New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Vision of God’s Glory Departing from the Temple

1 Then I looked, and behold, in the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim something like a sapphire stone, in appearance resembling a throne, appeared above them.

2 And He spoke to the man clothed in linen and said, “Enter between the whirling wheels under the cherubim and fill your hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatterthemover the city.” And he entered in my sight.

3 Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the temple when the man entered, and the cloud filled the inner court.

4 Then the glory of the Lordwent up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple, and the temple was filled with the cloud and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord.

5 Moreover, the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks.

6 It came about when He commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he entered and stood beside a wheel.

7 Then the cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire which was between the cherubim, tooksomeand putitinto the hands of the one clothed in linen, who tookitand went out.

8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a man’s hand under their wings.

9 Then I looked, and behold, four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub; and the appearance of the wheelswaslike the gleam of a Tarshish stone.

10 As for their appearance, all four of them had the same likeness, as if one wheel were within another wheel.

11 When they moved, they went inany oftheir four directions without turning as they went; but they followed in the direction which they faced, without turning as they went.

12 Their whole body, their backs, their hands, their wings and the wheels were full of eyes all around, the wheels belonging to all four of them.

13 The wheels were called in my hearing, the whirling wheels.

14 And each one had four faces. The first facewasthe face of a cherub, the second facewasthe face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

15 Then the cherubim rose up. They are the living beings that I saw by the river Chebar.

16 Now when the cherubim moved, the wheels would go beside them; also when the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels would not turn from beside them.

17 When the cherubim stood still, the wheels would stand still; and when they rose up, the wheels would rise with them, for the spirit of the living beingswasin them.

18 Then the glory of the Lorddeparted from the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.

19 When the cherubim departed, they lifted their wings and rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’shouse, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.

20 These are the living beings that I saw beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar; so I knew that theywerecherubim.

21 Each one had four faces and each one four wings, and beneath their wingswasthe form of human hands.

22 As for the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the river Chebar. Each one went straight ahead.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/10-26b2b00a9904444f8cde7787954dea6a.mp3?version_id=100—

Evil Rulers to Be Judged

1 Moreover, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the Lord’shouse which faced eastward. And behold,there weretwenty-five men at the entrance of the gate, and among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.

2 He said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give evil advice in this city,

3 who say, ‘The timeis not near to build houses. Thiscityis the pot and we are the flesh.’

4 Therefore, prophesy against them, son of man, prophesy!”

5 Then the Spirit of the Lordfell upon me, and He said to me, “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord, “So you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts.

6 You have multiplied your slain in this city, filling its streets with them.”

7 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of the city are the flesh and thiscityis the pot; but I will bring you out of it.

8 You have feared a sword; so I will bring a sword upon you,” the Lord Goddeclares.

9 “And I will bring you out of the midst of the city and deliver you into the hands of strangers and execute judgments against you.

10 You will fall by the sword. I will judge you to the border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the Lord.

11 Thiscitywill not be a pot for you, nor will you be flesh in the midst of it,butI will judge you to the border of Israel.

12 Thus you will know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you executed My ordinances, but have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.”‘”

13 Now it came about as I prophesied, that Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “Alas, Lord God! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”

Promise of Restoration

14 Then the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

15 “Son of man, your brothers, your relatives, your fellow exiles and the whole house of Israel, all of them,are thoseto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far from the Lord; this land has been given us as a possession.’

16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Though I had removed them far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where they had gone.”‘

17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.”‘

18 When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it.

19 And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.

21 But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads,” declares the Lord God.

22 Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.

23 The glory of the Lordwent up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city.

24 And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles in Chaldea. So the vision that I had seen left me.

25 Then I told the exiles all the things that the Lordhad shown me.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/11-4537953abcba9b6bbfd371daa201f026.mp3?version_id=100—

Ezekiel Prepares for Exile

1 Then the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

3 Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand though they are a rebellious house.

4 Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out at evening in their sight, as those going into exile.

5 Dig a hole through the wall in their sight and go out through it.

6 Loadthe baggageonyourshoulder in their sightandcarryitout in the dark. You shall cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel.”

7 I did so, as I had been commanded. By day I brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the darkandcarriedthe baggageonmyshoulder in their sight.

8 In the morning the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’

10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This burdenconcernsthe prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are in it.”‘

11 Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile, into captivity.’

12 The prince who is among them will loadhis baggageonhisshoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig a hole through the wall to bringitout. He will cover his face so that he can not see the land withhiseyes.

13 I will also spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.

14 I will scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them.

15 So they will know that I am the Lordwhen I scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries.

16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, the famine and the pestilence that they may tell all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord.”

17 Moreover, the word of the Lordcame to me saying,

18 “Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety.

19 Then say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord Godconcerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because their land will be stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it.

20 The inhabited cities will be laid waste and the land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the Lord.”‘”

21 Then the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

22 “Son of man, what is this proverb youpeoplehave concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’?

23 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision.

24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

25 For I the Lordwill speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.'”

26 Furthermore, the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

27 “Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many yearsfrom now,and he prophesies of times far off.’

28 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”‘” declares the Lord God.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/12-13d6c2bfc47af6df1955143ba5866416.mp3?version_id=100—

False Prophets Condemned

1 Then the word of the Lordcame to me saying,

2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord!

3 Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.

4 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins.

5 You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord.

6 They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lorddeclares,’ when the Lordhas not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment oftheirword.

7 Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lorddeclares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”‘”

8 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,” declares the Lord God.

9 “So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, that you may know that I am the Lord God.

10 It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash;

11 sotell those who plasteritover with whitewash, that it will fall. A flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out.

12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the plaster with which you plasteredit?'”

13 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and hailstones to consumeitin wrath.

14 So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare; and when it falls, you will be consumed in its midst. And you will know that I am the Lord.

15 Thus I will spend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, ‘The wall is gone and its plasterers are gone,

16 along withthe prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ declares the Lord God.

17 “Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are prophesying from their own inspiration. Prophesy against them

18 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the women who sewmagicbands on all wrists and make veils for the heads ofpersonsof every stature to hunt down lives! Will you hunt down the lives of My people, but preserve the livesof othersfor yourselves?

19 For handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned Me to My people to put to death some who should not die and to keep others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”‘”

20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against yourmagicbands by which you hunt lives there as birds and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let them go, even those lives whom you hunt as birds.

21 I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your hands to be hunted; and you will know that I am the Lord.

22 Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked wayandpreserve his life,

23 therefore, you women will no longer see false visions or practice divination, and I will deliver My people out of your hand. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/13-dfc2d5d726b9b354682322518683a593.mp3?version_id=100—

Idolatrous Elders Condemned

1 Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me.

2 And the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

3 “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?

4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, andthencomes to the prophet, I the Lordwill be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols,

5 in order to lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are estranged from Me through all their idols.”‘

6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations.

7 For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, andthencomes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I the Lordwill be brought to answer him in My own person.

8 I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord.

9 “But if the prophet is prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the Lord, who have prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

10 They will bearthe punishment oftheir iniquity; as the iniquity of the inquirer is, so the iniquity of the prophet will be,

11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Thus they will be My people, and I shall be their God,”‘ declares the Lord God.”

The City Will Not Be Spared

12 Then the word of the Lordcame to me saying,

13 “Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast,

14 eventhoughthese three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by theirownrighteousness they couldonlydeliver themselves,” declares the Lord God.

15 “If I were to cause wild beasts to pass through the land and they depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts,

16 thoughthese three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver eithertheirsons ortheirdaughters. They alone would be delivered, but the country would be desolate.

17 OrifI should bring a sword on that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass through the country and cut off man and beast from it,’

18 eventhoughthese three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver eithertheirsons ortheirdaughters, but they alone would be delivered.

19 OrifI should send a plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it to cut off man and beast from it,

20 eventhoughNoah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver eithertheirson ortheirdaughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”

21 For thus says the Lord God, “How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it!

22 Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it who will be brought out,bothsons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come forth to you and you will see their conduct and actions; then you will be comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it.

23 Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done in vain whatever I did to it,” declares the Lord God.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/14-0c2bbbbb39c3944b5dea181c99e85d1c.mp3?version_id=100—

Jerusalem like a Useless Vine

1 Then the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, how is the wood of the vinebetterthan any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

3 Can wood be taken from it to make anything, or canmentake a peg from it on which to hang any vessel?

4 If it has been put into the fire for fuel,andthe fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is itthenuseful for anything?

5 Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into anything!

6 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

7 and I set My face against them.Thoughthey have come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them.

8 Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,'” declares the Lord God.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/15-1eb7ff8f3de8fb991e4b2f81ce0e258e.mp3?version_id=100—

God’s Grace to Unfaithful Jerusalem

1 Then the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations

3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord Godto Jerusalem, “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite, your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.

4 As for your birth, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths.

5 No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the open field, for you were abhorred on the day you were born.

6 “When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to youwhile you werein your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to youwhile you werein your blood, ‘Live!’

7 I made you numerous like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments;yourbreasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.

8 “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, you were at the time for love; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine,” declares the Lord God.

9 “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil.

10 I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

11 I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck.

12 I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.

13 Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty.

14 Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God.

15 “But you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by who might bewilling.

16 You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors and played the harlot on them, which should never come about nor happen.

17 You also took your beautiful jewelsmadeof My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them.

18 Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them.

19 Also My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord God.

20 “Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to Me and sacrificed them to idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter?

21 You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols by causing them to pass throughthe fire.

22 Besides all your abominations and harlotries you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare and squirming in your blood.

23 “Then it came about after all your wickedness (‘Woe, woe to you!’ declares the Lord God),

24 that you built yourself a shrine and made yourself a high place in every square.

25 You built yourself a high place at the top of every street and made your beauty abominable, and you spread your legs to every passer-by to multiply your harlotry.

26 You also played the harlot with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, and multiplied your harlotry to make Me angry.

27 Behold now, I have stretched out My hand against you and diminished your rations. And I delivered you up to the desire of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd conduct.

28 Moreover, you played the harlot with the Assyrians because you were not satisfied; you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied.

29 You also multiplied your harlotry with the land of merchants, Chaldea, yet even with this you were not satisfied.”‘”

30 “How languishing is your heart,” declares the Lord God, “while you do all these things, the actions of a bold-faced harlot.

31 When you built your shrine at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every square, in disdaining money, you were not like a harlot.

32 You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband!

33 Men give gifts to all harlots, but you give your gifts to all your lovers to bribe them to come to you from every direction for your harlotries.

34 Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.”

35 Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord.

36 Thus says the Lord God, “Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your sons which you gave to idols,

37 therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, even all those whom you lovedandall those whom you hated. So I will gather them against you from every direction and expose your nakedness to them that they may see all your nakedness.

38 Thus I will judge you like women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.

39 I will also give you into the hands of your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, strip you of your clothing, take away your jewels, and will leave you naked and bare.

40 They will incite a crowd against you and they will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords.

41 They will burn your houses with fire and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women. Then I will stop you from playing the harlot, and you will also no longer pay your lovers.

42 So I will calm My fury against you and My jealousy will depart from you, and I will be pacified and angry no more.

43 Because you have not remembered the days of your youth but have enraged Me by all these things, behold, I in turn will bring your conduct down on your own head,” declares the Lord God, “so that you will not commit this lewdness on top of all yourotherabominations.

44 “Behold, everyone who quotes proverbs will quotethisproverb concerning you, saying, ‘Like mother, like daughter.’

45 You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are also the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.

46 Now your older sister is Samaria, who lives north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lives south of you, is Sodom with her daughters.

47 Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or done according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you acted more corruptly in all your conduct than they.

48 As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.

49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.

50 Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me. Therefore I removed them when I sawit.

51 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. Thus you have made your sisters appear righteous by all your abominations which you have committed.

52 Also bear your disgrace in that you have made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear righteous.

53 “Nevertheless, I will restore their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them your own captivity,

54 in order that you may bear your humiliation and feel ashamed for all that you have done when you become a consolation to them.

55 Your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state, and you with your daughters willalsoreturn to your former state.

56 Asthe name ofyour sister Sodom was not heard from your lips in your day of pride,

57 before your wickedness was uncovered, so now you have become the reproach of the daughters of Edom and of all who are around her, of the daughters of the Philistines-those surroundingyouwho despise you.

58 You have bornethe penalty ofyour lewdness and abominations,” the Lorddeclares.

59 For thus says the Lord God, “I will also do with you as you have done, you who have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

The Covenant Remembered

60 “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters,bothyour older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant.

62 Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord,

63 so that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord Goddeclares.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/16-383ef1c6ebab5ad11745f725812b79e8.mp3?version_id=100—

Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine

1 Now the word of the Lordcame to me saying,

2 “Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel,

3 saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “A great eagle with great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

4 He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders.

5 He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placeditbeside abundant waters; he set itlikea willow.

6 Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches.

7 “But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was planted, that he might water it.

8 It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruitandbecome a splendid vine.”‘

9 Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers-so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its rootsagain.

10 Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it-wither on the beds where it grew?”‘”

Zedekiah’s Rebellion

11 Moreover, the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

12 “Say now to the rebellious house, ‘Do you not know what these thingsmean?’ Say, ‘Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and princes and brought them to him in Babylon.

13 He took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land,

14 that the kingdom might be in subjection, not exalting itself,butkeeping his covenant that it might continue.

15 But he rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt that they might give him horses and many troops. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Can he indeed break the covenant and escape?

16 As I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘Surely in the country of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, in Babylon he shall die.

17 Pharaoh withhismighty army and great company will not help him in the war, when they cast up ramps and build siege walls to cut off many lives.

18 Now he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he pledged his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.'”

19 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “As I live, surely My oath which he despised and My covenant which he broke, I will inflict on his head.

20 I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. Then I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him thereregardingthe unfaithful act which he has committed against Me.

21 All the choice men in all his troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to every wind; and you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”

22 Thus says the Lord God, “I will also takea sprigfrom the lofty top of the cedar and setitout; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plantiton a high and lofty mountain.

23 On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches.

24 All the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will performit.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/17-906689d9657f81a8797c90ebe73b16e7.mp3?version_id=100—

God Deals Justly with Individuals

1 Then the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

2 “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,

‘The fathers eat the sour grapes,

But the children’s teeth are set on edge’?

3 As I live,” declares the Lord God, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.

4 Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

5 “But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness,

6 and does not eat at the mountainshrinesor lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period-

7 if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery,butgives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,

8 if he does not lendmoneyon interest or take increase,ifhe keeps his hand from iniquityandexecutes true justice between man and man,

9 ifhe walks in My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully-he is righteousandwill surely live,” declares the Lord God.

10 “Then he may have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother

11 (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountainshrines,and defiles his neighbor’s wife,

12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idolsandcommits abomination,

13 he lendsmoneyon interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.

14 “Now behold, he has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and observing does not do likewise.

15 He does not eat at the mountainshrinesor lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife,

16 or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery,buthe gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,

17 he keeps his hand from the poor, does not take interest or increase,butexecutes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live.

18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbedhisbrother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity.

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live.

20 The person who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

21 “But if the wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his righteousness which he has practiced, he will live.

23 Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?

24 “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right?

26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die.

27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.

28 Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die.

29 But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?

30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God. “Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you.

31 Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel?

32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/18-058e51ca5ed67114a0849b9e9220818e.mp3?version_id=100—

Lament for the Princes of Israel

1 “As for you, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel

2 and say,

‘What was your mother?

A lioness among lions!

She lay down among young lions,

She reared her cubs.

3 ‘When she brought up one of her cubs,

He became a lion,

And he learned to tearhisprey;

He devoured men.

4 ‘Then nations heard about him;

He was captured in their pit,

And they brought him with hooks

To the land of Egypt.

5 ‘When she saw, as she waited,

Thather hope was lost,

She took another of her cubs

And made him a young lion.

6 ‘And he walked about among the lions;

He became a young lion,

He learned to tearhisprey;

He devoured men.

7 ‘He destroyed their fortified towers

And laid waste their cities;

And the land and its fullness were appalled

Because of the sound of his roaring.

8 ‘Then nations set against him

On every side fromtheirprovinces,

And they spread their net over him;

He was captured in their pit.

9 ‘They put him in a cage with hooks

And brought him to the king of Babylon;

They brought him in hunting nets

So that his voice would be heard no more

On the mountains of Israel.

10 ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard,

Planted by the waters;

It was fruitful and full of branches

Because of abundant waters.

11 ‘And it had strong branchesfitfor scepters of rulers,

And its height was raised above the clouds

So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.

12 ‘But it was plucked up in fury;

It was cast down to the ground;

And the east wind dried up its fruit.

Its strong branch was torn off

So that it withered;

The fire consumed it.

13 ‘And now it is planted in the wilderness,

In a dry and thirsty land.

14 ‘And fire has gone out fromitsbranch;

It has consumed its shootsandfruit,

So that there is not in it a strong branch,

A scepter to rule.'”

This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/EZK/19-e55464978cf04f59e2a610877937ada6.mp3?version_id=100—