| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1On the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, men came from the elders of Israel to seek the LORD. They sat down in front of me. | 1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to seek the LORD, and they sat down in front of me. |
| 2"Son of Man," the LORD told me, | 2The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 3"Tell the elders of Israel, 'This is what the Lord GOD asks, "Did you come to inquire of me? As long as I live, I won't let myself be sought by you," declares the Lord GOD.' | 3"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them: 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Are you coming to seek me? As surely as I live, I will not allow you to seek me, declares the sovereign LORD.' |
| 4"Will you judge them? Son of Man, will you indeed judge them? Teach them about the detestable things that their ancestors did. | 4"Are you willing to pronounce judgment? Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers, |
| 5Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says, "The day I chose Israel, when I made my commitment to the descendants of Jacob's house, I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt and I made my promise to them with the words, 'I am the LORD your God.' | 5and say to them: "'This is what the sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel I swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, "I am the LORD your God." |
| 6That day I promised to bring them out of the land of Egypt to the land that I had explored for them—a land flowing with milk and honey. It's the most beautiful of all lands. | 6On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt to a land which I had picked out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. |
| 7Then I told them, 'Each of you are to abandon your detestable practices. You are not to defile yourselves with Egypt's idols. I am the LORD your God.'"'" | 7I said to them, "Each of you must get rid of the detestable idols you keep before you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God." |
| 8"But they rebelled against me and weren't willing to obey me. None of them abandoned their detestable practices or their Egyptian idols. So I said, 'I'll pour out my anger on them, extending my fury in the middle of the land of Egypt.' | 8But they rebelled against me, and refused to listen to me; no one got rid of their detestable idols, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my rage on them and fully vent my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. |
| 9I did this so my reputation might not be tarnished among the nations where they were living, among whom I made myself known in their presence when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. | 9I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations among whom they lived, before whom I revealed myself by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. |
| 10I brought them out of the land of Egypt to bring them to the wilderness | 10"'So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them to the wilderness. |
| 11where I gave them my statutes and revealed my ordinances to them, which if a person observes, he'll live by them. | 11I gave them my statutes and revealed my regulations to them. The one who carries them out will live by them! |
| 12Also, I instituted my Sabbath for them as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the LORD, who has set them apart." | 12I also gave them my Sabbaths as a reminder of our relationship, so that they would know that I, the LORD, sanctify them. |
| 13"But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn't live by my statutes. They despised my ordinances, which if a person observes, he'll live by them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my anger on them and bring them to an end in the wilderness. | 13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not follow my statutes and they rejected my regulations (the one who obeys them will live by them), and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my rage on them in the wilderness and destroy them. |
| 14I did this so my reputation wouldn't be tarnished among the nations in whose presence I had brought them out. | 14I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. |
| 15"Moreover, I solemnly swore to them in the wilderness that I wouldn't bring them to the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands— | 15I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them to the land I had given them--a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. |
| 16because they kept on rejecting my ordinances. They didn't live life consistent with my statutes, they profaned my Sabbaths, and their hearts followed their idols. | 16I did this because they rejected my regulations, did not follow my statutes, and desecrated my Sabbaths; for their hearts followed their idols. |
| 17Even then, I looked on them with compassion and didn't completely destroy them in the wilderness. | 17Yet I had pity on them and did not destroy them, so I did not make an end of them in the wilderness. |
| 18I told their children in the wilderness, 'You are not to follow the statutes of your ancestors, observe their ordinances, or be defiled by their idols. | 18"'But I said to their children in the wilderness, "Do not follow the practices of your fathers; do not observe their regulations, nor defile yourselves with their idols. |
| 19I am the LORD your God. You are to follow my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them. | 19I am the LORD your God; follow my statutes, observe my regulations, and carry them out. |
| 20You are to make my Sabbaths holy, and you are to let them serve as a sign between you and me, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'" | 20Treat my Sabbaths as holy and they will be a reminder of our relationship, and then you will know that I am the LORD your God." |
| 21"But they rebelled against me. They didn't live according to my statutes, observe my ordinances, or practice them, by which a person will live. They also kept profaning my Sabbaths. So I said that I was going to pour out my anger on them and in my anger I'm going to bring about a complete end to them in the wilderness. | 21"'But the children rebelled against me, did not follow my statutes, did not observe my regulations by carrying them out (the one who obeys them will live by them), and desecrated my Sabbaths. I decided to pour out my rage on them and fully vent my anger against them in the wilderness. |
| 22But I withdrew my decision so my reputation wouldn't be tarnished among the nations before whose eyes I brought them out. | 22But I refrained from doing so, and acted instead for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. |
| 23"Futhermore, I solemnly swore in the wilderness to disperse them among the nations and scatter them to other lands | 23I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands. |
| 24because they didn't observe my ordinances. Instead, they rejected my statutes, profaned my Sabbaths, and worshipped their ancestors' idols. | 24I did this because they did not observe my regulations, they rejected my statutes, they desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols. |
| 25So I gave them statutes that weren't good and ordinances by which they could not live. | 25I also gave them decrees which were not good and regulations by which they could not live. |
| 26I made them unclean because of their offerings, so they made all their firstborn to pass through the fire, so that I could make them astonished. Then they'll know that I am the LORD." | 26I declared them to be defiled because of their sacrifices--they caused all their first born to pass through the fire--so that I would devastate them, so that they will know that I am the LORD.' |
| 27"Therefore, Son of Man, you are to speak to the children of Israel and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Your ancestors also blasphemed me in their treacherous behavior against me. | 27"Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: In this way too your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me. |
| 28I brought them to the land that I had promised to give them. But whenever they saw any high hill and or any leafy tree, they slaughtered their sacrifices there and presented their offerings that provoked my anger. There they presented their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offering. | 28I brought them to the land which I swore to give them, but whenever they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices there and presented the offerings that provoke me to anger. They offered their soothing aroma there and poured out their drink offerings. |
| 29So I asked them, 'What is the high place to which you're going?' That's why the name of the place has been called Bamah to this day."' | 29So I said to them, What is this high place you go to?'" (So it is called "High Place" to this day.) |
| 30"Therefore you are to say to Israel's house, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Will you defile yourselves like your ancestors did by acting as a prostitute, consistent with their horrible deeds? | 30"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers and engage in prostitution with detestable idols? |
| 31When you present your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with your idols to this day. Should I be inquired of by you, you house of Israel? As I live," declares the LORD, "I certainly won't be inquired of by you." | 31When you present your sacrifices--when you make your sons pass through the fire--you defile yourselves with all your idols to this very day. Will I allow you to seek me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, I will not allow you to seek me! |
| 32The thing that you're imagining is never going to happen, since you're thinking, "We'll be like the nations, like the clans of other lands who serve gods made from wood and stone."'" | 32"'What you plan will never happen. You say, "We will be like the nations, like the clans of the lands, who serve gods of wood and stone." |
| 33"As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "with my powerful hand and outstretched arm, along with my wrath poured out, I'll reign as king over you. | 33As surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, with a powerful hand and an outstretched arm, and with an outpouring of rage, I will be king over you. |
| 34I'll bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered. With a powerful hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, | 34I will bring you out from the nations, and will gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a powerful hand and an outstretched arm and with an outpouring of rage! |
| 35I'll bring you into the wilderness of the nations. I'll judge you right there, face to face. | 35I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. |
| 36Just as I judged your ancestors in the wilderness in the land of Egypt, so I'll judge you," declares the LORD. | 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 sovereign LORD. |
| 37"I'll cause you to pass under the rod until I will have brought you into the bond of the covenant. | 37I will make you pass under the shepherd's staff, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. |
| 38I'll eliminate the rebels among you, along with those who are transgressing against me. I'll bring them out of the land where you've lived, but they won't be able to enter the land of Israel. Then you'll know that I am the LORD." | 38I will eliminate from among you the rebels and those who revolt against me. I will bring them out from the land where they have been residing, but they will not come to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. |
| 39And now, you house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says, "Go ahead and serve your idols, both now and later, but later you'll listen to me, and you won't profane my sacred name again by your offerings and idols. | 39"'As for you, O house of Israel, this is what the sovereign LORD says: Each of you go and serve your idols, if you will not listen to me. But my holy name will not be profaned again by your sacrifices and your idols. |
| 40For on my holy mountain, on Israel's high mountains," declares the Lord GOD, "the whole of Israel's house—all of it—will serve me there in the land. I'll accept them there. And there I'll demand your offerings, the first fruits of your portions of all your sacred things. | 40For there on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD, all the house of Israel will serve me, all of them in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will seek your contributions and your choice gifts, with all your holy things. |
| 41"When I will have brought you from among the people and have gathered you from the lands where you were scattered, I'll accept you as a pleasing aroma. I'll reveal my holiness among you, and the entire world will see it. | 41When I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, I will accept you along with your soothing aroma. I will display my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. |
| 42Then you'll know that I, the LORD, brought you to the land of Israel, to the land that I promised to give to your ancestors. | 42Then you will know that I am the LORD when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land I swore to give to your fathers. |
| 43You'll remember all your practices and evil actions by which you've become defiled. You'll loathe yourselves because of all the evil things you've done. | 43And there you will remember your conduct and all your deeds by which you defiled yourselves. You will despise yourselves because of all the evil deeds you have done. |
| 44Then you'll know that I am the LORD, when I will have dealt with you for the benefit of my own reputation and not according to your evil attitudes or corrupt practices, you house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD. | 44Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for the sake of my reputation and not according to your wicked conduct and corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the sovereign LORD.'" |
| 45 This message came to me from the LORD: | 45The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 46"Son of Man, turn to the south and oppose it, talking toward the south. | 46"Son of man, turn toward the south, and speak out against the south. Prophesy against the open scrub land of the Negev, |
| 47Prophesy against the forest of the Negev, 'Listen to this message from the LORD. This is what the Lord GOD says: "Look out! I'm about to ignite a fire and set it against you. It will devour every tree—whether green or dry—that lives in you. This powerful flame will not be extinguishable, and the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it. | 47and say to the scrub land of the Negev, 'Hear the word of the LORD: This is what the sovereign LORD says: Look here, I am about to start a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The flaming fire will not be extinguished, and the whole surface of the ground from the Negev to the north will be scorched by it. |
| 48Then everyone will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it, because it won't be extinguished."'" | 48And everyone will see that I, the LORD, have burned it; it will not be extinguished.'" |
| 49Then I said, "O Lord GOD! They're saying about me, 'Isn't he one to propound parables?'" | 49Then I said, "O sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, 'Does he not simply speak in eloquent figures of speech?'" |
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