Ezekiel 20

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. Some leaders of Israel came to ask the LORD a question. 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, which is what God called me, speak to Israel's leaders. Tell them the Lord GOD says this: Have you come to ask me things? As surely as I live, I will not answer you.

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 tell them about the terrible things their fathers 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: Long ago I chose Israel. I made a promise to Jacob's family with my hand raised high. I let them know me while they lived in Egypt. I said, 'I am the LORD your God.'

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:

6That day I promised to bring them out of Egypt. I would bring them to a land I had picked out for them. It was a rich land, full of milk and honey, the best of all lands.

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 awful idols you keep looking at. Do not make yourselves dirty 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. They did not throw away those awful idols. They would not leave the idols of Egypt behind. So I said I would pour out my anger on them right 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 did not, because of my own name. I did not want my name shamed in front of the nations they lived among. Those nations had watched me bring Israel 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. I 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.

11There I gave them my rules and showed them my laws. 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 Sabbaths, my special rest days. They were a sign between me and them. They would show that I am the LORD who makes them holy.

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 Israel turned against me in the desert. They did not follow my rules. They said no to my laws, which give life to anyone who obeys them. They treated my rest days as nothing. So I said I would pour out my anger and finish them in the desert.

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 did not, because of my own name. I did not want my name shamed in front of the nations who saw 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;

15Still, I raised my hand in the desert and made a promise. I said I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It was a rich land, full of milk and honey, the best of all lands.

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

16I said this because they said no to my laws. They did not follow my rules, and they treated my rest days as nothing. Their hearts kept chasing after idols.

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

17Even so, I felt sorry for them. I did not destroy them or 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:

18But I said to their children in the desert, 'Do not live by your fathers' rules. Do not keep their laws. Do not make yourselves dirty 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 laws and do what they say.

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 special. They will be a sign between me and you. They will show you 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. They did not carefully keep my laws, which give life to anyone who obeys them. They treated my rest days as nothing. So I said I would 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. I did it because of my own name. I did not want my name shamed in front of the nations who saw 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 in the desert and made a promise. I said 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.

24This was because they did not obey my laws. They said no to my rules and treated my rest days as nothing. Their eyes kept looking at their fathers' idols.

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

25So I let them have rules that were not good. I let them have laws 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 called them unclean because of the gifts they gave. They put their firstborn children into the fire. I let this leave them empty, 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 fathers insulted me in this way too. They were not faithful to 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 promised to give them. Then they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they killed animals as gifts to idols. There they gave offerings that made me angry. They burned sweet-smelling incense and poured out drink offerings there.

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

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

NoteBamah is a Hebrew word that means "high place." High places were spots on hills where people worshiped idols.

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?

30So tell the people of Israel that the Lord GOD says this: Are you making yourselves dirty the way your fathers did? Are you being unfaithful to me, chasing their awful 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.

31You bring your gifts and put your sons into the fire. You keep making yourselves dirty with all your idols, even today. So should I answer your questions, 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, 'Let us be like the other nations. Let us serve wood and stone like they do.' But what you are thinking 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. I will do it with a strong hand, a stretched-out 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.

34I will bring you out from the other peoples. I will gather you from the lands where you were scattered. I will do it with a strong hand, a stretched-out arm, and anger poured out.

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 away from the nations. There I will judge you 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 fathers in the desert near Egypt. 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 walk under the shepherd's stick to be counted. I will bring you into the promise I made with you.

Note"Pass under the rod" came from shepherds. They held a stick over the sheep and counted them one by one as they walked under it.

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 fight against me and break my laws. I will bring them out of the land where they now live. 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, if you will not listen to me. But you must stop shaming 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.

40On 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 first gifts, and all your holy gifts.

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.

41I will welcome you like a sweet-smelling offering. I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered. Then the nations will see how holy I am through you.

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. It is the land I promised to give your fathers.

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 what you did and how you made yourselves dirty. You will hate yourselves for all the evil things you did.

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 act toward you for the sake of my own name. I will not treat you as your bad and rotten deeds deserve, people of Israel, says the Lord GOD."

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

45The 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, look toward the south. Speak against it. Tell what will happen to the forest in the dry southern land.

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 that southern forest: Listen to the word of the LORD. The Lord GOD says this: I am going to start a fire in you. It will burn up every tree, green ones and dry ones. The blazing flame will not go out. 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 the 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 only talks in riddles.'"

NoteThe old word here is "parables." It means stories or sayings that sound like puzzles. The people were saying Ezekiel's words were too hard to figure out.