God defends his justice. EZEKIEL. hath walked in my statutes; he shall not gressions, whereby ye have transgressed. the son hath done that which is lawful and CHAP. XIX. MOREOVER, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, ess: she lay down among lions, she nour2 And say, What is thy mother? A liorished her whelps among young lions. it became a young lion, and it learned to 3 And she brought up one of her whelps: catch the prey; it devoured men. 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the was taken in their pit, and they brought 4 The nations also heard of him; he wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. him with chains unto the land of Egypt. 21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep and her hope was lost, then she took another 5 Now when she saw that she had waited, all my statutes, and do that which is law-of her whelps, and made him a young lion. ful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. 23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? 6 And he went up and down among the ed to catch the prey, and devoured men. lions, he became a young lion, and learn and he laid waste their cities; and the every side from the provinces, and spread 24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and commit- and brought him to the king of Babylon: 9 And they put him in ward in chains, teth iniquity, and doeth according to all the they brought him into holds, that his voice abominations that the wicked man doeth, should no more be heard upon the mounshall he live? All his righteousness that he tains of Israel. hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his blood, planted by the waters: she was 10 Thy mother is like a vine in thy sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. fruitful and full of branches by reason of 25 Yet ye say, The way of the LORD many waters. is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? 26 When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done, shall he die. tres of them that bare rule, and her stature 11 And she had strong rods for the scepand she appeared in her height with the was exalted among the thick branches, multitude of her branches. 12 But she was plucked up in fury, she 27 Again, when the wicked man turn-wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods was cast down to the ground, and the east eth away from his wickedness that he hath were broken and withered; the fire concommitted, and doeth that which is law-sumed them. ful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. derness, in a dry and thirsty ground. 13 And now she is planted in the wilbranches, which hath devoured her fruit, 14 And fire is gone out of a rod of her 29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The tre to rule. This is a lamentation, and so that she hath no strong rod to be a scepway of the LORD is not equal. O house of shall be for a lamentation. Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? CHAP. XX. 30 Therefore, I will judge you, O house AND it came to pass in the seventh of Israel, every one according to his ways, of the month, that certain of the elders of 2 Then came the word of the LORD unto 31 T Cast away froin you all your trans-me, saying, 1 The story of the rebellion CHAP. XX. of the Israelites. 3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of polluted my sabbaths: for their heart wen Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the after their idols. Lord God; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. 4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man? wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: 17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. 18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judg5 And say unto them, Thus saith the ments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: Lord GoD; In the day when I chose Israel, 19 I am the LORD your God; walk in and lifted up my hand unto the seed of my statutes, and keep my judgments, and the house of Jacob, and made myself do them; known unto them in the land of Egypt, 20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they when I lifted up my hand unto them, shall be a sign between me and you, that ye saying, I am the LORD your God; may know that I am the LORD your God. 6 In the day that I lifted up my hand 21 Notwithstanding, the children rebelunto them, to bring them forth of the land led against me: they walked not in my of Egypt into a land that I had espied for statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, flowing with milk and honey, which them, which if a man do, he shall even live is the glory of all lands: in them: they polluted my sabbaths: then 7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, every man the abominations of his eyes, to accomplish my anger against them in and defile not yourselves with the idols of the wilderness. Egypt: I am the LORD your God. 22 Nevertheless, I withdrew my hand, 8 But they rebelled against me, and and wrought for my name's sake, that it would not hearken unto me: they did not should not be polluted in the sight of the every man cast away the abominations of heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. their eyes, neither did they forsake the 23 I lifted up my hand unto them idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out also in the wilderness, that I would scatmy fury upon them, to accomplish my ter them among the heathen, and disperse anger against them in the midst of the land them through the countries; 24 Because they had not executed my 9 But I wrought for my name's sake, judgments, but had despised my statutes, that it should not be polluted before the and had polluted my sabbaths, and the heathen, among whom they were, in whose eyes were after their fathers' idols. sight I made myself known unto them, in 25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. that were not good, and judgments where10 Wherefore, I caused them to go by they should not live; forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. of Egypt. 11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if man do, he shall even live in them. a 26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. 12 Morcover, also I gave them my sab- 27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto baths, to be a sign between me and them, the house of Israel, and say unto them, that they might know that I am the LORD Thus saith the Lord Gop, Yet in this your that sanctify them. fathers have blasphemed me, in that they 13 But the house of Israel rebelled have committed a trespass against me. against me in the wilderness: they walked 28 For when I had brought them into not in my statutes, and they despised my the land, for the which I lifted up my judgments, which if a man do, he shall hand to give it to them, then they saw every even live in them and my sabbaths they high hill, and all the thick trees, and they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour offered there their sacrifices, and there they out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink-offerings. 29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? and the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. 15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not 30 Wherefore, say unto the house of bring them into the land which I had given Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are yo them, flowing with milk and honey, which polluted after the manner of your fathers? is the glory of all lands; and commit ye whoredom after their abo 16 Because they despised my judg-minations? ments, and walked not in my statutes, but 31 For when ye offer your gifts, when God promises to gather them. EZEKIEL. ye make your sons to pass through the fire, rupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the house of Israel? As came unto me, saying, 46 Son of man, set thy face toward the and prophesy against the forest of the south south, and drop thy word toward the south, 32 And that which cometh into your rule over you: 34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. 47 And say to the forest of the south, the Lord Gon; Behold, I will kindle a fire Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the all faces from the south to the north shall flaming flame shall not be quenched, and be burned therein. have kindled it. it shall not be quenched. 35 And I will bring you into the wil-of derness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so 38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, 3 And say to the land of Israel, Thus and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked. 4 Seeing then that I will cut off from 39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus fore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath thee the righteous and the wicked, theresaith the Lord Gon; Go ye, serve ye against all flesh from the south to the north: every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute LORD have drawn forth my sword out of 5 That all flesh may know that I the ye my holy name no more with your gifts, his sheath: it shall not return any more. and with your idols. 40 For in my holy mountain, in the the breaking of thy loins; and with bitter6 Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with mountain of the height of Israel, saith the ness sigh before their eyes. Lord Gop, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou 7 And it shall be, when they say unto there will I accept them, and there will I shalt answer, For the tidings, because it require your offerings, and the first fruits of cometh and every heart shall melt, and your oblations, with all your holy things. all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit 41 I will accept you with your sweet shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as savour, when I bring you out from the peo-water: behold, it cometh, and shall be ple, and gather you out of the countries brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD. wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. unto me, saying, 8 Again the word of the LORD came 42 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Is-saith the LORD; Say, A Sword, a sword is 9 Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus rael, into the country for the which I lift-sharpened, and also furbished: ed up my hand to give it to your fathers. 10 It is sharpened to make a sore slaugh 43 And there shall ye remember your ter, it is furbished that it may glitter; ways, and all your doings wherein ye have should we then make mirth? it contemneth been defiled; and ye shall loathe your- the rod of my son, as every tree. selves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. 11 And he hath given it to be furbished, 44 And ye shall know that I am the sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it that it may be handled: this sword is LORD, when I have wrought with you for into the hand of the slayer. wicked ways, nor according to your cor-shall be upon my people, it shall be upon 12 Cry and howl, son of man: for it my name's sake, not according to your 630 CHAP. XXII. A catalogue of Jerusalem's sins. 28 T And thou, son of man, prophesy and all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason whose right it is; and I will give it him. say, Thus saith the Lord GoD concerning of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh. 13 Because it is a trial, and what if the the Ammonites, and concerning their resword is drawn: for the slaughter it is fursword contemn even the rod? it shall be proach; even say thou, The sword, the no more, saith the Lord GoD.. 14 Thou, therefore, son of man, pro- bished, to consume because of the glitphesy, and smite thine hands together, and tering: let the sword be doubled the third time, 29 While they see vanity unto thee, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of while they divine a lie unto thee, to bring of the wicked, whose day is come, when the great men that are slain, which entereth thee upon the necks of them that are slain, into their privy chambers. 10 In thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness: in thee have they hum26 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove bled her that was set apart for pollution. the diadem, and take off the crown: this 11 And one hath committed abomination hath lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; shall not be the same: exalt him that is with his neighbour's wife; and another low, and abase him that is high. 27 I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and another in thee hath humbled his sis and it shall be no more, until he come ter, his father's daughter. God's judgment on Jerusalem. EZEKIEL. Of Aholah and Aholibah. 12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed 28 And her prophets have daubed them blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neigh- and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus bours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath saith the Lord GOD. not spoken. 13 ¶ Behold, therefore I have smitten 29 The people of the land have used my hand at thy dishonest gain which oppression, and exercised robbery, and thou hast made, and at thy blood which have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they hath been in the midst of thee. have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 14 Can thy heart endure, or can thy 30 And I sought for a man among them, hands be strong, in the days that I shall that should make up the hedge, and stand deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken in the gap before me for the land, that I it, and will do it. should not destroy it: but I found none. 15 And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee. 16 And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD. 17 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 31 Therefore, have I poured out mine Tunto me, saying, 2 Son of man, there were two women, 18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to the daughters of one mother: me become dross: all they are brass, and 3 And they committed whoredoms in tin, and iron, and lead,in the midst of the Egypt; they committed whoredoms in furnace; they are even the dross of silver. their youth: there were their breasts 19 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, pressed, and there they bruised the teats Because ye are all become dross, behold, of their virginity. therefore I will gather you into the midst 4 And the names of them were Aholah of Jerusalem. the elder, and Aholibah her sister; and 20 As they gather silver, and brass, and they were mine, and they bare sons and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of daughters. Thus were their names; Sathe furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to maria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger 5 And Aholah played the harlot when and in my fury, and I will leave you there, she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, and melt you. on the Assyrians her neighbours, 21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow 6 Which were clothed with blue, capupon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye tains and rulers, all of them desirable shall be melted in the midst thereof. young men, horsemen riding upon horses. 22 As silver is melted in the midst of 7 Thus she committed her whoredoms the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the with them, with all them that were the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on LORD have poured out my fury upon you. whom she doted; with all their idols she 23 ¶ And the word of the LORD came defiled herself. unto me, saying, 24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. 8 Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whore 25 There is a conspiracy of her pro- dom upon her. phets in the midst thereof, like a roaring 9 Wherefore, I have delivered her into lion ravening the prey; they have devoured the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the souls; they have taken the treasure and Assyrians, upon whom she doted. precious things; they have made her many 10 These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, slew her with the sword: and she became and have profaned my holy things: they famous among women; for they had exehave put no difference between the holy cuted judgment upon her. and profane, neither have they shewed 11 And when her sister Aholibah saw difference between the unclean and the this, she was more corrupt in her inordiclean, and have hid their eyes from my nate love than she, and in her whoredoms sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. more than her sister in her whoredoms. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are 12 She doted upon the Assyrians her like wolves ravening the prey, to shed neighbours, captains and rulers clothed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dis- most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon honest gain. horses, all of them desirable young men. |