Ezekiel 20
1 On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of the elders of Israel came to ask advice from the Lord, and they sat down with me.
And it came to pass in the seventh year in the fifth month, on the tent of the month, that there came in men of the elders of Israel to enquire of Yahweh, —and they sat before me.
2 Then a message from the Lord came to me, saying,
Then came the word of Yahweh unto me saying: -
3 “Son of man, tell these elders of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask my advice? As I live, I'm not going to answer you, declares the Lord God.
Son of man Speak thou with the elders of Israel and say unto them, Thus, saith My Lord Yahweh, To enquire of me, are ye coming in? As I live, verily I will not be enquired of by you, Declareth My Lord Yahweh.
4 Are you going to condemn them—will you do that, son of man? Remind them about the disgusting things their forefathers did,
Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, O son of man? The abominations of their fathers, let them know:
5 and then tell them that this is what the Lord God says: At the time I chose Israel, I held up my hand and made a solemn promise to Jacob's descendants and revealed myself to them when they were in Egypt. I held up my hand and told them, ‘I am the Lord your God.’
So then thou shalt say unto them Thus, saith My Lord Yahweh, In the day when I made choice of Israel, then lifted I up my hand. to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them, in the land of Egypt, - Yea I lifted up my hand to them, saying, I Yahweh, am your God.
6 I promised them on that day to lead them out of Egypt and take them to a country that I had chosen for them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country.
In that day, lifted I up my hand to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, —into a land that I had looked out for them flowing with milk and honey, The beauty, it was of all lands,
7 I told them: ‘All of you have to get rid of your disgusting pagan images. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’
And I said unto them. Every one the abomination of his eyes, cast ye away, And with the manufactured gods of Egypt, let it not be that ye defile yourselves: I, Yahweh, am your God.
8 But they rebelled against me and wouldn't do what I told them. None of them got rid of their disgusting pagan images, and they didn't give up worshiping the idols of Egypt. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in Egypt.
But they rebelled against me And were not willing to hearken unto me, Every man the abominations of their eyes, they cast not away, And the manufactured gods of Egypt, forsook they not; Therefore spake I of pouring out mine indignation upon them to bring mine anger to an end against them, in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 But I did act so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations living near them who had seen me reveal myself to Israel by leading them out of Egypt.
Howbeit I wrought with effect, for the sake of mine own Name, that it might not be profaned—before the eyes of the nations in whose midst they were, —before whose eyes I made myself known unto them, by bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10 So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness.
Therefore brought I them forth out of the land of Egypt, —and caused them to come into the desert.
11 There I gave them my laws and explained to them my regulations so that those who kept them would live.
Then gave I unto them my statutes, And my regulations, caused I them to know, - By the which the man that doeth them shall live.
12 I also gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, so that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord who makes them holy.
Moreover also my sabbaths, gave I unto them, to become a sign betwixt me and them, —that it might be known that, I, Yahweh, was hallowing them.
13 But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert, refusing to observe my laws and rejecting my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them and wipe them out there in the desert.
But the house of Israel, rebelled against me, in the desert, In my statutes, walked they not, And my regulations, they rejected By the which the man, that doeth them, shall live, My sabbaths also, they profaned exceedingly. Therefore spake I of pouring out mine indignation upon them in the desert, to make an end of them.
14 But I still acted for them so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
Howbeit I wrought with effect for the sake of mine own Name, —that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations, in whose eyes I had brought them forth.
15 So I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I wouldn't take them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country—
Yet even I lifted up my hand to them. in the desert, — That I would not bring them into the land which I had given to them flowing with milk and honey, The beauty, it was. of all lands:
16 because they repeatedly rejected my regulations, refused to observe my laws, and violated my Sabbaths, and because they chose to continue worshiping idols.
Because my regulations, they had rejected. And as for my statutes, they had not walked therein, My sabbaths also, had they profaned; For after their manufactured gods, their heart had been going.
17 Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.
Nevertheless mine eye threw a shield over them that they should not be destroyed; So I made not of them a full end in the desert.
18 I told their children in the desert: ‘Don't do what your fathers told you to do. Don't follow their practices. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping their idols.
But I said unto their children in the desert, In the statutes of your fathers, let it not be that ye walk, And their regulations, let it not be that ye observe, — And with their manufactured gods, let it not be that ye defile yourselves.
19 I am the Lord your God. Do what I tell you to do. Follow my regulations and make sure to practice them.
I, Yahweh, am your God, In my statutes, walk ye, — And my regulations, observe ye and do them;
20 Keep my Sabbaths holy so they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may acknowledge that I am the Lord your God.’
My sabbaths also, hallow ye, — And they shall become a sign betwixt me and you, That it may be known that I Yahweh am your God.
21 But their children also rebelled against me. They didn't follow my laws and didn't keep my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in the desert.
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me, In my statutes, walked they not, And my regulations, observed they not to do them Wherein the man who shall do them shall live, My sabbaths, they profaned. Therefore spake I of pouring out mine indignation upon them to bring mine anger to an end against them. in the desert.
22 But I held back and did what I did so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
Howbeit I withdrew my hand, and wrought with effect for the sake of mine own Name, —that it should not be profaned before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them forth:
23 However, I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I was going to scatter them among the various countries of different nations.
Even, I, lifted up my hand to them in the desert, — That I would disperse them throughout the nations, And scatter them throughout the lands;
24 For they didn't keep my regulations, instead they rejected my laws and violated my Sabbaths, always looking to worship their fathers' idols.
Because my regulations, had they not done And my statutes, they had rejected, My sabbaths also, they had profaned, - And after the manufactured gods of their fathers, were their eyes turned.
25 I also let them follow the regulations they wanted that weren't good; laws that wouldn't help them live.
I myself, indeed, suffered them to walk in statutes which were not good, — And regulations in which they could not live.
26 I let them make themselves unclean by their offerings to idols, including their firstborn sons. I allowed this to happen so that they would be so appalled that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord.
Yea I let them defile themselves with their gifts, when they caused every firstborn to pass through the fire, -. that I might make them desolate. To the end they might know that, I, am Yahweh.
27 So, son of man, tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: You're acting in exactly the same way your forefathers insulted me by being unfaithful to me.
Therefore speak thou unto the house of Israel Son of man, and say unto them, Thus saith My Lord Yahweh, — Yet further in this, did your fathers insult me, by the treachery wherewith they dealt treacherously against me;
28 After I led them into the land that I had promised to give them, on any high hill or under any leafy tree they saw there they offered their pagan sacrifices and presented offerings to idols that made me angry, burning their sweet-smelling incense and pouring out their drink offerings.
When I brought them into the land as to which I had lifted up mine hand to give it them, then beheld they every high hill and every tangled tree And offered there their sacrifices, And presented there, their provoking gift, And placed there, their satisfying odour, And poured out there, their drink- offerings.
29 So I asked them: ‘What's this high place you're going to?’ (Even today it's still called Bamah.)
Therefore said I unto them, What! a high-place, whereinto ye are entering? And so the name thereof hath been called High-place, until this day.
30 Therefore tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean like your forefathers, turning yourselves into prostitutes, acting the way they did with the same disgusting practices?
Therefore say thou unto the house of Israel. Thus saith My Lord Yahweh, Is it in the way of your fathers, ye are defiling yourselves, - And after their abominations, that ye are committing lewdness?
31 When you present your offerings to idols and sacrifice your children in the fire, you continue to make yourselves unclean with all your idols right up until now. So should I give you advice when you ask me, people of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I'm not going to answer you!
Yea when ye lift up your gifts When ye cause your children to pass through the fire, Ye are defiling yourselves unto all your manufactured gods unto this day, And shall, I, be enquired of by you O house of Israel? As I live, Declareth My Lord Yahweh, Surely I will not be enquired of by you.
32 When you say to yourselves, ‘Let's be like the other nations, like people in other countries who worship idols made of wood and stone,’ what you're thinking is never going to happen.
And as for that which is rising up on your spirit, it shall, not at all come to pass, In that ye are saying Let us be like the nations Like the families of the lands, By ministering unto Wood and Stone!
33 As I live, declares the Lord God, I will rule you with all my strength and power, and in my anger.
As I live, Declareth My Lord Yahweh, Surely, with a strong hand and With an outstretched arm and With outpoured indignation, Will I be king over you;
34 With all my strength and power, and in my anger, I will lead you out from among the nations and gather you from the countries where you were scattered.
And I will bring you forth from among the peoples, And gather you together out of the lands, throughout which ye have been dispersed, With a strong hand and With an outstretched arm, and With outpoured indignation;
35 I will bring you before me for judgment face to face in the desert of the nations.
And I will bring you into the desert of the peoples, —and will contend with you there, face to face.
36 In the same way I judged your forefathers in the Egyptian desert after I'd led them out of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Lord God.
Just as I contended with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, So will I contend with you, Declareth My Lord Yahweh;
37 I will decide about you as you pass under the rod and see if you kept our solemn agreement.
And I will cause you to pass under the rod And will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
38 I will get rid of those of you who rebel against me, those who sin against me. I will lead them out of the country where they're currently living, but they won't enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
And will sever from you those who are rebelling and those who are transgressing against me, Out of the land of their sojournings, will I bring them forth, Yet upon the soil of Israel, shall they not enter, So shall ye know that, I, am Yahweh.
39 This is what the Lord God says to you, you people of Israel: All of you, go ahead and worship your idols. But after that if you don't listen to me you won't continue to disgrace me with your pagan offerings and idols.
But as for you, O house of Israel Thus, saith my Lord. Yahweh, Go. serve every man his own manufactured gods, Yet afterwards, surely Ye shall be ready to hearken unto me, — And my holy name, shall ye profane no more, With your gifts, and With your manufactured gods.
40 For there on my holy mountain, Israel's high mountain, declares the Lord God, every single person in the whole country of Israel will worship me. That's where I'll accept them and will ask for your offerings and your best gifts, together with all your holy sacrifices.
For in my holy mountain. In the mountain of the height of Israel, Declareth, My Lord Yahweh, There shall all the house of Israel serve me, all of it, in the land, There will I accept them, and There, will I seek your heave-offerings and the firstfruits of your gifts, in all your holy things:
41 When I bring you back from the nations and gather you from countries where you were scattered, I will accept you as a suitable offering to me. I will reveal my holiness through you so the nations can see.
As a satisfying odour, will I accept you, Through my bringing you forth from among the peoples, And gathering you out of the lands, throughout which ye have been dispersed; Thus will I hallow myself in you before the eyes of the nations.
42 Then you will acknowledge that I am the Lord when I bring you back to the country of Israel, the land that I promised to give your forefathers.
So shall ye know that I am Yahweh, Through my bringing you in unto the soil of Israel, Unto the land as to which I lifted up my hand, to give it unto your fathers.
43 That's where you will remember your bad ways and everything you've done to make yourselves unclean, and you will hate yourselves for the evil things you did.
Then shall ye call to mind. there, your own ways and all your own doings, wherewith ye had defiled yourselves, - And ye shall become loathsome in your own sight, for all your wickednesses, which ye have done.
44 Then you people of Israel will acknowledge that I am the Lord, because I have treated you well because of who I am, and not because of your evil ways and terrible things you've done, declares the Lord God.”
So shall ye know that, I, am Yahweh, Through my dealing effectively with you, for the sake of mine own Name, - Not according to your own wicked ways. Nor according to your corrupted doings. O house of Israel, Declareth My Lord Yahweh.
45 Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,
Then came the word of Yahweh unto me. saying:
46 “Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
Son of man Set thy face the way towards Teman, And drop thy word against the land of the sun, And prophesy unto the forest of the field of the South;
47 Tell the forest of the Negev: Listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am going to set you on fire, and it will burn up all your trees, both those that are living and those that are dead. The blaze won't be put out, and everything from the north to the south will be burned.
And thou shalt say to the forest of the South Hear the word of Yahweh, — Thus saith My Lord Yahweh-Behold me! kindling in thee a fire. And it shall devour in thee every moist tree and every dry tree. The spreading flame shall not be quenched, Then shall be scorched thereby all faces from south to north;
48 Then everyone will recognize that it was me, the Lord, who started the fire, and it won't be put out.”
And all flesh shall see that I. Yahweh have kindled it, - It shall not be quenched.
49 But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”
Then said I, Ah! My Lord Yahweh: They are saying of me, Is not he a putter forth of parables?
