English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel's elders came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me.

2And the word of the LORD came to me:

2Then the word of the LORD came to me:

3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.

3"Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As I live, I will not let you inquire of me. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.'

4Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers,

4"Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.

5and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, 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 the LORD your God."

6On that day I swore to them that I would 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 most glorious 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, ‘Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’

7I also said to them, "Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

8But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

8"'But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized, and they did not abandon 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 sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

9But I acted for the sake 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 led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

10"'So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

11I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live.

11Then I gave them my statutes and explained my ordinances to them--the person who does them will live by them.

12Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might 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 that they would know that I am the LORD who consecrates them.

13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them.

13"'But 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, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

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.

15Moreover, 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 most glorious 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 rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart 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.

17Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness.

17Yet I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.

18“And I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

18"'Then 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, and be careful to obey my rules,

19I am the LORD your God. Follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them.

20and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, 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 the LORD your God."

21But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.

21"'But 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, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

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 brought them out.

23Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,

23However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.

24because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers’ idols.

24For they did not practice my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols.

25Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life,

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

26and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the LORD.

26When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the LORD.'

27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me.

27"Therefore, 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:

28For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they 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.

29(I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.)

29So I asked them, "What is this high place you are going to?" And it is still called Bamah today.'

30“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things?

30"Therefore 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 abhorrent things?

31When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire, you defile 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.

31When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your children in the fire, you still continue to defile yourselves with all your idols today. So should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As I live--this is the declaration of the Lord GOD--I will not let you inquire of me!

32“What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.’

32"'When you say, "Let us be like the nations, like the clans of other countries, serving wood and stone," what you have in mind will never happen.

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

33As I live--the declaration of the Lord GOD--I will reign over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath.

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

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 peoples, and there 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.

36As 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 I 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.

38I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

38I will 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 the LORD.

39“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 my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols.

39"'As 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.

40“For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings.

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.

41As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among 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.

42And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to 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 the LORD.

43And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed.

43There you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourself, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.

44And you shall know 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 deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.”

44You will know that I am the LORD, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you for the sake of my name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.'"

45And the word of the LORD came to me:

45The word of the LORD came to me:

46“Son of man, set your face toward the southland; preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb.

46"Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,

47Say to the forest of 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 south to north shall be scorched by it.

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.

48All flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.”

48Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished.'"

49Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?’”

49Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, 'Isn't he just composing parables?'"

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.