Jezekiel 20
1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, on the fifteenth day of the month, there came men of the elders of the house of Israel to enquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.
In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
3 Son of man, speak to the elders of the house of Israel, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; Are you come to enquire of me? [As] I live, I will not be enquired of by you, says the Lord.
“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to enquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be enquired of by you.”’
4 Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities of their fathers:
“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
5 and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; From the day that I chose the house of Israel, and became known to the seed of the house of Jacob, and was known to them in the land of Egypt, and helped them with my hand, saying, I am the Lord your God;
Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God;’
6 in that day I helped them with my hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into the land which I prepared for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is abundant beyond every land.
in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
7 And I said to them, Let every one cast away the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the devices of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
8 But they revolted from me, and would not listen to me: they cast not away the abominations of their eyes, and forsook not the devices of Egypt: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my wrath upon them in the midst of Egypt.
“‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
9 But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they are, amongst whom I was made known to them in their sight, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations amongst which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10 And I brought them into the wilderness.
So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11 And I gave them my commandments, and made known to them mine ordinances, all which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them.
I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them.
12 And I gave them my sabbaths, that they should be for a sign between me and them, that they should know that I am the Lord that sanctify 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 who sanctifies them.
13 And I said to the house of Israel in the wilderness, Walk you in my commandments: but they walked not [in them], and they rejected mine ordinances, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them; and they grievously profaned my sabbaths: and I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14 But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned before the Gentiles, before whose eyes I brought them out.
But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
15 But I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness once for all, that I would not bring them into the land which I gave them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is sweeter than all lands:
Moreover also I swore to 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 glory of all lands,
16 because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my commandments, but profaned my sabbaths, and went after the imaginations of their hearts.
because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.
17 Yet mine eyes spared them, so as [not] to destroy them utterly, and I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.
Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18 And I said to their children in the wilderness, Walk not you in the customs of your fathers, and keep not their ordinances, and have no fellowship with their practices, nor defile yourselves [with them].
I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
19 I [am] the Lord your God; walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;
I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.
20 and hallow my sabbaths, and let them be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
21 But they provoked me, and their children walked not in my commandments, and they took no heed to mine ordinances to do them, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them, and they profaned my sabbaths: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to accomplish mine anger upon them.
“‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
22 But I wrought so that my name might not be at all profaned before the Gentiles; and I brought them out in their sight.
Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
23 I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them amongst the Gentiles, [and] disperse them in the countries;
Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them amongst the nations and disperse them through the countries,
24 because they kept not mine ordinances, and rejected my commandments, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes went after the imaginations of their fathers.
because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
25 So I gave them commandments [that were] not good, and ordinances in which they should not live.
Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live.
26 And I will defile them by their [own] decrees, when I pass through upon every one that opens the womb, that I may destroy them.
I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’
27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord: Hitherto have your fathers provoked me in their trespasses in which they transgressed against me.
“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
28 Whereas I brought them into the land concerning which I lifted up mine hand to give it them; and they looked upon every high hill, and every shady tree, and they sacrificed there to their gods, and offered there sweet smelling savour, and there they poured out their drink-offerings.
For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to 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 they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings.
29 And I said to them, What is Abama, that you go in there? and they called its name Abama, until this day.
Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’
30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord, Do you pollute yourselves with the iniquities of your fathers, and do you go a-whoring after their abominations,
“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?
31 and [do you pollute yourselves] with the first fruits of your gifts, in the offerings wherewith you pollute yourselves in all your imaginations, until this day; and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, says the Lord, I will not answer you, neither shall this thing come upon your spirit.
When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be enquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you!
32 And it shall not be as you say, We will be as the nations, and as the tribes of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.
“‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’
33 Therefore, [as] I live, says the Lord, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath:
As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.
34 I will bring you out from the nations, and will take you out of the lands wherein you were dispersed, with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath.
I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.
35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and will plead with you there face to face.
I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgement with you face to face.
36 As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you, says the Lord.
Just as I entered into judgement with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgement with you,” says the Lord GOD.
37 And I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will bring you in by number.
“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 And I will separate from amongst you the ungodly and the revolters; for I will lead them forth out of their place of sojourning, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord, [even] the Lord.
I will purge out from amongst you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into Eretz-Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
39 And [as to] you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Put away each one his [evil] practices, and hereafter if you listen to me, then shall you no more profane my holy name by your gifts and by devices.
“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.
40 For upon my holy mountain, on the high mountain, says the Lord, [even] the Lord, there shall all the house of Israel serve me for ever: and there will I accept [you], and there will I have respect to your first fruits, and the first fruits of your offerings, in all your holy things.
For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
41 I will accept you with a sweet smelling savour, when I bring you out from the nations, and take you out of the countries wherein you have been dispersed; and I will be sanctified amongst you in the sight of the nations.
I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
42 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have brought you into the land of Israel, into the land concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers.
You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into Eretz-Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
43 And you shall there remember your ways, and your devices wherewith you defiled yourselves; and you shall bewail yourselves for all your wickedness.
There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.
44 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have done thus to you, that my name may not be profaned in your evil ways, and in your corrupt devices, says the Lord.
You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”
45 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
46 Son of man, set your face against Thaeman, and look towards Darom, and prophesy against the chief forest of Nageb,
“Son of man, set your face towards the south, and proclaim towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.
47 and you shall say to the forest of Nageb, Hear the word of the Lord; thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Behold, I [will] kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour in you every green tree, and every dry tree: the flame that is kindled shall not be quenched, and every face shall be scorched with it from the south to the north.
Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burnt by it.
48 And all flesh shall know that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”
49 And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?
Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”
