Study Desk

"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!

"Now, lament for the princes of Israel^(a)

and say: What was your mother? A lioness! She lay down among the lions; she reared her cubs among the young lions.

She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion.^(b) After he learned to tear prey, he devoured people.

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)

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.

He prowled among the lions,^(d) and he became a young lion. After he learned to tear prey, he devoured people.

He devastated their strongholds^[a] and destroyed their cities. The land and everything in it shuddered at the sound of his roaring.

Then the nations from the surrounding provinces set out against him.^(e) They spread their net over him; he was caught in their pit.

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)

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.

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.

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.

Now it is planted in the wilderness,^(l) in a dry and thirsty land.

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."

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.

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"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 .

"Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.^(c)

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)

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)

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)

"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.

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.

"So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.^(m)

Then I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.⁽ⁿ⁾

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.

"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)

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.

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—

because they rejected My ordinances, profaned My Sabbaths, and did not follow My statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.^(u)

But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.^(v)