Study Desk

The word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who^(a) are prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination:^(b) Hear the word of the Lord !

This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.

Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins.

You did not go up to the gaps^(c) or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it might stand in battle on the day of the Lord .

They see false visions and speak lying divinations.^(d) They claim, ‘This is the Lord 's declaration,' when the Lord did not send them,^(e) yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.

Didn't you see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you proclaimed, ‘This is the Lord 's declaration,' even though I had not spoken?

"Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am against you because you have spoken falsely and had lying visions." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations.^(f) They will not be present in the fellowship of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.

"Since they have led My people astray saying, ‘Peace,'^(g) when there is no peace, for when someone builds a wall they plaster it with whitewash,^(h)

therefore, tell those who plaster it that it will fall. Torrential rain will come,⁽ⁱ⁾ and I will send hailstones plunging^[a] down, and a windstorm will be released.

Now when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the coat of whitewash that you put on it?'

"So this is what the Lord God says: I will release a windstorm in My wrath. Torrential rain will come in My anger, and hailstones will fall in destructive fury.

I will tear down the wall you plastered with whitewash and knock it to the ground so that its foundation is exposed.^(j) The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

After I exhaust My wrath against the wall and against those who plaster it with whitewash, I will say to you: The wall is no more and neither are those who plastered it—

those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw a vision of peace for her when there was no peace."^(k) This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"Now, son of man, turn^[b] toward the women of your people who prophesy^(l) out of their own imagination. Prophesy against them^(m)

and say: This is what the Lord God says: Woe to the women who sew magic bands on the wrist of every hand and who make veils for the heads of people of every height in order to ensnare lives. Will you ensnare the lives of My people but preserve your own?⁽ⁿ⁾

You profane Me in front of My people for handfuls of barley^(o) and scraps of bread; you kill those who should not die and spare those who should not live, when you lie to My people, who listen to lies.

"Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: I am against your magic bands that you ensnare people with like birds, and I will tear them from your arms. I will free the people you have ensnared like birds.

I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands,^(p) so that they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

Because you have disheartened the righteous person with lies, even though I have not caused him grief,^(q) and because you have encouraged the wicked^(r) person not to turn from his evil way to save his life,

therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination.^(s) I will deliver My people from your hands. Then you will know that I am Yahweh."

Some of the elders of Israel came^(a) to me and sat down in front of me.^(b)

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and have put sinful stumbling blocks before their faces.^(c) Should I be consulted by them at all?^(d)

"Therefore, speak to them and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: When anyone from the house of Israel sets up idols in his heart, puts a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I, Yahweh, will answer him appropriately.^[a] I will answer him according to his many idols,

so that I may take hold of the house of Israel by their hearts. They are all estranged from Me because of their idols.

"Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: Repent and turn away^(e) from your idols; turn your faces away from all your detestable things.

For when anyone from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside in Israel separates himself from Me, setting up idols in his heart and putting a sinful stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me,^[b] I, Yahweh, will answer him Myself.

I will turn against that one and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people.^(f) Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

"But if the prophet is deceived and speaks a message, it was I, Yahweh, who deceived that prophet.^(g) I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.^(h)

They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the one who inquires will be the same as that of the prophet—

in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from following Me and no longer defile themselves⁽ⁱ⁾ with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God."^(j) This is the declaration of the Lord God .

The word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of bread,^(k) to send famine through it, and to wipe out both man and animal from it,

even if these three men^(l)—Noah,^(m) Daniel,⁽ⁿ⁾ and Job^(o)—were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"If I allow dangerous animals^(p) to pass through the land and depopulate it so that it becomes desolate, with no one passing through it for fear of the animals,

even if these three men were in it, as I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"they could not deliver their sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.^(q)

"Or if I bring a sword^(r) against that land and say: Let a sword pass through it, so that I wipe out both man and animal from it,^(s)

even if these three men were in it, as I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"they could not deliver their sons or daughters, but they alone would be delivered.

"Or if I send a plague into that land^(t) and pour out My wrath on it with bloodshed to wipe out both man and animal from it,

even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"they could not deliver their son or daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.

"For this is what the Lord God says: How much worse will it be when I send My four^(u) devastating judgments against Jerusalem—sword, famine, dangerous animals, and plague—in order to wipe out both man and animal from it!

Even so, there will be survivors left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out. Indeed, they will come out to you, and you will observe their conduct and actions.^(v) Then you will be consoled about the devastation I have brought on Jerusalem, about all I have brought on it.

They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done what I did to it."^(w) This is the declaration of the Lord God .

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, how does the wood of the vine,^(a) that branch among the trees of the forest, compare to any other wood?

Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can anyone make a peg from it to hang things on?

In fact, it is put into the fire as fuel.^(b) The fire devours both of its ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?

Even when it was whole it could not be made into a useful object. How much less can it ever be made into anything useful when the fire has devoured it and it is charred!

"Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire as fuel, so I will give up the residents of Jerusalem.

I will turn against them.^(c) They may have escaped from the fire, but it will still consume them.^(d) And you will know that I am Yahweh when I turn against them.

I will make the land desolate because they have acted unfaithfully." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

The word of the Lord came to me again:

"Son of man, explain Jerusalem's detestable practices to her.^(a)

You are to say: This is what the Lord God says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.^(b)

As for your birth, your umbilical cord wasn't cut on the day you were born,^(c) and you weren't washed clean^[a] with water. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.^(d)

No one cared enough about you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. But you were thrown out into the open field because you were despised on the day you were born.

"I passed by you and saw you lying in your blood, and I said to you as you lay in your blood: Live! Yes, I said to you as you lay in your blood: Live!^[b]

I made you thrive^[c] like plants of the field.^(e) You grew up and matured and became very beautiful.^[d] Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were stark naked.

"Then I passed by you and saw you, and you were indeed at the age for love. So I spread the edge of My garment over you and covered your nakedness.^(f) I pledged Myself to you,^(g) entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine."^(h) This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"I washed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil.

I clothed you in embroidered cloth and provided you with leather sandals. I also wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.

I adorned you with jewelry, putting bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck.

I put a ring in your nose,⁽ⁱ⁾ earrings on your ears, and a beautiful tiara on your head.

So you were adorned with gold and silver,^(j) and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became extremely beautiful and attained royalty.

Your fame spread among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor,^(k) which I had bestowed on you." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"But you were confident in your beauty and acted like a prostitute because of your fame.^(l) You lavished your sexual favors on everyone who passed by.^(m) Your beauty became his.^[e]

You took some of your garments and made colorful high places for yourself, and you engaged in prostitution on them. These places should not have been built, and this should never have happened!^[f]

You also took your beautiful jewelry made from the gold and silver I had given you,⁽ⁿ⁾ and you made male images so that you could engage in prostitution with them.

Then you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set My oil and incense before them.

You also set before them as a pleasing aroma the food I gave you—the fine flour, oil, and honey that I fed you.^(o) That is what happened." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"You even took your sons and daughters you bore to Me and sacrificed them to these images as food.^(p) Wasn't your prostitution enough?

You slaughtered My children and gave them up when you passed them through the fire^(q) to the images.

In all your detestable practices and acts of prostitution, you did not remember the days of your youth^(r) when you were stark naked and lying in your blood.

"Then after all your evil—Woe, woe to you!"—the declaration of the Lord God —

"you built yourself a mound and made yourself an elevated place in every square.^(s)

You built your elevated place at the head of every street^(t) and turned your beauty into a detestable thing. You spread your legs to everyone who passed by and increased your prostitution.

You engaged in promiscuous acts with Egyptian men, your well-endowed neighbors, and increased your prostitution^(u) to provoke Me to anger.

"Therefore, I stretched out My hand against you and reduced your provisions. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the Philistine women,^(v) who were embarrassed by your indecent behavior.

Then you engaged in prostitution with the Assyrian men because you were not satisfied.^(w) Even though you did this with them, you were still not satisfied.

So you extended your prostitution to Chaldea,^(x) the land of merchants, but you were not even satisfied with this!

"How your heart was inflamed with lust"—the declaration of the Lord God —"when you did all these things, the acts of a brazen prostitute,

building your mound at the head of every street and making your elevated place in every square. But you were unlike a prostitute because you scorned payment.^(y)

You adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband!

Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from all around for your sexual favors.

So you were the opposite of other women in your acts of prostitution; no one solicited you. When you paid a fee instead of one being paid to you, you were the opposite.

"Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord !

This is what the Lord God says: Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness exposed by your acts of prostitution with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols and the blood of your children that you gave to them,^(z)

I am therefore going to gather all the lovers you pleased^(aa)—all those you loved as well as all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose your nakedness^(ab) to them so they see you completely naked.

I will judge you the way adulteresses and those who shed blood are judged.^(ac) Then I will bring about your bloodshed in wrath and jealousy.^(ad)

I will hand you over to them, and they will level your mounds and tear down your elevated places. They will strip off your clothes,^(ae) take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you stark naked.

They will bring a mob against you^(af) to stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.

Then they will burn down your houses and execute judgments against you in the sight of many women. I will stop you from being a prostitute,^(ag) and you will never again pay fees for lovers.

So I will satisfy My wrath against you,^(ah) and My jealousy will turn away from you. Then I will be silent and no longer angry.

Because you did not remember the days^(ai) of your youth but enraged Me with all these things, I will also bring your actions down on your own head."^(aj) This is the declaration of the Lord God . "Haven't you committed immoral acts in addition to all your detestable practices?

"Look, everyone who uses proverbs will say this proverb about you: Like mother, like daughter.

You are the daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and children. You are the sister of your sisters,^(ak) who despised their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.^(al)

Your older sister was Samaria,^(am) who lived with her daughters to the north of you, and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to the south of you.

Didn't you walk in their ways and do their detestable practices? It was only a short time before you behaved more corruptly than they did.^[g](an)

"As I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"your sister Sodom and her daughters have not behaved as you and your daughters have.^(ao)

Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, plenty of food,^(ap) and comfortable security, but didn't support the poor and needy.

They were haughty and did detestable things before Me, so I removed them when I saw this.^[h](aq)

But Samaria did not commit even half your sins. You have multiplied your detestable practices beyond theirs and made your sisters appear righteous by all the detestable things you have committed.

You must also bear your disgrace, since you have been an advocate for your sisters. For they appear more righteous than you because of your sins, which you committed more abhorrently than they did. So you also, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous.

"I will restore their fortunes,^(ar) the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and those of Samaria and her daughters. I will also restore^[i] your fortunes among them,^(as)

so you will bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you did when you comforted them.^(at)

As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former state. You and your daughters will also return to your former state.

Didn't you treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn when you were proud,

before your wickedness was exposed? It was like the time you were scorned by the daughters of Aram^[j](au) and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines—those who treated you with contempt from every side.

You yourself must bear the consequences of your indecency and detestable practices"^(av)—this is the Lord 's declaration.

"For this is what the Lord God says: I will deal with you according to what you have done, since you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.^(aw)

But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.^(ax)

Then you will remember your ways^(ay) and be ashamed when you^[k] receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant.

I will establish My covenant with you,^(az) and you will know that I am Yahweh,

so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed,^(ba) and never open your mouth again because of your disgrace."^(bb) This is the declaration of the Lord God .

The word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.^(a)

You are to say: This is what the Lord God says: A great eagle with great wings,^(b) long pinions, and full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.^(c)

He plucked off its topmost shoot, brought it to the land of merchants, and set it in a city of traders.

Then he took some of the land's seed and put it in a fertile field;^(d) he set it like a willow,^(e) a plant^[a] by abundant waters.

It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height with its branches turned toward him,^(f) yet its roots stayed under it. So it became a vine, produced branches, and sent out shoots.

But there was another great eagle with great wings and thick plumage. And this vine bent its roots toward him! It stretched out its branches to him from its planting bed,^(g) so that he might water it.

It had been planted in a good field by abundant waters in order to produce branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.

You are to say: This is what the Lord God says: Will it flourish? Will he not tear out its roots^(h) and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels? All its fresh leaves will wither! Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots.

Even though it is planted, will it flourish? Won't it completely wither when the east wind strikes it?⁽ⁱ⁾ It will wither on the bed where it sprouted."

The word of the Lord came to me:

"Now say to that rebellious house:^(j) Don't you know what these things mean? Tell them: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and officials,^(k) and brought them back with him to Babylon.

He took one of the royal family^(l) and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath.^(m) Then he took away the leading men of the land,

so the kingdom might be humble and not exalt itself⁽ⁿ⁾ but might keep his covenant in order to endure.

However, this king revolted against him^(o) by sending his ambassadors to Egypt so they might give him horses and a large army.^(p) Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still escape?

"As I live"—this is the declaration of the Lord God —"he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne,^(q) whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke.

Pharaoh will not help him with his great army and vast horde in battle,^(r) when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives.

He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. He did all these things even though he gave his hand in pledge.^(s) He will not escape!"

Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: "As I live, I will bring down on his head My oath that he despised and My covenant that he broke.

I will spread My net over him,^(t) and he will be caught in My snare.^(u) I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there for the treachery he committed against Me.^(v)

All the fugitives^[b] among his troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every direction of the wind.^(w) Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken."

This is what the Lord God says: I will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and plant it.^(x) I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high towering mountain.

I will plant it on Israel's high mountain^(y) so that it may bear branches, produce fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it,^(z) taking shelter in the shade of its branches.

Then all the trees of the field will know that I am Yahweh. I bring down the tall tree, and make the low tree tall.^(aa) I cause the green tree to wither and make the withered tree thrive.^(ab) I, Yahweh, have spoken and I will do it.^(ac)

The word of the Lord came to me:

"What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel: The fathers eat sour grapes,^(a) and the children's teeth are set on edge?^(b)

As I live"—this is the declaration of the Lord God —"you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.^(c)

Look, every life belongs to Me.^(d) The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to Me. The person who sins is the one who will die.^(e)

"Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:

He does not eat at the mountain shrines^(f) or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife^(g) or come near a woman during her menstrual impurity.^(h)

He doesn't oppress anyone⁽ⁱ⁾ but returns his collateral to the debtor.^(j) He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry^(k) and covers the naked with clothing.

He doesn't lend at interest or for profit^(l) but keeps his hand from wrongdoing and carries out true justice between men.^(m)

He follows My statutes and keeps My ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live."⁽ⁿ⁾ This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"Now suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood^(o) and does any of these things,

though the father has done none of them. Indeed, when the son eats at the mountain shrines and defiles his neighbor's wife,

and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he raises his eyes to the idols, commits detestable acts,^(p)

and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these detestable acts, he will certainly die. His blood will be on him.^(q)

"Now suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do likewise.

He does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife.

He doesn't oppress anyone, hold collateral, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.

He keeps his hand from harming the poor, not taking interest or profit on a loan. He practices My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a person will not die for his father's iniquity. He will certainly live.

"As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity because he practiced fraud, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.^(r)

But you may ask, ‘Why doesn't the son suffer punishment for the father's iniquity?'^(s) Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will certainly live.

The person who sins is the one who will die.^(t) A son won't suffer punishment for the father's iniquity, and a father won't suffer punishment for the son's iniquity.^(u) The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him,^(v) and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.^(w)

"Now if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed,^(x) keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die.

None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him.^(y) He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.^(z)

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?"^(aa) This is the declaration of the Lord God . "Instead, don't I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?

But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness^(ab) and practices iniquity, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered.^(ac) He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

"But you say, ‘The Lord's way isn't fair.'^(ad) Now listen, house of Israel: Is it My way that is unfair? Instead, isn't it your ways that are unfair?

When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has practiced.

But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.

He will certainly live because he thought it over and turned from all the transgressions he had committed; he will not die.

But the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord's way isn't fair.' Is it My ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn't it your ways that are unfair?

"Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways."^(ae) This is the declaration of the Lord God . "Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so they will not be a stumbling block that causes your punishment.

Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.^(af) Why should you die, house of Israel?

For I take no pleasure in anyone's death." This is the declaration of the Lord God . "So repent and live!