Ezekiel 20

1

Israel’s Rebellion in Egypt

In the seventhH7637 yearH8141, on the tenthH6218 dayH2320 of the fifth monthH2549, some of the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 cameH935H582 to inquireH1875 of the LORDH3068, and they sat downH3427 before meH6440.

2Then the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 cameH1961 to meH413, sayingH559, 3“SonH1121 of manH120, speakH1696 to the eldersH2205 of IsraelH3478 and tellH559 themH413 that this is whatH3541 the LordH136 GODH3069 saysH559: Have youH859 comeH935 to inquireH1875 of MeH853? As surely asH589 I liveH2416, I will notH518 be consultedH1875 by you, declaresH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069.

4Will you judgeH8199 themH853, will you judgeH8199 them, sonH1121 of manH120? Confront them withH3045 the abominationsH8441 of their fathersH1 5and tellH559 themH413 that this is whatH3541 the LordH136 GODH3069 saysH559: On the dayH3117 I choseH977 IsraelH3478, I swore an oathH5375H3027 to the descendantsH2233 of the houseH1004 of JacobH3290 and made Myself knownH3045 to them in the landH776 of EgyptH4714. With an upliftedH5375 handH3027 I saidH559 to them, ‘IH589 am the LORDH3068 your GodH430.’

6On thatH1931 dayH3117 I sworeH5375H3027 to bring themH3318 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714 intoH413 a landH776 thatH834 I had searched outH8446 for them, a land flowingH2100 with milkH2461 and honeyH1706, the gloryH6643H1931 of allH3605 landsH776. 7And I saidH559 to themH413: ‘Each of youH376 must throw awayH7993 the abominationsH8251 before his eyesH5869, and you must notH408 defile yourselvesH2930 with the idolsH1544 of EgyptH4714. IH589 am the LORDH3068 your GodH430.’

8But they rebelledH4784 against Me and refusedH3808H14 to listenH8085. None of themH376 cast awayH7993 the abominationsH8251 before their eyesH5869, and they did notH3808 forsakeH5800 the idolsH1544 of EgyptH4714. So I resolvedH559 to pour outH8210 My wrathH2534 upon themH5921 and ventH3615 My angerH639 against them inH8432 the landH776 of EgyptH4714. 9But I actedH6213 for the sakeH4616 of My nameH8034, that it should notH1115 be profanedH2490 in the eyesH5869 of the nationsH1471 among whomH834 they were livingH1992H8432, in whoseH834 sightH5869 I had revealed MyselfH3045 toH413 Israel by bringing themH3318 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness

10So I brought themH3318 out of the landH776 of EgyptH4714 and led themH935 intoH413 the wildernessH4057. 11And I gaveH5414 them My statutesH2708 and made knownH3045 to themH853 My ordinancesH4941—for the manH120 whoH834 doesH6213 these things will liveH2421 by them.1 12I alsoH1571 gaveH5414 them My SabbathsH7676 as a signH1961H226 between usH996, so that they would knowH3045 thatH3588 IH589 am the LORDH3068 who sanctifies themH6942.

13Yet the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 rebelledH4784 against Me in the wildernessH4057. They did notH3808 followH1980 My statutesH2708 and they rejectedH3988 My ordinancesH4941—though the manH120 whoH834 doesH6213 these things will liveH2421 by them—and theyH853 utterlyH3966 profanedH2490 My SabbathsH7676. Then I resolvedH559 to pourH8210 out My wrathH2534 upon themH5921 and put an end to themH3615 in the wildernessH4057. 14But I actedH6213 for the sakeH4616 of My nameH8034, so that it would notH1115 be profanedH2490 in the eyesH5869 of the nationsH1471 in whoseH834 sightH5869 I had brought them outH3318.

15MoreoverH1571, with an uplifted handH3027 IH589 sworeH5375 to them in the wildernessH4057 that I would notH1115 bringH935 themH853 intoH413 the landH776 thatH834 I had givenH5414 them—a land flowingH2100 with milkH2461 and honeyH1706, the gloryH6643H1931 of allH3605 landsH776— 16becauseH3282 they kept rejectingH3988 My ordinancesH4941, refusingH3808 to walkH1980 in My statutesH2708, andH853 profaningH2490 My SabbathsH7676; forH3588 their heartsH3820 continually wentH1980 afterH310 their idolsH1544. 17Yet I looked on them with pityH2347H5869H5921 and did not destroy themH7843 orH3808 bringH6213 themH853 to an endH3617 in the wildernessH4057.

18In the wildernessH4057 I saidH559 toH413 their childrenH1121: ‘Do notH408 walkH1980 in the statutesH2706 of your fathersH1 or keepH8104 their ordinancesH4941H408 or defileH2930 yourselves with their idolsH1544H408. 19IH589 am the LORDH3068 your GodH430; walkH1980 in My statutesH2708, keepH8104 My ordinancesH4941, and practice themH6213. 20Keep My SabbathsH7676 holyH6942, that they may beH1961 a signH226 between usH996, so that you may knowH3045 thatH3588 IH589 am the LORDH3068 your GodH430.’

21But the childrenH1121 rebelledH4784 against Me. They did notH3808 walkH1980 in My statutesH2708 or carefullyH8104 observeH6213 My ordinancesH4941H3808—though the manH120 whoH834 doesH6213 these things will liveH2421 by them—and they profanedH2490 My SabbathsH7676. So I resolvedH559 to pourH8210 out My wrathH2534 upon themH5921 and ventH3615 My angerH639 against them in the wildernessH4057. 22But I withheldH7725 My handH3027 and actedH6213 for the sakeH4616 of My nameH8034, so that it would notH1115 be profanedH2490 in the eyesH5869 of the nationsH1471 in whoseH834 sightH5869 I had brought them outH3318.

23HoweverH1571, with an uplifted hand I sworeH589H5375 to them in the wildernessH4057 that I would scatterH6327 themH853 among the nationsH1471 and disperseH2219 themH853 throughout the landsH776. 24ForH3282 they did notH3808 practiceH6213 My ordinancesH4941, but they rejectedH3988 My statutesH2708 and profanedH2490H310 My SabbathsH7676, fixingH1961 their eyesH5869 on the idolsH1544 of their fathersH1.

25IH589 alsoH1571 gave themH5414 over to statutesH2706 that were notH3808 goodH2896 and ordinancesH4941 by which they could notH3808 liveH2421. 26And I pronounced them uncleanH2930 through their giftsH4979—the sacrificeH5674 of everyH3605 firstborn in the fireH6363H7356—so thatH4616 I might devastate themH8074, in orderH4616 thatH834 they would knowH3045 thatH834 IH589 am the LORDH3068.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Land

27ThereforeH3651, sonH1121 of manH120, speakH1696 toH413 the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, and tell them thatH559H413 this is whatH3541 the LordH136 GODH3069 saysH559: In this wayH2063 alsoH5750 your fathersH1 blasphemedH1442 MeH853 by their unfaithfulnessH4604 againstH4603 Me. 28When I brought themH935 intoH413 the landH776 thatH834 I sworeH5375 to giveH5414 them and they sawH7200 anyH3605 highH7311H3605 hillH1389 or leafyH5687 treeH6086, thereH8033 they offeredH2076 their sacrificesH2077, presentedH5414 offeringsH7133 that provoked MeH3708, sent upH7760H8033 their fragrantH5207 incenseH7381, and poured outH5258H8033 their drink offeringsH5262. 29So I asked themH559H413: ‘WhatH4100 is this high placeH1116 to whichH834 youH859 goH935?’

(And toH5704 thisH2088 dayH3117H8033 it is calledH7121H8034 BamahH1117.2)

30ThereforeH3651 tellH559 the houseH1004 of IsraelH3478 that this is whatH3541 the LordH136 GODH3069 saysH559: Will youH859 defile yourselvesH2930 the wayH1870 your fathers didH1, prostitutingH2181 yourselvesH859 withH310 their abominationsH8251? 31When you offerH5375 your giftsH4979, sacrificing your sonsH1121H5674 in the fireH784,3 youH859 continue to defileH2930 yourselves with allH3605 your idolsH1544 toH5704 this dayH3117. So should IH589 be consultedH1875 by you, O houseH1004 of IsraelH3478? As surely asH589 I liveH2416, declaresH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069, I will notH518 be consultedH1875 by you!

32WhenH834 youH859 sayH559, ‘Let us beH1961 like the nationsH1471, like the peoplesH4940 of the landsH776, servingH8334 woodH6086 and stoneH68H5927,’ what you have inH5921 mindH7307 will neverH3808 come to passH1961.

Judgment and Restoration

33As surely asH589 I liveH2416, declaresH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069, with a strongH2389 handH3027, an outstretchedH5186 armH2220, and outpouredH8210 wrathH2534 I will ruleH4427 over youH5921. 34With a strongH2389 handH3027, an outstretchedH5186 armH2220, and outpouredH8210 wrathH2534 I will bringH3318 you outH853 fromH4480 the peoplesH5971 and gatherH6908 youH8534 fromH4480 the landsH776 to whichH834 you have been scatteredH6327. 35And I will bringH935 youH853 intoH413 the wildernessH4057 of the nationsH5971, where I will enter into judgmentH8199 with youH854 faceH6440 toH413 faceH6440.

36Just asH834 I entered into judgmentH8199 withH854 your fathersH1 in the wildernessH4057 of the landH776 of EgyptH4714,5 soH3651 I will enter into judgmentH8199 with youH854, declaresH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069. 37I will make you passH5674 underH8478 the rodH7626 and will bringH935 you into the bondH4562 of the covenantH1285. 38And I will purge youH1305 of those who rebelH4775 and transgressH6586 against Me. I will bring them outH3318 of the landH776 in which they dwellH4033, but they will notH3808 enterH413H935 the landH127 of IsraelH3478. Then you will knowH3045 thatH3588 IH589 am the LORDH3068.

39And as for youH859, O houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, this is whatH3541 the LordH136 GODH3069 saysH559: GoH1980 and serveH5647 your idolsH1544, every one of youH376. But afterwardH310, you will surelyH518H369 listenH8085 to MeH413, and you will noH3808 longerH5750 defileH2490 My holyH6944 nameH8034 with your giftsH4979 and idolsH1544.

40ForH3588 on My holyH6944 mountainH2022, the highH4791 mountainH2022 of IsraelH3478, declaresH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069, thereH8033 the wholeH3605 houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, all of themH3605, will serve MeH5647 in the landH776. ThereH8033 I will acceptH7521 themH8033 and will requireH1875 your offeringsH8641 and choiceH7225 giftsH4864, along with allH3605 your holy sacrificesH6944.

41When I bringH3318 you fromH4480 the peoplesH5971 and gatherH6908 you fromH4480 the landsH776 to whichH834 you have been scatteredH6327, I will acceptH7521 you as a pleasingH5207 aromaH7381. And I will show My holinessH6942 through you in the sightH5869 of the nationsH1471. 42Then you will knowH3045 thatH3588 IH589 am the LORDH3068, when I bringH935 youH853 intoH413 the landH127 of IsraelH3478H413, the landH776 thatH834 I sworeH5375 to giveH5414 your fathersH1.

43ThereH8033 you will rememberH2142 your waysH1870 and allH3605 the deedsH5949 with whichH834 you have defiled yourselvesH2930, and you will loatheH6962 yourselvesH6440 for allH3605 the evilsH7451 you have doneH6213. 44Then you will knowH3045, O houseH1004 of IsraelH3478, thatH3588 IH589 am the LORDH3068, when I have dealtH6213 with youH854 for the sakeH4616 of My nameH8034 and not according toH3808 your wickedH7451 waysH1870 and corruptH7843 actsH5949, declaresH5002 the LordH136 GODH3069.”

A Prophecy against the South

45Now the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 cameH1961 to meH413, sayingH559, 46“SonH1121 of manH120, setH7760 your faceH6440 towardH1870 the southH8486,6 preachH5197 againstH413 itH1864, and prophesyH5012 againstH413 the forestH3293 of the NegevH7704H5045. 47SayH559 to the forestH3293 of the NegevH5045: HearH8085 the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068! This is whatH3541 the LordH136 GODH3069H2005 saysH559: I am about to igniteH3341 in you a fireH784, and it will devourH398 allH3605 your treesH6086, both greenH3892 and dryH3002. The blazingH7957 flameH3852 will notH3808 be quenchedH3518, and by it everyH3605 faceH6440 from southH5045 to northH6828 will be scorchedH6866. 48Then allH3605 peopleH1320 will seeH7200 thatH3588 IH589, the LORDH3068, have kindled itH1197; it will notH3808 be quenchedH3518.”

49Then I saidH559, “AhH162, LordH136 GODH3069, theyH1992 are sayingH559 of me, ‘Is heH1931 notH3808 just tellingH4911 parablesH4912?’”