Ezekiel

And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

1It was the seventh year, the fifth month, the tenth day of the month. Some of the leaders of Israel came to ask the LORD a question, and they sat down in front of me.

2Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

2Then the LORD gave me a message. He said:

3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

3"Son of man, speak to the leaders of Israel. Tell them the Lord GOD says this: Have you come to ask me a question? As surely as I live, I will not answer you, says the Lord GOD.

4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

4Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Then make them face the disgusting things their ancestors did.

5And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;

5Tell them the Lord GOD says this: On the day I chose Israel, I made a solemn promise to the family of Jacob. I showed them who I was while they were in Egypt. I raised my hand and swore to them, 'I am the LORD your God.'

Note"Lifted up mine hand" was the old way of saying someone raised a hand and swore a solemn promise, like taking an oath in court.

6In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

6On that day I swore I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them. It is a land full of milk and honey, the finest land of all.

7Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

7I said to them, 'Every one of you, throw away the disgusting idols you are staring at. Do not make yourselves unclean with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'

8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

8But they turned against me and would not listen. Not one of them threw away the disgusting idols he stared at, and they did not leave the idols of Egypt behind. So I decided to pour out my anger on them there in Egypt.

9But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

9But I acted for the sake of my own name, so it would not be dragged down in front of the nations they lived among. Those nations had watched me show myself to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.

10Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

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

11And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

11I gave them my rules and taught them my decisions. Anyone who obeys them will live by them.

12Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

12I also gave them my Sabbath days as a sign between me and them. It showed that I am the LORD, the one who sets them apart as mine.

13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

13But the people of Israel turned against me in the desert. They did not follow my rules, and they threw away my decisions, though anyone who obeys them will live by them. They badly misused my Sabbath days. So I decided to pour out my anger on them in the desert and finish them off.

14But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

14But I acted for the sake of my own name, so it would not be dragged down in front of the nations that had watched me bring them out.

15Yet also I lifted up my hand unto 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;

15I also raised my hand and swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It is a land full of milk and honey, the finest land of all.

16Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

16I swore this because they threw away my decisions, refused to follow my rules, and misused my Sabbath days. Their hearts kept chasing after their idols.

17Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

17Even so, I felt pity for them and did not destroy them. I did not wipe them out in the desert.

18But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

18In the desert I said to their children, 'Do not live by the rules your parents followed. Do not keep their ways or make yourselves unclean with their idols.

19I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

19I am the LORD your God. Follow my rules, keep my decisions, and do them.

20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

20Keep my Sabbath days holy. They will be a sign between me and you, so you will know that I am the LORD your God.'

21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

21But the children turned against me too. They did not follow my rules or carefully keep my decisions, though anyone who obeys them will live by them. They misused my Sabbath days. So I decided to pour out my anger on them in the desert.

22Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

22But I held my hand back and acted for the sake of my own name, so it would not be dragged down in front of the nations that had watched me bring them out.

23I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

23I also raised my hand and swore to them in the desert that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them through many lands.

24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

24I swore this because they did not obey my decisions. They threw away my rules, misused my Sabbath days, and kept their eyes on their parents' idols.

25Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

25So I let them go their own way, following rules that were not good and ways of living that could not give them life.

26And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

26I let them be made unclean by their own offerings, when they burned their firstborn children in the fire. I did this to leave them ruined, so they would know that I am the LORD.

27Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

27So, son of man, speak to the people of Israel. Tell them the Lord GOD says this: Your ancestors insulted me in this way too, by breaking faith with me.

28For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

28I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them. But when they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered sacrifices there. They brought offerings that made me angry, burned sweet-smelling incense, and poured out their drink offerings.

29Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

29I asked them, 'What is this high place you keep going to?'" (It is still called Bamah today.)

NoteBamah is the Hebrew word for "high place." A high place was an outdoor site, often on a hill, where people offered sacrifices.

30Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

30"So say to the people of Israel: The Lord GOD says this. Are you making yourselves unclean the same way your ancestors did? Are you chasing after their disgusting idols?

31For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

31When you bring your gifts and burn your sons in the fire, you make yourselves unclean with all your idols, right up to today. So should I answer your question, people of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not answer you.

32And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

32You say, 'We want to be like the other nations, like the peoples of other lands, who serve gods made of wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen.

33As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

33As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will rule over you with a strong hand, a raised arm, and anger poured out.

34And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

34With a strong hand, a raised arm, and anger poured out, I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered.

35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

35I will bring you into a desert far from your land, and there I will put you on trial face to face.

36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

36I judged your ancestors in the desert near Egypt, and I will judge you the same way, says the Lord GOD.

37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

37I will make you pass under my shepherd's rod, and I will hold you to the terms of the covenant.

Note"Pass under the rod" comes from shepherding. A shepherd held his staff over the flock and counted the sheep one by one as they walked underneath.

38And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

38I will clear out the ones who rebel and refuse to obey me. I will bring them out of the country where they are living, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

39As for you, people of Israel, the Lord GOD says this: Go ahead, each of you, serve your idols. But afterward you will listen to me, and you will stop dragging down my holy name with your gifts and your idols.

40For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

40For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, says the Lord GOD, all the people of Israel will serve me in the land. There I will welcome them. There I will ask for your offerings, your best gifts, and all your holy sacrifices.

41I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

41When I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered, I will accept you like a sweet-smelling offering. Through you I will show the nations that I am holy.

42And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

42You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your ancestors.

43And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

43There you will remember how you lived and everything you did that made you unclean. You will hate yourselves for all the evil you have done.

44And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

44You will know that I am the LORD when I deal with you for the sake of my own name, and not as your wicked and rotten deeds deserve, people of Israel, says the Lord GOD."

45Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

45Then the LORD gave me another message. He said:

46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

46"Son of man, turn and face the south. Speak against it. Prophesy against the forest land of the south.

47And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

47Say to the southern forest: Hear the word of the LORD. The Lord GOD says this: I am about to set you on fire. It will burn up every tree in you, green ones and dry ones alike. The blaze will not be put out, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.

48And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

48Then everyone will see that I, the LORD, started this fire. It will not be put out."

49Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

49Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! People say about me, 'He is only telling riddles.'"

NoteThe KJV word "parables" here means riddles or puzzling word pictures. The people were complaining that Ezekiel's messages were hard to understand.