.

17 I will also clap my hands and use up my anger. I, the Lord, have spoken."

18 The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

19 "Human, mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can follow. Both of these roads will start from the same country. And make signs where the road divides and one way goes toward the city.

20 Mark one sign to show the road he can take with his sword to Rabbah in the land of the Ammonites. Mark the other sign to show the road to Judah and Jerusalem, which is protected with strong walls.

21 The king of Babylon has come to where the road divides, and he is using magic. He throws lots with arrows and asks questions of his family idols. He looks at the liver of a sacrificed animal to learn where he should go.

22 The lot in his right hand tells him to go to Jerusalem. It tells him to use logs to break down the city gates, to shout the battle cry and give the order to kill, and to build a dirt road to the top of the walls and devices to attack the walls.

23 The people of Jerusalem have made agreements with other nations to help them fight Babylon. So they will think this prediction is wrong, but it is really proof of their sin, and they will be captured.

24 "So this is what the Lord God says: 'You have shown how sinful you are by turning against the Lord. Your sins are seen in all the things you do. Because of this proof against you, you will be taken captive by the enemy.

25 "'You unclean and evil leader of Israel, you will be killed! The time of your final punishment has come.

26 This is what the Lord God says: Take off the royal turban, and remove the crown. Things will change. Those who are important now will be made unimportant, and those who are unimportant now will be made important.

27 A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! This place will not be rebuilt until the one comes who has a right to be king. Then I will give him that right.'

28 "And you, human, prophesy and say: 'This is what the Lord God says about the people of Ammon and their insults: A sword, a sword is pulled out of its holder. It is polished to kill and destroy, to flash like lightning!

29 Prophets see false visions about you and prophesy lies about you. The sword will be put on the necks of these unclean and evil people. Their day of judging has come; the time of final punishment has come.

30 Put the sword back in its holder. I will judge you in the place where you were created, in the land where you were born.

31 I will pour out my anger against you and blast you with the fire of my anger. I will hand you over to cruel men, experts in destruction.

32 You will be like fuel for the fire; you will die in the land. You will not be remembered, because I, the Lord, have spoken.'"

Ezekiel 20; Ezekiel 21

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Ezekiel 20

Ezekiel 21