< Ezekiel 20 >

1 It happened in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.
2 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Then came the word of Jehovah to me, saying:
3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, 'Thus says the LORD: "Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the LORD, I will not be inquired of by you."'
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Punish them, punish them, son of man, cause them to know the abominations of their fathers, and say to them,
5 and tell them, 'Thus says the LORD: "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';
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: At the time when I chose Israel, I lifted up my hand to the race of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I lifted up my hand to them, and said, I am Jehovah, your God.
6 in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth 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.
At that time I lifted up my hand to them, that I would bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, into a land which I had looked out for them, flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.
7 I said to them, 'Cast away every man the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.'
And I said to them, Cast ye away from you every one the abomination of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt! I am Jehovah, your God.
8 But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me; they each didn't throw away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken to me; they did not cast away every one the abominations of his eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said that I would pour out my fury upon them, that I would accomplish mine anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
But I acted for my name's sake, that it might not be polluted in the sight of the nations, in the midst of whom they were; and before their eyes I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10 "'"So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
And I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and led them into the wilderness.
11 I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them.
And I gave them my statutes, and made known to them my laws, through which the man that keepeth them shall live.
12 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.
Also I gave them my sabbaths, that they might be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I, Jehovah, sanctify them.
13 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 keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the desert; they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my laws, through which the man that keepeth them shall live, and my sabbaths they greatly polluted. Then I said that I would pour out my fury upon them in the desert, to consume them.
14 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.
But I acted for my name's sake, that it might not be polluted before the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.
15 "'"Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given to them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the most beautiful of all lands;
Yet I lifted up my hand to them in the desert, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, the beauty of all lands;
16 because they rejected my ordinances, and didn't walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
because they despised my laws, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.
17 Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn't destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.
Nevertheless mine eye spared them, so that I did not destroy them; neither did I make an end of them in the desert.
18 "'"I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.
And I said to their sons in the desert, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols!
19 I am the LORD your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them;
I am Jehovah, your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them.
20 and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'
And hallow my sabbaths, that they may be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am Jehovah, your God.
21 But the children rebelled against me; they didn't walk in my statutes, neither kept my ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; and they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
But the sons rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes, neither kept they my ordinances to do them, through which the man that doeth them shall live, and they polluted my sabbaths. Then I said that I would pour out my fury upon them, and accomplish mine anger upon them in the desert.
22 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 forth.
Nevertheless I held back my hand, and acted for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.
23 Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;
I also lifted up my hand against them in the desert, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries,
24 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.
because they did not observe mine ordinances, but despised my statutes, and polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after the idols of their fathers.
25 Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live;
Moreover I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances by which they should not live.
26 and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD."'
And I polluted them in their offerings, in that they caused every first-born child to pass through the fire, that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am Jehovah.
27 "Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, 'Thus says the LORD: "In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
Therefore speak to the house of Israel, O son of man, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Yet in this your fathers dishonored me, and trespassed against me.
28 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 also they made their pleasant aroma, and they poured out there their drink offerings.
For when I had brought them into the land concerning which I lifted up my hand, that I would give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick tree's, and there they offered their sacrifices, and there they presented their provoking oblation, and there they brought their sweet savor, and there they poured out their drink-offerings.
29 Then I said to them, 'What does the high place where you go mean?' So its name is called Bamah to this day."'
Then I said to them, What is the high place to which ye go? And it is called The High Place unto this day.
30 "Therefore tell the house of Israel, 'Thus says the LORD: "Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? And do you play the prostitute after their abominations?
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers, and do ye commit fornication according to their abominations,
31 And when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? And shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the LORD, I will not be inquired of by you;
and by offering your gifts, and causing your sons to pass through the fire, —are ye polluted with all your idols even to this day, and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you!
32 and that which comes into your mind shall 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.'
And that which cometh into your mind shall not come to pass, when ye say, “We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, worshipping wood and stone.”
33 As I live," says the LORD, "surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:
As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out will I rule over you.
34 and 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, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;
And I will bring you forth from the nations, and gather you from the countries, wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.
And I will bring you into the desert of the nations, and there will I contend with you face to face.
36 Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you," says the LORD.
Even as I contended with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so also will I contend with you, saith the Lord Jehovah.
37 "I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the LORD."
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; out of the country where they sojourn will I bring them forth, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
39 "'As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: "Go, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Go ye, serve ye every one his idols in future also, if ye will not obey me! But pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts and your idols!
40 For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel," says the LORD, "there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
For upon my holy mountain, upon the lofty mountain of Israel, there shall all the house of Israel, all that are in the land, serve me; there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first fruits of your oblations, with all things which ye consecrate to me.
41 As a pleasant aroma will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
I will accept you as a sweet savor, when I bring you forth from the nations, and gather you from the countries, wherein ye have been scattered, and will through you be honored before the eyes of the nations.
42 You shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country concerning which I lifted up my hand, that I would give it to your fathers.
43 There you shall remember your ways, and all your doings, in which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.
And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been polluted; and ye shall loathe yourselves for all your evil deeds which ye have committed.
44 You shall 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.'"
And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah.
45 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying:
46 "Son of man, set your face toward the south, and drop your word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word against the South, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;
47 and tell the forest of the South, 'Hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the LORD, "Look, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah! Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will kindle in thee a fire, which shall devour every green tree and every dry tree within thee; the fierce flame shall not be quenched, and all parts from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
48 All flesh shall see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched."'"
And all flesh shall see that I, Jehovah, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.
49 Then I said, "Ah, LORD. They say of me, 'Isn't he a speaker of parables?'"
And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah, they say of me, “Doth he not speak in parables?”

< Ezekiel 20 >