| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me. | 1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel's elders came to consult the LORD, and they sat down in front of me. |
| 2Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, | 2Then the word of the LORD came to me: " |
| 3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD. | 3Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you coming to consult Me? As I live, I will not be consulted by you." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD." |
| 4Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers | 4Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them. |
| 5and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’ | 5Say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob's house and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying: I am Yahweh your God. |
| 6On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands. | 6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. |
| 7And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ | 7I also said to them: Each of you must throw away the detestable things that are before your eyes and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God." |
| 8But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt. | 8But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them threw away the detestable things that were before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them, exhausting My anger against them within the land of Egypt. |
| 9But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. | 9But I acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made Myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt." |
| 10So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. | 10So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. |
| 11And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them. | 11Then I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them--the person who does them will live by them. |
| 12I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. | 12I also gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them, so they will know that I am Yahweh who sets them apart as holy." |
| 13Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness. | 13But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances--the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them. |
| 14But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. | 14But I acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. |
| 15Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands— | 15However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them--the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey-- |
| 16because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols. | 16because they rejected My ordinances, profaned My Sabbaths, and did not follow My statutes. For their hearts went after their idols. |
| 17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness. | 17But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness." |
| 18In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. | 18Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don't follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances. |
| 19I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. | 19I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. |
| 20Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’ | 20Keep My Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God." |
| 21But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness. | 21But the children rebelled against Me. They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances--the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness. |
| 22But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. | 22But I withheld My hand and acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out. |
| 23However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands. | 23However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. |
| 24For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers. | 24For they did not practice My ordinances but rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols. |
| 25I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live. | 25I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live by. |
| 26And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD. | 26When they made every firstborn pass through the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh." |
| 27Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me. | 27Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by committing treachery against Me: |
| 28When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings. | 28When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there. |
| 29So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.) | 29So I asked them: What is this high place you are going to? And it is called High Place to this day." |
| 30Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations? | 30Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did, and prostituting yourselves with their detestable things? |
| 31When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you! | 31When you offer your gifts, making your children pass through the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live"--this is the declaration of the Lord GOD--"I will not be consulted by you!" |
| 32When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass. | 32When you say, 'Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of other countries, worshiping wood and stone,' what you have in mind will never happen. |
| 33As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you. | 33As I live"--the declaration of the Lord GOD--"I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath. |
| 34With a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered. | 34I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath. |
| 35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face. | 35I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples and enter into judgment with you there face to face. |
| 36Just as 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. | 36Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD." |
| 37I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. | 37I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. |
| 38And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. | 38And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh." |
| 39And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols. | 39As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols. |
| 40For on My holy mountain, 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 will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. | 40For on My holy mountain, Israel's high mountain"--the declaration of the Lord GOD--"there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts, all your holy offerings. |
| 41When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations. | 41When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate My holiness through you in the sight of the nations. |
| 42Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give your fathers. | 42When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh. |
| 43There you will remember your ways and all the deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you have done. | 43There you will remember your ways and all your deeds that you have defiled yourselves with, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done. |
| 44Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.” | 44You will know that I am Yahweh, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts." This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. |
| 45Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, | 45The word of the LORD came to me: " |
| 46“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev. | 46Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev, |
| 47Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched. | 47and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. |
| 48Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.” | 48Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished." |
| 49Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’ ” | 49Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, 'Isn't he just posing riddles?" |
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