Ezekiel 20

1 In 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.

2 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

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.

4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers

5 and 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.’

6 On 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.

7 And 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.’

8 But 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.

9 But 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.

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

11 And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.

12 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

13 Yet 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.

14 But 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.

15 Moreover, 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—

16 because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.

17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.

18 In 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.

19 I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.

20 Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

21 But 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.

22 But 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.

23 However, 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.

24 For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.

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

26 And 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.

27 Therefore, 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.

28 When 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.

29 So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.)

30 Therefore 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?

31 When 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!

32 When 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.

33 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you.

34 With 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.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 Just 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.

37 I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

38 And 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.

39 And 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.

40 For 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.

41 When 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.

42 Then 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.

43 There 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.

44 Then 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.”

45 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.

47 Say 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.

48 Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”

49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

1 ¶ And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, [that] certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2 Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

4 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5 ¶ And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I [am] the LORD your God;

6 In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands:

7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.

8 But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they [were], in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10 ¶ Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them.

12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I [am] the LORD that sanctify them.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour 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.

15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands;

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

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 judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

19 I [am] the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I [am] the LORD your God.

21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

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.

27 ¶ Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28 [For] when I had brought them into the land, [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they 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.

30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

32 And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33 ¶ [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I 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.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

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.

39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40 For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42 And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44 And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

45 ¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

48 And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

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

2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

3 Son of man, tell the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD GOD; Are ye come to ask of me? As I live, I will be unasked of you, saith the LORD GOD.

4 But if thou wilt punish them, O son of man, so mayest thou punish them. Shew them the abominations of their fathers.

5 And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD GOD; In the day that I chose Israel I lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt. Yea, I lifted up my hand unto them, and said: I am the LORD your God.

6 And at that time I lifted up mine hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt unto a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, a goodly land above all countries,

7 And said unto them: Cast away every man the abominations that are before his eyes, and defile not yourselves in the idols of Egypt: for I am the LORD your God.

8 And they disobeyed me, and would not obey me: and none of them cast away the abominations from before his eyes, nor forsook the idols of Egypt. Then thought I to pour out mine anger upon them, and to let all mine wrath pass upon them, even in the land of Egypt.

9 But I left it for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the heathen among whom they were, and before whom I made myself known unto them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10 And when I had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and had brought them into the wilderness,

11 I gave them my commandments, and taught them my statutes, by which a man liveth that keepeth them.

12 I also gave them my sabbaths for a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD which sanctifieth them.

13 But the house of Israel also disobeyed me in the wilderness, and lived not according to my commandments, and despised my statutes, by which a man liveth that keepeth them, and greatly profaned my sabbaths. Then I thought to pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness and even to destroy them.

14 But I left it for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the heathen, before whom I had brought it out.

15 And I lifted up mine hand against them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, which floweth with milk and honey, a goodly land above all countries,

16 Because they had despised my statutes, and had not walked in my commandments, and had profaned my sabbaths; for they walked after the idols of their hearts.

17 But mine eye spared them, lest I destroy them, or even destroy them in the wilderness.

18 And I said unto their children in the wilderness, Ye shall not walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither shall ye keep their judgments, neither shall ye defile yourselves in their idols.

19 For I am the LORD your God: according to my commandments shall ye live, and my statutes shall ye keep, and do them.

20 And my sabbaths ye shall keep holy, that they may be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

21 And the children also disobeyed me, and kept not my commandments, neither kept they my statutes to do them, by which the man that keepeth them liveth; and they profaned my sabbaths. Then I thought to pour out my wrath on them and to let all my anger go out on them in the wilderness.

22 But I turned my hand, and left it for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the heathen, before whom I had brought it out.

23 And I lifted up mine hand against them in the wilderness, to scatter them among the heathen, and to destroy them in the countries,

24 Because they had not kept my commandments, and had despised my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and had walked after the idols of their fathers.

25 Therefore delivered I them into doctrines which are not good, and into judgments wherein they could not live,

26 And rejected them with their sacrifice, when they burnt all the firstborn with fire, that I might destroy them, and that they might know that I am the LORD.

27 Speak therefore, thou son of man, unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD GOD; Your fathers have blasphemed me yet more, and trespassed against me.

28 For when I had brought them into the land which I had lifted up mine hand to give them, where they saw a high hill, or a thick tree, there they offered their sacrifices, and there they brought their hostile gifts, and there they burnt incense of their sweet savour, and there they poured out their drink offerings.

29 And I said unto them: What is this high place whither ye go? And so it is called the high place unto this day.

30 Say therefore unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the LORD GOD; Ye have defiled yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and have committed fornication with their abominations.

31 And defile yourselves in your idols, to whom ye offer your gifts, and burn your sons and your daughters by fire, unto this day: and I should ask you of the. And I should ask you of the house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will be unasked of you.

32 For that ye think that we will do as the heathen do, and worship wood and stone, as other men do in the countries, ye shall lack that.

33 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will rule over you with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out;

34 And I will bring you out of the nations, and gather you out of the countries whither ye are scattered, with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out;

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will come face to face with you.

36 As I dealt with your fathers in the wilderness of Egypt, so will I deal with you, saith the Lord GOD.

37 I will surely bring you under the rod, and compel you into the bonds of the covenant.

38 And I will sweep out from among you the apostates that transgress against me: yea, out of the land where ye dwell I will bring them, and will not suffer them to come into the land of Israel, that ye may learn that I am the LORD.

39 Therefore, ye of the house of Israel, thus saith the LORD GOD; Because ye will not obey me, go and serve every man his own idol; but leave my holy name henceforth undefiled with your sacrifices and your idols.

40 For thus saith the LORD GOD; In my holy mountain, in the high mountain of Israel, there shall all the house of Israel and all that are in the land serve me: there shall they be acceptable unto me: and there will I require your heave offerings, and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, with all that ye sanctify unto me.

41 Ye shall be acceptable unto me with a sweet savour, when I shall bring you out of the nations, and gather you out of the countries whither ye are scattered, and shall be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have brought you into the land of Israel, into the land which I lifted up mine hand to give unto your fathers.

43 There ye shall remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye are defiled; and ye shall be displeased with all your wickedness which ye have done,

44 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I do with you for my name's sake, and not according to your wickedness and your evil doings, O house of Israel, saith the LORD GOD.