Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, October 30th, 2024
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
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Read the Bible
Bishop's Bible
Ezekiel 20:49
Then sayde I, Ah Lorde God, they say of me, Doth not he speake parables?
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Easy-to-Read Version
Then I said, "Oh, Lord God ! If I say this, the people will say that I am only telling them stories."
Then I said, "Oh, Lord God ! If I say this, the people will say that I am only telling them stories."
New Living Translation
Then I said, "O Sovereign Lord , they are saying of me, ‘He only talks in riddles!'"
Then I said, "O Sovereign Lord , they are saying of me, ‘He only talks in riddles!'"
New American Standard Bible
Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not just speaking in riddles?'"
Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not just speaking in riddles?'"
New Century Version
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God ! The people are saying about me, ‘He is only telling stories.'"
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God ! The people are saying about me, ‘He is only telling stories.'"
New English Translation
Then I said, "O sovereign Lord ! They are saying of me, ‘Does he not simply speak in eloquent figures of speech?'"
Then I said, "O sovereign Lord ! They are saying of me, ‘Does he not simply speak in eloquent figures of speech?'"
Update Bible Version
Then I said, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Then I said, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Webster's Bible Translation
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Amplified Bible
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not [just] speaking in parables and making allegories?'"
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not [just] speaking in parables and making allegories?'"
English Standard Version
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God ! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?'"
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God ! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?'"
World English Bible
Then said I, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables?
Then said I, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y seide, A! A! A! Lord God, thei seien of me, Whethir this man spekith not bi parablis?
And Y seide, A! A! A! Lord God, thei seien of me, Whethir this man spekith not bi parablis?
English Revised Version
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Berean Standard Bible
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, 'Is he not just telling parables?'"
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, 'Is he not just telling parables?'"
Contemporary English Version
But I complained, " Lord God, I don't want to do that! People already say I confuse them with my messages."
But I complained, " Lord God, I don't want to do that! People already say I confuse them with my messages."
American Standard Version
Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Bible in Basic English
Then I said, Ah, Lord! they say of me, Is he not a maker of stories?
Then I said, Ah, Lord! they say of me, Is he not a maker of stories?
Complete Jewish Bible
On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of Isra'el's leaders came to consult Adonai and sat with me; and the word of Adonai came to me: "Human being, speak to Isra'el's leaders; tell them that Adonai Elohim asks, ‘Have you come to consult me? As I live,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘I swear that I will not let you consult me.' "Are you going to judge them? Human being, are you going to judge them? Then have them realize how disgusting their ancestors' practices were. Tell them that Adonai Elohim says this: ‘Back on the day when I chose Isra'el, I raised my hand to the descendants of the house of Ya‘akov. I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt when I raised my hand to them and said, "I am Adonai your God." On the day I raised my hand to them, pledging to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had reconnoitered for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands, I told them, "Each of you is to throw away the detestable things that draw your eyes. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Adonai your God." "‘But they rebelled against me and wouldn't listen to me; they did not, each of them, throw away the detestable things that drew their eyes; and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger on them there in the land of Egypt. But concern for my own reputation kept me from letting it be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they were living, in the sight of whom I had made myself known to them, in order to bring them out of the land of Egypt. So I had them leave the land of Egypt and brought them into the desert. I gave them my laws and showed them my rulings; if a person obeys them, he will have life through them. I gave them my shabbats as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I, Adonai , am the one who makes them holy. "‘But the house of Isra'el rebelled against me in the desert. They did not live by my laws; and they rejected my rulings, which, if a person does, he will have life through them; moreover, they greatly profaned my shabbats. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them in the desert, in order to destroy them. But concern for my own reputation kept me from letting it be profaned in the sight of the nations who had seen when I brought them out. Yet I also raised my hand and swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I was giving them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands; because they had rejected my rulings, did not live by my laws and profaned my shabbats; since their hearts went after their idols. However, I spared them from complete destruction; I did not completely finish them off in the desert. "‘I said to their children in the desert, "Don't live by the laws of your fathers, observe their rulings or defile yourselves with their idols. I am Adonai your God; live by my laws, observe my rulings, and obey them, and keep my shabbats holy; and they will be a sign between me and you, so that you will know that I am Adonai your God." "‘But the children too rebelled against me. They did not live by my laws or observe my rulings, to obey them, which, if a person does, he will have life by them; and they profaned my shabbats. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger on them in the desert. Nevertheless, I withdrew my hand and allowed concern for my own reputation to keep me from letting it be profaned in the sight of the nations who had seen when I brought them out. "‘I also raised my hand and swore to them in the desert that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries; because they hadn't obeyed my rulings but had rejected my laws and profaned my shabbats, and their eyes had turned toward their fathers' idols. I also gave them laws which did them no good and rulings by which they did not live; and I let them become defiled by their own gifts, in that they offered up their firstborn sons, so that I could fill them with revulsion, so that they would [finally] realize that I am Adonai .' "Therefore, human being, speak to the house of Isra'el; tell them that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Moreover, your ancestors blasphemed me by breaking faith with me in still another way: for after I had brought them into the land, which I had raised my hand in pledge to give them, they noted all its high hills and leafy trees and offered there their sacrifices; there they made offerings that provoked my anger, there they set out their sweet aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings. When I asked them, "This high place where you go, what is the meaning of it?" they gave it the name Bamah* which it retains to this day.' "So tell the house of Isra'el that Adonai Elohim says, ‘You are defiling yourselves in the same way as your ancestors, following their abominations and fornicating with them; and when offering your gifts, you make your children pass through the fire and defile yourselves with all your idols — to this day. So, am I supposed to allow you to consult me, house of Isra'el? As I live,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘I swear that I won't have you consult me, and that what you have in mind when you say, "We will be like the Goyim, like the families of the other countries, serving wood and stone," will certainly not happen. As I live,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘I swear that surely with a mighty hand, with a stretched-out arm and with poured-out fury I myself will be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered, with a mighty hand, with a stretched-out arm and with poured-out fury; then I will bring you into the desert of the peoples and judge you face to face. Just as I judged your ancestors in the desert of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you,' says Adonai Elohim . ‘I will make you pass under the crook and bring you into the obligations of the covenant. I will rid you of the rebels who are in revolt against me — I will bring them out from the land where they are living, but they will not enter the land of Isra'el; then you will know that I am Adonai .' "As for you, house of Isra'el, here is what Adonai Elohim says: ‘Go on serving your idols, every one of you! But afterwards, [I swear that] you will listen to me, and you will no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Isra'el,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘the whole house of Isra'el, all of them, will serve me in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will require your contributions, your best gifts and all your consecrated things. I will accept you with your sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered; and through you I will manifest my holiness in the sight of the nations. "‘You will know that I am Adonai when I bring you into the land of Isra'el, into the country which I pledged, by raising my hand, to give to your ancestors. There you will remember your behavior and all the things you did by which you defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you committed. You will know that I am Adonai when I have dealt with you in a manner that preserves my reputation, and not according to your evil ways and corrupt actions, house of Isra'el' says Adonai Elohim ."
On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of Isra'el's leaders came to consult Adonai and sat with me; and the word of Adonai came to me: "Human being, speak to Isra'el's leaders; tell them that Adonai Elohim asks, ‘Have you come to consult me? As I live,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘I swear that I will not let you consult me.' "Are you going to judge them? Human being, are you going to judge them? Then have them realize how disgusting their ancestors' practices were. Tell them that Adonai Elohim says this: ‘Back on the day when I chose Isra'el, I raised my hand to the descendants of the house of Ya‘akov. I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt when I raised my hand to them and said, "I am Adonai your God." On the day I raised my hand to them, pledging to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had reconnoitered for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands, I told them, "Each of you is to throw away the detestable things that draw your eyes. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Adonai your God." "‘But they rebelled against me and wouldn't listen to me; they did not, each of them, throw away the detestable things that drew their eyes; and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger on them there in the land of Egypt. But concern for my own reputation kept me from letting it be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they were living, in the sight of whom I had made myself known to them, in order to bring them out of the land of Egypt. So I had them leave the land of Egypt and brought them into the desert. I gave them my laws and showed them my rulings; if a person obeys them, he will have life through them. I gave them my shabbats as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I, Adonai , am the one who makes them holy. "‘But the house of Isra'el rebelled against me in the desert. They did not live by my laws; and they rejected my rulings, which, if a person does, he will have life through them; moreover, they greatly profaned my shabbats. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them in the desert, in order to destroy them. But concern for my own reputation kept me from letting it be profaned in the sight of the nations who had seen when I brought them out. Yet I also raised my hand and swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I was giving them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands; because they had rejected my rulings, did not live by my laws and profaned my shabbats; since their hearts went after their idols. However, I spared them from complete destruction; I did not completely finish them off in the desert. "‘I said to their children in the desert, "Don't live by the laws of your fathers, observe their rulings or defile yourselves with their idols. I am Adonai your God; live by my laws, observe my rulings, and obey them, and keep my shabbats holy; and they will be a sign between me and you, so that you will know that I am Adonai your God." "‘But the children too rebelled against me. They did not live by my laws or observe my rulings, to obey them, which, if a person does, he will have life by them; and they profaned my shabbats. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger on them in the desert. Nevertheless, I withdrew my hand and allowed concern for my own reputation to keep me from letting it be profaned in the sight of the nations who had seen when I brought them out. "‘I also raised my hand and swore to them in the desert that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries; because they hadn't obeyed my rulings but had rejected my laws and profaned my shabbats, and their eyes had turned toward their fathers' idols. I also gave them laws which did them no good and rulings by which they did not live; and I let them become defiled by their own gifts, in that they offered up their firstborn sons, so that I could fill them with revulsion, so that they would [finally] realize that I am Adonai .' "Therefore, human being, speak to the house of Isra'el; tell them that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Moreover, your ancestors blasphemed me by breaking faith with me in still another way: for after I had brought them into the land, which I had raised my hand in pledge to give them, they noted all its high hills and leafy trees and offered there their sacrifices; there they made offerings that provoked my anger, there they set out their sweet aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings. When I asked them, "This high place where you go, what is the meaning of it?" they gave it the name Bamah* which it retains to this day.' "So tell the house of Isra'el that Adonai Elohim says, ‘You are defiling yourselves in the same way as your ancestors, following their abominations and fornicating with them; and when offering your gifts, you make your children pass through the fire and defile yourselves with all your idols — to this day. So, am I supposed to allow you to consult me, house of Isra'el? As I live,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘I swear that I won't have you consult me, and that what you have in mind when you say, "We will be like the Goyim, like the families of the other countries, serving wood and stone," will certainly not happen. As I live,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘I swear that surely with a mighty hand, with a stretched-out arm and with poured-out fury I myself will be king over you. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered, with a mighty hand, with a stretched-out arm and with poured-out fury; then I will bring you into the desert of the peoples and judge you face to face. Just as I judged your ancestors in the desert of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you,' says Adonai Elohim . ‘I will make you pass under the crook and bring you into the obligations of the covenant. I will rid you of the rebels who are in revolt against me — I will bring them out from the land where they are living, but they will not enter the land of Isra'el; then you will know that I am Adonai .' "As for you, house of Isra'el, here is what Adonai Elohim says: ‘Go on serving your idols, every one of you! But afterwards, [I swear that] you will listen to me, and you will no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Isra'el,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘the whole house of Isra'el, all of them, will serve me in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will require your contributions, your best gifts and all your consecrated things. I will accept you with your sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered; and through you I will manifest my holiness in the sight of the nations. "‘You will know that I am Adonai when I bring you into the land of Isra'el, into the country which I pledged, by raising my hand, to give to your ancestors. There you will remember your behavior and all the things you did by which you defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you committed. You will know that I am Adonai when I have dealt with you in a manner that preserves my reputation, and not according to your evil ways and corrupt actions, house of Isra'el' says Adonai Elohim ."
Darby Translation
And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
span data-lang="eng" data-trans="jps" data-ref="eze.20.1" class="versetxt"> And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: '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, I will not be inquired of by you. Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers; and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up My hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up My hand unto them, saying: I am the LORD your God; in that day I lifted up My hand unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had sought out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the beauty of all lands; and I said unto them: Cast ye away every man the detestable things of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against Me, and would not hearken unto Me; they did not every man cast away the detestable things of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them, to spend My anger upon them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among whom they were, in whose sight I made Myself known unto them, so as to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt. So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them My statutes, and taught them Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them. Moreover also I gave them My sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they walked not in My statutes, and they rejected Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them, and My sabbaths they greatly profaned; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. But I wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. Yet also I lifted up My 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 is the beauty of all lands; because they rejected Mine ordinances, and walked not in My statutes, and profaned My sabbaths--for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless Mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness. And I said unto their children in the wilderness: Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols; I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. But the children rebelled against Me; they walked not in My statutes, neither kept Mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live by them; they profaned My sabbaths; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them, to spend My anger upon them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I withdrew My hand, and wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth. I lifted up My hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries; because they had not executed Mine ordinances, but had rejected My statutes, and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and ordinances whereby they should not live; and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they set apart all that openeth the womb, that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed Me, in that they dealt treacherously with Me. For when I had brought them into the land, which I lifted up My hand to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering, there also they made their sweet savour, and there they poured out their drink-offerings. Then I said unto them: What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. Wherefore say unto the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord GOD: When ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers, and go after their abominations, and when, in offering your gifts, in making your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, unto this day; shall I then be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you; and that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all; in that ye say: We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I be king over you; and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I plead with you face to face. 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. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD: Go ye, serve every one his idols, even because ye will not hearken unto Me; but My holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols. For in My holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve Me in the land; there will I accept them, and there will I require your heave-offerings, and the first of your gifts, with all your holy things. With your sweet savour will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I lifted up My hand to give unto your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have polluted yourselves; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for My name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.'
span data-lang="eng" data-trans="jps" data-ref="eze.20.1" class="versetxt"> And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: '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, I will not be inquired of by you. Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers; and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up My hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up My hand unto them, saying: I am the LORD your God; in that day I lifted up My hand unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had sought out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the beauty of all lands; and I said unto them: Cast ye away every man the detestable things of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. But they rebelled against Me, and would not hearken unto Me; they did not every man cast away the detestable things of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them, to spend My anger upon them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among whom they were, in whose sight I made Myself known unto them, so as to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt. So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them My statutes, and taught them Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them. Moreover also I gave them My sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they walked not in My statutes, and they rejected Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them, and My sabbaths they greatly profaned; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. But I wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. Yet also I lifted up My 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 is the beauty of all lands; because they rejected Mine ordinances, and walked not in My statutes, and profaned My sabbaths--for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless Mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness. And I said unto their children in the wilderness: Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols; I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. But the children rebelled against Me; they walked not in My statutes, neither kept Mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live by them; they profaned My sabbaths; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them, to spend My anger upon them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I withdrew My hand, and wrought for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth. I lifted up My hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries; because they had not executed Mine ordinances, but had rejected My statutes, and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and ordinances whereby they should not live; and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they set apart all that openeth the womb, that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed Me, in that they dealt treacherously with Me. For when I had brought them into the land, which I lifted up My hand to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering, there also they made their sweet savour, and there they poured out their drink-offerings. Then I said unto them: What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. Wherefore say unto the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord GOD: When ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers, and go after their abominations, and when, in offering your gifts, in making your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, unto this day; shall I then be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you; and that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all; in that ye say: We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I be king over you; and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I plead with you face to face. 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. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD: Go ye, serve every one his idols, even because ye will not hearken unto Me; but My holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols. For in My holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve Me in the land; there will I accept them, and there will I require your heave-offerings, and the first of your gifts, with all your holy things. With your sweet savour will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I lifted up My hand to give unto your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have polluted yourselves; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for My name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.'
King James Version (1611)
Then said I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doeth he not speake parables?
Then said I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doeth he not speake parables?
New Life Bible
Then I said, "O Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling picture-stories?'"
Then I said, "O Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling picture-stories?'"
New Revised Standard
Then I said, "Ah Lord God ! they are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of allegories?'"
Then I said, "Ah Lord God ! they are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of allegories?'"
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then saide I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doeth not he speake parables?
Then saide I, Ah Lord God, they say of me, Doeth not he speake parables?
George Lamsa Translation
Then said I, Ah LORD God! Behold, they will say to me, You speak in parables.
Then said I, Ah LORD God! Behold, they will say to me, You speak in parables.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said I, Ah! My Lord Yahweh: They are saying of me, Is not he a putter forth of parables?
Then said I, Ah! My Lord Yahweh: They are saying of me, Is not he a putter forth of parables?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God: they say of me: Doth not this man speak by parables?
And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God: they say of me: Doth not this man speak by parables?
Revised Standard Version
Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! they are saying of me, 'Is he not a maker of allegories?'"
Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! they are saying of me, 'Is he not a maker of allegories?'"
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?
And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?
Good News Translation
But I protested, "Sovereign Lord , don't make me do it! Everyone is already complaining that I always speak in riddles."
But I protested, "Sovereign Lord , don't make me do it! Everyone is already complaining that I always speak in riddles."
Christian Standard Bible®
Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just composing parables?’”
Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just composing parables?’”
Hebrew Names Version
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables?
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables?
King James Version
Then said I, Ah Lord God ! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Then said I, Ah Lord God ! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Lexham English Bible
Then I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh, they are saying about me, ‘Is he not posing a parable?'"
Then I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh, they are saying about me, ‘Is he not posing a parable?'"
Literal Translation
Then I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! They are saying of me, Does he not speak in parables?
Then I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! They are saying of me, Does he not speak in parables?
Young's Literal Translation
And I say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?
And I say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde I: O LORDE, they wil saye of me: Tush, they are but fables, that he telleth.
Then sayde I: O LORDE, they wil saye of me: Tush, they are but fables, that he telleth.
THE MESSAGE
And I said, "O God , everyone is saying of me, ‘He just makes up stories.'"
And I said, "O God , everyone is saying of me, ‘He just makes up stories.'"
New King James Version
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They say of me, "Does he not speak parables?"'
Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They say of me, "Does he not speak parables?"'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not just speaking parables?'"
Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not just speaking parables?'"
Legacy Standard Bible
Then I said, "Ah Lord Yahweh! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?'"
Then I said, "Ah Lord Yahweh! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?'"
Contextual Overview
45 Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto me, saying: 46 Thou sonne of man, set thy face towarde the way of Themanah, and drop [thy worde] towarde the south, and prophecie towarde the forest of the south fielde. 47 And say to the forest of the south, Heare the worde of the Lord, thus saith the Lorde God, Beholde I wyll kindle a fire in thee, that shall consume all the greene trees, with all the dry: the continuall flambe shall not be quenched, and euery face from the south to the north shalbe burnt therin. 48 And all fleshe shall see that I the Lorde haue kindled it, and it shall not be quenched. 49 Then sayde I, Ah Lorde God, they say of me, Doth not he speake parables?
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Doth: Is it not his usual custom to deal in enigmas? His figures are not to be understood; we should not trouble ourselves with them. God therefore commands the prophet to declare, in the next chapter, the same things in the plainest terms, so that they should not complain of his parables. Matthew 13:13, Matthew 13:14, John 16:25, Acts 17:18
Reciprocal: Genesis 19:14 - as one Numbers 12:8 - dark speeches Numbers 23:7 - he took Judges 14:12 - a riddle 2 Kings 14:9 - The thistle Psalms 49:4 - parable Ezekiel 4:14 - Ah Ezekiel 12:9 - What Ezekiel 17:2 - General Ezekiel 21:7 - Wherefore Ezekiel 24:3 - utter Ezekiel 24:19 - General Ezekiel 37:18 - Wilt Hosea 12:10 - used Matthew 13:3 - in Mark 12:1 - he began Galatians 4:24 - an allegory
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Then said I, ah Lord God!.... The Septuagint version is, "by no means, Lord, Lord"; that is, let me not be sent on such an errand; at least, let it not be delivered in such figurative terms; or let not such a general calamity befall the people. The Targum is,
"receive my prayer, O Lord God;''
the prophet here either complains of the usage he had met with after delivering the above prophecy; or rather of what he had met with before, and which he expected again; and therefore desired either that he might be excused delivering the prophecy; or, however, that it might be delivered not in obscure and enigmatical terms, but in plain and easy ones:
they say of me, doth he not speak parables? as before, of a lion and her whelps; and of a vine, and its rods and branches, Ezekiel 19:1 and now here again, of a fire, and a forest, and trees of it, green and dry; things not easily understood, and so not attended to and regarded; as if they should say, this man brings us nothing but parables, riddles, and enigmas, and such sort of unintelligible stuff, not worth minding; and rather appears as a man delirious and mad than a prophet. Wherefore Ezekiel seems to desire that he might be sent to them with a message more plainly expressed; and which might excite their attention and regard, and not expose him to their ridicule and contempt; and accordingly we find it is explained and expressed in clearer terms in the next chapter.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
This paragraph is in the Hebrew text, Septuagint and Vulgate the beginning of Ezekiel 21:0 to which it belongs, as it contains a prophecy delivered in a form which is there explained. It may, however, be regarded as a link between the foregoing and following prophecies, being a general introduction to seven words of judgment about to be pronounced in development of that which has just been delivered.
Ezekiel 20:46
In this verse occur three Hebrew synonyms for âsouth,â denoting:
(1) the region on the right, Teman 1 Samuel 23:24;
(2) the region of dryness, Negeb Joshua 15:4;
(3) the region of brightness, Darom Deuteronomy 33:23.
The variety of terms helps the force of the application. Chebar is in the north of Babylonia; from the north the Chaldaeans came upon Judaea (see the Ezekiel 1:4 note).
Ezekiel 20:47
Forest of the south - The land of Israel. See Ezekiel 21:1-2.
Ezekiel 20:49
Parables - Compare Ezekiel 17:2. The meaning of the prophet was clear enough, if those whom he addressed had chosen to understand.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ezekiel 20:49. Ah Lord God — O my God, consider my situation; who will believe what I shall say? They put the evil day far from them.
Doth he not speak parables? — ××× ×××©× ×ש××× ××× halo memashshel meshalim hu, "Is not he a maker of parables?" Is it not his custom to deal in enigmas? His figures are not to be understood; we should not trouble ourselves with them. We are not obliged to fathom his meaning; and perhaps after all it does not refer to us, or will not be accomplished in our time, if it even respect the land. Thus they turned aside what might have done them good, and rejected the counsel of God against themselves.
By dividing the word with our neighbour we often lose the benefit both of threatenings and promises. They voluntarily shut their own eyes; and then God, in judgment, sealed them up in darkness.
