I
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Priest Among the Exiles
1Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
1In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, while I was among the exiles by the Chebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
2In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,
2On the fifth day of the month, in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's exile,
3The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
3the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Babylonians by the Chebar River, and the hand of the LORD was on him there.
The Storm and the Four Living Creatures
4And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
4I looked, and there was a windstorm coming out of the north: a huge cloud, with fire flashing back into itself and a glow all around it, and out of the middle of the fire came something the color of glowing amber.
5Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
5Out of the middle of it came what looked like four living creatures. This is what they looked like: they had the form of a human being.
6And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.
6Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.
7And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
7Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf's hoof, and they gleamed like polished bronze.
8And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.
8Under their wings, on their four sides, they had human hands, and all four of them had their faces and their wings.
9Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
9Their wings touched one another. They did not turn as they moved; each one went straight ahead.
Faces, Wings, and Fire
10As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
10As for what their faces looked like, all four had the face of a human and the face of a lion on the right side, all four had the face of an ox on the left side, and all four had the face of an eagle.
11Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
11That is how their faces were. Their wings were spread upward; two wings of each one touched the wings of another, and two covered their bodies.
12And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
12Each one went straight ahead. Wherever the spirit was going, they went, and they did not turn as they moved.
13As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
13As for what the living creatures looked like, they appeared like burning coals of fire and like torches. The fire moved back and forth among the living creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it.
14And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
14The living creatures darted back and forth like flashes of lightning.
The Wheels Full of Eyes
15Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces.
15As I looked at the living creatures, I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the living creatures with their four faces.
16The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
16The wheels looked and were made like this: they shone like beryl, and all four looked alike. In how they looked and how they were made, each seemed to be a wheel inside a wheel.
17When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went.
17When they moved, they could go in any of their four directions, and they did not turn as they went.
18As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four.
18As for their rims, they were so high that they were frightening, and the rims of all four were full of eyes all the way around.
19And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
19When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them, and when the living creatures rose up from the ground, the wheels rose too.
20Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
20Wherever the spirit was going, they went, for that was where the spirit was going, and the wheels rose up alongside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
21When those moved, these moved; when those stood still, these stood still; and when those rose up from the ground, the wheels rose alongside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
The Expanse and the Noise of Wings
22And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.
22Over the heads of the living creatures was something like a wide expanse, gleaming like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.
23And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies.
23Under the expanse their wings were held straight out, one toward another. Each one had two wings covering its body on this side, and each one had two covering it on that side.
24And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
24When they moved, I heard the sound of their wings, like the roar of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the noise of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.
25And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.
25And a voice came from the expanse over their heads as they stood still with their wings lowered.
The Likeness of the Glory of the LORD
26And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
26Above the expanse over their heads was something that looked like a throne, like a sapphire stone, and on this throne-like shape, high above, was a figure that looked like a man.
27And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.
27From what looked like his waist upward, I saw something like glowing amber, like fire enclosed all around it; and from what looked like his waist downward, I saw what looked like fire, with a brightness all around him.
28As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
28The brightness around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. This was what the likeness of the glory of the LORD looked like. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.
II
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Son of Man, Stand Upon Thy Feet
1And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.
1He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet, and I will speak to you."
2And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.
2As he spoke to me, the spirit came into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking to me.
3And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day.
3He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have sinned against me right up to this very day.
4For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
4They are stubborn and hard-hearted children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.'
5And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
5And whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are a rebellious house, they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Briers, Thorns, and Scorpions
6And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
6As for you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or afraid of what they say, though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or terrified by their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
7And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.
7You must speak my words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are thoroughly rebellious.
The Scroll of Lamentations
8But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
8But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you."
9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
9Then I looked, and a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a scroll.
10And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
10He unrolled it in front of me. It had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were laments, mourning, and woe.
III
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Sweet as Honey in His Mouth
1Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
1Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, and then go and speak to the house of Israel."
2So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
3He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and fill yourself with this scroll I am giving you." So I ate it, and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.
A Forehead Hard as Flint
4And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.
4Then he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.
5For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
5For you are not being sent to a people with a foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel;
6Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.
6not to many peoples with foreign speech and hard languages whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
7But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
7But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is stubborn and hard-hearted.
8Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
8See, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads.
9As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
9I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not fear them or be terrified by their looks, though they are a rebellious house."
Go to Them of the Captivity
10Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.
10Then he said to me, "Son of man, take all the words I speak to you into your heart, and hear them with your ears.
11And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
11Then go to the exiles, to your own people, and speak to them. Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says,' whether they listen or refuse to listen."
Seven Days at Telabib
12Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.
12Then the spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the sound of a great rumbling: "Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place."
13I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.
13I also heard the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against one another, the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great rumbling.
14So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
14So the spirit lifted me up and carried me away, and I went in bitterness, with my spirit burning, but the hand of the LORD was strong on me.
15Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
15I came to the exiles at Tel Abib who lived by the Chebar River, and I sat where they were sitting and stayed there among them for seven days, stunned.
The Watchman for Israel
16And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
16At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me:
17Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
17"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. So hear the word from my mouth and give them warning from me.
18When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
18When I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak up to warn the wicked to leave his wicked way and save his life, that wicked person will die in his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his blood.
19Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
19But if you warn the wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die in his sin, but you will have saved your own life.
20Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
20Again, when a righteous person turns from his righteousness and does wrong, and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die. Because you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous things he did will not be remembered, but I will hold you responsible for his blood.
21Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
21But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took the warning, and you will have saved your own life."
Bound and Struck Silent
22And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.
22The hand of the LORD was on me there, and he said to me, "Get up, go out to the plain, and I will speak with you there."
23Then I arose, and went forth into the plain: and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar: and I fell on my face.
23So I got up and went out to the plain, and there stood the glory of the LORD, like the glory I had seen by the Chebar River, and I fell face down.
24Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself within thine house.
24Then the spirit came into me and set me on my feet. He spoke with me and said to me, "Go and shut yourself inside your house.
25But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:
25As for you, son of man, they will put ropes on you and tie you up with them, so that you cannot go out among the people.
26And I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover: for they are a rebellious house.
26I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house.
27But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a rebellious house.
27But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says.' Whoever will listen, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house."
IV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Brick With Jerusalem Drawn On It
1Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:
1"Now, son of man, take a clay tablet, set it in front of you, and draw a city on it: Jerusalem.
2And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.
2Then lay siege to it. Build a siege wall against it, pile up a ramp against it, set up camps around it, and place battering rams all around it.
3Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.
3Then take an iron griddle and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city. Turn your face toward it; it will be under siege, and you will besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.
Lying on One Side, Then the Other
4Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.
4Then lie down on your left side and place the sin of the house of Israel on it. You will bear their sin for as many days as you lie on it.
5For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
5I have assigned you the years of their sin according to the number of days: three hundred and ninety days. So you will bear the sin of the house of Israel.
6And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.
6When you have finished those days, lie down again, on your right side, and bear the sin of the house of Judah for forty days. I have given you one day for each year.
7Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.
7Turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it.
8And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.
8And see, I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
Bread Weighed Out and Water Measured
9Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.
9Also take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt, put them in one container, and make bread for yourself out of them. You are to eat it during the three hundred and ninety days you lie on your side.
10And thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day: from time to time shalt thou eat it.
10The food you eat is to be weighed out: twenty shekels a day. Eat it at set times.
11Thou shalt drink also water by measure, the sixth part of an hin: from time to time shalt thou drink.
11You are also to drink water by measure, a sixth of a hin. Drink it at set times.
12And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight.
12Eat it as you would a barley cake, and bake it in their sight over a fire of human waste."
Ezekiel Objects and the Fuel Is Changed
13And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.
13Then the LORD said, "This is how the people of Israel will eat their defiled bread among the nations where I will drive them."
14Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
14Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! I have never made myself unclean. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything that died on its own or was torn apart by animals, and no unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."
15Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.
15"Very well," he said to me. "I will let you use cow dung instead of human waste, and you may bake your bread over that."
The Staff of Bread Broken
16Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment:
16Then he said to me, "Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem. They will eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and they will drink water by measure and with dread,
17That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and consume away for their iniquity.
17because bread and water will run short. They will look at one another in dismay and waste away because of their sin."
V
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Sword Used as a Razor
1And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
1"Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber's razor to shave your head and your beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair.
2Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
2When the days of the siege are over, burn a third of it in the middle of the city. Take another third and strike it with the sword all around the city. Scatter the last third to the wind, and I will draw a sword to chase after it.
3Thou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
3Also take a few of the hairs and tuck them into the folds of your robe.
4Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
4Then take some of those and throw them into the fire and burn them up. From there a fire will spread to the whole house of Israel.
This Is Jerusalem
5Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
5This is what the Lord GOD says: This is Jerusalem. I placed her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.
6And she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
6But she has rebelled against my laws with more wickedness than the nations, and against my decrees more than the countries around her, for they have rejected my laws and have not lived by my decrees.
7Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;
7Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: You have been more unruly than the nations around you. You have not lived by my decrees or kept my laws; you have not even lived up to the standards of the nations around you.
8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
8Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I myself am against you, and I will carry out judgments in the middle of you in full view of the nations.
9And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
9Because of all your detestable practices, I will do to you what I have never done before and will never do again.
The Three Parts Explained
10Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
10So in the middle of you fathers will eat their sons, and sons will eat their fathers. I will carry out judgments on you, and all who are left of you I will scatter to every wind.
11Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
11Therefore, as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile things and all your detestable practices, I myself will cut you down. My eye will not spare you, and I will have no pity.
12A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
12A third of you will die of plague or be consumed by famine inside the city; a third will fall by the sword all around you; and a third I will scatter to every wind and draw a sword to chase after them.
13Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
13Then my anger will be spent, I will let my fury rest on them, and I will be satisfied. And when I have spent my fury on them, they will know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my zeal.
A Reproach Among the Nations
14Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
14I will make you a ruin and a disgrace among the nations around you, in the sight of everyone who passes by.
15So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
15You will be a disgrace and a taunt, a warning and a horror to the nations around you, when I carry out judgments on you in anger and fury and with furious rebukes. I, the LORD, have spoken.
16When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
16When I shoot the deadly arrows of famine at them, arrows meant to destroy, I will send them to destroy you. I will make the famine worse for you and cut off your supply of bread.
17So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.
17I will send famine and wild animals against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken."
VI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Against the High Places
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me:
2Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
2"Son of man, turn your face toward the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.
3And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.
3Say, 'Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: Look, I myself am going to bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.
4And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
4Your altars will be torn down and your incense altars smashed, and I will throw down your slain in front of your idols.
5And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
5I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel in front of their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars.
6In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
6Wherever you live, the towns will be laid waste and the high places left in ruins, so that your altars will be wrecked and ruined, your idols broken and finished, your incense altars cut down, and everything you made wiped out.
7And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
A Remnant Who Remember
8Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.
8Yet I will spare some of you. Some of you will escape the sword among the nations when you are scattered through the countries.
9And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
9Then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are taken as captives, how I was broken by their unfaithful hearts that turned away from me and by their eyes that lusted after their idols. They will loathe themselves for the evil they did in all their detestable practices.
10And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.
10And they will know that I am the LORD, and that I did not warn for nothing that I would bring this disaster on them.'
Smite With Thine Hand and Stamp
11Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
11This is what the Lord GOD says: Clap your hands, stamp your feet, and say, 'Alas for all the evil, detestable practices of the house of Israel! For they will fall by the sword, by famine, and by plague.
12He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.
12Whoever is far away will die of plague; whoever is nearby will fall by the sword; and whoever is left and under siege will die of famine. That is how I will spend my fury on them.
13Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.
13Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain lie among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree and every leafy oak, the places where they offered pleasing aromas to all their idols.
14So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
14I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land a wasteland, more desolate than the desert toward Diblah, everywhere they live. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"
VII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The End Comes on the Land
1Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me:
2Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
2"And you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel: The end! The end has come on the four corners of the land.
3Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.
3Now the end is upon you. I will unleash my anger against you, judge you according to your ways, and repay you for all your detestable practices.
4And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
4My eye will not spare you, and I will have no pity. I will repay you for your ways, and your detestable practices will remain among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Disaster Upon Disaster
5Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come.
5This is what the Lord GOD says: Disaster! An unheard-of disaster! Look, it is coming.
6An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
6An end has come, the end has come. It has woken up against you. Look, it is coming.
7The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.
7The morning has come for you, you who live in the land. The time has come, the day of trouble is near, and it is not a day of joyful shouting on the mountains.
8Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.
8Very soon I will pour out my fury on you and spend my anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your detestable practices.
9And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: I will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee; and ye shall know that I am the LORD that smiteth.
9My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. I will repay you for your ways and for the detestable practices among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD who strikes.
Buying and Selling Come to an End
10Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.
10Look, the day! Look, it has come. The morning has broken, the rod has blossomed, pride has budded.
11Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them.
11Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. None of them will be left, none of their crowd, none of their wealth, and no one will mourn for them.
12The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
12The time has come, the day is near. Let the buyer not rejoice and the seller not grieve, for wrath is on the whole crowd of them.
13For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although they were yet alive: for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.
13The seller will not get back what he sold, even if they are both still alive, for the vision concerns the whole crowd of them, and it will not be reversed. Because of their sin, none of them will hold on to their lives.
No One Goes Out to Battle
14They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
14They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready, but no one goes out to battle, for my wrath is on the whole crowd of them.
15The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within: he that is in the field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall devour him.
15Outside is the sword; inside are plague and famine. Whoever is in the field will die by the sword, and whoever is in the city will be devoured by famine and plague.
16But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.
16Those who escape will get away and be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, each one over his sin.
17All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak as water.
17Every hand will hang limp, and every knee will turn to water.
18They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.
18They will put on sackcloth, and horror will cover them. Shame will be on every face, and every head will be shaved.
Silver Thrown Into the Streets
19They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
19They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will be treated as trash. Their silver and gold will not be able to save them on the day of the LORD's wrath. It will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs, because it was what made them stumble into sin.
20As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
20They were proud of their beautiful jewelry, and they used it to make their detestable idols and vile images. Therefore I will turn it into something filthy to them.
21And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
21I will hand it over to foreigners as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as loot, and they will defile it.
22My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
22I will turn my face away from them, and they will defile my treasured place. Robbers will enter it and defile it.
Make a Chain
23Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
23Forge a chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed and the city is full of violence.
24Wherefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses: I will also make the pomp of the strong to cease; and their holy places shall be defiled.
24So I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places will be defiled.
25Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
25Terror is coming. They will look for peace, but there will be none.
26Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.
26Disaster will come on top of disaster, and rumor on top of rumor. Then they will seek a vision from the prophet, but the law will be gone from the priest and counsel from the elders.
27The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
27The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed in despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their ways and judge them by their own standards. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
VIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Hand of the LORD Falls
1And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
1In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell on me there.
2Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
2I looked, and there was a figure that looked like fire. From what looked like his waist downward was fire, and from his waist upward was something like a bright glow, like glowing amber.
3And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
3He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by a lock of my hair. Then the spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and in visions of God he brought me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the idol that provokes jealousy stood.
4And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
4And there was the glory of the God of Israel, just like the vision I had seen in the plain.
The Image of Jealousy
5Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
5Then he said to me, "Son of man, look up now toward the north." So I looked up toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this idol of jealousy.
6He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
6He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great detestable things the house of Israel is doing here, things that drive me far from my sanctuary? But turn again, and you will see even more detestable things."
The Elders in the Hidden Room
7And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
7Then he brought me to the entrance of the courtyard, and when I looked, I saw a hole in the wall.
8Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
8He said to me, "Son of man, dig into the wall now." So I dug into the wall, and there was a doorway.
9And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
9He said to me, "Go in and see the wicked, detestable things they are doing here."
10So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
10So I went in and looked, and there on the wall all around were carved every kind of crawling creature and loathsome animal, and all the idols of the house of Israel.
11And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
11Standing in front of them were seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them, each man with a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense was rising.
12Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
12Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, each one in the room of his own carved images? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has abandoned the land.'"
13He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
13He also said to me, "Turn again, and you will see even more detestable things they are doing."
Women Weeping for Tammuz
14Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
14Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the LORD's house, and there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
15Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
15He said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? Turn again, and you will see even more detestable things than these."
Bowing to the Sun
16And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
16Then he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, and they were bowing down to the sun in the east.
17Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
17He said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a small thing for the house of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? For they have filled the land with violence and keep provoking me to anger. Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose.
18Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
18So I too will act in fury. My eye will not spare, and I will have no pity. Even though they shout in my ears with a loud voice, I will not listen to them."
IX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Mark on the Foreheads
1He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
1Then he cried out in my ears with a loud voice, "Bring forward the men who are in charge of the city, each one with his weapon of destruction in his hand."
2And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
2And I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate that faces north, each with a killing weapon in his hand. One man among them was dressed in linen, with a writer's ink case at his side. They came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
3Now the glory of the God of Israel had risen from the cherub where it had rested and moved to the threshold of the temple. And he called to the man dressed in linen who had the writer's ink case at his side.
4And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
4The LORD said to him, "Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who sigh and groan over all the disgusting things being done inside it."
Begin at My Sanctuary
5And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
5And to the others he said in my hearing, "Follow him through the city and strike. Do not let your eye spare anyone, and do not have pity.
6Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
6Kill them all, old and young, girls, little children, and women. But do not go near anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.
7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
7Then he said to them, "Defile the temple and fill its courts with the dead. Go out!" So they went out and killed throughout the city.
Ezekiel Pleads for the Remnant
8And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
8While they were killing, and I was left alone, I fell on my face and cried out, "Ah, Lord GOD! Are you going to destroy all that remains of Israel as you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?"
9Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
9He said to me, "The guilt of the house of Israel and Judah is very great. The land is full of bloodshed and the city is full of injustice, for they say, 'The LORD has abandoned the land, and the LORD does not see.'
10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
10So as for me, my eye will not spare, and I will not have pity. I will bring their own way down on their heads."
11And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
11And then the man dressed in linen, with the ink case at his side, brought back his report and said, "I have done as you commanded me."
X
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Coals of Fire Scattered Over the City
1Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
1Then I looked, and in the expanse above the heads of the cherubim there appeared something like a sapphire stone, looking like the shape of a throne, over them.
2And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
2And he spoke to the man dressed in linen and said, "Go in among the wheels, under the cherub, and fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city." And he went in as I watched.
3Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
3Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and the cloud filled the inner court.
4Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.
4Then the glory of the LORD rose up from the cherub and stood over the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD's glory.
5And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
5The sound of the cherubim's wings could be heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of Almighty God when he speaks.
6And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
6And when he had commanded the man dressed in linen, saying, "Take fire from among the wheels, from between the cherubim," the man went in and stood beside a wheel.
7And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
7Then one cherub reached out his hand from among the cherubim to the fire that was between them, took some of it, and put it into the hands of the man dressed in linen, who took it and went out.
The Cherubim and the Wheels
8And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
8And the cherubim appeared to have the shape of a human hand under their wings.
9And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
9Then I looked, and there were four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub, and the wheels looked like they were the color of a beryl stone.
10And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
10As for their appearance, all four looked alike, as if one wheel were inside another wheel.
11When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
11When they moved, they went in any of their four directions. They did not turn as they went, but followed wherever the head faced. They did not turn as they went.
12And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
12Their whole bodies, their backs, their hands, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around, even the wheels that belonged to the four of them.
13As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
13As for the wheels, I heard them called out to in my hearing, "Wheel."
14And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
14Each one had four faces. The first face was the face of a cherub, the second was the face of a man, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.
The Living Creature of the Chebar
15And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
15And the cherubim rose up. This was the living creature I had seen by the Chebar River.
16And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
16When the cherubim moved, the wheels went along beside them; and when the cherubim lifted their wings to rise up from the earth, the wheels did not turn away from their side.
17When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
17When they stood still, the wheels stood still; and when they rose, the wheels rose with them, for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
The Glory Leaves the Threshold
18Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
18Then the glory of the LORD left the threshold of the temple and stood over the cherubim.
19And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
19And the cherubim lifted their wings and rose up from the earth as I watched, and when they went out, the wheels went beside them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
20This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
20This was the living creature I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Chebar River, and I knew that they were cherubim.
21Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
21Each one had four faces and four wings, and something like human hands was under their wings.
22And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
22And their faces looked just like the faces I had seen by the Chebar River, the same look and the same beings. Each one went straight ahead.
XI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Men at the East Gate
1Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD’s house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
1Then the spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the LORD's house, the one facing east. And there at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men, and among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.
2Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
2He said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who plot trouble and give wicked advice in this city.
3Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
3They say, 'The time is not near; let us build houses. This city is the pot, and we are the meat.'
4Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
4So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man."
The City Is Not Your Cooking Pot
5And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
5Then the Spirit of the LORD fell on me and said to me, "Speak. This is what the LORD says: That is what you have been saying, house of Israel, for I know the things that come into your minds, every one of them.
6Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.
6You have piled up your dead in this city; you have filled its streets with the slain.
7Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
7So this is what the Lord GOD says: The dead you have laid in the middle of it, they are the meat, and this city is the pot; but I will bring you out of the middle of it.
8Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.
8You have been afraid of the sword, and I will bring a sword against you, says the Lord GOD.
9And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
9I will bring you out of the middle of it and hand you over to foreigners, and I will carry out judgments against you.
10Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
10You will fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel, and you will know that I am the LORD.
11This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:
11This city will not be your pot, and you will not be the meat in the middle of it. I will judge you at the border of Israel,
12And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
12and you will know that I am the LORD. For you have not walked in my laws or carried out my rules; instead you have followed the ways of the nations around you."
Pelatiah Dies
13And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
13While I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice, "Ah, Lord GOD! Are you going to make a complete end of what is left of Israel?"
A Small Sanctuary in Exile
14Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
14Again the word of the LORD came to me:
15Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.
15"Son of man, your brothers, yes, your own brothers, the men of your family and the whole house of Israel, all of them, are the ones the people of Jerusalem have spoken about, saying, 'Stay far away from the LORD. This land has been given to us as our possession.'
16Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
16So say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Although I have sent them far away among the nations, and although I have scattered them among the countries, still I will be a little sanctuary to them in the countries where they have gone.'
A New Heart and a New Spirit
17Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
17So say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I will gather you from the peoples and collect you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.'
18And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.
18They will come there and remove all its detestable things and all its disgusting practices from it.
19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of their bodies and give them a heart of flesh,
20That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
20so that they may walk in my laws and keep my rules and do them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God.
21But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
21But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and their disgusting practices, I will bring their own way down on their heads, says the Lord GOD."
The Glory Leaves the City
22Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
22Then the cherubim lifted their wings, with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
23And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
23And the glory of the LORD went up from the middle of the city and stood on the mountain on the east side of the city.
24Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
24Afterward the spirit lifted me up and, in a vision by the Spirit of God, brought me to Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision I had seen went up from me.
25Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.
25And I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.
XII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Ezekiel Packs Like a Refugee
1The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD also came to me:
2Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
2"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see; they have ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
3Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.
3So, son of man, pack your things as if for exile and set out by day while they watch. Move from your place to another place while they watch. Perhaps they will take notice, though they are a rebellious house.
4Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.
4Bring out your belongings by day while they watch, as baggage for exile; and in the evening go out while they watch, like those going away into captivity.
5Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.
5Dig through the wall while they watch, and carry your things out through it.
6In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.
6While they watch, lift them onto your shoulder and carry them out in the dusk. Cover your face so you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."
7And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.
7So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I carried them out in the dusk, lifting them onto my shoulder while they watched.
The Sign Explained
8And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
8In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:
9Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?
9"Son of man, hasn't the house of Israel, that rebellious house, asked you, 'What are you doing?'
10Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.
10Say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: This message concerns the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel who are there.'
11Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.
11Say, 'I am your sign. As I have done, so it will be done to them: they will go away into exile, into captivity.'
12And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.
12The prince among them will lift his things onto his shoulder in the dusk and go out. They will dig through the wall to carry him out through it. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the ground with his eyes.
13My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.
13I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he will not see it, though he will die there.
14And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.
14And I will scatter to every wind all those around him who help him, and all his troops, and I will draw the sword after them.
15And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.
15Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I scatter them among the nations and spread them through the countries.
16But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, from famine, and from plague, so that they may tell about all their disgusting practices among the nations where they go; and they will know that I am the LORD."
Eating Bread With Trembling
17Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
17Then the word of the LORD came to me:
18Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;
18"Son of man, eat your bread with shaking, and drink your water with trembling and worry.
19And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.
19And say to the people of the land, 'This is what the Lord GOD says about the people of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with worry and drink their water in dread, because their land will be stripped of everything in it on account of the violence of all who live there.
20And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
20The cities that are lived in will be laid waste, and the land will become a wasteland; and you will know that I am the LORD.'"
The Proverb About Delayed Visions
21And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
21And the word of the LORD came to me:
22Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
22"Son of man, what is this saying you have in the land of Israel: 'The days drag on, and every vision comes to nothing'?
23Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
23So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to this saying, and they will no longer use it in Israel.' Instead, say to them, 'The days are near, and so is the fulfillment of every vision.'
24For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
24For there will no longer be any empty vision or flattering fortune-telling within the house of Israel.
25For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
25For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word I speak will come true; it will not be delayed any longer. In your own days, you rebellious house, I will say the word and carry it out, says the Lord GOD."
No More Delay
26Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
26Again the word of the LORD came to me:
27Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.
27"Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision he sees is for many days from now; he is prophesying about times far in the future.'
28Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.
28So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer. The word I have spoken will be done, says the Lord GOD.'"
XIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Prophets Who Speak Out of Their Own Hearts
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1And the word of the LORD came to me:
2Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
2"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination, 'Hear the word of the LORD!
3Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
3This is what the Lord GOD says: How terrible for the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!
4O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
4Israel, your prophets are like foxes among the ruins.
5Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
5You have not gone up into the gaps in the wall or repaired the wall for the house of Israel, so that it could stand in the battle on the day of the LORD.
6They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.
6They have seen empty visions and lying fortune-telling. They say, "The LORD says," when the LORD has not sent them, and yet they hope that their word will come true.
7Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?
7Haven't you seen an empty vision and spoken a lying fortune-telling when you say, "The LORD says it," though I have not spoken?'
Struck From the Register of Israel
8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
8So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because you have spoken emptiness and seen lies, I am against you, says the Lord GOD.
9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
9My hand will be against the prophets who see empty visions and tell lying fortunes. They will not sit in the council of my people, they will not be written in the register of the house of Israel, and they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.
The Wall Daubed With Untempered Mortar
10Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
10Because, yes, because they have led my people astray, saying, "Peace," when there was no peace; and when someone builds a flimsy wall, they cover it over with whitewash.
11Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
11Say to those who cover it with whitewash that it will fall. There will be a flooding rain; and you, great hailstones, will fall; and a stormy wind will tear it apart.
12Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
12And when the wall has fallen, won't people say to you, "Where is the whitewash you covered it with?"
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
13So this is what the Lord GOD says: I will tear it apart with a stormy wind in my fury; there will be a flooding rain in my anger and great hailstones in my fury to destroy it.
14So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
14I will break down the wall you covered with whitewash and bring it to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare. It will fall, and you will be destroyed in the middle of it; and you will know that I am the LORD.
15Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
15So I will spend my wrath on the wall and on those who covered it with whitewash, and I will say to you, "The wall is gone, and so are those who whitewashed it,
16To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.
16the prophets of Israel who prophesied about Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace," says the Lord GOD.'
Women Who Hunt Souls With Charm Bands
17Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,
17"And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own imagination, and prophesy against them.
18And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?
18Say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: How terrible for the women who sew charm bands for every wrist and make veils for the heads of people of every height, to hunt down souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people and keep your own souls alive?
19And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
19You have dishonored me among my people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread, putting to death people who should not die and keeping alive people who should not live, by lying to my people who listen to lies.'
God Tears the Charms Away
20Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly.
20"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'I am against your charm bands, which you use to hunt down souls like birds. I will tear them from your arms and set free the souls you hunt like birds.
21Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
21I will also tear off your veils and rescue my people from your hands, and they will no longer be prey in your hands. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
22Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
22Because with your lies you have made the hearts of the righteous sad, when I did not make them sad, and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked so they would not turn from their wicked ways by promising them life,
23Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
23you will no longer see empty visions or practice fortune-telling. I will rescue my people from your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.'"
XIV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Elders With Idols in Their Hearts
1Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
1Then some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.
2And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2And the word of the LORD came to me:
3Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
3"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and have put the stumbling block of their sin right in front of their faces. Should I let them ask me anything at all?
4Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
4So speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Any man of the house of Israel who sets up idols in his heart, puts the stumbling block of his sin in front of his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself, in keeping with his many idols,
5That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
5so that I may take hold of the house of Israel in their own hearts, because they have all turned away from me through their idols.'
The Prophet and the Enquirer Share One Punishment
6Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
6So say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Repent! Turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your disgusting practices.
7For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
7For anyone of the house of Israel, or any foreigner living in Israel, who separates himself from me, sets up idols in his heart, puts the stumbling block of his sin in front of his face, and then comes to a prophet to ask him about me, I the LORD will answer him myself.
8And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
8I will set my face against that man and make him a sign and a byword, and I will cut him off from among my people; and you will know that I am the LORD.
9And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
9And if the prophet is fooled into speaking a message, I the LORD have fooled that prophet. I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.
10And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
10They will bear the punishment for their sin. The punishment of the prophet will be the same as the punishment of the one who asks him,
11That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.
11so that the house of Israel may no longer wander away from me or dirty themselves any more with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord GOD.'"
Noah, Daniel, and Job
12The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
12The word of the LORD came to me again:
13Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
13"Son of man, when a land sins against me by being terribly unfaithful, I will stretch out my hand against it and cut off its supply of bread. I will send famine on it and cut off both people and animals from it.
14Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
14Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, says the Lord GOD.
Four Judgments, No Rescue for Sons or Daughters
15If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
15If I send wild beasts through the land and they leave it empty, so that it becomes a wasteland no one can pass through because of the beasts,
16Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
16even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, they could save neither sons nor daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be a wasteland.
17Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
17Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, 'Sword, pass through the land,' so that I cut off both people and animals from it,
18Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
18even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, they could save neither sons nor daughters. They alone would be saved.
19Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
19Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my fury on it in bloodshed, to cut off both people and animals from it,
20Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
20even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only their own lives by their righteousness.
A Remnant Brought Out of Jerusalem
21For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
21For this is what the Lord GOD says: How much worse it will be when I send my four terrible judgments on Jerusalem, the sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague, to cut off both people and animals from it!
22Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
22Yet there will be some survivors left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. They will come out to you, and you will see their conduct and their actions, and you will be comforted about the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem, about everything I have brought on it.
23And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.
23They will comfort you when you see their conduct and their actions, and you will know that I have not done without reason all that I have done in it, says the Lord GOD."
XV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
What Vine Wood Is Good For
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1And the word of the LORD came to me:
2Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
2"Son of man, how is the wood of a vine any better than any other tree, or than a branch among the trees of the forest?
3Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
3Can wood be taken from it to make anything useful? Can people even make a peg from it to hang a pot on?
4Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?
4Look, it is thrown into the fire for fuel. The fire burns up both ends of it, and the middle is charred. Is it good for anything?
5Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?
5Look, when it was whole it was useless for any work; how much less can it be used for anything now that the fire has burned it and it is charred?
Jerusalem as Burned Vine Wood
6Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
6So this is what the Lord GOD says: Just as the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest is what I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the people of Jerusalem.
7And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.
7I will set my face against them. They will escape from one fire, but another fire will burn them up; and you will know that I am the LORD when I set my face against them.
8And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.
8And I will make the land a wasteland, because they have been unfaithful, says the Lord GOD."
XVI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Newborn Cast Out in a Field
1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,
2"Son of man, make Jerusalem face the detestable things she has done,
3And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.
3and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: By birth and by origin you belong to the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.
4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.
4As for your birth, on the day you were born your cord was not cut, you were not washed with water to make you clean, you were not rubbed with salt, and you were not wrapped in cloths at all.
5None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.
5No one looked on you with enough pity to do any of these things for you or to show you compassion. Instead you were thrown out into the open field, because you were despised on the day you were born.
Live, and the Covenant of Marriage
6And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.
6Then I passed by and saw you lying there, stained in your own blood, and as you lay in your blood I said to you, "Live!" Yes, as you lay in your blood I said to you, "Live!"
7I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.
7I made you grow like a plant of the field; you grew up and became tall and came into the finest of jewels. Your body matured and your hair grew long, yet you were still naked and bare.
8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.
8Later I passed by you again and looked at you, and I saw that you were old enough for love. So I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I made you a solemn promise and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord GOD, and you became mine.
Washed, Clothed, and Crowned
9Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.
9Then I washed you with water; I washed the blood off you completely and anointed you with oil.
10I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
10I dressed you in embroidered cloth, put sandals of fine leather on your feet, wrapped you in fine linen, and covered you with silk.
11I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.
11I adorned you with jewelry; I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck.
12And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
12I put a jewel on your forehead, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
13Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
13So you were decked out in gold and silver, and your clothing was fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful, and you rose to become a kingdom.
14And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.
14Your fame spread among the nations because of your beauty, for it was made perfect by the splendor I had placed on you, says the Lord GOD.
Trusting in Her Own Beauty
15But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
15But you trusted in your own beauty, and because of your fame you turned to prostitution. You offered yourself to every passerby, and your beauty became his.
16And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.
16You took some of your garments and made yourself brightly colored shrines on the high places, and there you practiced your unfaithfulness. Such things should never have happened, and they never should again.
17Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,
17You also took the fine jewelry made from my gold and my silver, which I had given you, and made yourself images of men and were unfaithful with them.
18And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.
18You took your embroidered garments and draped them over those images, and you set my oil and my incense before them.
19My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord GOD.
19And the food I gave you, the fine flour, oil, and honey I fed you with, you set before them as a pleasing offering. That is what happened, says the Lord GOD.
The Children Given to the Fire
20Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,
20More than that, you took your sons and daughters, whom you had borne to me, and sacrificed them to those idols to be devoured. Was your unfaithfulness such a small thing
21That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?
21that you had to slaughter my children too, and hand them over to be passed through the fire for those idols?
22And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.
22In all your detestable practices and your unfaithfulness you never remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, lying stained in your blood.
Shrines at Every Street Corner
23And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe unto thee! saith the LORD GOD;)
23And after all your other wickedness (woe, woe to you! says the Lord GOD),
24That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.
24you built yourself a mound and made yourself a lofty shrine in every public square.
25Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.
25You built your lofty shrine at the head of every street and made your beauty something disgusting; you offered yourself to everyone who passed by and multiplied your unfaithfulness.
26Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.
26You were unfaithful with your neighbors the Egyptians, that lustful people, and multiplied your unfaithfulness to provoke me to anger.
27Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.
27So I stretched out my hand against you and cut back your supply of food, and I handed you over to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who were themselves ashamed of your indecent conduct.
28Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.
28You were unfaithful with the Assyrians too, because you could not be satisfied; yes, you gave yourself to them, and even then you were not satisfied.
29Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.
29Then you multiplied your unfaithfulness still further, reaching from the land of Canaan all the way to Chaldea, and even with that you were not satisfied.
The Prostitute Who Pays Her Lovers
30How weak is thine heart, saith the LORD GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;
30How sick your heart is, says the Lord GOD, that you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen prostitute,
31In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;
31building your mound at the head of every street and making your lofty shrine in every square! Yet you were not even like an ordinary prostitute, because you scorned any payment.
32But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!
32You were like an adulterous wife, who takes strangers instead of her own husband!
33They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.
33Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from every direction for your unfaithfulness.
34And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary.
34So in your unfaithfulness you are the opposite of other women: no one comes seeking you; you pay them, and no one pays you. That is how backwards you are.
The Verdict Against Her
35Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:
35Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the LORD.
36Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;
36This is what the Lord GOD says: Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness exposed through your unfaithfulness with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your children that you gave to them,
37Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.
37I am going to gather all the lovers you took pleasure with, everyone you loved along with everyone you hated. I will gather them against you from every side and expose your nakedness to them, so that they see you completely bare.
38And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.
38I will sentence you as women who break their marriage vows and shed blood are sentenced, and I will bring on you the bloodshed of fury and jealousy.
Stripped, Stoned, and Burned
39And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.
39I will hand you over to them, and they will tear down your mound and break down your lofty shrines. They will strip off your clothes, take your fine jewelry, and leave you naked and bare.
40They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.
40They will bring a mob against you, and they will stone you and run you through with their swords.
41And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.
41They will burn your houses with fire and carry out judgments on you in the sight of many women. I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will never pay your lovers again.
42So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.
42Then my fury against you will subside and my jealousy will turn away from you; I will be calm and angry no more.
43Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.
43Because you did not remember the days of your youth but provoked me with all these things, I will bring your conduct down on your own head, says the Lord GOD, and you will not go on adding this indecency to all your other detestable practices.
As Is the Mother, So Is Her Daughter
44Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
44Look, everyone who quotes proverbs will quote this one about you: "Like mother, like daughter."
45Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite.
45You are your mother's daughter, who despised her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.
46And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.
46Your older sister is Samaria, who lives with her daughters on your left; and your younger sister, who lives with her daughters on your right, is Sodom.
47Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.
47Yet you did not merely walk in their ways and copy their detestable practices; as if that were too small a thing, you became more corrupt than they were in everything you did.
48As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
48As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.
Sodom's Sin Named
49Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
49Look, this was the sin of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters were proud, overfed, and comfortably idle, and they did nothing to help the poor and needy.
50And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.
50They were arrogant and did detestable things before me, so I removed them when I saw fit.
51Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.
51Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done far more detestable things than they have, and by all the detestable things you have done, you have made your sisters look righteous.
52Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
52You who passed judgment on your sisters, bear your own disgrace, for your sins were more detestable than theirs, and they turn out more righteous than you. So be ashamed and bear your disgrace, since you have made your sisters look righteous.
The Sisters Restored Together
53When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:
53Yet I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and along with them I will restore your fortunes too,
54That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.
54so that you may bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you have done, since you have been a comfort to them.
55When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.
55When your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, return to what they once were, then you and your daughters will return to what you once were.
56For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,
56In the days of your pride you would not even mention your sister Sodom,
57Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.
57before your own wickedness was exposed. Now you are mocked by the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you on every side.
58Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.
58You have carried the weight of your indecency and your detestable practices, says the LORD.
An Everlasting Covenant Remembered
59For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.
59For this is what the Lord GOD says: I will deal with you as you have dealt with me, you who despised your oath by breaking the covenant.
60Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.
60Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.
61Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.
61Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both the older and the younger. I will give them to you as daughters, though not because of your covenant.
62And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD:
62I will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the LORD,
63That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.
63so that you may remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth again because of your disgrace, when I have forgiven you for all you have done, says the Lord GOD.'"
XVII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The First Eagle and the Low Vine
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
2"Son of man, pose a riddle and tell a parable to the house of Israel.
3And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; A great eagle with great wings, longwinged, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:
3Say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, thick with plumage of many colors, came to Lebanon and took the top of a cedar.
4He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.
4He snapped off the topmost of its young shoots and carried it to a land of merchants, where he set it in a city of traders.
5He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
5He also took some seed from the land and planted it in fertile soil; he placed it beside abundant water and set it out like a willow.
6And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots thereof were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
6It sprouted and became a low, spreading vine, its branches turning toward the eagle and its roots staying beneath him. So it became a vine, put out branches, and sent out shoots.
The Second Eagle and the East Wind
7There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
7But there was another great eagle with great wings and much plumage, and this vine bent its roots toward him and stretched its branches toward him, hoping he would water it instead of the bed where it was planted.
8It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.
8Yet it had been planted in good soil beside abundant water, so that it could grow branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.
9Say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof.
9Say, This is what the Lord GOD says: Will it thrive? Will the first eagle not pull up its roots and strip off its fruit so that it withers? All its fresh leaves will wither. It will take no great strength or many people to pull it up by the roots.
10Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall wither in the furrows where it grew.
10Look, though it has been planted, will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it, withering right there in the bed where it grew?'"
The Riddle Explained
11Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
11Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
12Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
12"Say now to this rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean?' Tell them, 'Look, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and its princes, and carried them off with him to Babylon.
13And hath taken of the king’s seed, and made a covenant with him, and hath taken an oath of him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land:
13Then he took a member of the royal family, made a treaty with him, and put him under oath. He also took away the leading men of the land,
14That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand.
14so that the kingdom would be kept lowly and unable to rise up, and could survive only by keeping his treaty.
15But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? or shall he break the covenant, and be delivered?
15But the king rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will a man who does such things escape? Can he break the treaty and still go free?
The Oath He Despised
16As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.
16As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who set him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.
17Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons:
17Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will be no help to him in the war, when siege ramps are thrown up and forts are built to cut off many lives.
18Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.
18Because he despised the oath and broke the treaty, even though he had given his hand in pledge, and did all these things, he will not escape.
19Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: As surely as I live, it was my oath he despised and my covenant he broke, and I will bring it down on his own head.
20And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.
20I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon and put him on trial there for the treachery he committed against me.
21And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.
21All his fleeing troops in all his companies will fall by the sword, and those who are left will be scattered to every wind. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken.
A Sprig Planted on a High Mountain
22Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent:
22This is what the Lord GOD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of the tall cedar and plant it; from its topmost young shoots I will break off a tender one and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.
23In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.
23On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, and it will put out boughs and bear fruit and become a magnificent cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it; they will live in the shade of its branches.
24And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
24And all the trees of the field will know that I, the LORD, bring down the tall tree and raise up the low tree, that I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.'"
XVIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Proverb About Sour Grapes
1The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
2What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
2"What do you mean by repeating this proverb about the land of Israel: 'The fathers ate sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?
3As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.
3As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, you will have no more reason to use this proverb in Israel.
4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
4Look, every life belongs to me: the life of the father is mine, and so is the life of the son. The person who sins is the one who will die.
The Righteous Man Described
5But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right,
5Suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right.
6And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour’s wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
6He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel; he does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her period.
7And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
7He oppresses no one; he gives back the pledge he took from a debtor; he does not rob anyone by force; he gives his bread to the hungry and clothes the naked.
8He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man,
8He does not lend at interest or take a profit from a loan; he keeps his hand away from wrongdoing and judges fairly between one man and another.
9Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.
9He follows my statutes and keeps my rules, acting faithfully. That man is righteous; he will surely live, says the Lord GOD.
A Violent Son
10If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things,
10Now suppose he has a son who is violent, who sheds blood, and who does any of these things,
11And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour’s wife,
11though the father did none of them. The son eats at the mountain shrines and defiles his neighbor's wife;
12Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination,
12he oppresses the poor and needy, robs by force, does not give back the pledge, looks to the idols, and does detestable things;
13Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.
13he lends at interest and takes a profit. Will such a man live? He will not. He has done all these detestable things; he will surely die, and his blood will be on his own head.
A Son Who Sees and Does Otherwise
14Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father’s sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like,
14But now suppose this man has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do the same.
15That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour’s wife,
15He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel; he does not defile his neighbor's wife.
16Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment,
16He oppresses no one, does not hold on to a pledge, and does not rob anyone by force; instead he gives his bread to the hungry and clothes the naked.
17That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
17He keeps his hand from harming the poor, takes no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and follows my statutes. That son will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live.
18As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.
18But his father, because he was a cruel oppressor who robbed his brother by force and did what was wrong among his people, will die for his own sin.
Why Does the Son Not Bear It
19Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
19Yet you ask, 'Why does the son not share the guilt of the father?' Because the son has done what is just and right and has carefully kept all my statutes, he will surely live.
20The 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 wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
20The person who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the father's guilt, and the father will not share the son's guilt. The righteousness of the righteous will be counted to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be counted against him.
Turning, in Either Direction
21But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
21But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins he has committed, keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
22All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
22None of the offenses he committed will be held against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.
23Have 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?
23Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Would I not much rather see him turn from his ways and live?
24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
24But if a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does wrong, doing all the detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he has shown and the sins he has committed, he will die.
Is My Way Not Equal
25Yet ye say, The way of the LORD is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
25Yet you say, 'The way of the LORD is not fair.' Listen now, house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
26When 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.
26When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and does wrong and dies for it, it is because of the wrong he has done that he dies.
27Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
27And when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has done and does what is just and right, he saves his own life.
28Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
28Because he thought it over and turned away from all the offenses he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.
29Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the LORD is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
29Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the LORD is not fair.' House of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
Make You a New Heart
30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
30Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that sin does not become your downfall.
31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
31Throw off all the offenses you have committed and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel?
32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. So turn back, and live!"
XIX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Lioness and Her First Cub
1Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
1"Now take up a lament for the princes of Israel,
2And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.
2and say: What a lioness your mother was! She lay down among the lions and raised her cubs among the young lions.
3And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
3She brought up one of her cubs, and he grew into a young lion; he learned to tear his prey, and he devoured men.
4The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.
4The nations heard about him, and he was caught in their pit; they led him away in chains to the land of Egypt.
The Second Cub Caged in Babylon
5Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
5When she saw that she had waited in vain and her hope was lost, she took another of her cubs and made him a young lion.
6And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
6He prowled among the lions and became a young lion; he learned to tear his prey, and he devoured men.
7And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
7He knew their ruined palaces and laid their cities waste; the land and everything in it was left desolate at the sound of his roaring.
8Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
8Then the nations from the surrounding provinces came against him from every side; they spread their net over him, and he was caught in their pit.
9And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
9They put him in a cage with chains and brought him to the king of Babylon. They shut him up in a stronghold, so that his roar would never again be heard on the mountains of Israel.
The Vine Torn Up and Burned
10Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.
10Your mother was like a vine of your own bloodline, planted beside the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because there was so much water.
11And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches.
11It had strong branches fit for rulers' scepters; it grew tall among the thick foliage and stood out for its height and the great number of its branches.
12But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
12But it was uprooted in fury and thrown to the ground; the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were broken off and withered, and fire consumed them.
13And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
13Now it is planted in the wilderness, in dry and thirsty ground.
14And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
14Fire has gone out from one of its main branches and consumed its fruit, so that it has no strong branch left to be a ruler's scepter. This is a lament, and it is to be used as a lament."
XX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Elders Come and Are Refused
1And 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.
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to ask the LORD for guidance, and they sat down in front of me.
2Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
2Then the word of the LORD came to me:
3Son 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.
3"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to ask me for guidance? As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not let you ask anything of me.'
4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
4"Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Then make them face the disgusting things their fathers did.
Rebellion in Egypt
5And 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;
5Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I raised my hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I lifted my hand and swore to them, "I am the LORD your God."
6In 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:
6On that day I raised my hand and promised to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had picked out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the finest of all lands.
7Then 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.
7Then I said to them, "Each of you, throw away the disgusting things your eyes are set on, and do not make yourselves unclean with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."
8But 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.
8But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me. Not one of them threw away the disgusting things his eyes were set on, and they did not give up the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger against them right there in the land of Egypt.
9But 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.
9But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be dishonored in front of the nations they were living among, the nations who had watched me make myself known to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Rebellion in the Wilderness
10Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
10So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
11I gave them my laws and taught them my rules, the ones that give life to anyone who keeps them.
12Moreover 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.
12I also gave them my sabbaths as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the LORD who makes them holy.
13But 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.
13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not live by my laws, and they rejected my rules, the ones that give life to anyone who keeps them, and they badly desecrated my sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness and finish them off.
14But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
14But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be dishonored in front of the nations who had watched me bring them out.
15Yet 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;
15Still, I raised my hand in the wilderness and swore to them that I would not bring them into the land I had given them, the land flowing with milk and honey, the finest of all lands,
16Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
16because they rejected my rules, did not live by my laws, and desecrated my sabbaths, for their hearts were set on their idols.
17Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
17Even so, I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them; I did not wipe them out in the wilderness.
Statutes That Were Not Good
18But 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:
18I said to their children in the wilderness, "Do not live by the laws of your fathers, do not follow their customs, and do not make yourselves unclean with their idols.
19I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
19I am the LORD your God. Live by my laws, keep my rules, and do them.
20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye 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 will know that I am the LORD your God."
21Notwithstanding 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.
21But the children rebelled against me too. They did not live by my laws, and they did not keep or carry out my rules, the ones that give life to anyone who keeps them, and they desecrated my sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my fury on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.
22Nevertheless 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.
22Yet I held back my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be dishonored in the sight of the nations who had watched me bring them out.
23I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
23I also raised my hand in the wilderness and swore to them that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them out through the countries,
24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
24because they had not carried out my rules but had rejected my laws and desecrated my sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers' idols.
25Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
25So I also gave them over to laws that were not good and to rules they could not live by,
26And 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.
26and I let them be defiled by their own offerings, when they made every firstborn pass through the fire, so that I might leave them devastated and they would know that I am the LORD.'
The High Places in the Land
27Therefore, 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.
27"So, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: In this too your fathers insulted me, by breaking faith with me.
28For 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.
28When I had brought them into the land I had sworn with lifted hand to give them, they looked at every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered their sacrifices; there they presented the offerings that provoked me, there they burned their sweet-smelling incense, and there they poured out their drink offerings.
29Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
29Then I asked them, "What is this high place you keep going to?" And its name has been Bamah to this day.'
The Present Generation
30Wherefore 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?
30"So say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean the way your fathers did, and be unfaithful to me by chasing their disgusting idols?
31For 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.
31When you bring your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you are making yourselves unclean with all your idols to this very day. And you expect me to let you ask guidance from me, house of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not let you ask anything of me.
32And 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.
32What you have in mind will never happen, this idea of yours: "We will be like the nations, like the peoples of other countries, and worship wood and stone."
A Second Exodus and a Sorting
33As 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:
33As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will rule over you with a strong hand, with an arm stretched out, and with fury poured out.
34And 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.
34I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, with a strong hand, with an arm stretched out, and with fury poured out.
35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
35I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will bring my case against you face to face.
36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
36Just as I brought my case against your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will bring my case against you, says the Lord GOD.
37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
37I will make you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the binding tie of the covenant.
38And 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.
38I will weed out from among you the rebels and those who break faith with me. I will bring them out of the country where they are living as foreigners, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Accepted on the Holy Mountain
39As 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.
39As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go on, every one of you, and serve your idols, now and from now on, if you refuse to listen to me. But stop desecrating my holy name with your gifts and your idols.
40For 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.
40For on my holy mountain, on Israel's high mountain, says the Lord GOD, the whole house of Israel, every one of them in the land, will serve me. There I will welcome them, and there I will ask for your offerings and the first and best of your gifts, along with all your holy things.
41I 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.
41I will welcome you like a sweet-smelling offering when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will show myself holy through you in front of the nations.
42And 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.
42You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country I swore with lifted hand to give to your fathers.
43And 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.
43There you will remember your ways and everything you did that made you unclean, and you will be disgusted with yourselves for all the evil you have done.
44And 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.
44And you will know that I am the LORD when I deal with you for the sake of my name, and not according to your wicked ways or your corrupt deeds, house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.'"
Fire in the Forest of the South
45Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
45The word of the LORD came to me again:
46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
46"Son of man, turn your face toward the south, speak out against the south, and prophesy against the forest of the southern countryside.
47And 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.
47Say to the forest of the south, 'Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am going to light a fire in you, and it will burn up every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be put out, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.
48And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
48Everyone alive will see that I, the LORD, have lit it. It will not be put out.'"
49Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
49Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying about me, 'Isn't he just telling riddles?'"
XXI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Sword Drawn from Its Sheath
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me:
2Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
2"Son of man, turn your face toward Jerusalem, speak out against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel.
3And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
3Say to the land of Israel, 'This is what the LORD says: Look, I am against you. I will pull my sword out of its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.
4Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
4Because I am going to cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked, my sword will come out of its sheath against everyone from south to north.
5That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of his sheath: it shall not return any more.
5Then everyone alive will know that I, the LORD, have pulled my sword from its sheath, and it will not go back in.'
6Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
6So groan, son of man. Groan in front of them with bitter grief, as if your body were breaking.
7And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.
7When they ask you, 'Why are you groaning?' answer, 'Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, every hand will hang limp, every spirit will grow faint, and every knee will turn weak as water. Look, it is coming, and it will happen,' says the Lord GOD."
The Song of the Sword
8Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
8Again the word of the LORD came to me:
9Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:
9"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the LORD says: Say, A sword, a sword, sharpened and polished too!
10It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree.
10It is sharpened for a terrible slaughter; it is polished so that it flashes. Should we be celebrating now? It scorns the scepter of my son as it scorns every tree.
11And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
11It has been handed over to be polished so a hand can grip it. This sword is sharpened and polished, ready to be placed in the hand of the killer.
12Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh.
12Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is coming against my people; it is coming against all the princes of Israel. The terror of the sword will fall on my people, so strike your thigh in grief.
13Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD.
13For it is a testing. And what if the sword scorns even the scepter? Then it will be no more, says the Lord GOD.
Clap the Hands, Triple the Stroke
14Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.
14So prophesy, son of man, and clap your hands together. Let the sword strike twice, even three times. It is a sword of the slain, the sword of the mighty who are slain, and it reaches into their private rooms.
15I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is wrapped up for the slaughter.
15I have set the flashing point of the sword against all their gates, so that hearts melt and the fallen pile up. Ah, it is made to flash; it is gripped for the slaughter!
16Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
16Slash this way and that, to the right and to the left, wherever your edge is turned.
17I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it.
17I too will clap my hands together, and then my fury will come to rest. I, the LORD, have spoken.'"
The King of Babylon at the Fork
18The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,
18The word of the LORD came to me again:
19Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose it at the head of the way to the city.
19"Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take. Both should start from the same country. Then choose a spot, and mark it where the road to the city begins.
20Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.
20Mark out a road for the sword to reach Rabbah of the Ammonites, and one to Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
21For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.
21For the king of Babylon has stopped at the fork in the road, where the two roads split, to seek an omen. He shakes the arrows, he consults his household idols, he examines the liver.
22At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
22In his right hand is the omen for Jerusalem: to post captains, to give the order to kill, to raise the battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build up a siege mound, and to put up a siege wall.
23And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
23To those who have sworn oaths it will look like a false omen, but he will remind them of their guilt, and they will be captured.
The Crown Taken Off
24Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
24"So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because you have made your guilt impossible to forget, since your rebellion has been exposed and your sins show in everything you do; because you have been brought to mind, you will be captured by force.
25And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
25And you, wicked and dishonored prince of Israel, your day has come, the time when your sin reaches its end.
26Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
26This is what the Lord GOD says: Take off the turban and remove the crown. Things will not stay as they are. Lift up the lowly and bring down the mighty.
27I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.
27I will turn it upside down, upside down, upside down! It will exist no more until the one comes whose right it is, and I will hand it to him.'
The Sword Against Ammon
28And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
28"And you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says about the Ammonites and their taunts.' Say, 'A sword, a sword is drawn, polished for the slaughter, to devour with a flashing edge,
29Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
29while they see empty visions for you and give you lying omens, to lay you across the necks of the slain, the wicked whose day has come, the time when their sin reaches its end.
30Shall I cause it to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy nativity.
30Should I put it back in its sheath? I will judge you in the place where you were made, in the land of your birth.
31And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
31I will pour out my anger on you and blast you with the fire of my fury, and I will hand you over to brutal men who are experts at destruction.
32Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.
32You will be fuel for the fire. Your blood will soak into your own land. You will no longer be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.'"
XXII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Bloody City Arraigned
1Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1Once more the word of the LORD came to me:
2Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? yea, thou shalt shew her all her abominations.
2"Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the city of bloodshed? Then confront her with all her disgusting deeds.
3Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord GOD, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, and maketh idols against herself to defile herself.
3Say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: You are a city that sheds blood inside your walls, bringing your time closer, and that makes idols to make yourself unclean.
4Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
4You have become guilty because of the blood you have shed, and you have made yourself unclean with the idols you have made. You have brought your days near and reached the end of your years. That is why I have made you a disgrace to the nations and a joke to every country.
5Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.
5Those near you and those far away will mock you, city with a ruined name and full of turmoil.
The Catalogue of Crimes
6Behold, the princes of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed blood.
6Look at the princes of Israel inside you: each one has used his power to shed blood.
7In thee have they set light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
7Inside you they have treated father and mother with contempt; inside you they have oppressed the foreigner; inside you they have mistreated the orphan and the widow.
8Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
8You have despised my holy things and desecrated my sabbaths.
9In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
9Inside you are men who spread slander to get someone killed; inside you they eat at the mountain shrines; inside you they act with shameful indecency.
10In thee have they discovered their fathers’ nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
10Inside you men have dishonored their fathers' beds; inside you they have forced themselves on women set apart as unclean.
11And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour’s wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father’s daughter.
11One man does a disgusting thing with his neighbor's wife; another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law; and another inside you forces himself on his sister, his own father's daughter.
12In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
12Inside you they take bribes to shed blood. You have charged interest and made unfair profit, you have greedily squeezed gain out of your neighbors by extortion, and you have forgotten me, says the Lord GOD.
Scattered Among the Nations
13Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
13Look, I strike my hands together at the dishonest profit you have made and at the blood that has been shed inside you.
14Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it.
14Will your courage hold, or will your hands stay strong, in the days when I deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.
15And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
15I will scatter you among the nations and spread you through the countries, and I will burn your filth out of you.
16And thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
16What you inherit will come from your own hands, in the sight of the nations, and you will know that I am the LORD.'"
Dross in the Furnace
17And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
17The word of the LORD came to me:
18Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
18"Son of man, the house of Israel has become slag to me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are the slag left over from silver.
19Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
19So this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Because you have all become slag, look, I am going to gather you into the middle of Jerusalem.
20As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.
20Just as people gather silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the middle of a furnace and blow on the fire to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and my fury; I will put you in there and melt you.
21Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
21Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of my wrath, and you will be melted inside the city.
22As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
22As silver is melted inside a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I, the LORD, have poured out my fury on you.'"
Prophets, Priests, Princes, People
23And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
23The word of the LORD came to me:
24Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
24"Son of man, say to the land, 'You are a land that has not been cleansed, that has had no rain in the day of anger.'
25There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
25Her prophets have banded together inside her like a roaring lion ripping at its prey. They have swallowed up lives, grabbed wealth and valuables, and left many widows inside her.
26Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
26Her priests have broken my law and treated my holy things as ordinary. They make no separation between what is holy and what is common, and they have not shown people the difference between unclean and clean. They look away from my sabbaths, and so I am dishonored among them.
27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
27Her princes inside her are like wolves ripping at their prey, shedding blood and destroying lives to make a dishonest profit.
28And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.
28Her prophets have covered it all over for them with a coat of crumbling plaster, seeing empty visions and giving them lying omens. They say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says,' when the LORD has said nothing.
29The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
29The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery. They have mistreated the poor and needy, and they have wronged the foreigner and denied him justice.
No One to Stand in the Gap
30And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
30I searched among them for a man who would repair the wall and stand in the breach in front of me for the land's sake, so that I would not destroy it, but I did not find one.
31Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
31So I have poured out my anger on them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have brought their own ways down on their own heads, says the Lord GOD."
XXIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Two Sisters, Two Capitals
1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
2Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:
2"Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.
3And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
3They were unfaithful in Egypt; they gave themselves to prostitution while they were still young. There their innocence was taken and their purity spoiled.
4And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.
4Their names were Oholah, the older, and Oholibah, her sister. They belonged to me, and they had sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
Oholah and the Assyrians
5And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
5Oholah was unfaithful to me while she was mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians, her neighbors,
6Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
6dressed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, horsemen riding on horses.
7Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
7So she gave herself to them, to all the finest men of Assyria, and to everyone she lusted after; she defiled herself with all their idols.
8Neither 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 whoredom upon her.
8She never gave up the unfaithfulness she had begun in Egypt, for men had slept with her when she was young, spoiling her purity and pouring out their lust on her.
9Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
9So I handed her over to her lovers, to the Assyrians she had lusted after.
10These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.
10They stripped her bare, took away her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women, because judgment had been carried out on her.
Oholibah Goes Further
11And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.
11Her sister Oholibah saw all this, yet her lust was even worse than her sister's, and her unfaithfulness went further than her sister's ever had.
12She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.
12She lusted after the Assyrians, her neighbors, governors and commanders in splendid uniforms, horsemen riding on horses, all of them handsome young men.
13Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,
13I saw that she had defiled herself; both sisters had gone the same way.
14And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,
14But she went even further in her unfaithfulness. She saw men carved on a wall, images of Chaldeans painted in bright red,
15Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:
15with belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, in the style of the Babylonians whose homeland is Chaldea.
16And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.
16As soon as she laid eyes on them she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
17And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.
17So the Babylonians came to her and shared her bed, and they defiled her with their lust. Once she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.
18So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.
18When she flaunted her unfaithfulness so openly and exposed herself, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.
19Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
19Yet she became more unfaithful still, remembering the days of her youth when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt.
20For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
20She lusted after her lovers there, whose bodies were like those of donkeys and whose passion was like that of horses.
21Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.
21So you longed for the immorality of your youth, when the Egyptians took your innocence and spoiled your purity.
The Lovers Turned Into an Army
22Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;
22"Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: I am going to stir up your lovers against you, the ones you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side:
23The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.
23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, governors and commanders, great lords and famous men, all of them riding on horses.
24And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.
24They will come against you with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a host of peoples; they will surround you with shields, bucklers, and helmets. I will hand you over to them for judgment, and they will judge you by their own standards.
25And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.
25I will turn my jealousy against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your nose and your ears, and those who are left will fall by the sword. They will take your sons and daughters, and whatever remains will be burned in the fire.
26They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.
26They will also strip off your clothes and take away your beautiful jewelry.
27Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
27So I will put a stop to your immorality and the prostitution you brought from the land of Egypt. You will never look to them with longing again or remember Egypt anymore.
Stripped and Handed Over
28For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:
28For this is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to hand you over to those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust.
29And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
29They will treat you with hatred, take away everything you have worked for, and leave you naked and bare. The shame of your prostitution will be exposed, both your immorality and your unfaithfulness.
30I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
30I will do these things to you because you chased after the nations like a prostitute and defiled yourself with their idols.
31Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.
31You have walked in your sister's footsteps, so I will put her cup into your hand.
The Cup of Her Sister
32Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou shalt drink of thy sister’s cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.
32This is what the Lord GOD says: You will drink your sister's cup, a cup deep and wide. You will be laughed at and mocked, for it holds so much.
33Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.
33You will be filled with drunkenness and grief, with a cup of horror and ruin, the cup of your sister Samaria.
34Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
34You will drink it and drain it dry, then gnaw on its broken pieces and tear at your own breast. For I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
35Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
35Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have forgotten me and thrown me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your immorality and your prostitution."
Children Burned, Sanctuary Defiled
36The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
36The LORD said to me, "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable deeds.
37That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
37They have committed adultery, and there is blood on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and they have even offered up the children they bore to me, passing them through the fire as food for those idols.
38Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.
38They have done this to me as well: on the very same day they defiled my sanctuary and desecrated my Sabbaths.
39For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.
39On the same day they slaughtered their children for their idols, they came into my sanctuary and defiled it. Look, this is what they did inside my own house!
Dressed for the Men From Far Away
40And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,
40What is more, they sent for men to come from far away. A messenger was sent to them, and they came. For them you bathed yourself, painted your eyes, and put on your jewelry.
41And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.
41You sat on a splendid couch with a table set before it, and on it you placed my incense and my oil.
42And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
42The noise of a carefree crowd was all around her, and along with ordinary men, Sabeans were brought in from the desert; they put bracelets on the women's wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.
43Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?
43Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, 'Will they still carry on with her, and she with them?'
44Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
44Yet they kept going to her as men go to a prostitute. That is how they went to Oholah and Oholibah, those shameless women.
The Sentence Carried Out
45And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.
45But righteous men will sentence them as adulteresses and murderers are sentenced, because they are adulteresses and there is blood on their hands.
46For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.
46For this is what the Lord GOD says: Bring a mob against them, and hand them over to terror and plunder.
47And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
47The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn their houses to the ground.
48Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.
48So I will put an end to immorality in the land, and all women will be warned not to do as you have done.
49And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
49You will pay for your immorality and bear the punishment for your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD."
XXIV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Day the Siege Began
1Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
2"Son of man, write down today's date, this very day, because on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.
3And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:
3Tell this rebellious people a parable. Say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Put the pot on the fire; set it on and pour water into it.
4Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
4Put the pieces of meat into it, all the best pieces, the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with the choicest bones.
5Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.
5Take the pick of the flock, and pile the bones underneath it. Bring it to a good boil, and let the bones cook in it.'
Woe to the Bloody City
6Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
6"Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the city of bloodshed, the pot with the crust inside it, the crust that will not come off! Empty it out piece by piece, without casting lots over them.
7For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
7For the blood she shed is still in her; she poured it on bare rock. She did not pour it on the ground where the dust could cover it.
8That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
8To stir up wrath and bring vengeance, I have put her blood on bare rock, where it cannot be covered.
The Empty Pot on the Coals
9Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
9"Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the city of bloodshed! I too will pile the wood high.
10Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
10Heap on the wood, light the fire, cook the meat thoroughly, mix in the spices, and let the bones be charred.
11Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
11Then set the empty pot on its coals until its bronze grows hot and glows, so that its filth melts away and its crust burns off.
12She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
12She has worn herself out with lies, yet her thick crust has not come off. Into the fire with her crust!
13In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
13Your filthiness is your immorality. Because I tried to cleanse you and you would not be cleansed, you will not be clean of your filth again until I have spent my fury on you.
14I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.
14I the LORD have spoken. It is coming, and I will do it. I will not hold back, I will not show pity, and I will not change my mind. You will be judged for your ways and your deeds, says the Lord GOD."
The Desire of His Eyes
15Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
15The word of the LORD also came to me, saying,
16Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
16"Son of man, with one blow I am about to take from you the delight of your eyes. Yet you must not mourn or weep or let your tears fall.
17Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
17Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban on your head and your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your face, and do not eat the food that mourners bring."
18So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and that evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been told.
The Prophet as a Sign
19And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
19The people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?"
20Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
20So I answered them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
21Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
21'Tell the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the longing of your hearts. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.
22And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
22Then you will do as I have done: you will not cover your faces or eat the food that mourners bring.
23And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
23Your turbans will stay on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins and groan to one another.
24Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
24So Ezekiel is a sign for you; you will do everything he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'
The Fugitive and the Opened Mouth
25Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
25"And you, son of man, on the day I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and the longing of their hearts, their sons and daughters as well,
26That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?
26on that day a survivor will come to you to bring you the news.
27In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
27On that day your mouth will be opened to speak with the survivor. You will talk and no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD."
XXV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Against Ammon, Who Cheered
1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
2Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;
2"Son of man, turn your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
3And say unto the Ammonites, Hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou saidst, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;
3Say to the Ammonites: Hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says: Because you said 'Aha!' over my sanctuary when it was desecrated, over the land of Israel when it was laid waste, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile,
4Behold, therefore I will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
4I am going to hand you over to the people of the east as their possession. They will set up their camps among you and make their homes in you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.
5And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
5I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and the land of the Ammonites into a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Clapping and Stamping
6For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;
6For this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you clapped your hands and stamped your feet and gloated with all the spite in your heart against the land of Israel,
7Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
7I will stretch out my hand against you and hand you over to the nations as plunder. I will cut you off from the peoples and wipe you out from among the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
Moab's Flank Laid Open
8Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;
8"This is what the Lord GOD says: Because Moab and Seir said, 'Look, the house of Judah is just like all the other nations,'
9Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,
9I will lay open the flank of Moab, starting with its frontier cities, the glory of the land: Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim.
10Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.
10I will give Moab, along with the Ammonites, to the people of the east as their possession, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations.
11And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
11I will carry out judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the LORD.
Edom's Revenge Repaid
12Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them;
12"This is what the Lord GOD says: Because Edom took revenge on the house of Judah and became deeply guilty by doing so,
13Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.
13therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off both people and animals from it. I will make it a wasteland from Teman on, and the people of Dedan will fall by the sword.
14And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.
14I will take my vengeance on Edom through my people Israel. They will deal with Edom according to my anger and my fury, and they will know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD.
The Philistines on the Coast
15Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;
15"This is what the Lord GOD says: Because the Philistines acted in revenge, taking vengeance with spite in their hearts, seeking to destroy Judah out of ancient hatred,
16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
16therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I am going to stretch out my hand against the Philistines. I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy those left along the seacoast.
17And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.
17I will take terrible vengeance on them and punish them in my fury. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I bring my vengeance on them."
XXVI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Tyre Gloats and Is Answered
1And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1In the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:
2"Son of man, because Tyre said about Jerusalem, 'Aha! The gateway to the nations is broken; its doors have swung open to me. Now that she lies in ruins, I will be filled,'
3Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.
3therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I am against you, Tyre. I will bring many nations against you, as the sea sends up its waves.
4And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
4They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers. I will scrape away her soil and leave her a bare rock.
5It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.
5She will become a place out in the sea for spreading fishing nets, for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD. She will be plunder for the nations,
6And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
6and her daughter towns on the mainland will be put to the sword. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
Nebuchadnezzar Brings the Siege
7For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
7"For this is what the Lord GOD says: I am bringing against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army of many people.
8He shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field: and he shall make a fort against thee, and cast a mount against thee, and lift up the buckler against thee.
8He will put your daughter towns on the mainland to the sword. He will build siege works against you, pile up a ramp against you, and raise a wall of shields against you.
9And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break down thy towers.
9He will set his battering rams against your walls and break down your towers with his axes.
10By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.
10His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen, the wagons, and the chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been breached.
11With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: he shall slay thy people by the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.
11The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets. He will kill your people with the sword, and your mighty pillars will fall to the ground.
12And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise: and they shall break down thy walls, and destroy thy pleasant houses: and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water.
12They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise. They will break down your walls, tear down your fine houses, and throw your stones, your timber, and your rubble into the sea.
13And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard.
13I will silence the sound of your songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more.
14And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon; thou shalt be built no more: for I the LORD have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
14I will make you a bare rock; you will be a place for spreading fishing nets. You will never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
The Princes of the Sea Lament
15Thus saith the Lord GOD to Tyrus; Shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall, when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee?
15"This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre: Will not the coastlands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter goes on in your midst?
16Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.
16Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones, lay aside their robes, and take off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling and sit on the ground, shuddering every moment, appalled at what has become of you.
17And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that wast inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it!
17They will raise a lament for you and say to you: 'How you have been destroyed, you city of sailors, famous city! You were mighty on the sea, you and your people, and you struck terror into all who lived near you.
18Now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure.
18Now the coastlands tremble on the day of your fall; the islands of the sea are terrified at your passing.'
Down to the Pit
19For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
19"For this is what the Lord GOD says: When I make you a ruined city like cities where no one lives, when I bring the ocean depths over you and the great waters cover you,
20When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;
20then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you live in the depths of the earth, among ruins from ancient times, with those who go down to the pit, so that you will never be inhabited again, while I give glory in the land of the living.
21I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again, saith the Lord GOD.
21I will bring you to a dreadful end, and you will be no more. People will look for you, but you will never be found again, says the Lord GOD."
XXVII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Ship Built From Everything
1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
2Now, thou son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;
2"Now, son of man, raise a lament for Tyre.
3And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.
3Say to Tyre, the city that sits at the gateway to the sea and trades with peoples on many coastlands: This is what the Lord GOD says: Tyre, you have said, 'I am perfect in beauty.'
4Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
4Your borders lie in the heart of the seas; your builders made your beauty perfect.
5They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of Senir: they have taken cedars from Lebanon to make masts for thee.
5They made all your planks from fir trees of Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.
6Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars; the company of the Ashurites have made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim.
6From oaks of Bashan they made your oars; the Ashurites made your benches of ivory brought from the coasts of Kittim.
7Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.
7Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail and served as your banner; blue and purple cloth from the coasts of Elishah was your awning.
8The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners: thy wise men, O Tyrus, that were in thee, were thy pilots.
8The people of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your own skilled men, Tyre, were on board as your pilots.
9The ancients of Gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.
9The elders of Gebal and its skilled workers were on board to seal your seams; all the ships of the sea and their sailors came to you to trade for your goods.
10They of Persia and of Lud and of Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they hanged the shield and helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.
10Men of Persia, Lud, and Put served in your army as your soldiers. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls and gave you your splendor.
11The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they have made thy beauty perfect.
11Men of Arvad with your army manned your walls all around, and the Gammadim were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they made your beauty perfect.
The Trading Partners, West and North
12Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.
12"Tarshish traded with you because of your great wealth of every kind; they exchanged silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.
13Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market.
13Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your merchants; they traded slaves and bronze vessels for your goods.
14They of the house of Togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules.
14Men from Beth-togarmah exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares.
15The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony.
15The men of Dedan were your merchants; many coastlands were your customers. They paid you in ivory tusks and ebony.
16Syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making: they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and agate.
16Syria traded with you because of the many things you made; they exchanged emeralds, purple cloth, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and agate for your wares.
17Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.
17Judah and the land of Israel were your merchants; they traded wheat from Minnith, Pannag, honey, oil, and balm for your goods.
18Damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making, for the multitude of all riches; in the wine of Helbon, and white wool.
18Damascus traded with you because of the many things you made and your great wealth of every kind, paying with wine from Helbon and white wool.
Arabia, Sheba and the Ships of Tarshish
19Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market.
19Dan and Javan too came and went, trading in your markets; wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were among your goods.
20Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots.
20Dedan was your merchant in fine saddle cloths for chariots.
21Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.
21Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, dealing in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they were your merchants.
22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold.
22The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your wares they exchanged the finest of all spices, every kind of precious stone, and gold.
23Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were thy merchants.
23Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you.
24These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in blue clothes, and broidered work, and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy merchandise.
24They were your merchants in fine goods of all kinds: blue cloth, embroidered work, and chests of rich clothing made of cedar and bound with cords, all among your merchandise.
25The ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou wast replenished, and made very glorious in the midst of the seas.
25The ships of Tarshish sang your praises in your markets; you were filled with goods and made glorious in the heart of the seas.
The East Wind Wrecks Her
26Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas.
26Your rowers took you out onto the high seas, but the east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas.
27Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin.
27Your wealth, your wares, your merchandise, your sailors and pilots, your caulkers and traders, all your soldiers on board, and the whole crowd with you will sink into the heart of the seas on the day of your ruin.
28The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.
28The shorelands will shake at the cries of your pilots.
29And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land;
29All who handle the oar will abandon their ships; the sailors and every pilot of the sea will stand on the shore.
30And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:
30They will raise their voices over you and cry out bitterly. They will throw dust on their heads and roll in the ashes.
31And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.
31They will shave their heads for you and put on sackcloth. They will weep for you with bitter hearts and bitter wailing.
Who Was Ever Like Tyre
32And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?
32In their grief they will raise a lament for you and mourn over you: 'Who was ever like Tyre, now silenced in the middle of the sea?
33When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.
33When your wares went out across the seas, you satisfied many peoples. With your great wealth and merchandise you made the kings of the earth rich.
34In the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall.
34Now you are wrecked by the seas in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew have gone down with you.
35All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.
35All who live on the coastlands are appalled at you; their kings shudder with fear, and their faces are twisted with dread.
36The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be any more.
36The merchants among the nations hiss at you. You have come to a dreadful end, and you will be no more forever.'"
XXVIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Prince of Tyre Is Only a Man
1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
2Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
2"Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Because your heart has grown proud and you have said, "I am a god; I sit on a god's seat out in the middle of the seas," yet you are only a man and not a god, though you have set your heart as if it were the heart of a god;
3Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
3see, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret anyone can keep from you.
4With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
4By your wisdom and your understanding you have made yourself rich and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries.
5By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
5By your great wisdom in trade you have multiplied your riches, and your heart has grown proud because of your wealth.
6Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have set your heart as if it were the heart of a god,
7Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
7watch: I will bring foreigners against you, the cruelest of the nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and stain your brightness.
8They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas.
8They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die the death of those slain in the heart of the seas.
9Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee.
9Will you still say, "I am a god," in front of the one who kills you? You will be a man, not a god, in the hands of the one who runs you through.
10Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
10You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners, for I have spoken it, says the Lord GOD.'"
The Lament for the King of Tyre
11Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
11Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
12"Son of man, raise a lament over the king of Tyre and say to him, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: You were the finishing seal, full of wisdom and complete in beauty.
13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
13You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: ruby, topaz and diamond, beryl, onyx and jasper, sapphire, emerald and carbuncle, all set in gold. Your tambourines and flutes were crafted and made ready for you on the day you were created.
14Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
14You were the anointed cherub who guards, and I had placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth among the stones of fire.
15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
15From the day you were created your ways were flawless, until the day wrongdoing was discovered in you.
Cast Down and Burned to Ashes
16By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
16Your booming trade filled you with violence on the inside, and you sinned. So I threw you out of God's mountain like something defiled, and I destroyed you, guardian cherub, from among the stones of fire.
17Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
17Your beauty made your heart proud; your brightness ruined your wisdom. I hurled you to the ground and laid you out in front of kings for them to gawk at.
18Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
18You polluted your holy places with your countless sins and your crooked dealing. So I made fire break out from inside you; it ate you up, and I left you as ashes on the ground while everyone who saw you looked on.
19All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
19Everyone among the peoples who knew you is stunned at what happened to you. You have become a thing of horror, and you will never exist again.'"
Against Sidon
20Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
20Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
21Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,
21"Son of man, set your face toward Sidon and prophesy against it,
22And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
22and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I am against you, Sidon, and I will show my glory in the middle of you. They will know that I am the LORD when I carry out judgments in her and reveal my holiness in her.
23For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
23For I will send disease into her and blood into her streets; the wounded will fall in the middle of her by the sword that comes against her on every side, and they will know that I am the LORD.
24And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
24Then the house of Israel will no longer have a pricking brier or a painful thorn among all their neighbors who treated them with contempt, and they will know that I am the Lord GOD.'
Israel Gathered and Settled
25Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
25"This is what the Lord GOD says: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they have been scattered, and show my holiness through them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their own land, the land I gave to my servant Jacob.
26And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.
26They will settle there without fear, building houses and planting vineyards. Yes, they will live with confidence once I have brought judgment on all the surrounding neighbors who looked down on them, and they will know that I am the LORD their God."
29
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Pharaoh the Crocodile in His Rivers
1In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt:
2"Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
3Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
3Speak and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt, you huge dragon lying stretched out among your rivers, who says, "The river is mine; I made it for myself."
4But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.
4But I will drive hooks into your jaws and make the fish in your rivers cling to your scales; then I will drag you up out of your rivers with every fish of your rivers clinging to your scales.
5And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.
5I will toss you out into the desert, you and all the fish of your rivers. You will lie fallen on the open ground, with no one to collect you or bury you; I have handed you over as food for the wild beasts and the birds of the air.
6And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the LORD, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
6Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am the LORD, because they have been a walking stick made of reed to the house of Israel.
7When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.
7When they took hold of you with the hand, you snapped and ripped their whole shoulder; when they put their weight on you, you broke and left all their backs shaking.
Forty Years of Ruin
8Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee.
8Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will bring a sword against you and cut off both man and animal from you.
9And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the LORD: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it.
9The land of Egypt will become a desolate ruin, and they will know that I am the LORD, because he said, "The river is mine; I made it."
10Behold, therefore I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from the tower of Syene even unto the border of Ethiopia.
10So then, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt a total ruin, an empty waste, from the tower of Syene all the way to the border of Ethiopia.
11No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither shall it be inhabited forty years.
11No human foot will pass through it, and no animal's foot will pass through it; it will be uninhabited for forty years.
12And I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
12I will leave the land of Egypt ruined, one ruined country among others, and her cities will stand ruined for forty years among cities in rubble. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and spread them out through the countries.
Egypt Restored, but Lowly
13Yet thus saith the Lord GOD; At the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they were scattered:
13Yet this is what the Lord GOD says: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples where they were scattered.
14And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
14I will bring back the captives of Egypt and return them to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, and there they will be a humble kingdom.
15It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
15It will be the humblest of all kingdoms and will never lift itself over the nations again, for I will cut them down to size so that they never rule over the nations again.
16And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel, which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
16Egypt will no longer be something the house of Israel trusts in; instead it will remind them of their sin whenever they turn to look toward Egypt. Then they will know that I am the Lord GOD.'"
Egypt as Wages for Nebuchadnezzar
17And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
17In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
18Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:
18"Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon put his army through hard labor against Tyre; every head was worn bald and every shoulder rubbed raw. Yet he and his army received no pay from Tyre for all the work they did against it.
19Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall be the wages for his army.
19Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Look, I am handing the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will carry off her people and her riches and take her plunder and her prey, and that will be his army's pay.
20I have given him the land of Egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.
20I have given him the land of Egypt as wages for the work he did against Tyre, because they were working for me, says the Lord GOD.
21In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
21On that day I will make strength sprout again for the house of Israel like a horn, and I will give you freedom to speak among them; and they will know that I am the LORD."
30
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Howl, the Day Is Near
1The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me again, saying,
2Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Howl ye, Woe worth the day!
2"Son of man, prophesy and say, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Howl and cry, "Oh, what a terrible day!"
3For the day is near, even the day of the LORD is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen.
3For the day is close; the day of the LORD is close, a day of dark clouds, the hour of judgment for the nations.
4And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain shall fall in Egypt, and they shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be broken down.
4A sword will strike Egypt, and Ethiopia will writhe in pain when the dead fall in Egypt, when her crowds are carried off and her foundations are broken down.
5Ethiopia, and Libya, and Lydia, and all the mingled people, and Chub, and the men of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.
5Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, all the mixed peoples, Chub, and the men of the land that is allied with them will fall with them by the sword.
Egypt's Props Give Way
6Thus saith the LORD; They also that uphold Egypt shall fall; and the pride of her power shall come down: from the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
6This is what the LORD says: Those who hold Egypt up will fall as well, and the pride of her power will sink. From the tower of Syene they will fall inside her by the sword, says the Lord GOD.
7And they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate, and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted.
7They will lie desolate among desolate countries, and her cities will lie among cities in ruins.
8And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be destroyed.
8They will know that I am the LORD when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.
9In that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for, lo, it cometh.
9On that day I will send messengers by ship to shake the carefree Ethiopians with fear, and pain will grip them as it did Egypt on her day. Watch: it is on its way.
By the Hand of Nebuchadnezzar
10Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon.
10This is what the Lord GOD says: By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon I will bring the teeming crowds of Egypt to an end.
11He and his people with him, the terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy the land: and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.
11He and his people with him, the cruelest of the nations, will be led in to wreck the land. They will pull their swords against Egypt and cover the land with the dead.
12And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken it.
12I will turn the rivers to dry ground and sell the land into the grip of evil men. Through foreigners I will lay the land bare, with everything in it. I the LORD have said it.
The Cities of Egypt Named One by One
13Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
13This is what the Lord GOD says: I will wipe out the idols and bring the images in Memphis to nothing. Egypt will have no prince anymore, and I will fill the land of Egypt with fear.
14And I will make Pathros desolate, and will set fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments in No.
14I will lay Pathros in ruins, set Zoan ablaze, and bring my judgments down on Thebes.
15And I will pour my fury upon Sin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the multitude of No.
15I will unleash my fury on Sin, Egypt's fortress, and cut down the crowds of Thebes.
16And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be rent asunder, and Noph shall have distresses daily.
16I will set Egypt on fire: Sin will twist in pain, Thebes will be broken wide open, and Memphis will know trouble every day.
17The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go into captivity.
17The young men of Aven and Pibeseth will die by the sword, and the people of these cities will be marched off as captives.
18At Tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened, when I shall break there the yokes of Egypt: and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.
18At Tehaphnehes too the daylight will fail when I shatter the yokes of Egypt there; her proud power will stop within her. A cloud will hang over her, and her daughter towns will go into captivity.
19Thus will I execute judgments in Egypt: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
19So I will carry out judgments on Egypt, and they will know that I am the LORD.'"
Pharaoh's Arms Broken
20And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
20In the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
21Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and, lo, it shall not be bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold the sword.
21"Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and look, no one has bandaged it so it can heal; no splint has been tied around it to make it strong enough to grip a sword.
22Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.
22Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break his arms, the sound one and the one already broken, and I will knock the sword out of his hand.
23And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.
23I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries.
24And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.
24I will make the arms of the king of Babylon strong and place my sword in his hand, but Pharaoh's arms I will break, and he will moan in front of him the way a man moans when he is wounded to death.
25But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon the land of Egypt.
25Yes, I will make the king of Babylon's arms strong, and Pharaoh's arms will drop limp. They will know that I am the LORD when I place my sword in the king of Babylon's hand and he reaches out with it over the land of Egypt.
26And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
26I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries, and they will know that I am the LORD."
31
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Cedar in the Garden of God
1And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness?
2"Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his crowds, 'Who are you like in your greatness?
3Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
3Think of Assyria: it was a cedar in Lebanon with lovely branches and a shading canopy, very tall, its top up among the thick boughs.
4The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
4Water made it great; the deep lifted it high, its rivers running round the spot where it was planted, while it sent its smaller streams out to all the trees of the field.
5Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
5That is why it rose higher than every tree of the field; its boughs grew many and its branches stretched long from all that water as it shot up.
6All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.
6Every bird of the air built its nest in its boughs; every beast of the field bore its young beneath its branches; and in its shade all the great nations made their home.
7Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters.
7So it was lovely in its greatness and in the reach of its branches, because its roots drank from great waters.
8The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
8The cedars in God's garden could not hide it; the fir trees had nothing like its boughs, and the chestnut trees had nothing like its branches. No tree in God's garden came close to its beauty.
9I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.
9I gave it its beauty with all those branches, until every tree of Eden, there in God's garden, was jealous of it.
Cut Down for Its Height
10Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;
10Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Because you have grown so tall, because it lifted its top among the thick boughs and its heart grew proud of its height,
11I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
11I gave it up to the strongest of the nations, and he dealt with it fully; I sent it away because of its wickedness.
12And strangers, the terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow, and have left him.
12Foreigners, the cruelest of the nations, chopped it down and abandoned it. Its branches fell across the mountains and every valley; its boughs snapped and lay by all the streams of the land, and every people on earth walked out of its shade and left it behind.
13Upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches:
13Every bird of the air perches on its wreck, and all the beasts of the field are among its branches.
14To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit.
14All this so that no tree by the waters would ever puff itself up over its height or push its top among the thick boughs, and no well-watered tree would stand tall on its own account. For every one of them is given over to death, to the lower parts of the earth, in the company of human beings who go down to the pit.
The Fall Heard in the Underworld
15Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: and I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him.
15This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day it went down to the grave I called for mourning: I covered the deep over for it and held back its rivers, and the great waters stood still. I dressed Lebanon in mourning for it, and every tree in the field drooped for it.
16I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
16The nations shook at the noise of its crash when I sent it down to the grave along with those who go down to the pit. And all the trees of Eden, the pick and pride of Lebanon, every well-watered tree, took comfort down in the lower parts of the earth.
17They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
17They too went down with it to the grave, to those killed by the sword, together with those who had been its strong arm and had lived in its shade among the nations.
18To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
18So which tree of Eden are you like in glory and greatness? Still you will be sent down with the trees of Eden to the lower parts of the earth; you will lie among the uncircumcised with those killed by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his crowds, says the Lord GOD.'"
32
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Lament for Pharaoh the River Monster
1And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, in the first day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou art like a young lion of the nations, and thou art as a whale in the seas: and thou camest forth with thy rivers, and troubledst the waters with thy feet, and fouledst their rivers.
2"Son of man, raise a lament over Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him, 'You were like a young lion among the nations, yet you are like a great sea creature in the waters, bursting out in your rivers, stirring up the water with your feet and dirtying their streams.
3Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will therefore spread out my net over thee with a company of many people; and they shall bring thee up in my net.
3This is what the Lord GOD says: So I will throw my net over you with a gathering of many peoples, and they will drag you up in my net.
4Then will I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee.
4Then I will drop you on the land and throw you out on the open field. I will let every bird of the air perch on you and let the beasts of the whole earth eat until they are full of you.
5And I will lay thy flesh upon the mountains, and fill the valleys with thy height.
5I will lay your flesh across the mountains and fill the valleys with what is left of your bulk.
6I will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest, even to the mountains; and the rivers shall be full of thee.
6I will water the land where you swim with your blood, up to the mountains, and the riverbeds will be full of you.
The Lights of Heaven Darkened
7And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
7When I put out your light, I will veil the sky and blacken its stars; I will hide the sun behind a cloud, and the moon will not shine.
8All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.
8Every glowing light in the sky I will darken above you, and I will lay darkness over your land, says the Lord GOD.
9I will also vex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destruction among the nations, into the countries which thou hast not known.
9I will make the hearts of many peoples uneasy when I carry the news of your downfall to the nations, to countries you never knew.
10Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.
10Yes, I will leave many peoples stunned at you, and their kings will shake with dread on your account when I wave my sword in front of them. On the day you fall, every one of them will tremble moment by moment for his own life.
The Sword of the King of Babylon
11For thus saith the Lord GOD; The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon thee.
11For this is what the Lord GOD says: The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you.
12By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the terrible of the nations, all of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed.
12By the swords of warriors I will bring down your crowds, the cruelest of the nations, every one of them. They will trample the glory of Egypt, and all her crowds will be wiped out.
13I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.
13I will also destroy all her animals from beside the great waters; no human foot will stir those waters again, and no hoof of any beast will muddy them.
14Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, saith the Lord GOD.
14Then I will let their waters run deep and clear and make their rivers glide like oil, says the Lord GOD.
15When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all them that dwell therein, then shall they know that I am the LORD.
15When I turn the land of Egypt into a wasteland and empty the country of all that once filled it, when I strike everyone living there, then they will know that I am the LORD.
16This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: the daughters of the nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all her multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
16This is the funeral song they will sing over her; the daughters of the nations will sing it. They will sing it for her, for Egypt and all her crowds, says the Lord GOD.'"
Go Down and Be Laid With the Slain
17It came to pass also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
17In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
18Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into the pit.
18"Son of man, cry aloud for the crowds of Egypt, and send them down, her and the daughters of the famous nations, to the lower parts of the earth with those who go down to the pit.
19Whom dost thou pass in beauty? go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.
19'Who do you outshine in beauty? Go down, and take your place among the uncircumcised.'
20They shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and all her multitudes.
20They will drop among those cut down by the sword. She has been handed over to the sword; haul her away with all her crowds.
21The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
21The strongest of the warriors will speak to him from the middle of the grave, along with those who helped him: 'They have gone down; they lie there uncircumcised, killed by the sword.'
Assyria and Elam Among the Graves
22Asshur is there and all her company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:
22Assyria is there with all her company, his graves all around him, every one of them killed, fallen by the sword.
23Whose graves are set in the sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.
23Their graves are placed in the far corners of the pit, and her company lies around her grave, every one of them killed, fallen by the sword, though they once struck terror into the land of the living.
24There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit.
24Elam is there, and all her crowds surround her grave, every one of them killed, fallen by the sword; they went down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth. They once struck terror into the land of the living, yet now they carry their disgrace along with those who go down to the pit.
25They have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.
25They have laid out a bed for her among the killed, with all her crowds; her graves circle around him, all of them uncircumcised, killed by the sword. Their terror once filled the land of the living, yet they carry their disgrace with those who go down to the pit; he has been placed among the killed.
Meshech, Tubal, Edom and the Princes of the North
26There is Meshech, Tubal, and all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
26Meshech and Tubal are there, with all her crowds; her graves circle around him, every one uncircumcised, killed by the sword, though they once spread their terror through the land of the living.
27And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
27And they will not lie beside the fallen heroes of the uncircumcised, who went down to the grave with their weapons of war, their swords laid beneath their heads. But their sins will rest on their bones, because they were the terror of the strong in the land of the living.
28Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.
28Yes, and you too will be shattered among the uncircumcised and lie beside those killed by the sword.
29There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the pit.
29Edom is there, her kings and all her princes; strong as they were, they have been laid beside those killed by the sword. They will lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.
30There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.
30There are the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Sidonians, who went down with the killed; for all the terror they caused, they are ashamed of their strength. They lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword and carry their disgrace with those who go down to the pit.
Pharaoh Sees Them and Is Comforted
31Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord GOD.
31Pharaoh will see them and will find comfort over all his crowds, Pharaoh and his whole army killed by the sword, says the Lord GOD.
32For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
32For I spread my terror through the land of the living, and he will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, Pharaoh and all his crowds, says the Lord GOD."
33
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Watchman's Charge Restated
1Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
2"Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, 'When I send a sword against a country, and the people of that country pick a man from among themselves and appoint him as their watchman,
3If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
3and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people,
4Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
4then anyone who hears the trumpet's sound and ignores the warning, and is carried off when the sword comes, has the guilt of his own death resting on his own head.
5He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
5He heard the sound of the trumpet and ignored the warning, so his blood is on himself. But whoever takes the warning will save his life.
6But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
6But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not sound the trumpet, so the people get no warning, and the sword comes and carries off one of them. That person dies because of his own sin, but I will demand his blood from the watchman's hand.'
7So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
7"And you, son of man, are the watchman I have appointed for the house of Israel. So listen to the word from my mouth and pass my warning on to them.
8When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
8If I tell a wicked man, 'Wicked man, you are certainly going to die,' and you say nothing to warn him away from his path, that wicked man will die because of his sin, but I will demand his blood from your hand.
9Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
9But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his path and he refuses to turn, he will die because of his sin, but you will have saved your own life.
Turn and Live
10Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
10"So, son of man, say to the house of Israel: 'You are saying, "Our crimes and our sins are piled on top of us, and we are rotting away under them. How could we possibly live?"'
11Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
11Tell them, 'As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, the death of a wicked person gives me no pleasure; what I want is for the wicked to turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why should you die, house of Israel?'
12Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
12"So, son of man, say to your people: 'The good life of a good person will not rescue him on the day he rebels, and the wicked life of a wicked person will not trip him up on the day he turns away from it. And the good person cannot stay alive by his past goodness on the day he sins.'
13When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
13Suppose I tell a good person, 'You will certainly live,' and then he leans on his own goodness and does wrong. None of his good deeds will be counted; he will die for the wrong he has done.
14Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
14Or suppose I tell a wicked person, 'You will certainly die,' and then he turns away from his sin and does what is fair and right;
15If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
15if that wicked man hands back the security he holds, pays back what he took by force, and lives by the rules that bring life, doing no wrong, then he will certainly live. He will not die.
16None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
16Not one of the sins he committed will be brought up against him. He has done what is fair and right, so he will certainly live.
The Way of the Lord Is Not Equal
17Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
17"Still your people complain, 'The Lord's way isn't fair.' But it is their own way that isn't fair.
18When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
18When a good person abandons his goodness and does wrong, that is what he will die for.
19But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
19And when a wicked person abandons his wickedness and does what is fair and right, that is what he will live by.
20Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
20Yet you keep saying, 'The Lord's way isn't fair.' House of Israel, I will judge each one of you by the way he has lived."
The City Is Smitten
21And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
21In the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, someone who had gotten out of Jerusalem reached me and said, "The city has been struck down."
22Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
22The evening before the survivor arrived, the LORD's hand had come on me, and by the time he reached me in the morning my mouth had been opened. My mouth was open, and I was not mute anymore.
Those Left in the Ruins
23Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
23Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
24Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
24"Son of man, the people living in those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was just one person, and he received the land as his inheritance. We are many, so the land has been handed to us as our inheritance.'
25Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
25So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: You eat meat with blood in it, you look up to your idols for help, and you kill people. And you expect to possess the land?
26Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour’s wife: and shall ye possess the land?
26You depend on your sword, you commit disgusting acts, and every one of you sleeps with another man's wife. And you expect to possess the land?'
27Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
27"Say this to them: 'This is what the Lord GOD says: As surely as I live, the people in the ruins will die by the sword; whoever is out in the open fields I will hand over to the wild animals to be eaten; and those hiding in forts and caves will die of disease.
28For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
28I will turn the land into a wasteland; its proud power will end, and the mountains of Israel will be so empty that no one travels across them.
29Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
29Then they will know that I am the LORD, once I have turned the land into a wasteland because of all the disgusting things they have done.'
A Pleasant Voice, Well Played
30Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
30"And you, son of man: your people keep talking about you beside the walls and in the doorways of their homes. Each one says to his brother, 'Come along and let's hear what word has come from the LORD.'
31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
31They come to you the way a crowd comes and sit in front of you as if they were my people; they listen to your words but do not do them. Their mouths are full of loving words, but their hearts run after greedy gain.
32And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
32To them you are just a pretty song, someone with a pleasant voice who plays well on an instrument; they hear what you say, but they do not do it.
33And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
33And when it happens, and it will happen, then they will realize that a prophet had been among them."
34
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Shepherds Who Fed Themselves
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me, and he said,
2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
2"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says to the shepherds: How terrible for the shepherds of Israel who feed only themselves! Shouldn't the shepherds be feeding the flock?
3Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.
3You eat the fat and dress yourselves in the wool, and you slaughter the well-fed animals, but you do not feed the flock.
4The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
4You have not made the weak ones strong, or healed the sick, or bandaged the injured. You have not brought back the ones that were driven away or gone looking for the ones that were lost. Instead you have ruled them with force and cruelty.
5And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
5So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and once they were scattered they became food for every wild animal.
6My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.
6My sheep wandered over all the mountains and every high hill. My flock was scattered across the whole face of the earth, and no one searched or looked for them.
God Against the Shepherds
7Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
7Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
8As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
8As surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, my flock became plunder and food for every wild animal because there was no shepherd. My shepherds did not search for my flock; they fed themselves instead of feeding my flock.
9Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
9So, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD.
10Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.
10This is what the Lord GOD says: I am against the shepherds. I will demand my flock back from their hands and put a stop to their tending the flock, so the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, so the sheep will not be food for them.
I Myself Will Search for My Sheep
11For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.
11For this is what the Lord GOD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.
12As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
12Just as a shepherd looks for his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so I will look for my sheep. I will rescue them from every place they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.
13And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them to their own land. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, beside the streams, and in every settled place in the land.
14I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.
14I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold will be on the high mountains of Israel. There they will lie down in a good fold and graze in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
15I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD.
15I myself will feed my flock, and I myself will let them lie down, says the Lord GOD.
16I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.
16I will look for the lost and bring home the ones that were driven away. I will bandage the broken and make the sick strong again. But the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them with judgment.
Judgment Between Sheep and Sheep
17And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
17And as for you, my flock, this is what the Lord GOD says: I am going to judge between one sheep and another, between the rams and the male goats.
18Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture, but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? and to have drunk of the deep waters, but ye must foul the residue with your feet?
18Is it such a small thing to you to graze the good pasture, that you must also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? And to drink the clear water, that you must also muddy the rest with your feet?
19And as for my flock, they eat that which ye have trodden with your feet; and they drink that which ye have fouled with your feet.
19And my flock has to eat what you have trampled with your feet and drink what you have muddied with your feet.
20Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, even I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.
20Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
21Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad;
21Because you have shoved with your flank and shoulder and butted all the weak ones with your horns until you drove them away,
22Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
22I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plunder. I will judge between one sheep and another.
One Shepherd, My Servant David
23And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
23I will set up one shepherd over them, and he will feed them: my servant David. He will feed them, and he will be their shepherd.
24And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
24And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.
A Covenant of Peace
25And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
25I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of dangerous animals, so they can live safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
26And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.
26I will make them, and the places all around my hill, a blessing. I will send down the rain in its season; there will be showers of blessing.
27And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.
27The trees of the field will give their fruit and the earth will give its harvest, and they will be safe in their land. They will know that I am the LORD when I have broken the bars of their yoke and rescued them from the hands of those who made slaves of them.
28And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
28They will no longer be plunder for the nations, and the wild animals of the land will not devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will frighten them.
29And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.
29I will raise up for them a planting that will be famous, and they will no longer be wasted away by hunger in the land or carry the shame of the nations any more.
30Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD.
30Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD.
31And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
31And you, my flock, the flock of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD."
35
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Set Thy Face Against Mount Seir
1Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1Again the word of the LORD came to me, and he said,
2Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
2"Son of man, turn your face toward Mount Seir and prophesy against it.
3And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.
3Say to it: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am against you, Mount Seir. I will stretch out my hand against you and leave you completely desolate.
4I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
4I will lay your cities in ruins, and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Blood Shall Pursue Thee
5Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end:
5Because you have kept up an endless hatred and handed the people of Israel over to the sword in the time of their disaster, the time when their punishment reached its end,
6Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood shall pursue thee: sith thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.
6therefore, as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will hand you over to bloodshed, and bloodshed will chase you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will chase you.
7Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.
7I will make Mount Seir a complete wasteland and cut off from it everyone who comes and goes.
8And I will fill his mountains with his slain men: in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.
8I will fill its mountains with the dead. On your hills, in your valleys, and in all your ravines, those killed by the sword will fall.
9I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
9I will make you desolate forever, and your cities will never be lived in again. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
The Boast Over Two Nations
10Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess it; whereas the LORD was there:
10Because you said, 'These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will take possession of them,' even though the LORD was there,
11Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.
11therefore, as surely as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy you showed out of your hatred for them, and I will make myself known among them when I judge you.
12And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.
12Then you will know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all the insults you spoke against the mountains of Israel when you said, 'They are laid waste; they have been given to us to devour.'
13Thus with your mouth ye have boasted against me, and have multiplied your words against me: I have heard them.
13You bragged against me with your mouths and piled up your words against me. I heard them.
14Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.
14This is what the Lord GOD says: While the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.
15As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
15Just as you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel lay desolate, so I will do to you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, and all of Edom, every bit of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
36
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Word to the Mountains of Israel
1Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:
1"And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.
2Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:
2This is what the Lord GOD says: Because the enemy has said about you, 'Aha! The ancient heights have become ours,'
3Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:
3therefore prophesy and say: This is what the Lord GOD says: Because they have made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, so that you became the property of the rest of the nations, and people gossip about you and slander you,
4Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;
4therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the abandoned cities that have been plundered and mocked by the rest of the nations around you:
5Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.
5This is what the Lord GOD says: In the fire of my jealousy I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all of Edom, who with all the joy of their hearts and with spiteful minds claimed my land as their own possession, so they could drive out its people and plunder it.
6Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:
6Therefore prophesy about the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: This is what the Lord GOD says: I have spoken in my jealousy and my fury, because you have borne the scorn of the nations.
7Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame.
7Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I have raised my hand and sworn that the nations around you will bear their own shame.
The Land Will Bear Fruit Again
8But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.
8But you, mountains of Israel, will put out your branches and bear your fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home.
9For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:
9See, I am on your side. I will turn toward you, and you will be plowed and planted.
10And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:
10I will multiply the people living on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities will be lived in and the ruins rebuilt.
11And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
11I will multiply both people and animals on you, and they will grow in number and be fruitful. I will settle you as you were in the old days and do you more good than at your beginning. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
12Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.
12Yes, I will have people walk on you again, my people Israel. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance, and you will never again rob them of their children.
No Longer a Land That Devours
13Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they say unto you, Thou land devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy nations;
13This is what the Lord GOD says: Because people say to you, 'You are a land that devours people and robs your nation of its children,'
14Therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith the Lord GOD.
14therefore you will no longer devour people or rob your nation of its children, says the Lord GOD.
15Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord GOD.
15I will no longer let you hear the scorn of the nations, and you will no longer bear the insults of the peoples, and you will never again cause your nation to stumble, says the Lord GOD."
Why They Were Scattered
16Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
16Again the word of the LORD came to me, and he said,
17Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
17"Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by the way they lived and the things they did. Their way of life was as unclean in my sight as a woman during her monthly period.
18Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
18So I poured out my fury on them because of the blood they had shed on the land and because of the idols they had defiled it with.
19And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
19I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. I judged them according to their ways and their deeds.
20And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
20And wherever they went among the nations, they dishonored my holy name, because people said of them, 'These are the LORD's people, and yet they had to leave his land.'
21But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
21But I cared about my holy name, which the house of Israel had dishonored among the nations wherever they went.
Not for Your Sakes
22Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
22Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am not doing this for your sake, house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have dishonored among the nations wherever you went.
23And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
23I will show how holy my great name is, the name that was dishonored among the nations, the name you dishonored in the middle of them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.
24For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
24For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you into your own land.
A New Heart and a New Spirit
25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
25Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filth and from all your idols.
26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
26I will also give you a new heart and put a new spirit inside you. I will take the heart of stone out of your body and give you a living heart of flesh.
27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
27I will put my Spirit inside you and make you follow my laws, and you will keep my rules and do them.
28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
28You will live in the land I gave your ancestors. You will be my people, and I will be your God.
Fed, and Ashamed
29I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
29I will also save you from everything that makes you unclean. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful, and I will not send famine on you.
30And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
30I will multiply the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so you will never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations.
31Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
31Then you will remember your evil ways and the things you did that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and your disgusting practices.
32Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
32I am not doing this for your sake, says the Lord GOD; be sure of that. Be ashamed and humiliated for the way you have lived, house of Israel.
The Waste Cities Filled
33Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.
33This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will also resettle the cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.
34And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
34The desolate land will be plowed instead of lying in ruins in the sight of everyone who passes by.
35And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
35People will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the ruined, empty, broken-down cities are now fortified and full of people.'
36Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.
36Then the nations left around you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was torn down and replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.
37Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
37This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will let the house of Israel ask me to do this for them. I will make their people as many as a flock of sheep.
38As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
38Like the flock set apart for sacrifice, like the flock in Jerusalem at her appointed feasts, so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
37
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Valley Full of Bones
1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
1The hand of the LORD was on me, and he carried me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley that was full of bones.
2And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
2He led me all around them, and I saw a great many bones lying on the valley floor, and they were very dry.
3And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
3He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I answered, "Lord GOD, you are the one who knows."
4Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
4Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
5This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I am going to make breath enter you, and you will live.
6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
6I will put tendons on you, bring flesh up over you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the LORD."
Breath Enters the Slain
7So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
7So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, I heard a sound, a shaking, and the bones came together, each bone to its own bone.
8And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
8As I watched, tendons and flesh grew on them and skin covered them over, but there was no breath in them.
9Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
9Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the wind. Prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind: This is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so they may live."
10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath came into them. They came to life and stood up on their feet, an enormous army.
These Bones Are the House of Israel
11Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
11Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They are saying, 'Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, and we are cut off.'
12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
12So prophesy and say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up out of them, and I will bring you into the land of Israel.
13And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
13Then you will know that I am the LORD, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up out of them.
14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
14I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and have done it, says the LORD."
Two Sticks Joined in One Hand
15The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
15The word of the LORD came to me again, and he said,
16Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
16"Son of man, take a stick and write on it, 'For Judah and the Israelites joined to him.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel joined to him.'
17And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
17Join them together into one stick, so they become one in your hand.
18And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
18When your people ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?'
19Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
19say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in Ephraim's hand, along with the tribes of Israel joined to him, and put it together with the stick of Judah. I will make them one stick, and they will be one in my hand.
20And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes.
20Hold the sticks you have written on in your hand where they can see them,
One Nation Under One King
21And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
21and say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am going to take the Israelites from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land.
22And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
22I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over them all. They will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.
23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
23They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their sins. I will save them from all the places where they sinned, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
The Covenant of Peace and the Sanctuary
24And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
24My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my rules and carefully keep my laws.
25And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.
25They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your ancestors lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and my servant David will be their prince forever.
26Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
26I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever.
27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
27My dwelling place will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
28And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.
28Then the nations will know that I, the LORD, make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever."
38
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Set Thy Face Against Gog
1And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1The word of the LORD came to me, and he said,
2Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
2"Son of man, turn your face toward Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.
3And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
3Say: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
4And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords:
4I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws, and bring you out with your whole army: horses and riders, all of them fully armed, a huge company with large and small shields, all of them wielding swords.
5Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
5Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shields and helmets;
6Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
6Gomer with all its troops, and the house of Togarmah from the far north with all its troops; many peoples are with you.
Summoned Against a Land at Rest
7Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
7Get ready! Prepare yourself, you and all the company gathered around you, and take command of them.
8After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.
8After many days you will be called up. In the later years you will invade a land that has recovered from the sword, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long lain in ruins. They were brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.
9Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
9You will advance, coming like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops and the many peoples with you.
The Thought That Comes Into His Mind
10Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:
10This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, and you will make an evil plan.
11And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates,
11You will say, 'I will invade a land of unwalled villages. I will attack a people at rest, living in safety, all of them living without walls, without bars or gates,
12To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.
12to plunder and loot, to turn my hand against ruins that are now inhabited and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods and live at the center of the land.'
13Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?
13Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish with all their young lions will say to you, 'Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your company to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take livestock and goods, to seize a great haul?'
Brought Up Out of the North
14Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?
14Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, won't you take notice?
15And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army:
15You will come from your place in the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a huge company and a mighty army.
16And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
16You will come up against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land. It will happen in the last days: I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you, Gog, before their eyes.
Fire, Hailstones and Brimstone
17Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?
17This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you the one I spoke about long ago through my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days, year after year, that I would bring you against them?
18And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face.
18On that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, my fury will flare up in my face.
19For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
19In my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath I declare: On that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.
20So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
20The fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals of the field, every creature that crawls on the ground, and every person on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground.
21And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
21I will summon a sword against him on all my mountains, says the Lord GOD, and every man's sword will be turned against his brother.
22And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
22I will bring judgment on him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples with him a flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and burning sulfur.
23Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
23So I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD."
39
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Gog Falls on the Mountains of Israel
1Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
1So, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say: This is what the Lord GOD says. I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
2And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
2I will turn you around and leave only a sixth of you; I will bring you up from the far north and lead you onto the mountains of Israel.
3And I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand.
3Then I will knock the bow out of your left hand and make the arrows drop from your right hand.
4Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.
4You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you. I will hand you over to birds of prey of every kind and to the wild animals to be eaten.
5Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD.
5You will fall in the open field, for I have spoken it, says the Lord GOD.
6And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.
6I will send fire on Magog and on those who live at ease in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD.
7So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
7So I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be dishonored any longer. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
8Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have spoken.
8Look, it is coming; it will surely happen, says the Lord GOD. This is the day I have spoken about.
Seven Years of Burning Weapons
9And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves, and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years:
9Then the people who live in the towns of Israel will go out and make fires of the weapons and burn them: the shields and bucklers, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. They will keep fires going with them for seven years.
10So that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith the Lord GOD.
10They will not need to gather wood from the fields or cut any from the forests, because they will use the weapons for fuel. They will plunder those who plundered them and rob those who robbed them, says the Lord GOD.
The Valley of Hamon-gog
11And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog.
11On that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, the valley of the travelers east of the sea, and it will block the way of those who pass through. There they will bury Gog and his whole horde, and they will call it the Valley of Hamon-gog.
12And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
12The house of Israel will spend seven months burying them in order to cleanse the land.
13Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
13All the people of the land will help bury them, and it will bring them honor on the day I show my glory, says the Lord GOD.
14And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
14They will appoint men to the ongoing job of going through the land, burying, with the help of travelers, any bodies still left on the ground, in order to cleanse it. At the end of seven months they will begin their search.
15And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog.
15As the travelers go through the land, whenever one of them sees a human bone he will set up a marker beside it until the buriers have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog.
16And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land.
16And the name of the city will also be Hamonah. That is how they will cleanse the land.
A Sacrifice for the Birds and Beasts
17And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
17And you, son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: Speak to every kind of bird and to every wild animal: Gather together and come; assemble from every side for my sacrifice that I am preparing for you, a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, so that you may eat flesh and drink blood.
18Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan.
18You will eat the flesh of the mighty and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, as if they were rams, lambs, goats and bulls, all of them fattened animals of Bashan.
19And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you.
19You will eat fat until you are full and drink blood until you are drunk, at my sacrifice that I have prepared for you.
20Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD.
20At my table you will be filled with horses and chariot riders, with mighty men and with all kinds of warriors, says the Lord GOD.
Why Israel Went Into Captivity
21And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
21I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the judgment I have carried out and the hand I have laid on them.
22So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward.
22From that day on, the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.
23And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity: because they trespassed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword.
23And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile because of their sin. Because they were unfaithful to me, I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword.
24According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
24I dealt with them as their uncleanness and their sins deserved, and I hid my face from them.
Mercy on the Whole House of Jacob
25Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
25Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Now I will bring Jacob back from captivity and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name.
26After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
26This will be after they have borne their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me, when they live safely in their land with no one to frighten them.
27When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
27When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and have shown myself holy through them in the sight of many nations,
28Then shall they know that I am the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.
28then they will know that I am the LORD their God, who sent them into exile among the nations but then gathered them back to their own land, leaving none of them behind.
29Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
29I will never again hide my face from them, for I have poured out my Spirit on the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
40
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Carried to a Very High Mountain
1In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.
1In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city had been struck down, on that very day the hand of the LORD was on me and he took me there.
2In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.
2In visions from God he brought me into the land of Israel and set me on a very high mountain, and on its south side was something like the layout of a city.
3And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
3He took me there, and I saw a man whose appearance was like bronze, standing in the gateway with a linen cord and a measuring rod in his hand.
4And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
4The man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes, listen with your ears, and pay close attention to everything I am going to show you, because you were brought here so that I could show it to you. Tell the house of Israel everything you see."
The East Gate Measured
5And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.
5I saw a wall running all the way around the outside of the temple, and in the man's hand was a measuring rod six cubits long, each cubit being a cubit plus a handbreadth. He measured the thickness of the wall: one rod; and its height: one rod.
6Then came he unto the gate which looketh toward the east, and went up the stairs thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad; and the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
6Then he went to the gate that faces east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate: one rod deep; and the other threshold: one rod deep.
7And every little chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad; and between the little chambers were five cubits; and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the gate within was one reed.
7Each guard room was one rod long and one rod wide, and the guard rooms were five cubits apart. The threshold of the gate beside the gate's inner porch was one rod.
8He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
8He also measured the inner porch of the gate: one rod.
9Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits; and the posts thereof, two cubits; and the porch of the gate was inward.
9Then he measured the porch of the gate: eight cubits; and its posts: two cubits. The porch of the gate was on the inner side.
10And the little chambers of the gate eastward were three on this side, and three on that side; they three were of one measure: and the posts had one measure on this side and on that side.
10The guard rooms of the east gate were three on one side and three on the other; all three were the same size, and the posts on each side were the same size too.
11And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.
11He measured the width of the gate's entrance: ten cubits; and the length of the gateway: thirteen cubits.
12The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side, and the space was one cubit on that side: and the little chambers were six cubits on this side, and six cubits on that side.
12There was a ledge one cubit wide in front of the guard rooms on each side, and the guard rooms were six cubits on one side and six cubits on the other.
13He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another: the breadth was five and twenty cubits, door against door.
13Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one guard room to the roof of the one opposite: twenty-five cubits wide, doorway facing doorway.
14He made also posts of threescore cubits, even unto the post of the court round about the gate.
14He also made the posts sixty cubits, reaching to the post of the courtyard all the way around the gateway.
15And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner gate were fifty cubits.
15From the front of the entrance gate to the front of the inner porch of the gate was fifty cubits.
16And there were narrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within the gate round about, and likewise to the arches: and windows were round about inward: and upon each post were palm trees.
16The guard rooms and their posts inside the gateway had narrow windows all around, and so did the arches; there were windows all around on the inside, and each post was decorated with palm trees.
The Outer Court and Its Pavement
17Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.
17Then he brought me into the outer court, and there I saw rooms and a paved area built all around the court; thirty rooms faced the pavement.
18And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was the lower pavement.
18The pavement ran alongside the gates, matching the length of the gates; this was the lower pavement.
19Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront of the inner court without, an hundred cubits eastward and northward.
19Then he measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the outside front of the inner court: one hundred cubits, on the east and on the north.
The North Gate of the Outer Court
20And the gate of the outward court that looked toward the north, he measured the length thereof, and the breadth thereof.
20He measured the length and the width of the gate of the outer court that faces north.
21And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side; and the posts thereof and the arches thereof were after the measure of the first gate: the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
21Its guard rooms were three on one side and three on the other, and its posts and its arches were the same size as those of the first gate: it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
22And their windows, and their arches, and their palm trees, were after the measure of the gate that looketh toward the east; and they went up unto it by seven steps; and the arches thereof were before them.
22Its windows, its arches and its palm trees were the same size as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, and its arches were in front of them.
23And the gate of the inner court was over against the gate toward the north, and toward the east; and he measured from gate to gate an hundred cubits.
23The inner court had a gate opposite the north gate, just as on the east, and he measured from gate to gate: one hundred cubits.
The South Gate
24After that he brought me toward the south, and behold a gate toward the south: and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these measures.
24Then he led me toward the south, and there was a gate facing south. He measured its posts and its arches, and they had the same measurements as the others.
25And there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about, like those windows: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
25It and its arches had windows all around, like the other windows; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
26And there were seven steps to go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them: and it had palm trees, one on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
26Seven steps led up to it, with its arches in front of them, and it had palm trees on its posts, one on each side.
27And there was a gate in the inner court toward the south: and he measured from gate to gate toward the south an hundred cubits.
27The inner court also had a gate facing south, and he measured from gate to gate toward the south: one hundred cubits.
Into the Inner Court
28And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south gate according to these measures;
28Then he brought me into the inner court through the south gate, and he measured the south gate; it had the same measurements as the others.
29And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, according to these measures: and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
29Its guard rooms, its posts and its arches had the same measurements, and it and its arches had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
30And the arches round about were five and twenty cubits long, and five cubits broad.
30The arches all around were twenty-five cubits long and five cubits wide.
31And the arches thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof: and the going up to it had eight steps.
31Its arches faced the outer court, palm trees were on its posts, and eight steps led up to it.
The Inner East and North Gates
32And he brought me into the inner court toward the east: and he measured the gate according to these measures.
32Then he brought me into the inner court on the east side and measured the gate; it had the same measurements as the others.
33And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were according to these measures: and there were windows therein and in the arches thereof round about: it was fifty cubits long, and five and twenty cubits broad.
33Its guard rooms, its posts and its arches had the same measurements, and it and its arches had windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
34And the arches thereof were toward the outward court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
34Its arches faced the outer court, palm trees were on its posts on each side, and eight steps led up to it.
35And he brought me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures;
35Then he brought me to the north gate and measured it; it had the same measurements as the others,
36The little chambers thereof, the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, and the windows to it round about: the length was fifty cubits, and the breadth five and twenty cubits.
36with its guard rooms, its posts and its arches, and windows all around; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
37And the posts thereof were toward the utter court; and palm trees were upon the posts thereof, on this side, and on that side: and the going up to it had eight steps.
37Its posts faced the outer court, palm trees were on its posts on each side, and eight steps led up to it.
Tables for the Offerings
38And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where they washed the burnt offering.
38There was a room with its doorway beside the posts of the gates, where the burnt offering was washed.
39And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slay thereon the burnt offering and the sin offering and the trespass offering.
39In the porch of the gate were two tables on one side and two tables on the other, on which the burnt offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering were slaughtered.
40And at the side without, as one goeth up to the entry of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.
40Outside, by the wall as one goes up to the entrance of the north gate, were two tables, and on the other side, by the porch of the gate, were two more.
41Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices.
41So there were four tables on one side and four tables on the other beside the gate, eight tables in all, on which the sacrifices were slaughtered.
42And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and an half long, and a cubit and an half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
42The four tables for the burnt offering were of cut stone, a cubit and a half long, a cubit and a half wide and one cubit high, and on them were laid the tools used to slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
43And within were hooks, an hand broad, fastened round about: and upon the tables was the flesh of the offering.
43Inside, hooks a handbreadth wide were fastened all around, and the flesh of the offerings was placed on the tables.
Rooms for the Priests and the Square Court
44And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their prospect was toward the south: one at the side of the east gate having the prospect toward the north.
44Outside the inner gate, in the inner court, were rooms for the singers: one beside the north gate facing south, and one beside the east gate facing north.
45And he said unto me, This chamber, whose prospect is toward the south, is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the house.
45He said to me, "This room facing south is for the priests who are in charge of the temple,
46And the chamber whose prospect is toward the north is for the priests, the keepers of the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok among the sons of Levi, which come near to the LORD to minister unto him.
46and the room facing north is for the priests who are in charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, the ones among the sons of Levi who come near to the LORD to serve him."
47So he measured the court, an hundred cubits long, and an hundred cubits broad, foursquare; and the altar that was before the house.
47Then he measured the court: one hundred cubits long and one hundred cubits wide, a perfect square. And the altar stood in front of the temple.
The Porch of the Temple
48And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
48He brought me to the porch of the temple and measured each post of the porch: five cubits on one side and five cubits on the other. The width of the gateway was three cubits on one side and three cubits on the other.
49The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits; and he brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the posts, one on this side, and another on that side.
49The porch was twenty cubits long and eleven cubits wide, and he brought me up the steps that led to it. There was a pillar beside each post, one on one side and one on the other.
41
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Holy Place and the Most Holy Place
1Afterward he brought me to the temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, which was the breadth of the tabernacle.
1Then he brought me to the main hall of the temple and measured the posts: six cubits wide on one side and six cubits wide on the other, the width of the tabernacle.
2And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured the length thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.
2The doorway was ten cubits wide, and the walls on either side of it were five cubits on one side and five cubits on the other. He measured the hall: forty cubits long and twenty cubits wide.
3Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits; and the door, six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.
3Then he went farther in and measured the posts of the doorway: two cubits; the doorway: six cubits; and the width of the doorway: seven cubits.
4So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.
4He measured the room beyond the main hall: twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide. And he said to me, "This is the Most Holy Place."
The Side Chambers Around the House
5After he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every side chamber, four cubits, round about the house on every side.
5Next he measured the wall of the temple: six cubits thick; and each side room around the temple was four cubits wide, all the way around on every side.
6And the side chambers were three, one over another, and thirty in order; and they entered into the wall which was of the house for the side chambers round about, that they might have hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.
6The side rooms were in three stories, one above another, thirty in a row. They rested on ledges built into the temple wall for the side rooms all around, so that they had support without being fastened into the temple wall itself.
7And there was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers: for the winding about of the house went still upward round about the house: therefore the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.
7The side rooms grew wider as they went up, story by story, because the structure around the temple was built in steps going upward all around; so the temple got wider higher up, and one went from the lowest story to the highest by way of the middle one.
8I saw also the height of the house round about: the foundations of the side chambers were a full reed of six great cubits.
8I also saw that the temple had a raised platform all around; the foundations of the side rooms were a full rod, six long cubits, high.
9The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber without, was five cubits: and that which was left was the place of the side chambers that were within.
9The outer wall of the side rooms was five cubits thick, and there was an open space left beside the side rooms that belonged to the temple.
10And between the chambers was the wideness of twenty cubits round about the house on every side.
10Between the side rooms and the other rooms was a space twenty cubits wide all the way around the temple on every side.
11And the doors of the side chambers were toward the place that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward the south: and the breadth of the place that was left was five cubits round about.
11The doors of the side rooms opened onto the open space, one door facing north and another facing south, and the open space was five cubits wide all the way around.
The Building to the West
12Now the building that was before the separate place at the end toward the west was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and the length thereof ninety cubits.
12The building facing the separate area on the west end was seventy cubits wide; its wall was five cubits thick all around, and its length was ninety cubits.
13So he measured the house, an hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the building, with the walls thereof, an hundred cubits long;
13Then he measured the temple: one hundred cubits long; and the separate area and the building with its walls: also one hundred cubits long.
14Also the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place toward the east, an hundred cubits.
14The width of the front of the temple, together with the separate area on the east side, was one hundred cubits.
15And he measured the length of the building over against the separate place which was behind it, and the galleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, an hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court;
15He measured the length of the building facing the separate area behind the temple, including its galleries on each side: one hundred cubits. The inner sanctuary and the porches of the court,
Wood, Cherubim and Palm Trees
16The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries round about on their three stories, over against the door, cieled with wood round about, and from the ground up to the windows, and the windows were covered;
16the thresholds, the narrow windows and the galleries all around on their three stories, opposite the threshold, were paneled with wood all around, from the floor up to the windows, and the windows were covered.
17To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all the wall round about within and without, by measure.
17This covered the space above the doorway, right up to the inner room and outside it, and every wall all around, inside and out, in measured sections.
18And it was made with cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces;
18It was decorated with cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree between each pair of cherubim. Each cherub had two faces:
19So that the face of a man was toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion toward the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.
19a human face turned toward the palm tree on one side and a young lion's face turned toward the palm tree on the other side. This was carved all around the whole temple.
20From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and on the wall of the temple.
20From the floor to above the doorway, cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall of the main hall.
The Wooden Altar and the Doors
21The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.
21The doorposts of the main hall were square, and so was the front of the sanctuary; the one looked just like the other.
22The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the LORD.
22The wooden altar was three cubits high and two cubits long; its corners, its length and its sides were all of wood. He said to me, "This is the table that stands before the LORD."
23And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
23Both the main hall and the sanctuary had double doors.
24And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.
24Each door had two leaves, two swinging leaves: two leaves for one door and two leaves for the other.
25And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubims and palm trees, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.
25Cherubim and palm trees were carved on the doors of the main hall, just like those on the walls, and there was a covering of thick planks over the front of the porch outside.
26And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick planks.
26There were narrow windows and palm trees on both sides of the porch, on the side rooms of the temple, and on the thick planks.
42
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The North Chambers
1Then he brought me forth into the utter court, the way toward the north: and he brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which was before the building toward the north.
1Then he brought me out to the outer court by way of the north and led me to the rooms that lay opposite the separate area and opposite the building on the north.
2Before the length of an hundred cubits was the north door, and the breadth was fifty cubits.
2The building whose door faced north was one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide.
3Over against the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the pavement which was for the utter court, was gallery against gallery in three stories.
3Facing the twenty cubits that belonged to the inner court and facing the pavement of the outer court, gallery stood opposite gallery in three stories.
4And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits breadth inward, a way of one cubit; and their doors toward the north.
4In front of the rooms was an inner walkway ten cubits wide, with a way one cubit wide, and their doors faced north.
5Now the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries were higher than these, than the lower, and than the middlemost of the building.
5The upper rooms were narrower, because the galleries took more space from them than from the lower and middle stories of the building.
6For they were in three stories, but had not pillars as the pillars of the courts: therefore the building was straitened more than the lowest and the middlemost from the ground.
6They were built in three stories and had no pillars like the pillars of the courts, so the upper story was set back farther than the lower and middle ones from the ground up.
The Matching Rooms on the South
7And the wall that was without over against the chambers, toward the utter court on the forepart of the chambers, the length thereof was fifty cubits.
7An outer wall ran alongside the rooms, toward the outer court, in front of the rooms; it was fifty cubits long.
8For the length of the chambers that were in the utter court was fifty cubits: and, lo, before the temple were an hundred cubits.
8For the rooms on the side of the outer court were fifty cubits long, while those facing the temple were one hundred cubits.
9And from under these chambers was the entry on the east side, as one goeth into them from the utter court.
9Below these rooms was the entrance on the east side, as one comes into them from the outer court.
10The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court toward the east, over against the separate place, and over against the building.
10Built into the thickness of the court wall on the east side, facing the separate area and facing the building, were more rooms,
11And the way before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were toward the north, as long as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
11with a passage in front of them. They looked like the rooms on the north side, just as long and just as wide, with all the same exits, arrangements and doorways.
12And according to the doors of the chambers that were toward the south was a door in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall toward the east, as one entereth into them.
12Like the doors of the rooms on the south side, there was a door at the head of the passage, the passage that ran directly in front of the wall toward the east, where one enters them.
Where the Priests Eat and Change
13Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy.
13Then he said to me, "The north rooms and the south rooms that face the separate area are holy rooms, where the priests who come near the LORD will eat the most holy offerings. There they will lay the most holy things, the grain offering, the sin offering and the guilt offering, because the place is holy.
14When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the utter court, but there they shall lay their garments wherein they minister; for they are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to those things which are for the people.
14When the priests go in, they must not go out of the holy place into the outer court until they have left behind the garments they served in, because those are holy. They must put on other clothes before going near the areas that are for the people."
A Wall Between the Holy and the Common
15Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth toward the gate whose prospect is toward the east, and measured it round about.
15When he had finished measuring the inner temple area, he led me out through the gate that faces east and measured all around it.
16He measured the east side with the measuring reed, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
16He measured the east side with the measuring rod: five hundred rods by the measuring rod, all around.
17He measured the north side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed round about.
17He measured the north side: five hundred rods by the measuring rod, all around.
18He measured the south side, five hundred reeds, with the measuring reed.
18He measured the south side: five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
19He turned about to the west side, and measured five hundred reeds with the measuring reed.
19He turned to the west side and measured five hundred rods by the measuring rod.
20He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place.
20He measured it on all four sides. It had a wall all around it, five hundred rods long and five hundred wide, to separate what was holy from what was common.
43
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Glory of the LORD Comes Back
1Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east:
1Then he brought me to the gate, the one that faces east,
2And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.
2and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the crashing of great waters, and the earth lit up with his glory.
3And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
3The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when I came to destroy the city, and like the visions I had seen by the Chebar River, and I fell face down.
4And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east.
4The glory of the LORD entered the temple through the gate that faces east.
5So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.
5Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and there I saw the glory of the LORD filling the temple.
This Is the Place of My Throne
6And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.
6I heard someone speaking to me from inside the temple, while the man was standing beside me.
7And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.
7He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will never again defile my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their unfaithfulness or by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places.
8In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.
8When they put their threshold next to my threshold and their doorposts beside my doorposts, with only a wall between me and them, they defiled my holy name by the detestable things they did, so I destroyed them in my anger.
9Now let them put away their whoredom, and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.
9Now let them put their unfaithfulness and the dead bodies of their kings far away from me, and I will live among them forever.
Show Them the Plan
10Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern.
10Son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel, so that they will be ashamed of their sins; and let them measure its design.
11And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
11If they are ashamed of all they have done, then show them the plan of the temple: its layout, its exits and its entrances, its whole design and all its rules, all its forms and all its laws. Write it down in front of them so that they can keep its whole design and all its rules and carry them out.
12This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.
12This is the law of the temple: the entire area on top of the mountain, all the way around, will be most holy. Yes, this is the law of the temple.
The Measures of the Altar
13And these are the measures of the altar after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and an hand breadth; even the bottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof by the edge thereof round about shall be a span: and this shall be the higher place of the altar.
13These are the measurements of the altar in cubits, each cubit being a cubit plus a handbreadth: its base is one cubit deep and one cubit wide, with a rim a span wide around its edge. And this is the raised part of the altar:
14And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower settle shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.
14from the base on the ground up to the lower ledge is two cubits, and that ledge is one cubit wide; from the smaller ledge up to the larger ledge is four cubits, and that ledge is one cubit wide.
15So the altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar and upward shall be four horns.
15The altar hearth is four cubits high, and from the hearth four horns rise upward.
16And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad, square in the four squares thereof.
16The altar hearth is twelve cubits long and twelve wide, square on all four sides.
17And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad in the four squares thereof; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof shall be a cubit about; and his stairs shall look toward the east.
17The ledge is fourteen cubits long and fourteen wide on its four sides, with a rim of half a cubit around it and a base of one cubit all around; and its steps face east."
Purging the Altar with Blood
18And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
18Then he said to me, "Son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says: These are the rules for the altar on the day it is built, for offering burnt offerings on it and sprinkling blood on it.
19And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.
19You are to give a young bull as a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are descended from Zadok, who come near to serve me, says the Lord GOD.
20And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it.
20Take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, on the four corners of the ledge and on the rim all around; in this way you will cleanse it and purify it.
21Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.
21Then take the bull for the sin offering, and it is to be burned in the appointed place of the temple, outside the sanctuary.
22And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.
22On the second day offer a male goat without defect as a sin offering, and the altar is to be cleansed as it was cleansed with the bull.
Seven Days of Consecration
23When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.
23When you have finished cleansing it, offer a young bull without defect and a ram from the flock without defect.
24And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
24Present them before the LORD, and the priests are to throw salt on them and offer them up as a burnt offering to the LORD.
25Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.
25For seven days you are to provide a goat each day as a sin offering; they are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect.
26Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.
26For seven days they are to purify the altar and cleanse it, and so they will consecrate themselves.
27And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.
27When those days are over, from the eighth day onward the priests will offer your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar, and I will accept you, says the Lord GOD."
44
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Gate That Stays Shut
1Then he brought me back the way of the gate of the outward sanctuary which looketh toward the east; and it was shut.
1Then he brought me back by way of the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one that faces east, and it was shut.
2Then said the LORD unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the LORD, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.
2The LORD said to me, "This gate is to stay shut. It is not to be opened, and no one is to go in through it, because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it. So it is to remain shut.
3It is for the prince; the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the LORD; he shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
3It is for the prince. The prince himself may sit in it to eat a meal before the LORD. He is to come in by way of the gate's porch and go out the same way."
Charged with Letting in Foreigners
4Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.
4Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple. I looked, and there was the glory of the LORD filling the LORD's house, and I fell face down.
5And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
5The LORD said to me, "Son of man, pay close attention. Look with your eyes and listen with your ears to everything I tell you about all the rules of the LORD's house and all its laws. Take careful note of the entrance to the house and every exit from the sanctuary.
6And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations,
6Say to the rebellious ones, to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: House of Israel, you have done enough of all your disgusting practices!
7In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
7You brought foreigners into my sanctuary, people uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in body, to be in my sanctuary and defile it, my own house, while you offered my food, the fat and the blood. They broke my covenant on top of all your other disgusting practices.
8And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves.
8You have not taken care of my holy things yourselves; instead you put others in charge of my sanctuary to suit yourselves.
The Levites Demoted
9Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.
9This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in body, may enter my sanctuary, not any of the foreigners who live among the people of Israel.
10And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
10As for the Levites who wandered far from me when Israel went astray, who strayed away from me after their idols, they will carry the guilt of their sin.
11Yet they shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having charge at the gates of the house, and ministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall stand before them to minister unto them.
11Still, they may serve in my sanctuary, keeping watch at the gates of the house and doing its work. They may slaughter the burnt offerings and the sacrifices for the people, and they may stand before the people to serve them.
12Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.
12Because they served the people in front of their idols and became a stumbling block that led the house of Israel into sin, I have raised my hand against them, says the Lord GOD, and they will carry the guilt of their sin.
13And they shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, in the most holy place: but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed.
13They are not to come near me to serve me as priests, nor to come near any of my holy things or the most holy things. They must bear their shame for the disgusting things they have done.
14But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
14Yet I will make them caretakers of the house, responsible for all its work and everything that must be done in it.
The Sons of Zadok
15But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:
15But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok, who faithfully guarded my sanctuary when the people of Israel strayed from me, they may come near to serve me. They will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, says the Lord GOD.
16They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
16They may enter my sanctuary, and they may come near my table to serve me, and they will keep my charge.
How the Priests Are to Live
17And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
17When they enter the gates of the inner court, they must wear linen clothing. They must not wear anything made of wool while they serve at the gates of the inner court or inside it.
18They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.
18They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them sweat.
19And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments.
19When they go out into the outer court, to the people there, they must take off the clothes they wore while serving and leave them in the holy rooms, and put on other clothes, so that they do not make the people holy by contact with their garments.
20Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.
20They must not shave their heads or let their hair grow long; they are simply to keep it trimmed.
21Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
21No priest may drink wine when he enters the inner court.
22Neither shall they take for their wives a widow, nor her that is put away: but they shall take maidens of the seed of the house of Israel, or a widow that had a priest before.
22They must not marry a widow or a divorced woman; they may marry only virgins from the people of Israel, or the widow of a priest.
Teaching, Judging, and the Dead
23And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
23They are to teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is common, and show them how to tell the unclean from the clean.
24And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
24In a dispute they are to act as judges, and they must judge according to my rulings. They are to keep my laws and my decrees at all my appointed feasts, and they must keep my Sabbaths holy.
25And they shall come at no dead person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that hath had no husband, they may defile themselves.
25They must not go near a dead body and make themselves unclean, except for a father or mother, a son or daughter, a brother, or a sister who has never married; for these they may make themselves unclean.
26And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him seven days.
26After such a priest has been cleansed, they are to count off seven days for him.
27And in the day that he goeth into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, saith the Lord GOD.
27On the day he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to serve in the sanctuary, he must present his sin offering, says the Lord GOD.
The Priests Have No Land
28And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession.
28This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance. You are to give them no property in Israel; I am their property.
29They shall eat the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering: and every dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
29They may eat the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering, and everything in Israel that is devoted to me will be theirs.
30And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
30The best of all the firstfruits of everything, and every contribution of every kind from all your offerings, will belong to the priests. You are also to give the priests the first portion of your dough, so that a blessing may rest on your home.
31The priests shall not eat of any thing that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl or beast.
31The priests must not eat anything, bird or animal, that died on its own or was torn by wild animals."
45
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Holy Strip of Land
1Moreover, when ye shall divide by lot the land for inheritance, ye shall offer an oblation unto the LORD, an holy portion of the land: the length shall be the length of five and twenty thousand reeds, and the breadth shall be ten thousand. This shall be holy in all the borders thereof round about.
1"When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, you are to set apart a gift to the LORD, a holy portion of the land, twenty-five thousand reeds long and ten thousand wide. The whole area within its borders will be holy.
2Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof.
2Of this, a square of five hundred by five hundred will be for the sanctuary, with an open strip of fifty cubits all the way around it.
3And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place.
3From this holy portion you are to measure off a section twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide, and in it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.
4The holy portion of the land shall be for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary, which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their houses, and an holy place for the sanctuary.
4This holy part of the land will be for the priests who serve in the sanctuary, who come near to serve the LORD. It will be a place for their houses and a holy place for the sanctuary.
5And the five and twenty thousand of length, and the ten thousand of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for twenty chambers.
5An area twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide will belong to the Levites, who serve in the house, as their possession, with twenty rooms.
The City and the Prince's Portion
6And ye shall appoint the possession of the city five thousand broad, and five and twenty thousand long, over against the oblation of the holy portion: it shall be for the whole house of Israel.
6You are to set aside for the city a property five thousand wide and twenty-five thousand long, alongside the holy portion. It will belong to the whole house of Israel.
7And a portion shall be for the prince on the one side and on the other side of the oblation of the holy portion, and of the possession of the city, before the oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against one of the portions, from the west border unto the east border.
7The prince will have land on both sides of the holy portion and the city's property, bordering them on the west running westward and on the east running eastward, matching the length of one of the tribal portions from the western border to the eastern border.
8In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
8This land will be his possession in Israel, and my princes will no longer oppress my people; they will give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
Honest Scales
9Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD.
9This is what the Lord GOD says: You have gone far enough, princes of Israel! Put away violence and robbery, and do what is just and right. Stop taking what belongs to my people, says the Lord GOD.
10Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
10You are to use honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath.
11The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.
11The ephah and the bath are to be the same size, the bath holding a tenth of a homer and the ephah a tenth of a homer. The homer is the standard for both.
12And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.
12The shekel is to be twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels plus twenty-five shekels plus fifteen shekels will make your mina.
What the People Bring and the Prince Supplies
13This is the oblation that ye shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of wheat, and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of an homer of barley:
13This is the contribution you are to give: a sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat, and a sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley.
14Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, ye shall offer the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, which is an homer of ten baths; for ten baths are an homer:
14The rule for oil, measured by the bath, is a tenth of a bath from each cor, which is a homer of ten baths, since ten baths make a homer.
15And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat offering, and for a burnt offering, and for peace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, saith the Lord GOD.
15Also one sheep from every two hundred in the flock, from the well-watered pastures of Israel. These are for the grain offerings, the burnt offerings, and the peace offerings, to make atonement for the people, says the Lord GOD.
16All the people of the land shall give this oblation for the prince in Israel.
16All the people of the land are to give this contribution to the prince in Israel.
17And it shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
17It will be the prince's duty to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings at the feasts, the new moons, and the Sabbaths, at all the appointed festivals of the house of Israel. He is to provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.
Cleansing the Sanctuary in the First Month
18Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the first month, in the first day of the month, thou shalt take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
18This is what the Lord GOD says: On the first day of the first month you are to take a young bull without defect and purify the sanctuary.
19And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.
19The priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the house, on the four corners of the altar's ledge, and on the posts of the gate of the inner court.
20And so thou shalt do the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that is simple: so shall ye reconcile the house.
20Do the same on the seventh day of the month for anyone who sins by mistake or without knowing. In this way you will make atonement for the house.
Passover and the Feast in the Seventh Month
21In the first month, in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.
21On the fourteenth day of the first month you are to celebrate the Passover, a feast lasting seven days, when unleavened bread is eaten.
22And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin offering.
22On that day the prince is to provide a bull as a sin offering for himself and for all the people of the land.
23And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily the seven days; and a kid of the goats daily for a sin offering.
23During the seven days of the feast he is to provide a burnt offering to the LORD: seven bulls and seven rams without defect every day for the seven days, and a male goat each day as a sin offering.
24And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and an hin of oil for an ephah.
24He is to provide a grain offering of an ephah for each bull and an ephah for each ram, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.
25In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, shall he do the like in the feast of the seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.
25On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, during the seven-day feast, he is to do the same, providing the sin offering, the burnt offering, the grain offering, and the oil."
46
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Inner East Gate on Sabbaths
1Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
1"This is what the Lord GOD says: The gate of the inner court that faces east is to stay shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath it is to be opened, and on the day of the new moon it is to be opened.
2And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
2The prince is to enter from outside by way of the gate's porch and stand beside the gatepost. The priests will offer his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he will worship at the threshold of the gate and then go out. But the gate is not to be shut until evening.
3Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.
3The people of the land are also to worship before the LORD at the entrance of that gate on the Sabbaths and the new moons.
The Sabbath and New Moon Offerings
4And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the LORD in the sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.
4The burnt offering the prince brings to the LORD on the Sabbath day is to be six lambs without defect and a ram without defect.
5And the meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and the meat offering for the lambs as he shall be able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
5The grain offering is to be an ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he wishes to give, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.
6And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.
6On the day of the new moon it is to be a young bull without defect, six lambs, and a ram, all without defect.
7And he shall prepare a meat offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and for the lambs according as his hand shall attain unto, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
7He is to provide a grain offering of an ephah with the bull and an ephah with the ram, and with the lambs as much as he can afford, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.
One Way In, Another Way Out
8And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of that gate, and he shall go forth by the way thereof.
8When the prince enters, he is to go in by way of the gate's porch and go out the same way.
9But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.
9But when the people of the land come before the LORD at the appointed feasts, whoever enters by the north gate to worship is to leave by the south gate, and whoever enters by the south gate is to leave by the north gate. No one is to go back out the gate he came in by; each is to go straight out the opposite one.
10And the prince in the midst of them, when they go in, shall go in; and when they go forth, shall go forth.
10The prince is to be among them, going in when they go in and going out when they go out.
11And in the feasts and in the solemnities the meat offering shall be an ephah to a bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and an hin of oil to an ephah.
11At the feasts and the appointed festivals the grain offering is to be an ephah with a bull and an ephah with a ram, and with the lambs as much as he is able to give, along with a hin of oil for each ephah.
12Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate.
12When the prince provides a freewill offering to the LORD, whether a burnt offering or peace offerings given freely, the gate facing east is to be opened for him. He is to provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the Sabbath day, and then he is to go out, and after he leaves the gate is to be shut.
The Lamb Every Morning
13Thou shalt daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a lamb of the first year without blemish: thou shalt prepare it every morning.
13Every day you are to provide a year-old lamb without defect as a burnt offering to the LORD; you are to provide it every morning.
14And thou shalt prepare a meat offering for it every morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third part of an hin of oil, to temper with the fine flour; a meat offering continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.
14Every morning you are also to provide a grain offering with it, a sixth of an ephah and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine flour. This grain offering to the LORD is a lasting rule, to be kept always.
15Thus shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning for a continual burnt offering.
15So the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil are to be provided every morning as a regular burnt offering.
What the Prince May Give Away
16Thus saith the Lord GOD; If the prince give a gift unto any of his sons, the inheritance thereof shall be his sons’; it shall be their possession by inheritance.
16This is what the Lord GOD says: If the prince gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his sons, it will belong to his sons; it becomes their property by inheritance.
17But if he give a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to the year of liberty; after it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall be his sons’ for them.
17But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will be the servant's only until the year of release; then it returns to the prince. His inheritance belongs to his sons alone.
18Moreover the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.
18The prince must not take any of the people's inheritance by forcing them off their property. He is to give his sons their inheritance out of his own property, so that none of my people are driven from what is theirs."
The Kitchens
19After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place on the two sides westward.
19Then he brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate into the holy rooms of the priests, which face north, and there I saw a place at the far west end.
20Then said he unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, where they shall bake the meat offering; that they bear them not out into the utter court, to sanctify the people.
20He said to me, "This is the place where the priests are to boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they are to bake the grain offering, so that they do not carry them out into the outer court and make the people holy."
21Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court.
21Then he brought me out into the outer court and led me past its four corners, and in each corner of the court there was another court.
22In the four corners of the court there were courts joined of forty cubits long and thirty broad: these four corners were of one measure.
22In the four corners of the court were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide; all four corner courts were the same size.
23And there was a row of building round about in them, round about them four, and it was made with boiling places under the rows round about.
23Inside each of the four there was a ledge of stonework running all the way around, with places for boiling built beneath the ledges all around.
24Then said he unto me, These are the places of them that boil, where the ministers of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.
24He said to me, "These are the kitchens where those who serve in the house are to boil the sacrifices of the people."
47
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Water from Under the Threshold
1Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.
1Then he brought me back to the entrance of the house, and I saw water flowing out from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the front of the house faced east. The water was coming down from beneath the right side of the house, south of the altar.
2Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.
2Then he took me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate that faces east, and there I saw water flowing out on the right side.
3And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles.
3As the man went eastward with the measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep.
4Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.
4He measured another thousand and led me through the water, and it was knee-deep. He measured another thousand and led me through, and it was up to the waist.
5Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
5He measured another thousand, and now it was a river I could not cross, because the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be crossed on foot.
The Sea Made Fresh
6And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.
6He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he led me back to the bank of the river.
7Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.
7When I got back, I saw a great many trees on both banks of the river.
8Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.
8He said to me, "This water flows out toward the eastern region, goes down into the desert valley, and enters the sea. When it empties into the sea, the sea's water becomes fresh.
9And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.
9Every living creature that swarms wherever the river goes will live. There will be huge numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; everything will live wherever the river goes.
10And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.
10Fishermen will stand along the shore from En Gedi all the way to En Eglaim; there will be places to spread out nets. The fish will be of many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea, and very plentiful.
11But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.
11But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they will be left for salt.
12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
12Along both banks of the river every kind of fruit tree will grow. Their leaves will never wither and their fruit will never fail. They will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water that feeds them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for healing."
The Land to Be Divided
13Thus saith the Lord GOD; This shall be the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.
13This is what the Lord GOD says: "These are the borders by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Joseph receiving two portions.
14And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.
14You are to divide it equally among you. I swore with uplifted hand to give it to your ancestors, and this land will now fall to you as your inheritance.
The Four Borders
15And this shall be the border of the land toward the north side, from the great sea, the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad;
15This is to be the border of the land. On the north side it runs from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon toward Zedad,
16Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath; Hazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.
16Hamath, Berothah, and Sibraim, which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath, as far as Hazar Hatticon on the border of Hauran.
17And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.
17So the border will run from the sea to Hazar Enan, along the border of Damascus, with the north stretching northward and the border of Hamath. This is the north side.
18And the east side ye shall measure from Hauran, and from Damascus, and from Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan, from the border unto the east sea. And this is the east side.
18On the east side the border runs from Hauran and Damascus and Gilead, along the Jordan beside the land of Israel, from the border down to the eastern sea. This is the east side.
19And the south side southward, from Tamar even to the waters of strife in Kadesh, the river to the great sea. And this is the south side southward.
19On the south side it runs southward from Tamar to the waters of strife at Kadesh, then along the brook to the Great Sea. This is the south side, toward the south.
20The west side also shall be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against Hamath. This is the west side.
20On the west side the Great Sea is the border, from the southern border up to a point across from Hamath. This is the west side.
Foreigners Receive Land
21So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel.
21You are to divide this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
22And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
22You are to divide it by lot as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners who live among you and have children among you. You are to treat them as native-born Israelites; they are to receive an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
23And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD.
23Whatever tribe a foreigner lives in, there you are to give him his inheritance," says the Lord GOD.
48
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Seven Tribes North of the Sanctuary
1Now these are the names of the tribes. From the north end to the coast of the way of Hethlon, as one goeth to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward, to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; a portion for Dan.
1"These are the names of the tribes. At the northern end, along the road to Hethlon toward Hamath, as far as Hazar Enan on the northern border of Damascus next to Hamath, with its east and west sides running the full width: one portion for Dan.
2And by the border of Dan, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Asher.
2Next to the border of Dan, from the east side to the west side: one portion for Asher.
3And by the border of Asher, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Naphtali.
3Next to the border of Asher, from the east side to the west side: one portion for Naphtali.
4And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Manasseh.
4Next to the border of Naphtali, from the east side to the west side: one portion for Manasseh.
5And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Ephraim.
5Next to the border of Manasseh, from the east side to the west side: one portion for Ephraim.
6And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side even unto the west side, a portion for Reuben.
6Next to the border of Ephraim, from the east side to the west side: one portion for Reuben.
7And by the border of Reuben, from the east side unto the west side, a portion for Judah.
7Next to the border of Reuben, from the east side to the west side: one portion for Judah.
The Priests' and Levites' Portions
8And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.
8Next to the border of Judah, from the east side to the west side, will be the portion you are to set apart as a gift: twenty-five thousand reeds wide, and as long as one of the tribal portions from the east side to the west side, with the sanctuary in the middle of it.
9The oblation that ye shall offer unto the LORD shall be of five and twenty thousand in length, and of ten thousand in breadth.
9The portion you set apart for the LORD is to be twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide.
10And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; toward the north five and twenty thousand in length, and toward the west ten thousand in breadth, and toward the east ten thousand in breadth, and toward the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in the midst thereof.
10This holy portion is to be for the priests: twenty-five thousand on the north side, ten thousand wide on the west, ten thousand wide on the east, and twenty-five thousand on the south, with the sanctuary of the LORD in the middle of it.
11It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.
11It is for the consecrated priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept my charge and did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did.
12And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites.
12It will be a special gift to them from the portion set apart from the land, a most holy place, next to the territory of the Levites.
13And over against the border of the priests the Levites shall have five and twenty thousand in length, and ten thousand in breadth: all the length shall be five and twenty thousand, and the breadth ten thousand.
13Alongside the territory of the priests, the Levites are to have an area twenty-five thousand long and ten thousand wide. The whole length is to be twenty-five thousand and the width ten thousand.
14And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD.
14They must not sell or trade any of it, and this best part of the land must not pass into other hands, because it is holy to the LORD.
The City and Its Farmland
15And the five thousand, that are left in the breadth over against the five and twenty thousand, shall be a profane place for the city, for dwelling, and for suburbs: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.
15The remaining strip, five thousand wide along the twenty-five thousand length, is for common use by the city, for houses and open land, and the city is to be in the middle of it.
16And these shall be the measures thereof; the north side four thousand and five hundred, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.
16These are its measurements: the north side four thousand five hundred, the south side four thousand five hundred, the east side four thousand five hundred, and the west side four thousand five hundred.
17And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.
17The city's open land is to be two hundred fifty toward the north, two hundred fifty toward the south, two hundred fifty toward the east, and two hundred fifty toward the west.
18And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be ten thousand eastward, and ten thousand westward: and it shall be over against the oblation of the holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the city.
18What is left of the length alongside the holy portion, ten thousand to the east and ten thousand to the west, is to run alongside the holy portion, and what it produces will provide food for the workers of the city.
19And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all the tribes of Israel.
19The workers of the city who farm it are to come from all the tribes of Israel.
20All the oblation shall be five and twenty thousand by five and twenty thousand: ye shall offer the holy oblation foursquare, with the possession of the city.
20The whole portion set apart is to be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand. You are to set apart the holy portion as a square, including the property of the city.
What Is Left Is the Prince's
21And the residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the east border, and westward over against the five and twenty thousand toward the west border, over against the portions for the prince: and it shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.
21What remains on both sides of the holy portion and the city's property belongs to the prince. It extends eastward from the twenty-five thousand of the holy portion to the eastern border, and westward from the twenty-five thousand to the western border, running alongside the tribal portions; it is the prince's. The holy portion with the sanctuary of the house will be in the middle of it.
22Moreover from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city, being in the midst of that which is the prince’s, between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.
22So the property of the Levites and the property of the city will lie in the middle of what belongs to the prince. The prince's land will lie between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin.
Five Tribes South of the Sanctuary
23As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, Benjamin shall have a portion.
23As for the rest of the tribes: from the east side to the west side, Benjamin will have one portion.
24And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a portion.
24Next to the border of Benjamin, from the east side to the west side, Simeon will have one portion.
25And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.
25Next to the border of Simeon, from the east side to the west side, Issachar one portion.
26And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.
26Next to the border of Issachar, from the east side to the west side, Zebulun one portion.
27And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side unto the west side, Gad a portion.
27Next to the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad one portion.
28And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from Tamar unto the waters of strife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.
28Next to the border of Gad, on the south side toward the south, the border is to run from Tamar to the waters of strife at Kadesh, then along the brook to the Great Sea.
29This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD.
29This is the land you are to divide by lot as an inheritance for the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions," says the Lord GOD.
The City Named The LORD Is There
30And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures.
30These are the exits of the city. On the north side, which measures four thousand five hundred,
31And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates northward; one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah, one gate of Levi.
31the gates of the city are to be named after the tribes of Israel. Three gates face north: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi.
32And at the east side four thousand and five hundred: and three gates; and one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin, one gate of Dan.
32On the east side, which measures four thousand five hundred, there are three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.
33And at the south side four thousand and five hundred measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of Issachar, one gate of Zebulun.
33On the south side, which measures four thousand five hundred, there are three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun.
34At the west side four thousand and five hundred, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, one gate of Naphtali.
34On the west side, which measures four thousand five hundred, there are three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.
35It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
35The distance all the way around is eighteen thousand. And from that day on the name of the city will be: The LORD Is There.