1 N ow in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, 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, the tenth of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and they sat before me.

2 A nd the word of the Lord came to me saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

3 “ Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “ I will not be inquired of by you.”’

Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Are ye come to inquire of me? I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.

4 W ill you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers;

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

5 a nd say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants 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,

and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up my hand unto them, saying, I Jehovah your God,

6 o n that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

in that day I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the ornament of all lands;

7 I said to them, ‘ Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.’

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

8 B ut they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to 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 unto me: none of them cast away the abominations of his eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I thought to pour out my fury upon them, so as to accomplish mine anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 B ut I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they were, in whose sight I had made myself known unto them in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10 S o I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

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

11 I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live.

And I gave them my statutes, and made known unto them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them.

12 A lso 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.

And I also gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I Jehovah that hallow them.

13 B ut the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned: and I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 B ut I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out.

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

15 A lso I swore to 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,

And I also lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land that I had given, flowing with milk and honey, which is the ornament of all lands;

16 b ecause they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols.

because they rejected mine ordinances and walked not in my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17 Y et My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness.

But mine eye spared them so as not to destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

18 “ I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘ Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.

And I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk not in the statutes of your fathers, neither keep their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

19 I am the Lord your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them.

I Jehovah your God: walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;

20 S anctify My sabbaths; 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; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I Jehovah your God.

21 B ut the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.

And the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live by them; they profaned my sabbaths: and I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish mine anger against them in the wilderness.

22 B ut I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

But I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

23 A lso I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands,

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

24 b ecause they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers.

because they performed not mine ordinances, and rejected my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25 I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live;

And I also gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances whereby they should not live;

26 a nd I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the Lord.”’

and I defiled them by their own gifts, in that they devoted all that opened the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I Jehovah.

27 “ Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously against Me.

Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have wrought unfaithfulness against me.

28 W hen I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings.

When I had brought them into the land which I had lifted up my hand to give unto 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; and there they placed their sweet savour, and there poured out their drink-offerings.

29 T hen I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’

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

30 T herefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things?

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and do ye commit fornication after their abominations?

31 W hen you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you.

And when ye offer your gifts, making your sons to pass through the fire, ye defile yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day; and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.

32 W hat comes into your mind will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, serving wood and stone.’ God Will Restore Israel to Her Land

And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, in serving wood and stone.

33 “ As I live,” declares the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you.

I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, verily with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I reign over you.

34 I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out;

And I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out;

35 a nd I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 A s I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God.

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, saith the Lord Jehovah.

37 “ I will make you 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 a nd I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.

And 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, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I Jehovah.

39 “ As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God, “ Go, serve everyone his idols; but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols.

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Go ye, serve every one his idols henceforth also, if none of you will hearken unto me; but profane my holy name no more with your gifts and with your idols.

40 F or on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them and there I will seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things.

For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel serve me, the whole of it, in the land; there will I accept them, and there will I require your heave-offerings and the first-fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.

41 A s a soothing aroma I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will prove Myself holy among you in the sight of the nations.

As a sweet savour will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you in the sight of the nations.

42 A nd you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your forefathers.

And ye shall know that I Jehovah, when I have brought you into the land of Israel, into the country which I lifted up my hand to give to your fathers.

43 T here you will remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done.

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

44 T hen you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.’”

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

45 N ow the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

46 “ Son of man, set your face toward Teman, and speak out against the south and prophesy against the forest land of the Negev,

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

47 a nd say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am about to kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched and the whole surface from south to north will be burned by it.

and say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of Jehovah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flashing flame shall not be quenched; and all that it meets from the south to the north shall be burned thereby.

48 A ll flesh will 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 T hen I said, “Ah Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking parables?’”

And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?