1 A nd it cometh to pass, in the seventh year, in the fifth, in the tenth of the month, come in have certain of the elders of Israel to seek Jehovah, and they sit before me;

In the seventh year, in the fifth, on the tenth of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord and sat down before me.

2 a nd there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

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

3 ` Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: To seek Me are ye coming in? I live -- I am not sought by you -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you!

4 D ost thou judge them? Dost thou judge, son of man? The abominations of their fathers cause them to know,

Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then cause them to know, understand, and realize the abominations of their fathers.

5 a nd thou hast said unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the day of My fixing on Israel, I lift up My hand, To the seed of the house of Jacob, And am known to them in the land of Egypt, And I lift up My hand to them, Saying, I Jehovah your God.

And say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In the day when I chose Israel and lifted up My hand and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up My hand and swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God,

6 I n that day I did lift up My hand to them, To bring them forth from the land of Egypt, Unto a land that I spied out for them, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it to all the lands,

On that day I lifted up My hand and swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt to a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is an ornament and a glory to all lands.

7 A nd I say unto them, Let each cast away the detestable things of his eyes, And with the idols of Egypt be not defiled, I Jehovah your God.

Then said I to them, Let every man cast away the abominable things on which he feasts his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.

8 A nd -- they rebel against Me, And have not been willing to hearken to Me, Each, the detestable things of their eyes, They have not cast away, And the idols of Egypt have not forsaken, And I say -- to pour out My fury on them, To complete Mine anger against them, In the midst of the land of Egypt.

But they rebelled against Me and would not listen to Me; they did not every man cast away the abominable things on which they feasted their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I, I will pour out My wrath upon them and finish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 A nd I do for My name's sake, Not to pollute before the eyes of the nations, In whose midst they, Before whose eyes I became known to them, To bring them out from the land of Egypt.

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

10 A nd I bring them out of the land of Egypt, And I bring them in unto the wilderness,

So I caused them to go out from the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

11 A nd I give to them My statutes, And my judgments I caused them to know, Which the man who doth -- liveth by them.

And I gave them My statutes and showed and made known to them My judgments, which, if a man keeps, he must live in and by them.

12 A nd also My sabbaths I have given to them, To be for a sign between Me and them, To know that I Jehovah their sanctifier.

Moreover, also I gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might understand and realize that I am the Lord Who sanctifies them.

13 A nd -- rebel against me do the house of Israel in the wilderness, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have despised, Which the man who doth -- liveth by them. And My sabbaths they have greatly polluted, And I say to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they walked not in My statutes and they despised and cast away My judgments, which, if a man keeps, he must even live in and by them; and they grievously profaned My Sabbaths. Then I thought I would pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness and uproot and consume them.

14 A nd I do for My name's sake, Not to pollute before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them forth.

But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I brought them out.

15 A nd also, I, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, Not to bring them in to the land that I had given, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it to all the lands,

Yet also I lifted up My hand to swear 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 ornament and glory of all lands—

16 B ecause against My judgments they did kick, And in My statutes they have not walked, And My sabbaths they have polluted, For after their idols their heart is going.

Because they despised and rejected My ordinances and walked not in My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, for their hearts went after their idols.

17 A nd Mine eye hath pity on them -- against destroying them, And I have not made of them an end in the wilderness.

Yet My eye pitied them instead of destroying them, and I did not make a full end of them in the wilderness.

18 A nd I say to their sons in the wilderness: In the statutes of your fathers ye walk not, And their judgments ye do not observe, And with their idols ye are not defiled.

But I said to their sons in the wilderness, You shall not walk in the statutes of your fathers nor observe their ordinances nor defile yourselves with their idols.

19 I Jehovah your God, in My statutes walk, And My judgments observe, and do them,

I the Lord am your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances,

20 A nd My sabbaths sanctify, And they have been for a sign between Me and you, To know that I, Jehovah, your God.

And hallow (separate and keep holy) My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord your God.

21 A nd -- the sons rebel against Me, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have not observed -- to do them, Which the man who doth -- liveth by them. My sabbaths they have polluted, And I say to pour out My fury upon them, To complete Mine anger against them in the wilderness.

Yet the sons rebelled against Me; they walked not in My statutes, neither kept My ordinances which, if a man does, he must live in and by them; they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I thought I would pour out My wrath on them and finish My anger against them in the wilderness.

22 A nd I have turned back My hand, And I do for My name's sake, Not to pollute before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them out.

Yet I withheld My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be debased and profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them forth.

23 I also, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, To scatter them among nations, And to spread them through lands.

Moreover, I lifted up My hand and swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them in the countries,

24 B ecause My judgments they have not done, And My statutes they have despised, And My sabbaths they have polluted, And after idols of their fathers have their eyes been.

Because they had not executed My ordinances but had despised and rejected My statutes and had profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers’ idols.

25 A nd I also, I have given to them statutes not good, And judgments by which they do not live.

Wherefore also I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances whereby they should not live and could not have life,

26 A nd I defile them by their own gifts, By causing to pass away every opener of a womb, So that I make them desolate, So that they know that I Jehovah.

And I pollute and make themselves unclean in their own offerings, in that they caused to pass through the fire all the firstborn, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord.

27 T herefore, speak unto the house of Israel, son of man, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Still in this have your fathers reviled Me, In their committing against Me a trespass.

Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Again in this your fathers blasphemed Me, in that they dealt faithlessly and treacherously with Me and committed a treasonous trespass against Me.

28 A nd I bring them in unto the land, That I did lift up My hand to give to them, And they see every high hill, and every thick tree, And they sacrifice there their sacrifices, And give there the provocation of their offering, And make there their sweet fragrance, And they pour out there their libations.

For when I had brought them into the land which I lifted up My hand and swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every dark and leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices and there they presented their offering that provoked My anger and sadness; there also they made their sweet-smelling savor and poured out there their drink offerings.

29 A nd I say unto them: What the high place whither ye are going in? And its name is called `high place' to this day.

Then I said to them, What is the high place to which you go? And the name of it is called Bamah to this day.

30 T herefore, say unto the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the way of your fathers are ye defiled? And after their detestable things go a-whoring?

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Do you debase and defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers? And do you play the harlot after their loathsome and detestable things?

31 A nd in the offering of your gifts, In causing your sons to pass through fire, Ye are defiled by all your idols to this day, And I am sought by you, O house of Israel! I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, I am not sought by you.

And when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you not debase and defile yourselves with all your idols to this day? And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you!

32 A nd that which is going up on your mind, It is not at all -- in that ye are saying: We will be as the nations, as the families of the lands, To serve wood and stone.

And that which has come up in your mind shall never happen, in that you think, We will be as the nations, as the tribes of the countries, to serve idols of wood and stone.

33 I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Do not I, with a strong hand, And with a stretched-out arm, And with fury poured out -- rule over you?

As I live, says the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out will I be King over you.

34 A nd I have brought you forth from the peoples, And assembled you from the lands In which ye have been scattered, With a strong hand and with a stretched-out arm, And with fury poured out.

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 an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out.

35 A nd I have brought you in unto the wilderness of the peoples, And have been judged with you there face to face.

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

36 A s I was judged with your fathers, In the wilderness of the land of Egypt, So I am judged with you, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

As I entered into judgment and contended with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment and contend with you, says the Lord God.

37 A nd I have caused you to pass under the rod, And brought you into the bond of the covenant,

And I will cause you to pass under the rod and bring you into the covenant to which you are permanently bound.

38 A nd cleared out from you the rebels, And them transgressing against Me, From the land of their sojournings I bring them out, And unto the land of Israel they come not, And ye have known that I Jehovah.

And I will purge out and separate from among you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they temporarily dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord.

39 A nd ye, O house of Israel, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Each his idols -- go -- serve ye, And, afterwards, if ye are not hearkening to me, And My holy name ye do not pollute any more by your gifts, and by your idols.

As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go, serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to Me! But you shall not profane My holy name any more with your sacrificial gifts and your idols!

40 F or, in My holy mountain, In the mountain of the height of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, There serve Me do all the house of Israel, All of it, in the land -- there I accept them, And there I do seek your heave-offerings, And with the first-fruit of your gifts, With all your holy things.

For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, says the Lord God, there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me. There will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings and the firstfruits and the choicest of your contributions, with all your sacred things.

41 W ith sweet fragrance I do accept you, In My bringing you out from the peoples, And I have assembled you from the lands In which ye have been scattered, And I have been sanctified in you Before the eyes of the nations.

I will accept you as a pleasant odor when I lead you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered, and I will manifest My holiness among you in the sight of the nations.

42 A nd ye have known that I Jehovah, In My bringing you to the ground of Israel, Unto the land that I did lift up My hand To give it to your fathers,

And you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I lifted up My hand and swore to give to your fathers.

43 A nd ye have remembered there your ways, And all your doings, In which ye have been defiled, And ye have been loathsome in your own faces, For all your evils that ye have done.

And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evil deeds which you have done.

44 A nd ye have known that I Jehovah, In My dealing with you for My name's sake, Not according to your evil ways, And according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.'

And you shall know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.

45 A nd there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

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

46 S on of man, set thy face the way of Teman, and prophesy unto the south, and prophesy unto the forest of the field -- the south;

Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land of the South (the Negeb),

47 a nd thou hast said to the forest of the south: Hear a word of Jehovah: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am kindling in thee a fire, And it hath devoured in thee every moist tree, and every dry tree, Not quenched is the glowing flames, And burnt by it have been all faces from south to north.

And say to the forest of the South (the Negeb), Hear the word of the Lord; Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in you and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it.

48 A nd seen have all flesh, that I, Jehovah, have kindled it -- it is not quenched.'

All flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.

49 A nd I say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! They are saying of me, Does he not speak in parables and make allegories?