the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Daily Bible Reading
July 6 - Different Topics
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Ezekiel 19-24
Chapter 19
A Lament for Israel's Princes
1 "Now, lament for the princes of Israel(a) 2 and say:
What was your mother? A lioness!
She lay down among the lions;
she reared her cubs among the young lions.
3 She brought up one of her cubs,
and he became a young lion.(b)
After he learned to tear prey,
he devoured people.
4 When the nations heard about him,
he was caught in their pit.
Then they led him away with hooks
to the land of Egypt.(c)
5 When she saw that she waited in vain,
that her hope was lost,
she took another of her cubs
and made him a young lion.
6 He prowled among the lions,(d)
and he became a young lion.
After he learned to tear prey,
he devoured people.
7 He devastated their strongholds[a]
and destroyed their cities.
The land and everything in it shuddered
at the sound of his roaring.
8 Then the nations from the surrounding provinces
set out against him.(e)
They spread their net over him;
he was caught in their pit.
9 They put a wooden yoke on him[b] with hooks(f)
and led him away to the king of Babylon.
They brought him into the fortresses
so his roar could no longer be heard
on the mountains of Israel.(g)
10 Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,[c](h)
planted by the water;
it was fruitful and full of branches(i)
because of plentiful waters.
11 It had strong branches, fit for the scepters of rulers;
its height towered among the clouds.[d]
So it was conspicuous for its height
as well as its many branches.
12 But it was uprooted in fury,(j)
thrown to the ground,
and the east wind dried up its fruit.
Its strong branches were torn off and dried up;(k)
fire consumed them.
13 Now it is planted in the wilderness,(l)
in a dry and thirsty land.
14 Fire has gone out from its main branch[e]
and has devoured its fruit,
so that it no longer has a strong branch,
a scepter for ruling.(m)
This is a lament and should be used as a lament."
Chapter 20
Israel's Rebellion
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel's elders came to consult the Lord ,(a) and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 "Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to consult Me? As I live, I will not be consulted by you."(b) This is the declaration of the Lord God .
4 "Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.(c) 5 Say to them: This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath[a](d) to the descendants of Jacob's house and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying: I am Yahweh your God.(e) 6 On that day I swore[b] to them that I would bring them out(f) of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(g) the most beautiful of all lands.(h) 7 I also said to them: Each of you must throw away the detestable things that are before your eyes and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.(i) I am Yahweh your God.(j)
8 "But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them threw away the detestable things that were before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them,(k) exhausting My anger against them within the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted because of My name,(l) so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made Myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.
10 "So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.(m) 11 Then I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.(n) 12 I also gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them,(o) so they will know that I am Yahweh who sets them apart as holy.
13 "But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness.(p) They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them.(q) They also completely profaned My Sabbaths.(r) So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.(s) 14 But I acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15 However, I swore[c] to them(t) in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey— 16 because they rejected My ordinances, profaned My Sabbaths, and did not follow My statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.(u) 17 But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.(v)
18 "Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don't follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.(w) 19 I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.(x) 20 Keep My Sabbaths holy,(y) and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God.
21 "But the children rebelled against Me.(z) They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withheld My hand and acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out. 23 However, I swore[d] to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(aa) 24 For they did not practice My ordinances but rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed(ab) on their fathers' idols. 25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances(ac) they could not live by. 26 When they made every firstborn pass through the fire,(ad) I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh.(ae)
27 "Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by(af) committing treachery against Me: 28 When I brought them into the land that I swore[e] to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree,(ag) they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there. 29 So I asked them: What is this high place you are going to? And it is called High Place to this day.
30 "Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did,(ah) and prostituting yourselves with their detestable things? 31 When you offer your gifts, making your children pass through the fire,(ai) you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live"—this is the declaration of the Lord God —"I will not be consulted by you!
Israel's Restoration
32 "When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of other countries, worshiping wood and stone,'(aj) what you have in mind will never happen.(ak) 33 As I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(al) and outpoured wrath. 34 I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered,(am) with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,(an) and outpoured wrath. 35 I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples(ao) and enter into judgment with you there face to face. 36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,(ap) so I will enter into judgment with you." This is the declaration of the Lord God . 37 "I will make you pass under the rod(aq) and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38 And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me.(ar) I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.
39 "As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.(as) 40 For on My holy mountain, Israel's high mountain"—the declaration of the Lord God —"there the entire house of Israel, all of them,(at) will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts,(au) all your holy offerings. 41 When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.(av) 42 When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore[f] to give your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh.(aw) 43 There you will remember your ways and all your deeds that you have defiled yourselves with,(ax) and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.(ay) 44 You will know that I am Yahweh,(az) house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name(ba) rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts." This is the declaration of the Lord God .
Fire in the South
45 [g]The word of the Lord came to me: 46 "Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,(bb) 47 and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the Lord ! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. 48 Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it.(bc) It will not be extinguished."
49 Then I said, "Oh, Lord God , they are saying of me, ‘Isn't he just posing riddles?'"(bd)
Chapter 21
God's Sword of Judgment
1 [a]The word of the Lord came to me again: 2 "Son of man, turn your face toward(a) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel, 3 and say to it: This is what the Lord says: I am against you.(b) I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you. 4 Since I will cut off[b] both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will therefore come out of its sheath against everyone from the south to the north.(c) 5 So all the people will know that I, Yahweh, have taken My sword from its sheath—it will not be sheathed again.(d)
6 "But you, son of man, groan! Groan bitterly with a broken heart[c] right before their eyes. 7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?' then say: Because of the news that is coming.(e) Every heart will melt, and every hand will become weak. Every spirit will be discouraged, and every knee will turn to water. Yes, it is coming and it will happen." This is the declaration of the Lord God .
8 The word of the Lord came to me: 9 "Son of man, prophesy: This is what the Lord says! You are to proclaim:
A sword!(f) A sword is sharpened
and also polished.(g)
10 It is sharpened for slaughter,
polished to flash like lightning!
Should we rejoice?
The scepter of My son,
the sword despises every tree.[d]
11 The sword is given to be polished,
to be grasped in the hand.
It is sharpened, and it is polished,
to be put in the hand of the slayer.(h)
12 Cry out and wail, son of man,
for it is against My people.
It is against all the princes of Israel!
They are given over to the sword with My people.
Therefore strike your thigh in grief.(i)
13 Surely it will be a trial!
And what if the sword despises even the scepter?
The scepter will not continue.[e]
This is the declaration of the Lord
God
.
14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy
and clap your hands together.(j)
Let the sword strike two times, even three.
It is a sword for massacre,
a sword for great massacre—
it surrounds[f] them!
15 I have appointed a sword(k) for slaughter[g]
at all their gates,
so that their hearts may melt
and many may stumble.
Yes! It is ready to flash like lightning;(l)
it is drawn[h] for slaughter.
16 Slash to the right;
turn to the left—
wherever your blade is directed.
17 I also will clap My hands together,
and I will satisfy My wrath.(m)
I, Yahweh, have spoken."
18 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 19 "Now you, son of man, mark out two roads that the sword of Babylon's king can take. Both of them should originate from the same land. And make a signpost at the fork in the road to each city. 20 Mark out a road that the sword can take to Rabbah of the Ammonites(n) and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the split in the road, at the fork of the two roads, to practice divination: he shakes the arrows, consults the idols, and observes the liver. 22 The answer marked[i] Jerusalem appears in his right hand, indicating that he should set up battering rams,(o) give the order to[j] slaughter, raise a battle cry, set battering rams against the gates, build a ramp, and construct a siege wall. 23 It will seem like false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn an oath to the Babylonians,[k](p) but it will draw attention to their guilt so that they will be captured.
24 "Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your actions, since you have done this, you will be captured by them.
25 And you, profane and wicked prince of Israel,[l](q)
the day has come(r)
for your punishment."[m]
26 This is what the Lord God says:
Remove the turban, and take off the crown.
Things will not remain as they are;[n]
exalt the lowly and bring down the exalted.(s)
27 A ruin, a ruin,
I will make it a ruin!
Yet this will not happen
until He comes;(t)
I have given the judgment to Him.[o]
28 "Now prophesy, son of man, and say: This is what the Lord God says concerning the Ammonites and their contempt. You are to proclaim:
A sword! A sword
is drawn for slaughter,
polished to consume,(u) to flash like lightning.
29 While they offer false visions(v)
and lying divinations about you,
the time has come to put you
to the necks of the profane wicked ones;
the day has come
for your punishment.[p]
30 Return it to its sheath!(w)
I will judge you[q]
in the place where you were created,
in the land of your origin.
31 I will pour out My indignation on you;
I will blow the fire of My fury on you.(x)
I will hand you over to brutal men,
skilled at destruction.
32 You will be fuel for the fire.
Your blood will be spilled in the land.
You will not be remembered,(y)
for I, Yahweh, have spoken."
Chapter 22
Indictment of Sinful Jerusalem
1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 "As for you, son of man, will you pass judgment? Will you pass judgment against the city of blood? Then explain all her detestable practices to her.(a) 3 You are to say: This is what the Lord God says: A city that sheds blood(b) within her walls so that her time of judgment has come and who makes idols for herself so that she is defiled! 4 You are guilty of the blood you have shed,(c) and you are defiled from the idols you have made. You have brought your judgment days near and have come to your years of punishment. Therefore, I have made you a disgrace to the nations and a mockery to all the lands. 5 Those who are near and those far away from you will mock you, you infamous one full of turmoil.
6 "Look, every prince of Israel(d) within you has used his strength to shed blood. 7 Father and mother are treated with contempt,(e) and the foreign resident is exploited within you. The fatherless and widow are oppressed in you.(f) 8 You despise My holy things and profane My Sabbaths.(g) 9 There are men within you who slander in order to shed blood.(h) People who live in you eat at the mountain shrines; they commit immoral acts within you. 10 Men within you have sexual intercourse with their father's wife and violate women during their menstrual impurity.(i) 11 One man within you commits a detestable act with his neighbor's wife;(j) another wickedly defiles his daughter-in-law; and yet another violates his sister, his father's daughter.(k) 12 People who live in you accept bribes in order to shed blood.(l) You take interest and profit on a loan and brutally extort your neighbors.(m) You have forgotten Me."(n) This is the declaration of the Lord God .
13 "Now look, I clap My hands together against the dishonest profit you have made(o) and against the blood shed among you. 14 Will your courage endure(p) or your hands be strong in the days when I deal with you? I, Yahweh, have spoken, and I will act.(q) 15 I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you among the countries;(r) I will purge your uncleanness.(s) 16 You[a] will be profaned in the sight of the nations. Then you will know that I am Yahweh."(t)
Jerusalem as God's Furnace
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me.(u) All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace;(v) they are the dross of silver. 19 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Because all of you have become dross, I am about to gather you into Jerusalem. 20 Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to blow fire(w) on them and melt them, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, put you inside, and melt you. 21 Yes, I will gather you together and blow on you with the fire of My fury, and you will be melted within the city. 22 As silver is melted inside a furnace, so you will be melted inside the city. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have poured out My wrath on you."(x)
Indictment of a Sinful Land
23 The word of the Lord came to me: 24 "Son of man, say to her: You are a land that has not been cleansed,(y) that has not received rain in the day of indignation. 25 The conspiracy of her prophets(z) within her is[b] like a roaring lion tearing its prey: they devour people, seize wealth and valuables, and multiply the widows within her. 26 Her priests do violence to My instruction and profane My holy things.(aa) They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they do not explain the difference between the clean and the unclean.(ab) They disregard[c] My Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
27 "Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives in order to make profit dishonestly. 28 Her prophets plaster with whitewash for them by seeing false visions and lying divinations,(ac) and they say, ‘This is what the Lord God says,' when the Lord has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery.(ad) They have oppressed the poor and needy and unlawfully exploited the foreign resident. 30 I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall(ae) and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it,(af) but I found no one. 31 So I have poured out My indignation on them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their actions down on their own heads."(ag) This is the declaration of the Lord God .
Chapter 23
The Two Immoral Sisters
1 The word of the Lord came to me again: 2 "Son of man, there were two women,(a) daughters of the same mother, 3 who acted like prostitutes in Egypt,(b) behaving promiscuously in their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin nipples caressed. 4 The older one was named Oholah,[a] and her sister was Oholibah.[b] They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah represents Samaria and Oholibah represents Jerusalem.
5 "Oholah acted like a prostitute even though she was Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians:(c) warriors 6 dressed in blue, governors and prefects, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on steeds. 7 She offered her sexual favors to them; all of them were the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all those she lusted after and with all their idols. 8 She didn't give up her promiscuity that began in Egypt,(d) when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin nipples, and poured out their lust on her. 9 Therefore, I handed her over to her lovers,(e) the Assyrians she lusted for. 10 They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. Since they executed judgment against her, she became notorious among women.
11 "Now her sister Oholibah saw this, but she was even more depraved in her lust than Oholah, and made her promiscuous acts worse than those of her sister.(f) 12 She lusted after the Assyrians:(g) governors and prefects, warriors splendidly dressed, horsemen riding on steeds, all of them desirable young men. 13 And I saw that she had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path. 14 But she increased her promiscuity when she saw male figures carved on the wall,(h) images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,(i) 15 wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers, a depiction of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth. 16 At the sight of them[c] she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.(j) 17 Then the Babylonians came to her,(k) to the bed of love, and defiled her with their lust. But after she was defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust. 18 When she flaunted her promiscuity and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust just as I turned away from her sister.(l) 19 Yet she multiplied her acts of promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth when she acted like a prostitute in the land of Egypt 20 and lusted after their lovers, whose sexual members were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions. 21 So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your nipples to enjoy your youthful breasts.(m)
22 "Therefore Oholibah, this is what the Lord God says: I am going to incite your lovers against you, those you turned away from in disgust. I will bring them against you from every side: 23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans; Pekod, Shoa, and Koa;(n) and all the Assyrians with them—desirable young men, all of them governors and prefects, officers and administrators, all of them riding on horses. 24 They will come against you with an alliance of nations and with weapons, chariots, and[d] wagons. They will set themselves against you on every side with shields, bucklers, and helmets. I will delegate judgment to them, and they will judge you by their own standards. 25 When I vent My jealous rage on you,(o) they will deal with you in wrath. They will cut off your nose and ears, and your descendants will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your descendants will be consumed by fire. 26 They will strip off your clothes and take your beautiful jewelry.(p) 27 So I will put an end to your indecency and sexual immorality, which began in the land of Egypt, and you will not look longingly at them or remember Egypt anymore.
28 "For this is what the Lord God says: I am going to hand you over to those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust. 29 They will treat you with hatred, take all you have worked for, and leave you stark naked,(q) so that the shame of your debauchery will be exposed, both your indecency and promiscuity. 30 These things will be done to you because you acted like a prostitute with the nations,(r) defiling yourself with their idols. 31 You have followed the path of your sister, so I will put her cup in your hand."(s)
32 This is what the Lord God says:
You will drink your sister's cup,(t)
which is deep and wide.
You will be an object of[e] ridicule and scorn,
for it holds so much.(u)
33 You will be filled with drunkenness and grief,
with a cup of devastation and desolation,
the cup of your sister Samaria.
34 You will drink it and drain it;
then you will gnaw its broken pieces,
and tear your breasts.
For I have spoken.
This is the declaration of the Lord
God
.
35 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: "Because you have forgotten Me(v) and cast Me behind your back,(w) you must bear the consequences of your indecency and promiscuity."
36 Then the Lord said to me: "Son of man, will you pass judgment against Oholah and Oholibah?(x) Then declare their detestable practices to them.(y) 37 For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands; they have committed adultery with their idols. They have even made the children they bore to Me pass through the fire as food for the idols.(z) 38 They also did this to Me: they defiled My sanctuary(aa) on that same day and profaned My Sabbaths.(ab) 39 On the same day they slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary to profane it.(ac) Yes, that is what they did inside My house.
40 "In addition, they sent for men who came from far away when a messenger was dispatched to them. And look how they came! You bathed, painted your eyes,(ad) and adorned yourself with jewelry for them.(ae) 41 You sat on a luxurious couch with a table spread before it,(af) on which you had set My incense and oil. 42 The sound of a carefree crowd was there. Drunkards[f] from the desert were brought in, along with common men. They put bracelets on the women's hands and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43 Then I said concerning this woman worn out by adultery: Will they now have illicit sex with her, even her? 44 Yet they had sex with her as one does with a prostitute. This is how they had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, those obscene women. 45 But righteous men will judge them the way adulteresses(ag) and those who shed blood are judged, for they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.
46 "This is what the Lord God says: Summon[g] an assembly against them and consign them to terror and plunder.(ah) 47 The assembly will stone them and cut them down with their swords.(ai) They will kill their sons and daughters and burn their houses with fire. 48 So I will put an end to indecency in the land, and all the women will be admonished not to imitate your indecent behavior. 49 They will repay you for your indecency,(aj) and you will bear the consequences for your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh."
Chapter 24
Parable of the Boiling Pot
1 The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month: 2 "Son of man, write down today's date, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.(a) 3 Now speak a parable(b) to the rebellious house. Tell them: This is what the Lord God says:
Put the pot(c) on the fire—
put it on,
and then pour water into it!
4 Place the pieces of meat in it,
every good piece—
thigh and shoulder.
Fill it with choice bones.
5 Take the choicest of the flock
and also pile up the fuel[a] under it.
Bring it to a boil
and cook the bones in it."
6 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:
Woe to the city of bloodshed,(d)
the pot that has rust inside it,
and whose rust will not come off!
Empty it piece by piece;
lots should not be cast for its contents.
7 For the blood she shed[b] is still within her.
She put it out on the bare rock;
she didn't pour it on the ground
to cover it with dust.(e)
8 In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance,(f)
I have put her blood on the bare rock,
so that it would not be covered.
9 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says:
Woe to the city of bloodshed!(g)
I Myself will make the pile of kindling large.
10 Pile on the logs and kindle the fire!
Cook the meat well
and mix in the spices![c][d]
Let the bones be burned!
11 Set the empty pot on its coals
so that it becomes hot and its copper glows.
Then its impurity will melt inside it;
its rust will be consumed.(h)
12 It has frustrated every effort;[e]
its thick rust will not come off.
Into the fire with its rust!
13 Because of the indecency of your uncleanness—
since I tried to purify you,
but you would not be purified from your uncleanness—
you will not be pure again
until I have satisfied My wrath on you.(i)
14 I, Yahweh, have spoken.
It is coming, and I will do it!(j)
I will not refrain, I will not show pity,
and I will not relent.
I[f] will judge you
according to your ways and deeds.(k)
This is the declaration of the Lord
God
.
The Death of Ezekiel's Wife: A Sign
15 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 16 "Son of man, I am about to take the delight of your eyes(l) away from you with a fatal blow. But you must not lament or weep or let your tears flow.(m) 17 Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead.(n) Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners."[g](o)
18 I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did just as I was commanded. 19 Then the people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?"
20 So I answered them: "The word of the Lord came to me: 21 ‘Say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your heart. Also, the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.(p) 22 Then you will do just as I have done: You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.[h] 23 Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not lament or weep(q) but will waste away(r) because of your sins and will groan to one another. 24 Now Ezekiel will be a sign for you.(s) You will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.
25 "‘Son of man, know that on the day I take their stronghold from them, their pride and joy, the delight of their eyes and the longing of their hearts, as well as their sons and daughters, 26 on that day a fugitive will come to you and report the news.(t) 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to talk with him; you will speak and no longer be mute.(u) So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'"
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