Ezekiel 20

1 Almost seven years [King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been captured and taken to Babylonia], on the tenth day of the fifth [of that year], some Israeli elders came to me to [if I had a message for them] from Yahweh.

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.

2 Then Yahweh gave me a message. [He said, ]

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

3 “You human, speak to the Israeli elders and say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says: [say that] you have come to ask if there is any message from me [RHQ], but [as surely] as I am alive, I will [answer you if] you ask [to tell you] anything.’

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.

4 If you are [RHQ] willing to warn them, remind them of the detestable things that their ancestors did.

Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities of their fathers:

5 Then say to them, ‘On the day that I chose [you] Israeli [to belong to me], with my hand lifted up, I made a solemn promise to your [while they were still] in Egypt. I said to them, “I am Yahweh, your God.

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;

6 I will bring you out of Egypt and lead you to a land that I have chosen for you. It is a very fertile [IDM] and (very beautiful/more beautiful than any other) land.

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.

7 Each of you must get rid of the disgusting idols that you loved [IDM], and do not defile yourselves [worshiping] those [that you saw] in Egypt. I, Yahweh your God, [am saying this to you].”’

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.

8 But they rebelled against me. They would not pay attention to me. They did not get rid of the disgusting idols they loved, and they did not reject those [that they saw] in Egypt. So because I was angry with them, I said that I would punish [MTY] them in Egypt.

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.

9 But for the sake of my own reputation, I decided to do something in order that I would not be dishonored by the people of the nations who would see it when I brought my people out of Egypt.

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, among whom I was made known to them in their sight, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.

And I brought them into the wilderness.

11 I gave them [all] my laws and decrees [DOU], in order that they would obey them, and as a result they would live [for a long time].

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.

12 Also, I established the Sabbath/rest days to be a symbol between us to show that I, Yahweh, had caused them to be set [from the other nations].

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.

13 But the Israeli people rebelled against me in the desert. They did not obey my commands [DOU]; they rejected them, even though they tell people who obey them that they will live [for a long time], and they profaned the Sabbath days. So I said that I would get rid of them in the desert, and that would show that I was very angry with them.

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.

14 But [again], for the sake of my own reputation, I decided to do something else in order that I would not be dishonored/despised by [the people of] the nations who had seen me bring my people out of Egypt.

But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned before the Gentiles, before whose eyes I brought them out.

15 I lifted up my hand and solemnly declared to them in the desert that I would not take them into the land that [had promised to] give them, a land that was very fertile [IDM] and (very beautiful/more beautiful than any other) land.

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:

16 The reason that I promised that was because they rejected and disobeyed all my laws [DOU] and (desecrated/refused to rest on) the Sabbath days. [They did that] because they [SYN] were devoted [worshiping] their idols.

because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my commandments, but profaned my sabbaths, and went after the imaginations of their hearts.

17 But, I still pitied them and did not get rid of [all of] them in the desert.

Yet mine eyes spared them, so as [not] to destroy them utterly, and I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 I said to their children, ‘Do not do the things that your parents continually did, or defile yourselves [worshiping] their idols.

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].

19 I am Yahweh your God. Carefully obey [DOU] my laws and commands.

I [am] the Lord your God; walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;

20 Respect my Sabbath days, in order that by doing that [PRS], it will remind you that you belong to me, Yahweh your God.’

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.

21 But their children [also] rebelled against me. They did not carefully obey my laws [DOU], [even though] the people who obey them will live [for a long time]; and they profaned the Sabbath days. So again I said that by getting rid of them in the desert, I would show that I was very angry with them.

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.

22 But I did not do that [IDM]. [Again, ] for the sake of my own reputation, I [decided to] do something in order that I would not be dishonored/despised by [the people of] the nations who had seen it when I brought my people out [of Egypt].

But I wrought so that my name might not be at all profaned before the Gentiles; and I brought them out in their sight.

23 I lifted up my hand and solemnly declared to them in the desert that I would cause them to be scattered among [many] nations [DOU],

I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles, [and] disperse them in the countries;

24 because they had rejected and disobeyed all my laws [DOU] and desecrated the Sabbath days, and they had eagerly [to worship] the idols that their [had worshiped].

because they kept not mine ordinances, and rejected my commandments, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes went after the imaginations of their fathers.

25 I also allowed them to obey laws that were not good, and laws that would not enable them to live [a long time if they obeyed them].

So I gave them commandments [that were] not good, and ordinances in which they should not live.

26 I allowed them to become unacceptable to me by their sacrificing their firstborn children in the fire. I did that in order that they would be horrified, and in order that they would know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].

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.

27 Therefore, you human, speak to the Israeli people. Say this to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says [to you]: This is one way that your ancestors dishonored me by turning away from me.

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.

28 After I brought them into the land that I had solemnly promised to give to them, every time that they saw a high hill or a [big] green tree, they offered [to idols] there. They made offerings to them, and that caused me to become angry. They presented to those idols their fragrant burning incense, and poured out wine offerings to them.

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 savor, and there they poured out their drink-offerings.

29 [Then] I asked them, “Who [RHQ] [told you to worship at] a shrine like this, here on this hilltop?” So they are still called “hilltop shrines”.’

And I said to them, What is Abama, that you go in there? and they called its name Abama, until this day.

30 Therefore, say this to the Israeli people [MTY]: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: “You are going to [RHQ] defile yourselves like your ancestors did by strongly [to worship] their disgusting [statues of idols].

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,

31 When you sacrifice your children in the fire, you are still continuing to make yourselves unacceptable to me [worshiping] your many idols. You Israeli people, should I allow you to [what I want you to do]? I, Yahweh the Lord, say that [as surely] as I am alive, [I will not answer] if you inquire.'

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.

32 You say, ‘We want to be like the [other] nations, like the [other] people-groups in the world. We want to [idols made of] wood and [like they do].’ But what you want will never happen.

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.

33 [I], Yahweh your Lord, say that [as surely] as I am alive, I will use my great power [DOU, MTY] to rule over you, and show that I am angry with you.

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:

34 With my great power I will gather you from the places to which you have been scattered,

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.

35 and I will bring you to a [that is surrounded] by [other] nations. There, while I am looking at you, I will judge you.

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and will plead with you there face to face.

36 I will punish you, like I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt.

As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you, says the Lord.

37 I will count you [MTY] as you walk by, and I will force you to obey the agreement that I made with you.

And I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will bring you in by number.

38 I will get rid of those people among you who rebel [DOU] against me. Although I will bring them out [Babylonia], where they are now living, they will not enter Israel. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].

And I will separate from among 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.

39 As for you Israeli people [MTY], this is what [I], Yahweh the Lord, say: 'Go and worship your idols now [IRO], each of you. But [afterwards], you will [surely] heed me and no longer dishonor me [MTY] by taking gifts to your idols.

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.

40 [I], Yahweh your Lord, declare that there on my sacred hill, [Zion], that high hill in Israel, you will bring gifts to me, and I will accept them. I will require you to bring to me gifts and offerings there, and your sacrifices that are dedicated to me.

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.

41 When I bring you out from the [other] nations [DOU] to which you have been scattered, I will accept [as though you were] fragrant incense. By doing that, I will show the people of other nations that I have set you apart to belong to me.

I will accept you with a sweet smelling savor, 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 among you in the sight of the nations.

42 Then, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I solemnly promised with my hand lifted up that I would give to your ancestors, you will know that I, Yahweh, [have done it].

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.

43 And [in Israel] you will remember how you conducted your lives [previously, you will remember] the actions that caused you to become unacceptable to me, and you will hate/despise yourselves for all the evil things that you have done.

And you shall there remember your ways, and your devices wherewith you defiled yourselves; and you shall bewail yourselves for all your wickedness.

44 When I act toward you Israeli people to protect my reputation, and not [just] because of your evil deeds and corrupt behavior, you Israeli people will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].' That is what Yahweh the Lord declares.”

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.

45 Yahweh gave me another message. He said,

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

46 “You human, turn toward the south. Preach about what will happen to that dry land, to the forest there.

Son of man, set your face against Thaeman, and look toward Darom, and prophesy against the chief forest of Nageb,

47 Say to the forest in the [part of Israel]: 'Listen to this message that Yahweh the Lord is saying [about you]: “I am about to start a fire in your midst, and it will burn up all your trees, [both] the green trees and the withered/dry trees. Nothing will extinguish the blazing flames. And the fire will scorch the faces of everyone [who lives] in that area, from the south to the north.

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.

48 Everyone will see that it is I, Yahweh, who have lit this fire, and no one will [be able to] put it out.” '”

And all flesh shall know that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Then I said, “Yahweh, my Lord, [when I tell things like this to people, they do not believe me]. They say about me, ‘He is only telling parables.’”

And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?