1 When I was thirty years old, on July 5th as I was living with the other captives by the Kevar Canal, the skies opened and I saw visions from God.[ref]

2 That was the fifth year since King Yoyakin (Jehoiachin) had been taken captive.[ref] 3 Yahweh’s message came to me, the priest Yehezkel (son of Buzi) in the land of the Chaldeans (often known better as Babylonians) by the Kevar Canal, and Yahweh revealed his strength to me there. 4 Then I looked, and there was a windstorm coming from the north—a huge cloud with lightning flashing inside it and brilliant light inside it and surrounding it, and fire inside the cloud made it appear as an amber colour. 5 In the middle was what seemed to be four living creatures resembling humans,[ref] 6 but each of them had four faces and four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, but they had hooves like calves that gleamed like polished bronze. 8 They had human hands under their wings on each of their four sides. For each of the four of them, 9 their wings were touching the wings of the next creature, and they didn’t turn as they went—rather each one went straight forward.

10 Their faces at the front were like a man’s face, then they each had a lion’s face on the right, a calf’s face on the left, and the fourth was an eagle’s face.[ref] 11 Their faces were like that, and their wings were spread out above, so that each creature had a pair of wings that touched another creature’s wing, and also a pair that covered their bodies. 12 Each went straight forward, so that wherever the spirit directed them to go, they went without turning.

13 The living creatures resembled burning coals or torches. Bright fire also moved around among the creatures, and there were flashes of lightning.[ref] 14 The living creatures moved rapidly swiftly back and forth, and they looked a bit like lightning.

15 Then I looked more closely and then I saw a wheel on the ground beside each of the living creatures with its four faces.[ref] 16 Each of the wheels was the same, and they all shone like chrysolite. Each wheel seemed to have one wheel inside the other wheel. 17 When they moved, they didn’t have to turn to change direction. 18 The rims of the wheels were awesomely tall, and all four of them were full of eyes around the rim.[ref] 19 Whenever the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the living creatures went upwards, the wheels also went up. 20 Wherever the spirit would go, they went, and the wheels went up beside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21 Whenever the creatures moved, the wheels also moved, and when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still. When the creatures went upwards, the wheels went up beside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

22 Above the living creatures was something like an awesome crystal dome stretched out over their heads.[ref] 23 Beneath the dome, each of the creatures’ wings stretched out straight and touched another creature’s wings. Each one also had a pair to cover his own body with. 24 Then I heard the sound of their wings which was like the noise of a lot of water. When they moved, it was ike the voice of the powerful one—like the sound of a rainstorm or an army. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings.[ref] 25 A voice came from under the dome that was above their heads, whenever they stopped and lowered their wings.

26 Above the dome over their heads was what looked like a sapphire stone that had been made into a throne, and on the thing like a throne was a something that appeared to be a man.[ref] 27 I saw a figure that appeared to have glowing metal with fire in it from his hips upwards, and looking downwards from his hips, I saw the appearance of fire and brightness all around.[ref] 28 The bright light surrounding the throne was like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day—tt was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh’s splendour. When I saw it, I quickly knelt down and bowed my head to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking.

2 He said to me, “Humanity’s child, stand up and then I’ll speak to you.” 2 Then as he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and stood me up, and I heard him speaking to me. 3 He told me, “Humanity’s child, I’m sending you to Yisra’el’s people—two rebellious nations that have rebelled against me. Both they and their ancestors have been sinning against me right until this moment. 4 Their descendants are very stubborn and hard headed. I’m sending you to them, and you’ll tell them that this is what the master Yahweh is saying to them. 5 They might listen or might not. They’re a rebellious bunch, but they’ll at least know that a prophet has been among them.

6 And you, humanity’s child, don’t be afraid of them or their words. Don’t be afraid, even though you’re with briers and thorns and although you live with scorpions. Don’t fear their words or be dismayed by their faces, since they’re a rebellious bunch. 7 Pass my messages onto them, whether they listen or not, because they’re quite rebellious. 8 But you, humanity’s child, listen to what I am telling you. Don’t become rebellious like that rebellious bunch. Open your mouth and eat what I’m about to give to you.” 9 Then I looked and saw a hand extended out to me and it was holding a scroll with writing on it.[ref] 10 He spread it out in front of me—it had been written on both the front and the back, the contents were full of messages about grief, mourning, and sad endings.

3 He said to me, “Humanity’s child, what you’ve found, eat. Eat this scroll, then go speak to the Israeli people.”[ref] 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 He told me, “Humanity’s child, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll that I’ve given you.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey.

4 Then he told me, “Humanity’s child, go to the house of Israel and pass my messages on to them 5 because you aren’t being sent to a people who speak a strange or difficult language, but to the Israeli people—6 not to many peoples who speak strange or difficult languages whose words you wouldn’t be able to understand. I’m sure that if it was them that I sent you to, they would have listened to you. 7 But the Israeli people won’t be willing to listen to you, because they’re not willing to listen to me. So all the Israeli people are hard-headed and hard-hearted. 8 Listen, I’ll enable you to be as stubborn and tough as they are. 9 I’ll make you hard like a diamond—harder than flint Don’t be scared by them or discouraged by the looks they give you, because they’re rebellious people.”

10 He also told me, “Humanity’s child, listen very carefully to what I say, and keep thinking about it. 11 Then go to any of your people who were brought here as captives, and tell them, ‘This is what the master Yahweh says,’ whether they’ll listen or not.”

12 Then the spirit lifted me up, and I heard rumbling like a large earthquake behind me. (Blessed be Yahweh’s honour in his place.) 13 It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels that were with them, and the sound of a large earthquake. 14 Then the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went with bitterness in my spirit’s rage, because Yahweh’s hand was pressing down firmly on me. 15 Then I went to the captives at Tel-Abib who lived along the Kebar Canal, and I stayed among them there for seven days, overwhelmed in amazement.

16 After those seven days were over, Yahweh gave me this message:[fn] 17 “Humanity’s child, I’ve made you a guard over the Israeli people, so listen to this message of mine and give them my warning. 18 When I tell the wicked, ‘You’ll certainly die’ and you don’t warn them about that or give them a warning about their evil deeds so they might live—the wicked will die for their sin, but I’ll hold you responsible for their death. 19 But if you do warn the wicked, and they don’t turn from their wickedness or from their wicked deeds, then they’ll die for their sin, but you will have saved your own life.

20 If a godly person turns from their righteousness and acts unjustly, and I set a stumbling block in front of that person, they will die. Because you did not warn them, they’ll die in their sin, and I won’t consider the righteous deeds that they performed, but I’ll hold you responsible for their death. 21 But if you warn the godly person to stop sinning so that they no longer sin, that person will surely live since they were warned; and you will have saved your own life.”

22 Then Yahweh’s hand was on me there, and he told me, “Get ready and go out into the plain, and I’ll speak with you there.”

23 I got up and went out into the plain where Yahweh’s glory was staying, like the glory that I had seen beside the Kebar Canal, so I fell to my knees and bowed low to the ground. 24 Then the spirit entered me and stood me up on my feet, and spoke with me, telling me: Go and shut yourself up in your house. 25 Humanity’s child, people will tie you up with ropes so that you’ll be unable to go outside. 26 Then I’ll make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so you’ll become mute, and although they’re rebellious people, you won’t be able to tell them off. 27 But when I speak to you, I’ll open your mouth so you’ll be able to tell them, ‘This is what the master Yahweh says.’ The ones who will hear will hear but the ones who won’t listen will not listen, because they’re a rebellious people.

4 But you, humanity’s child, get yourself a brick and place it in front of you and carve Yerushalem City on it. 2 Then lay siege against it, and build forts against it. Build an assault ramp up against it and make camps around it. Place battering rams all around it. 3 After that, get yourself an iron pan and use it as an iron wall between yourself and your representation of the city and keep looking in that direction, because it will be under siege and you’re to put the siege against it. That will be a sign to the Israeli people.

4 Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel on it; you will carry their sin for the number of the days that you lie down against the house of Israel. 5 I myself am assigning to you one day to represent each year of their punishment: 390 days lying on your left side. In that way, you’ll carry the Israeli people’s sin. 6 When that period is over, then lie down a second time on your right side, because you’ll carry the sin of Yehudah’s people for forty days. I am assigning one day to you for each year.

7 Keep looking towards Yerushalem that’s under siege, and with your arm bared like a warrior, prophesy against it. 8 Listen, I’ll have you tied with ropes so you won’t be able to turn from one side to the other until the days representing the years of your siege are over.

9 Take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt for yourself, and put them into a single container and make bread for yourself according to the number of the days that you’ll lie upon your side—yes, you’ll eat it for 390 days. 10 You’ll measure 250g by weight to eat each day, and you’ll eat it during the day at set times. 11 Then you’ll measure out half a litre of water to drink each day, and you’ll drink it at set times. 12 You’ll cook and eat that bread as barley cakes, but burn sun-dried human excrement to bake it over while they’re watching.

13 Yahweh says that that means that the bread that the Israeli people will eat there among the other nations that I’ll banish them to will be ceremonially unclean. 14 But I protested, “Oh no, master Yahweh. I’ve never broken our dietary laws. I’ve never eaten either anything that died or anything killed by animals since I was young until now, and foul meat has never entered my mouth.”

15 So Yahweh answered me, “Listen, I’ll give you cow manure instead of human excrement so you can bake your bread over that.”

16 Then he told me, “Humanity’s child, listen. I’m breaking the cycle of food supply in Yerushalem, and they’ll eat bread while rationing it in anxiety, and drink water while rationing it in trembling. 17 because they’ll lack both food and water, and everyone will be appalled by the actions of their neighbours and they’ll waste away because they disobeyed God.

5 Then you, humanity’s child, take a sharp sword as a barber’s razor for yourself, and use it to shave your head and beard, then get some scales so you can weigh your hair and divide it equally into three piles. 2 Burn a third of it in the middle of the city when the days of the siege are completed, and take the second pile of hair and hit it with the sword all around the city. Then scatter the final third to the wind, and I’ll draw out a sword to chase after the people. 3 But take a few hairs from them and tie them into the folds of your robe. 4 Then take a bit more of the hair and throw it into the middle of the fire to be burnt up—from there a fire will spread out to all the Israeli people.”

5 My master Yahweh says, “That brick model is Yerushalem where I’ve placed her in the middle of the nations, and where I have surrounded her with other countries. 6 But due to her wickedness, she’s rejected my decrees more than other nations have, and avoided my regulations more than the countries that surround her. Her people have rejected my judgements and haven’t followed my regulations.” 7 Therefore my master` Yahweh says this, “Because you are more troublesome than the nations that surround you, and haven’t followed my statutes or acted according to my regulations, or even acted according to the decrees of the nations that surround you,” 8 therefore my master Yahweh says this, “Listen, I myself will work against you. I’ll execute judgements in the middle of you for the other nations to see. 9 Because of your detestable actions, I’ll do things to you that I’ve never done before, and which I’ll never do again: 10 Fathers will eat the children among you, and sons will eat their fathers, since I’ll execute judgement on you and scatter all of you who’re left in every direction.[ref]

11 This is my master Yahweh’s declaration: As I live, it’s certainly because you’ve defiled my sanctuary with all your hateful things and with all the disgusting things you’ve done, that I myself will reduce you in number—I won’t have pity on you, and I won’t spare you. 12 A third of you will die by plague, plus they’ll be consumed by a famine that affects you. A third will fall by the sword surrounding you. Then I’ll scatter a third in every direction, and draw out a sword to chase after them as well.

13 Then my rage will be over, and I’ll relax my fury at them. I’ll be satisfied, and they’ll know that I, Yahweh, have spoken in my rage and I’ve completed my furious punishment of them. 14 I’ll make you into a city of ruins so that those from other nations will mock you as they pass by. 15 So Yerushalem will become something for other people to condemn and to mock—a warning and a horror to the nations that surround you. I’ll execute judgments against you in rage and fury, and with an angry rebuke. I, Yahweh have declared that. 16 I’ll send out harsh arrows of famine against you that will become the means with which I will destroy you, because I’ll make the famine more severe and destroy your food supply. 17 I’ll send a famine and disasters against you so you’ll be childless. Plague and bloodshed will pass through you, and I will bring a sword against you. I, Yahweh, have declared that.[ref]

6 Yahweh message came to me, saying: 2 “Humanity’s child, look towards Yisra’el’s mountains and prophesy to them. 3 Say, ‘Mountains of Yisra’el, listen to this message from the master Yahweh. My master Yahweh says this to the mountains and to the hills, to the streambeds, and to the valleys: Listen, I’m bringing a sword against you all, and I’ll destroy your hilltop shrines. 4 Then your altars will become desolate and your pillars will be destroyed, and I’ll throw your dead down in front of their idols. 5 I’ll lay the dead bodies of Yisra’el’s people right there in front of their idols, and scatter your bones around your altars. 6 Everywhere you all live, cities will be turned to rubble and the hilltop shrines ruined, so that your altars will be broken down and left idle. Then they’ll be broken and disappear, your pillars will be cut down and everything you all have built will be wiped away. 7 The dead will fall down right there among you all and you’ll know that I am Yahweh.

8 But I’ll preserve a remnant among you, and there’ll be some who escape the sword among the nations, when you’re scattered throughout the countries. 9 Then those who escape will think about me among the nations where they’ll be held captive. They’ll remember that I was grieved by their promiscuous heart that turned away from me, and by their eyes that lusted after their idols. Then the loathing for the wickedness that they’ve committed with all their disgusting activites will show on their faces 10 and they’ll know that I am Yahweh. It was for a reason that I said I’d bring this evil onto them.

11 My master Yahweh says this: Clap your hands and stamp your feet. Say, ‘Oh dear,’ because of all the disgustly evil things done by the Israeli people, because now they’ll fall by sword, famine, and plague. 12 Those who are far from Yerushalem will die by plague, and those who are near will fall by the sword. Those who remain and survive will die by famine. That’s the way that I’ll put my fury against them into action. 13 Then you’ll know that I am Yahweh, when their dead lie among their idols, around their altars, on every high hill—on all the mountain peaks, and under every flourishing tree and thick oak—the places where they burned incense to all their idols. 14 I’ll strike the land with my hand and make it bare and deserted from the wilderness to Diblah, throughout all the places where they live. Then they’ll know that I am Yahweh.”

7 Yahweh’s message came to me, saying, 2 “You, humanity’s child, the master Yahweh says this to the country of Israel.”

‘An end. An end has come to the four borders of the country.

3 Now the end has come to you, because I’m sending out my rage onto you, and I’ll judge you according to your behaviour,

then I will bring all your disgusting habits back upon you. 4 I won’t pity you, and I won’t spare you. Instead, I’ll bring your ways back upon you,

and your disgusting actions will come back on you so you’ll know that I am Yahweh.

5 My master Yahweh says this:

Disaster. A unique disaster. Listen, it’s coming. 6 An end of an era is definitely coming. The end has woken up and is starting to work against you—yes it’s coming. 7 Your doom is coming to you who inhabit the land. The time has come. The day of destruction is near, and the mountains will no longer be cheerful.

8 Now before long I’ll pour out my fury against you and fill up my rage upon you when I judge you according to your ways and bring all your disgusting actions back on you 9 because I won’t look compassionately and I won’t spare you. Whatever you’ve done in the past, I’ll do to you now, and your disgusting actions will bounce back on you so you’ll know that I it’s me, Yahweh, who’s punishing you. 10 Look here, the day—yes, it’s coming. Doom has gone out. The rod has blossomed. Arrogance has budded. 11 Violence has grown up into a rod of wickedness, but none of them (even though there’s many of them), and none of their wealth, and none of their importance will continue.

12 The time is coming—the day has come close. Don’t let a buyer be happy or any seller be sad, because my anger is directed at the entire large group. 13 No, the seller won’t return to the land he sold as long as they both live, because the vision concerning the entire group won’t be reversed, and because of their disobedience, none of them will be able to save themselves. 14 They’ve blown the trumpet and gotten everything ready, but there’s no one marching to battle because since my anger is on the entire large group.

15 The sword is on the outside, and plague and famine are inside the building. Those who’re in the countryside will die by the sword, while famine and plague will consume those in the city. 16 But some survivors will escape from among them, and will go up into the hills. Like the doves that live in the valleys, all of them will moan—each man for his own disobedience. 17 They won’t be able to use their trembling hands and their knees will feel like liquid. 18 They’ll wear sackcloth, but will be covered in terror. Their faces will display their shame, and they’ll shave their heads as a sign of sorrow. 19 They’ll throw their silver into the streets and their gold will be like rubbish. Their silver and their gold won’t be able to rescue them in the day of Yahweh’s rage. Their lives won’t be saved, and their hunger will not be satisfied, because their disobedience has become a stumbling block. 20 In their pride they had take his beautiful jewelled ornaments and made them into their idolatrous figures and their detestable things. Therefore, I’m going to defile those things. 21 I’ll hand those things over to strangers as plunder and to the wicked of the earth as plunder, and they’ll defile them. 22 Then I’ll put my hand over my eyes when they defile my cherished place—bandits will enter it and defile it.

23 Make a chain, because the country is filled with judgement for those who’d been killed, and now the city is full of violence. 24 I’ll bring the most wicked of the nations here, and they’ll take over the people’s houses, and I’ll bring the pride of the powerful people to an end because their sacred places will be defiled. 25 Anguish will be the order of the day and they’ll wish for peace, but there won’t be any. 26 Disaster will follow disaster and there’ll be rumour after rumour. Then they’ll be wanting a vision from the prophet, but the priest will no longer teach God’s instructions and advice from the elders will be useless. 27 The king will mourn and the prince will be overcome by despair, while the hands of the country’s people will tremble in fear. I’ll do that do them just like they did to others. I’ll judge them by their own standards until they know that I am Yahweh.

8 Then in the middle of the sixth year[fn] as I sat in my house and Yehudah’s elders sat in front of me, my master Yahweh’s hands fell upon me there again. 2 I looked, and wow—there was something that looked a bit like a man. From the appearance of his hips downward there was fire, and from his hips upward there was the appearance of something shining like glowing metal.[ref] 3 Then he reached out the form of a hand and took me by my hair—the Spirit lifted me up between earth and the heavens, and in visions from God, he took me to Yerushalem, to the entrance of the inner northern gate where the idol was that made Yahweh very jealous.

4 Then wow, the brilliant light of Yisra’el’s God was there, just like the vision that I’d seen on the plain.[ref] 5 Then he told me, “Humanity’s child, look towards the north.” So I looked towards the north and to the north of the gate leading to the altar—there in the entrance, was the idol that caused the jealousy.

6 So he told me, “Humanity’s child, do you see what they’re doing? Those are horribly disgusting things that the Israeli people are doing here to drive me far from my own sanctuary. But you’ll see even more disgusting things soon.”

7 Then he took me to the courtyard doorway, and I looked and was a hole in the wall. 8 He told me, “Humanity’s child, dig into this wall.” So I dug into the wall, and discovered a doorway. 9 Then he told me, “Go and see the disgustingly wicked things that they’re doing there.” 10 So I went through and looked, and oh dear, there was every form of creeping thing and detestable creature. Drawings of every idol from the Israeli people were carved into the wall all around. 11 Seventy elders from the Israeli people were there, and Shafan’s son Yaazanyah was standing in the middle of them. They were standing in front of the images, and each man was holding his incense burner so that the smell of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he asked me, “Humanity’s child, do you see what the Israeli elders are doing in the dark? Each one does this in the hidden chamber of his idol, because they say, ‘Yahweh doesn’t even notice us. Yahweh has abandoned this country.’ ”

13 Then he told me, “Turn again and see the other terribly digusting things that they’re doing,” 14 and he took me to the gate at the northern entrance of Yahweh’s, and oh dear—there were some women sitting there mourning for the Babylonian Tammuz deity. 15 Then he said to me, “Humanity’s child, do you see that? Turn again, and you’ll see even more disgusting things than those.”

16 Then he took me into the inner courtyard of Yahweh’s house, and oh no—at the entrance of Yahweh’s temple between the portico and the altar, there were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple and their faces toward the east where they were worshiping the sun.

17 He asked me, “Humanity’s child, do you see that? Is it a little thing for the people of Yehudah to do those disgusting things that they’re doing here? They’ve filled the land with violence and have turned again to provoke me to anger and to make mockery of me. 18 So I will also act among them—I won’t have compassion and I won’t spare them. Even if they cry loudly in my ears, I won’t hear them.”

9 Then I heard Yahweh call out with a loud voice, saying, “Let the guards come up to the city, each one carrying his destructive weapon.” 2 Then wow, six men came out from the pathway of the upper gate that faces north, each carrying his weapon of slaughter. There was a man among them dressed in linen with a wrter’s equipment at his side. Then they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

3 Then the bright light representing Yisrael’s God went from the winged creature where it had been, up to the threshold of the house. Yahweh called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing equipment at his side. 4 Yahweh told him, “Go through the middle of Yerushalem City, and make a mark on the foreheads of those who complain and despair about all the disgusting things being done there in the middle of the city.”[ref]

5 Then he spoke to the others within my hearing, “Go through the city after him and kill. Don’t let yourselves have compassion, and don’t show any pity. 6 Slaughter all the old men, young men and women, little children and women, but don’t approach anyone who has the mark on their head. Begin at my sacred place.” So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.

7 Yahweh told them, “Defile the temple, and fill its courtyards with the dead. Now go.” So they went out and started attacking the city.

8 As they were attacking it, I found myself alone and I fell to my knees with my head bowed down to the ground and cried out and said, “Ah, master Yahweh, will you destroy the entire remnant of Yisrael in the outpouring of your rage on Yerushalem?”

9 “The disobedience of the people of Yisrael and Yehudah has been extremely bad,” he answered. “The land is full of blood and the city full of perversions, since they say, ‘Yahweh has forgotten this country,’ and ‘Yahweh won’t take any notice.’ 10 So then, I won’t show compassion, and I won’t spare them, rather I’ll bring it all on their heads.”

11 Then wow, the man dressed in linen who had the writing equipment by his side came back to report, saying, “I’ve done everything you commanded.”

10 As I looked toward the dome that was over the heads of the winged creatures, something appeared above them that looked like a sapphire stone that had been made into a throne.[ref] 2 Then Yahweh spoke to the man dressed in linen and said, “Go between the wheels underneath the winged creatures, and fill both your hands with fiery coals from between the winged creatures and scatter them over the city.”[ref]

Then the man went in as I watched. 3 The winged creatures stood on the right side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner courtyard. 4 Yahweh’s brilliant light rose up from the winged creature and stood over the threshold of the house. It filled the house with the cloud, and the courtyard was full of the brightness of Yahweh’s splendour. 5 The sound of the creatures’ wings could be heard as far as the outer courtyard, like the voice of the powerful God when he speaks.

6 When Yahweh had commanded the man dressed in linen, “Take fire from between the wheels that are between the winged creatures,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. 7 A winged creature reached out his hand between the winged creatures to the fire that was among them, and lifted it up and placed it into the hands of the one dressed in linen. The man took it and went back out.

8 I noticed that the winged creatures had something like a human hand under their wings, 9 then I looked, and wow, four wheels were beside the winged creatures—one wheel beside each one—and the wheels seemed like shining chrysolite.[ref] 10 They all appeared to be the same, like having a wheel within a wheel. 11 When they moved, they went in any of their four directions, without turning as they went, because whatever direction the head faced, they went in that direction without turning as they went. 12 Their whole body (including their backs, their hands, and their wings) was covered with eyes, and eyes covered all around the four wheels as well.[ref] 13 I heard someone call them ‘the whirling wheels’.

14 Each one had four faces: the first face was the face of a winged creature, the second was a man’s face, the third was a lion’s face, and the fourth was an eagle’s face.[ref] 15 Then the living creatures (they were the same ones that I had seen by the Kebar channel) rose up in the air. 16 Whenever the winged creatures moved, the wheels would go beside them, and whenever the winged creatures lifted up their wings to go up from the earth, the wheels didn’t turn—they still stayed beside them. 17 When the winged creatures stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they went up, the wheels went up with them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

18 Then Yahweh’s brilliant light went out over the temple threshold and stayed over the winged creatures. 19 The winged creatures lifted up their wings and rose from the ground in my sight when they went out, and the wheels did the same beside them. They stood at the eastern entrance to Yahweh’s residence, and the brilliant light of Yisrael’s God came onto them from above. 20 Those were the living creatures that I had seen below the Yisrael’s God by the Kebar Canal, so I knew that they were winged creatures.

21 They each had four faces and four wings, and had something like human hands under their wings, 22 and their faces resembled the faces that I’d seen in the vision at the Kebar Canal, and each of them went straight ahead.

11 Then the spirit lifted me up and brought me to the eastern gate of Yahweh’s temple, facing east, and behold, in the doorway of the gate there were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Azzur’s son Yaazanyah and Benayah’s son Felatyah who were leaders of the people.

2 Yahweh told me, “Humanity’s child, these are the men who plan to do evil things and who make wicked plans in this city. 3 They’re saying, ‘This isn’t yet the time to build houses. This city is like a cooking pot, and we’re the meat.’ 4 So, prophesy against them, humanity’s child, start prophesying.”

5 Then Yahweh’s spirit came on me and told me to say: This is what Yahweh says, “That is what you’re all saying, people of Israel, because I know what goes through your mind. 6 You’ve killed many people in this city, and filled its streets with them.

7 Therefore the master Yahweh says: The people you’ve killed, whose bodies you have laid in the middle of Yerushalem, are the meat, and this city is the pot. But you’re all going to be brought out from the centre of this city. 8 You’ve feared the sword, so I am bringing the sword upon you. That’s my master Yahweh’s declaration. 9 I’ll bring you out from the city, and put you into the hands of foreigners, because I’ll bring judgment against you all. 10 You’ll all fall by the sword. I will judge you within Yisrael’s border so that you’ll all know that I am Yahweh. 11 This city won’t be your cooking pot, nor will you be the meat within her. I’ll judge you all within Yisrael’s borders. 12 Then you’ll all know that I’m Yahweh, the one whose instructions you haven’t obeyed and whose regulations you haven’t followed. Instead, you all have imitated the wicked ways of the nations that surround you.”

13 Then as I was prophesying, Benayah’s son Felatyah died. So I fell to my knees with my face bowed low to the ground and cried out with a loud voice, “Oh no, my master Yahweh, will you completely eliminate the Israeli people?”

14 Then Yahweh gave me this message: 15 “Your brothers, humanity’s child, your brothers and all the Israeli people who were exiled. The ones living in Yerushalem say about them all, ‘They’re far away from Yahweh. This land was given to us as ours to own.’

16 So tell them, ‘My master Yahweh says this: Although I’ve removed them far away to other nations, and though I have scattered them among those lands, yet I have been a place of security for them for a little while in the lands where they were taken.’

17 So explain to them, ‘My master Yahweh says this: I’ll gather you from the peoples, and assemble you from the lands where you were scattered, and I’ll give you back the country of Israel.’ 18 Then they’ll go there and remove every detestable and disgusting thing from there, 19 and I’ll give them one heart, and I’ll put a new spirit within them. I’ll take the heart of stone ouf of them and give them tender hearts,[ref] 20 so that they’ll follow my instructions and obey my regulations. Then they’ll be my people, and I’ll be their God. 21 But to those who would rather happily choose their detestable and disgusting ways, I’ll make their actions bounce back onto their own heads. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.”

22 Then the winged creatures lifted up their wings and the wheels that were beside them, and the brilliant light of Yisrael’s God was up high over them.[ref] 23 Then it went up from the centre of the city and sat above the mountain to the east of the city. 24 The spirit lifted me up and brought me into Chaldea (Babylonia) to the exiles, in the vision from the God’s spirit, and the vision that I’d been seeing left me, 25 and I told the exiles everything Yahweh had shown me.

12 Then Yahweh gave me this message: 2 “Humanity’s child, you live among a rebellious people who have eyes to see yet they don’t see, and who have ears to hear but don’t listen, because they’re a rebellious people.[ref]

3 Therefore, humanity’s child, pack up your stuff ready to go into exile, and each day while they’re watching, start going out somewhere, because while they’re watching, I’ll exile you from your place to another place. Perhaps they’ll begin to see, even though they’re such rebellious people. 4 Each day while they’re watching, bring out your things for an exile, then as they watch in the evening, go out in the way that people do when going into exile. 5 Dig a hole through the city wall in their sight, and go out through it. 6 While they’re watching, lift your things up onto your shoulder, and bring them out in the darkness. Cover your face, because you mustn’t see this land, since I’ve made you into a sign for the Israeli people.”

7 So I did just as I was instructed: I brought my things of exile out in the daytime, and in the evening I dug a hole through the wall by hand. I brought my things out in the dark, and lifted them up onto my shoulder as they looked on.Need to make next verse style consistent throughout the document: Yahweh GAVE ME a message, vs Yahweh’s messsage CAME TO ME.

8 The next morning, Yahweh gave me this message: 9 “Humanity’s child, haven’t those rebellious Israeli people asked you what you’re doing? 10 Tell them that the master Yahweh says this: ‘this prophetic action concerns the ruler in Yerushalem and all the other Israeli people who’re there.’ 11 Tell them that you’re a sign to them, and that everything you’ve done will happen to them—they’ll be captured and taken into exile into another country. 12 Their leader will lift his things up onto his shoulder in the dark, and will go out through the wall. They’ll dig through the wall and take their things out. He’ll cover his face, so he won’t see the place he’s leaving with his eyes. 13 I’ll spread my net out over him and he’ll be caught in my trap, then I’ll take him away to Babylon (the land of the Chaldeans) but he won’t see it and he’ll die there.[ref] 14 I’ll also scatter all of his assistants in every direction, and I’ll send out a sword after his entire army. 15 When I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands, then they’ll know that I am Yahweh. 16 But I’ll spare a few men from among them from the sword, famine, and plague, so they’ll be able to record all their hardships and ungodly practices in the countries that I take them to, so they’ll know that I am Yahweh.”

17 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 18 “Humanity’s child, eat your food with trembling, and drink your water with shaking and worry, 19 and tell the people in this country, ‘My master Yahweh says this about the inhabitants of Yerushalem, and the country of Israel, “They will eat their food with trembling and drink their water while shaking, since all the abundance from the land will be devastated because of the violence of all those who live there. 20 The inhabited cities will become desolate, and the land itself will become a wasteland. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.” ’ ”

21 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 22 “Humanity’s child, what’s the saying that you have in Yisrael that goes, ‘The days seem to go on and on, yet no prophecy ever comes true’? 23 So tell them, ‘This is what the master Yahweh says: I’m going to prove that what they say isn’t correct, then they’ll never say it again in Yisrael.’ Tell them, ‘It’ll soon be the time when everything that the prophets have predicted will happen, 24 because there’ll no longer be any false visions or people-pleasing prophecies within Yisrael. 25 I speak, and I put the words that I speak into action, because I am Yahweh. The matter will no longer be delayed, because I’ll speak this message in your lifetimes, you rebellious people, and then I’ll carry it out!’ That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.”

26 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 27 “Listen, humanity’s child, the Israeli people have said, ‘The vision that the prophet sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of far off times,’ 28 so tell them, ‘The master Yahweh says this: My words won’t be delayed any longer, but the message that I’ve given will be put into effect. That is the master Yahwehs declaration.’ ”

13 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, prophesy against the prophets who are prophesying in Yisrael, and tell those who are prophesying out of their own imaginations, ‘Listen to Yahweh’s message. 3 My master Yahweh says this: Foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and haven’t actually seen any vision won’t end well. 4 Yisrael, your prophets have been like jackals in the wastelands. 5 You haven’t gone to the breaks in the walls around the Israeli cities and repaired them, in order to be able to defend yourselves well during the battle on Yahweh’s chosen day. 6 The people have false visions and make false predictions. Yahweh hasn’t sent those who say that they’re bringing Yahweh’s declaration, but nevertheless they’ve made people hope that their messages would come true. 7 Haven’t you had false visions and made false predictions—all of you who say that you’re bringing Yahweh’s declaration when I myself haven’t spoken?’

8 Therefore the master Yahweh says this, ‘Because you all have presented false visions and have told lies—therefore this is the master Yahweh’s declaration against you: 9 I’ll punish the prophets who have lying visions and who make false predictions. They won’t be allowed in the assembly of my people, or enrolled in the record of the descendants of Yisrael. They mustn’t go to the land of Israel—that’s how you’ll all know that I am the master Yahweh.

10 Also because they led my people astray and said, “Peace,” when there’s no peace, it’s as if they’re building a wall and then whitewashing it.’[ref] 11 Tell the ones who’re whitewashing the wall that it’ll fall down. There’ll be a downpour, then I’ll send hailstones to make it fall down, and a strong wind to break it down. 12 See, the wall will fall down. Haven’t others asked you where the white coating went that you put on it?

13 Therefore my master Yahweh says this: In my rage, I’ll bring a storm, and in my anger, there’ll be heavy rain causing floods. In my rage, hailstones will completely destroy Yerushalem. 14 I’ll tear down the wall that you covered with whitewash, and I’ll demolish it to ground level and expose its foundations. So it will fall, and you’ll be annihilated in the middle of it all. Then you all will know that I am Yahweh.

15 In my rage I’ll annihilate the wall and those who whitewashed it. I’ll tell you, “The wall doesn’t exist anymore, nor do the people who whitewashed it—16 those Israeli prophets who prophesied about Yerushalem and had visions of peace for her. But there isn’t any peace! That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.” ’

17 So humanity’s child, turn your attention to the daughters of your people and prophesy against them because they invented prophecies in their own imaginations. 18 Tell them that the master Yahweh says this: The women won’t end well who sew magic charms onto every part of their hands, and make headbands for people of every walk of life that are used to deceive and hunt down people. Do you allreally think you can get away with hunting down my people but then save your own lives? 19 You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and crumbs of bread. You’ve all killed people who shouldn’t have died, and saved the lives of those who shouldn’t have continued to live, because of your lies to my people who heard you.

20 Therefore my master Yahweh says this: I’m against the magic charms that you have used to suck the people in as if they were birds. Indeed, I’ll tear them from your arms and I’ll let the people you’ve trapped like birds go free. 21 I’ll tear away your headbands and rescue my people from your control so they’ll no longer be trapped in your system. Then you’ll all know that I am Yahweh.

22 Because you’ve discouraged the righteous people with lies (even though I didn’t desire their discouragement), and because you all encouraged the actions of the wicked people instead so they won’t turn from their way to save his life, 23 then you’ll all no longer have false visions or continue to make predictions, because I’ll rescue my people out of your control. Then you all will know that I am Yahweh.’ ”

14 One day some of the Israeli elders came and sat down to talk, 2 and Yahweh gave me this message: 3 “Humanity’s child, these men have taken their idols to be their god and their choice to disobey makes it very difficult for them to relate to me. Should I even let them ask me anything?

4 Therefore tell them that the master Yahweh says this: Every Israeli man who makes his idols his priority, or who allows his disobedience to separate him from me, and who then comes to a prophet, I, Yahweh, will answer him according to how many idols he has. 5 I’ll do that so that I can reclaim the Israeli people whose values are now far from mine due to their idols.

6 Therefore tell the Israel people that the master Yahweh says this: Change your behaviour and turn away from your idols. Make a decision to stop disobeying me by doing those evil things.

7 Any Israeli person and any foreigner residing in Yisrael who deserts me, who takes idols to be their god and allows their disobedience to separate them from me, and who then comes to a prophet to request my guidance, I, Yahweh, will answer that person myself. 8 I’ll clearly show my disapproval and make that person into a sign for others and into a talking point and they’ll be isolated from the rest of my people, and you all will know that I am Yahweh.

9 If a prophet is deceived and speaks a message, then I, Yahweh, will deceive that prophet. I’ll take action against him and destroy him to remove him from among the Israeli people. 10 Both the prophet and the one who asks him for advice will be guilty, and I will punish both of them for their disobedience. 11 Because of that, the Israeli people will no longer wander away from following me, nor defile themselves any longer through all their disobedience. They’ll be my people, and I’ll be their God. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”

12 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 13 “Humanity’s child, when a country sins against me by choosing to worship other gods, so that I decide to take action against it, then I’ll break the cycle of food production and send a famine out over it. I’ll punish both people and animals from that land 14 in such a way that even if Noah, Daniel, and Yob (Job) lived in that place, they could only rescue their own lives by their being blameless in my sight. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

15 If I send vicious wild animals through the country and make it barren so that it becomes a wasteland where no one can may pass through because of those animals, 16 then even if those same three men were in it, as I live declares the master Yahweh, they wouldn’t be able to rescue even their own children—only their own lives would be saved, but the land itself would become a wasteland.

17 Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, ‘Sword, go through the land and eliminate both the people and domestic animals from it’, 18 then even if those three men were in it, as I live, declares the master Yahweh, they wouldn’t be able to rescue even their own sons or daughters—only their own lives would be saved.

19 Or if I send a plague against that country and pour out my rage against it through bloodshed, in order to eliminate both the people and the domestic animals, 20 as surely as I live, even if Noah, Daniel and Yob (Job) were in that country, they wouldn’t be able to rescue even their sons and daughters. They would save only themselves because of their being blameless in my sight. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

21 The master Yahweh says this: I will certainly make things worse by sending my four punishments against Yerushalem to eliminate both the people and the domestic animals from it: famine, sword, wild animals, and plague.[ref] 22 But listen! Despite that, a remnant will be left in the city—survivors who will go out with sons and daughters. Yes, they’ll go out to you, and you’ll see their ways and actions and understand why they deserved the punishment that I sent to Yerushalem, and about everything else that I have sent against the country. 23 The survivors will relieve you all when you see their ways and their actions, because you’ll know that all those things that I’ve done against her, I didn’t do them without good reason. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.”

15 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, how is a vine better than any tree with branches that is among the trees in a forest? 3 Do people take wood from a vine to make anything? Would anyone make a peg from the wood of a vine to hang anything on it? 4 If it’s used as firewood, and if the fire has burnt both ends and even the middle, is it good wood, or indeed good for anything? 5 Originally, the wood of the vine couldn’t be used to make anything, surely then, when the fire has burnt it, it still can’t do anything useful.

6 Therefore the master Yahweh says this: Unlike the trees in the forests, I’ve given the vine as fuel for fires. I will act in the same way toward Yerushalem’s inhabitants 7 and I’ll start to take action against them. Even if they get out of the fire, the fire will still consume them, so you’ll all know that I am Yahweh, when I take action against them. 8 Then I’ll make the land into an abandoned wasteland because they chose to worship other gods. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.”

16 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, inform Yerushalem about their detestable behaviour, 3 and declare that the master Yahweh says this to Yerushalem: Your beginning and your birth took place in the land of Canaan, your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite.[fn] 4 When you were born, your mother didn’t cut your cord, nor did she clean you with water or rub you down with salt, or wrap cloth around you. 5 No one cared enough for you to do any of these things for you—to be compassionate toward you. Your life was despised and you were thrown out into the open field on the very day that you were born.

6 But I went past, and I saw you, Yerushalem, writhing in your own blood, so I said to you as you lay there in your blood, “Live!”[fn] 7 I made you grow like a plant in the countryside. You grew up and became tall, and you became the jewel of jewels. Your breasts became firm, and your hair grew thick, even though you had been naked and bare.

8 I went past again and saw you. Wow, the time of love came for you, so I spread my robe out over you and covered your nakedness. Then I made a promise to you and brought you into a contract and you became mine. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

9 I washed you, Yerushalem, with water and rinsed your blood off you, and I put lotion on your skin. 10 Then I dressed you in embroidered clothes and put leather sandals on your feet. I wrapped you with fine linen then covered you with silk. 11 Next I adorned you with jewellery, and I put bracelets on your hands and a chain around your neck. 12 I put a ring in your nose and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. 13 So you were adorned with gold and silver, and you were dressed in fine linen, silk, and embroidered clothes. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil, and you were very beautiful, and you became a queen. 14 Your reputation, Yerushalem, spread among the nations because of your beauty, because it was perfect in the majesty that I had given to you. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

15 But Yerushalem, you trusted in your own beauty, and you acted like a prostitute because of your reputation. You flirted with everyone going past and prostituted yourself, so that your beauty became theirs. 16 Then you took your clothes and made hilltop shrines for yourself with them, decorated in various colours, and there you acted like a prostitute. This shouldn’t have happened, nor should such a thing exist. 17 You took the fine gold and silver jewellery that I gave you, and you made male figures for yourselves, and you behaved with them like a prostitute would do. 18 You took your embroidered garments and covered those idols, and you offered my oils and perfumes to them. 19 The high-quality bread that I gave you (made with fine flour, oil, and honey), you placed in front of them to be a fragrant aroma and indeed it was. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

20 Then you took your sons and daughters that you bore for me, and you sacrificed them to those idols to be devoured as food. Are your acts of prostitution a small matter? 21 You slaughtered my children for the idols and made them pass through the fire. 22 In all your evil goings on and your acts of prostitution, you never remembered back to the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare as you thrashed about in your own blood. 23 After all your wickedness, you won’t end well. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

24 You made yourself a mound and built a raised shrine in every public square. 25 You built your raised platform at the top of every street and made your beauty a disgrace, and you spread your legs for anyone who passed by, and you multiplied your acts of prostitution. 26 You have acted like a prostitute with your lusty neighbours the Egyptians, and you committed many more acts of prostitution, provoking me to anger.

27 Listen, I’ll hit you with my hand and cut off your food supply. I’ll hand your life over to your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your obscene behaviour.

28 You’ve acted like a prostitute with the Assyrians because you couldn’t be satisfied. You acted like a prostitute and still you weren’t satisfied. 29 So you performed many more acts of prostitution in Babylonia (the country of the merchants of Chaldea), and even that didn’t satisfy you. 30 Your heart is so sick that you would do things like that—things that only a shameless prostitute would do. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

31 You made your mounds at the head of every street and built your tall shrines in every public square, yet you weren’t like a prostitute in the sense that you scoffed at taking payment. 32 You adulterous woman, you prefer strangers over your husband. 33 It’s normal for clients to pay the prostitute, but you do the opposite: you give your wages to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all around for your acts of prostitution. 34 Yes, there’s a difference between you and other women. No one offers payment for you to act as a prostitute. You’re the very opposite—you paid them but nothing was given to you.

35 Therefore, Yerushalem you prostitute, listen to Yahweh’s message. 36 The master Yahweh says this: Because you’ve poured out your lust and uncovered your nakedness through your acts of prostitution with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood, 37 then listen: I will gather all your lovers that you’ve met, including the ones you loved and the ones you hated, and I will gather them against you on every side. I’ll uncover your nakedness to them so they see all your nakedness. 38 Then I’ll punish you for your adultery and the shedding of blood, and I’ll bring on you the bloodshed of my anger and passion. 39 I’ll allow them to conquer you so they’ll tear apart your raised chamber and break down your high places, and they’ll strip you of your clothes and take all of your jewellery—leaving you naked and bare.

40 Then they’ll bring a crowd up against you and stone you with stones, and they’ll cut you apart with their swords. 41 They’ll burn down your houses and will punish you in several ways in the sight of many women, because I’ll put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. 42 Then I’ll calm my rage against you. My anger will leave you, because I’ll be satisfied and won’t be angry at you any longer.

43 Because you didn’t call to mind your younger days and made me shake with anger because of all those things, therefore, listen: I myself will bring the punishment for what you’ve done down onto your own head. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

Haven’t you added prostitution to all your other detestable practices? 44 Listen, everyone who speaks proverbs about you will say, “Like mother, like daughter.” 45 You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her children, and you are the sister of your sisters who detested their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.

46 Your older sister was Shomron (Samaria) and her daughters were the ones living in the north, while your younger sister was the one living south of you, that is, Sodom and her daughters. 47 Not only did you follow their ways and copy their behaviour and practices, but in everything that you did, you’ve been worse than they were.

48 This is the master Yahweh’s declaration: As I live, your sister Sodom and her daughters, didn’t do as much evil as you and your daughters have done. 49 Listen, your sister Sodom’s sin was that she was arrogant in her leisure, careless and unconcerned about anything. She didn’t assist the poor and needy people. 50 She was arrogant and committed disgusting actions in front of me, so I took them away just as you have seen.

51 As for Shomron (Samaria), they didn’t commit even half of your sins, instead, you’ve done many more disgusting things than they did, and you’ve shown that your sisters were better than you because of all the disgusting things that you do. 52 Also how you display your own shame—you’ve shown that your sisters were better than you by the sins you committed in all those disgusting ways. Your sisters now seem better than you.

53 From their captivity, I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and of Shomron (Samaria) and her daughters, and your fortunes will be similar[fn] 54 so that you will display your shame. You’ll be humiliated because of everything that you’ve done, and in that way you’ll be a consolation to Sodom and Shomron. 55 Your sister Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former condition, and Shomron and her daughters will be restored similarly. Then you and your daughters will be restored to your former condition. 56 You never even mentioned your sister Sodom in the period when you were proud 57 before your wickedness was revealed. But now you’re an object of scorn to the daughters of Aram (Syria) and to all the daughters of the Philistines around her. People all around despise you. 58 You’ll display your shame and your disgusting actions. That is Yahweh’s declaration.

59 The master Yahweh says this: I’ll deal with you as you deserve—you who’ve despised your oath by breaking our agreement. 60 But I myself will call to mind my agreement with you that was made when you were younger, and I’ll establish a never-ending agreement with you. 61 Then you’ll call to mind your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older sisters and your younger sisters. I’ll give them to you as daughters, but not because of your agreement. 62 I myself will establish my agreement with you, and you’ll know that I am Yahweh 63 so that you’ll call everything to mind and be ashamed. Then you’ll no longer open your mouth to speak because of your shame, when I have forgiven you for everything that you’ve done. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”

17 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, present a riddle and speak a parable to the Israeli people. 3 Tell them, ‘The master Yahweh says this: A large eagle with large wings full of multi-coloured feathers, and long pinions, went to Lebanon and grabbed hold of the top of a cedar tree. 4 He broke the top shoot of the tree off, and took it to Canaan where he placed it in a city full of merchants. 5 He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil, beside a large body of water where a willow might grow. 6 Then the seed sprouted and became a spreading vine low to the ground. Its branches turned toward him, and its roots grew down below, so it became a vine and produced branches and sent out shoots.

7 But there was another large eagle with large wings and many feathers. Oh wow, that vine turned its roots toward this eagle, and it spread out its branches toward the eagle from the place it had been planted so it might get watered. 8 It had been planted in good soil beside a large body of water so it would grow branches and produce fruit, to become a magnificent vine.’

9 Ask the people: ‘The master Yahweh wants to know if it will prosper? Won’t it be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers, and all its fresh growth will dry out? You wouldn’t have to be very strong or get lots of people to help to pull it out by its roots. 10 So listen. After it had been planted, would it thrive? Wouldn’t it wither up when the eastern wind touches it? Yes, it would wither right up in the garden plot where it sprouted.’ ”

11 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 12 “Ask those rebellious people, ‘Don’t you know what those things mean? Listen, the king of Babylon came to Yerushalem and took her king and her princes and took them with him to Babylon.[ref] 13 Then he took a member of the royal family, made an agreement with him—forcing him to make various commitments. Then he took away the country’s former powerful people, 14 so the kingdom would remain subjected and not be able to become powerful again. However, by keeping the agreement, the country would at least survive. 15 But the king of Yerushalem rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim) to acquire horses and an army. Will he succeed? Will the one doing these things escape? If he breaks the agreement, will he survive? 16 This is the master Yahweh’s declaration: As I live he’ll definitely die in the land of the king who made him king, the king whose promises he despised, and whose agreement he broke. He’ll die in the middle of Babylon. 17 Egypt’s Far-oh (Pharaoh) with his mighty army and a large company won’t help him in battle, when ramps are constructed and siege walls are built up to cut off many lives 18 because the king despised his promise by breaking the agreement. Wow, he reached out to make a promise and yet afterwards he did all those things. He won’t escape. 19 Therefore the master Yahweh says this: As I live, wasn’t it my promise that he despised and my agreement that he broke? Therefore I’ll cause him to be punished for what he did. 20 I’ll spread my net out over him, and he’ll be caught in my trap, and I’ll take him to Babylon and handle his judgement there for the treason he committed when he betrayed me. 21 All of his refugees in his armies will fall by the sword, and the ones who remain will be scattered in every direction. Then you’ll all know that I am Yahweh because I’ve declared that that will happen.”

22 The master Yahweh says this, ‘So I myself will take away the highest part of the cedar tree, and I will plant it away from its tender branches. I’ll break it off, and I myself will plant it on a very high mountain. 23 I’ll plant it on Yisrael’s highest mountain so it will bear branches and produce fruit, and it will become a majestic cedar so that every winged bird will live under it. They’ll nest in the shade of its branches, 24 then all the trees in the countryside will know that I am Yahweh. I bring down the high trees and I raise up the low trees. I wither the watered tree and I cause the dried tree to bloom. I am Yahweh, I have declared that that will happen; and I will do it.’ ”

18 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “What do you mean, you who use this proverb concerning Yisrael and say, ‘Fathers eat sour grapes, but it’s the children’s teeth that are set on edge’?

3 This is the master Yahweh’s declaration: as I live there’ll certainly no longer be any occasion for you to use this proverb in Yisrael. 4 Listen, every life belongs to me: the life of the father as well as that of the son—they belong to me. The one who disobeys is the one who’ll die.

The godly man

5 If there was a godly man who did what was fair and right, 6 who doesn’t eat at the hilltop shrines, who doesn’t request help from Yisrael’s idols, who doesn’t mess with someone else’s wife or a menstruating woman, 7 who doesn’t oppress anyone, and he gives back to the debtor what was put up as security for a loan, he doesn’t steal but rather gives his food to the hungry and gives clothes to those without them, 8 who doesn’t charge too much interest if he loans money, and doesn’t take too much profit for what he sells, he promotes true justice within the community, 9 who follows my instructions and faithfully obeys my regulations, that man will be acquitted and will definitely live. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.[ref]

The wayward son of the godly man

10 But suppose that godly man had a violent son who kills and sadly goes against all those things above, 11 not following the ways of his godly father, but rather has eaten at the hilltop shrines and has slept with someone else’s wife, 12 he oppresses the poor and needy, and he steals and robs, and he does not return something given as a pledge, and he requests help from idols and does disgusting things, 13 and he lends out money at too high interest and he makes too much profit on what he sells, should that man live? He certainly won’t! He’ll definitely die and his blood will be on his own head.

The peace/prosperity of child righteous/honest/sensible

14 But listen, suppose he has a son, and his son sees all the sins that his father has committed, and though he sees them, he doesn’t do those things. 15 he hasn’t eaten at the hilltop shrines, and hasn’t requested help from the Israeli people’s idols, and hasn’t slept with someone else’s wife, 16 he doesn’t oppress anyone, or keep things given as a pledge, or receive stolen things, but instead gives his food to the hungry and gives clothes to those without them, 17 he’s turned his back on crime, and doesn’t charge high interest, he follows my instructions and obeys my regulations, he won’t die for his father’s evil deeds but he’ll certainly live. 18 His father, since he oppressed others by extortion and robbed people, and did what is not good among his people—listen, he’ll die in his sin.

19 But you all ask, ‘Why doesn’t the son also have to pay the cost for his family’s crimes?’ Well it’s because the son promotes justice and godliness and follows all my instructions. He’ll definitely live. 20 The one who sins is the one who’ll die. The children won’t have to bear their parents’ sin, and the parents won’t bear their children’s sins—the righteousness of those who act rightly will be on themselves, and the wickedness of the wicked will be on themselves.[ref]

The person repent of sins he/his

21 But if the wicked person turns away from all their disobedience, and follows all my instructions and does what is right and fair, then that person will certainly live and not die. 22 All their acts of disobedience won’t be called to mind against them. They’ll live by the right things that they do. 23 That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

Do I celebrate happily over the death of the wicked and not in their turning away from their ways so that they may live? 24 But if a righteous person turns away from their righteousness and disobeys and does disgusting things like the wicked people do, then will they live? All the good things that had been done won’t be called to mind when they betray me in their treason, so they’ll die in the sins that they committed.

25 But you all complain that the master’s way isn’t correct. Please listen you Israeli people: is it my ways that aren’t correct, or is it your ways? 26 When the righteous person turns away from their righteousness, and commits iniquity and dies because of them, then that person will die in the iniquity that they’ve done. 27 But when a wicked person turns away from the wicked things that they’ve done and does what is fair and what is right, then that person will preserve their life—28 they’ve become aware of all their acts of disobedience and turned away from them. That person certainly won’t die but will live. 29 But the Israeli people insist, ‘The master’s way isn’t fair!’ How is my way not fair, people of Yisrael? It’s your ways that aren’t fair. 30 Therefore I will judge each person among you according to their ways, you Israeli people. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

Repent and turn away from all your transgressions so that they won’t be stumbling blocks of iniquity against you. 31 Throw off all the acts of disobedience that you’ve all done. Work towards a new heart and a new spirit for yourselves. Why should you die, people of Yisrael, 32 because I take no pleasure in the death of the one who dies. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration so turn from your evil behaviour and live.

19 Now sing a mournful song for Yisrael’s leaders, 2 saying:

‘Who was your mother? A lioness—she lived with a lion’s son.

There among the young lions, she reared her cubs.

3 She’s the one who raised up one of her cubs to become a young lion—

a lion who learned to tear apart his victims

and then he devoured men.

4 Then the nations heard about him.

He got caught in their trap,

and they took him to Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim) with hooks.

5 The mother lion waited for his return,

but eventually she realised that he wasn’t coming back,

so she took another one of her cubs and made him into a young lion.

6 This young lion roamed around amongst the other lions.

He was a young lion and learned to tear his victims—

he devoured men.

7 He seized their fortresses and ruined their cities.

The land and its produce was abandoned

because of the sound of his roaring.

8 But the nations came against him from the surrounding provinces.

They spread their nets over him—

he was caught in their pit.

9 With hooks in him, they put him in a cage

and then they took him to the Babylonian king.

They took him to the fortresses

so that his voice would no longer be heard in Yisrael’s hills.

10 Your mother was like a vine planted in your vineyard beside the water.

It was fruitful and full of branches because there was plenty of water.

11 It had strong branches that were used for making rulers scepters,

and it towered above the branches,

and its height could be seen due to the mass of its foliage.

12 But the vine was uprooted in fury and thrown down onto the ground,

and an eastern wind dried out its fruit.

Its strong branches were broken off and withered,

and then burnt in a fire.

13 So now it’s planted in the wilderness—

in a land of drought and thirst.

14 Fire went out from its large branches and consumed its fruit.

There’s no strong branches left on it—no scepter to rule.’

That is a song of mourning and should be sung as such.”

20 Seven years after we’d been taken to Babylon, some Israeli elders came to get me to ask Yahweh for advice for them. 2 Then Yahweh gave me this message: 3 “Humanity’s child, tell the Israeli elders that the master Yahweh says this: Have you all come to get advice from me? As I live, I won’t allow you to ask for my advice. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.’

4 Will you judge them? Will you judge, humanity’s child? Let them know about their ancestors’ disgusting behaviour. 5 Tell them that the master Yahweh says this: On the day that I chose Israel and made myself known to them in Egypt, I raised my hand to make a promise to Yakov’s descendants. I told them, “I am Yahweh your God”—[ref] 6 on that day I raised my hand to make a promise to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land that I had carefully selected for them. It was flowing with milk and honey—it was the most beautiful of all the lands. 7 I told them, “Let each family throw away the idols from Egypt plus any other detestable things they have. Don’t defile yourselves. I am Yahweh your God.” 8 But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. They didn’t throw away the detestable things they have or abandon their Egyptian idols, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my rage among them right there in Egypt. 9 I did that to protect my reputation so it wouldn’t be tarnished in the eyes of the nations where they were staying. I made myself clearly known to them[fn] by bringing them out of Egypt.

10 So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness. 11 Then I gave them my instructions and regulations—anyone who follows them will live.[ref] 12 I also established rest days as a sign between myself and them—for them to know that I am Yahweh who declares them different from others.[ref] 13 But the Israeli people rebelled against me in the wilderness. They wouldn’t follow my instructions and they rejected my regulations, when if they’d obeyed them, they would live. They severely disrespected my rest days, so I said I’d pour my fury out on them in the wilderness in order to end them. 14 But I did that to protect my reputation so it wouldn’t be tarnished in the eyes of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out of Egypt. 15 So I myself took action by making a promise to them in the wilderness not to bring them into the land that I had been going to give them—a land flowing with milk and honey which was the most beautiful out of all the lands.[ref] 16 I promised that because they had rejected my instructions and follow my regulations and they disrespected my rest days, because what they really wanted was their idols. 17 But I pitied them so I didn’t wipe them out in the wilderness.

18 I told their children in the wilderness, “Don’t follow your parents’ habits or behaviour, and don’t defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am Yahweh your God—follow my instructions, obey my regulations, 20 and keep my rest days different from other days so that they’ll be a sign between me and you. That way you’ll all know that I am Yahweh your God.”

21 However their sons and daughters rebelled against me. They didn’t keep my instructions or follow my regulations, when if they’d obeyed them, they would live. They disrespected my rest days, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my rage against them in the wilderness. 22 But I didn’t proceed for the sake of my reputation, so it wouldn’t be mocked by the nations who saw me bring the Israelis out of Egypt. 23 So I took action in the wilderness, promising that instead I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them into other countries.[ref] 24 I decided to do that since they hadn’t obeyed my instructions, and since they had rejected my regulations and disrepected my rest days—they really wanted their fathers’ idols.

25 Then I even gave them instructions that weren’t good, and regulations that they couldn’t live by. 26 I declared them to be defiled because of the gifts they gave (they sacrificed every woman’s firstborn child in the fire) so that I could fill them with horror so they would know that I am Yahweh.’

27 Therefore, humanity’s child, speak to the Israeli people and tell them that the master Yahweh says this: ‘That was also how your ancestors blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me. 28 When I brought them into the land that I’d promised to give them, then whenever they saw any high hill and leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices. They provoked me with their offerings, and also burnt their fragrant incense there and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I asked them, “What’s this high place where you present your offerings?” so the place is called Bamah (meaning ‘High place’)to this day.’

30 Therefore tell the Israeli people that the master Yahweh asks this: ‘Why do you all defile yourselves with the ways of your ancestors? So why do you act like prostitutes, searching for disgusting things? 31 When you offer up your gifts to this day (offering your sons as burnt sacrifices), you defile yourselves with all your idols. So why should I let you try to find me, you Israeli people? As I live, I won’t allow you all to request my help or advice. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration. 32 The thought that is forming in your mind will never happen. You all say, “Let us be like the other nations—like the clans in other countries who worship wood and stone.”

33 This is the master Yahweh’s declaration: As I live, I will certainly reign over you all with strict control, and with fury that will be poured out on you. 34 I’ll bring you all out from the other peoples and will gather you out of the countries where you’ve all been scattered. I’ll do this with power and with fury poured out. 35 Then I’ll bring you all into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will judge you all face to face—36 just like I judged your fathers in the Egyptian wilderness, so I’ll also judge you all. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

37 I will cause you all to pass under my staff to be counted, and I’ll make you obey the requirements of our agreement. 38 I will purge the rebels out from among you, as well as those who revolt against me. I’ll send them out from the land where they are staying as foreigners, but they won’t enter Yisrael. Then you’ll all know that I am Yahweh.

39 So to all you Israeli people, the master Yahweh says this: Each of you should go to his own idols. Worship them if you refuse to listen to me, but you must no longer desecrate my sacred name with your gifts and your idols 40 because this is the master Yahweh’s declaration: all the Israeli people will worship me there on my sacred mountain in Yisrael. I’ll be happy to accept your offerings there, along with your choice gifts dedicated to me. 41 I will accept you like a soothing aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you all have been scattered. I’ll display my holiness among you for the nations to see. 42 You’ll all know that I am Yahweh when I bring you back to Israel—to the land that I promised to give to your ancestors. 43 There you’ll all call to mind your conduct and everything that you defiled yourselves by doing, and you’ll despise yourselves in your own eyes for all the evil things that you’ve done. 44 Then you’ll all know that I am Yahweh when I do this to you for the sake of my reputation, i.e., not because of your evil deeds, and not because of your corrupt deeds, you Israeli people. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”

45 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 46 “Humanity’s child, look towards the southern lands, and speak against the south—prophesy against the Negev forest. 47 Tell the forest that this is the master Yahweh’s declaration: See, I will set a fire among you. It will burn up every tree among you, whether living or dead. The fiery flame won’t be able to be put out—every area from the north to the south will be burnt. 48 Then every person will see that I am Yahweh when I light the fire, and it won’t get extinguished.’ ”

49 Then I said, “Oh no, my master Yahweh, now they’re wondering if I’m just someone who tells cute parables.”

21 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, look towards Yerushalem, and speak against the sacred places and prophesy against Yisrael. 3 Tell Yisrael that Yahweh says this: Listen, I’m against you. I’ll draw my sword from its sheath to kill both the righteous and the wicked among you. 4 Yes, in order for me to eliminate both the righteous and the wicked from you, my sword will go out from its sheath against everyone from the south to the north, 5 then everyone will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword from its sheath. It will no longer hold back.’

6 As for you, humanity’s child, groan as as if your pelvis has cracked. Groan bitterly in front of them. 7 That’ll get the people asking you, ‘What are you groaning about?’ Then you’ll tell them, ‘Because of the news that’s coming, because every stomach will go tense and every hand will tremble. Breathing will become difficult, and every knee will turn to jelly. Listen, it’s coming and that’s what it’ll be like. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”

8 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 9 “Humanity’s childc, prophesy and tell them that the master says this:

“A sword! A sword!

It will be sharpened and polished.

10 It will be sharpened in order to engage in great slaughter!

≈It will be polished in order to be like lightning!

Should we rejoice in my son’s scepter?

The coming sword hates every such rod.

11 So the sword will be given to be polished,

and then to be grasped by the hand.

The sword is sharpened and polished

and will be handed to the one who kills!” ’ ”

12 Call for help and wail, humanity’s child,

because that sword has come against my people.

It’s against all of Yisrael’s leaders—

they’re thrown against the sword along with my people.

Therefore, hammer your fists against the wall

13 because testing will come,

but what if the scepter doesn’t last?

That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

14 Now humanity’s child, prophesy and clap your two hands together loudly,

because the sword will attack even a third time.

A sword for the ones to be slaughtered.

It’s a sword for the many to be slaughtered,

piercing them wherever they run.

15 In order to melt their hearts and to multiply their fallen,

I’ve placed the sword for slaughter at all their gates.

Ah, it flashes like lightning.

It’s held tightly for slaughter.

16 You, sword, strike to the right.

Strike to the left.

Go in whichever direction you’re facing

17 because I will also clap my two hands together

and then I’ll cease my fury.

I, Yahweh, declare it.”

18 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 19 “Now humanity’s child, assign two roads for the sword of Babylon’s king to come on. The two roads will start in the same land, and a signpost will mark one of them as leading to a city. 20 Mark one road for the Babylonian army to come to Rabbah, the city of the Ammonites. Mark the other to lead the army to Yehudah and the fortified city of Yerushalem, 21 because the Babylonian king will stop at the crossroads, at the junction, in order to practice divination. He’ll shake some arrows and ask direction from some idols, and he’ll examine a liver. 22 With his right hand he’ll take the sign for Yerushalem: to set battering rams against it, to open his mouth to order the slaughter, to sound a war cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect siege towers. 23 From the perspective of those in Yerushalem, it would seem to be a pointless sign as they’d made a treaty with the Babylonians, but the king will accuse them of violating their treaty so he can besiege them.

24 Therefore the master Yahweh says this: You’ve caused your guilt to be noticed by revealing your disobedience, so that you sins will be obvious through all your actions. Because you’ve done that, you’ll be taken by force. 25 As for you, profane and wicked ruler of Yisrael, your time of going against me has now ended and your day of punishment has come. 26 The master Yahweh instructs you: Remove the turban and take off the crown. Things will no longer be the same. I’ll give power to those who had none, and disgrace those who had power. 27 A ruin. A ruin. Yes, I’ll make it a ruin. It won’t be restored until the one comes who is assigned to execute judgment.

28 So you, humanity’s child, prophesy and say, ‘The master Yahweh says this to the Ammonites concerning their coming disgrace: A sword, a sword is drawn. It’s sharpened for the slaughter in order to devour, so it will be like lightning.[ref] 29 While prophets see empty visions for you and perform rituals to come up with lies for you, this sword will lie on the necks of the wicked who are about to be killed, whose day of punishment has come and whose time of disobedience is about to end.s1 Babylon’s end ???

30 Return the sword to its sheath. I’ll judge you in the place of your creation. In the land of your origin 31 I’ll pour my indignation out on you! I’ll fan the fire of my rage against you and hand you over to cruel men—craftsmen of destruction. 32 You’ll become fuel for the fire. Your blood will be spilled right there in your own land. You won’t be remembered, because I, Yahweh have declared it.’ ”

22 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Now you, humanity’s child, will you judge the city of blood? Will you judge Yerushalem? Make her understand all her disgusting behaviour. 3 Tell them that the master Yahweh says this: You’re a city that sheds blood right there in her centre, forcing her time of judgement to come—a city that makes idols to defile herself. 4 You’ve become guilty by the blood that you’ve poured out, and you’ve become defiled by the idols that you’ve made. You’ve drawn your days to a close, and the end of your years has come, so I’ll allow the other nations to laugh at you and mock you. 5 You unclean city full of confusion, those who’re both near and far will deride you.

6 Listen, each of Yisrael’s rulers has used their own resources to go to you, Yerushalem, to shed blood. 7 They’ve dishonoured the fathers and mothers within you, and they’ve oppressed the foreigners there among you. They’ve mistreated the orphans and the widows within you.[ref] 8 You’ve despised my sacred things and disrespected my rest days.[ref] 9 Slanderous men have come within you in order to pour out blood, and they eat at the hilltop shrines. They do wicked things right there in your centre. 10 Within you men uncover the nakedness of their father. Within you they have violated women during their ‘unclean’ menstrual period.[ref] 11 Men who sleep with their neighbours’ wives, and men who sleep with their own daughters-in-law, even men who abuse their own sisters or half-sisters. All these are done within you. 12 Those men are involved in paid assassinations within you, plus you’ve taken interest and gained too much profit, and you’ve damaged your neighbours through oppression, and you’ve forgotten me. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.[ref]

13 Listen, Yerushalem. I’ve reached out and taken away the dishonest gain that you’ve made, and the bloodshed that’s done in your centre. 14 Will your heart keep beating when I deal with you myself? Will your hands be be able to resist trembling? I, Yahweh, am declaring this, and I will do it. 15 I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the lands—that’s how I’ll purge your uncleanness from you, 16 and you’ll become unclean in the eyes of the nations. Then you’ll know that I am Yahweh.’ ”

17 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 18 “Humanity’s child, the Israeli people have become like dross to me. All of them are the leftovers of bronze and tin, and iron and lead among you—they’ll be like the dross from silver in your furnace. 19 Therefore the master Yahweh says this, ‘Because all of you have become like dross, then listen: I’m about to gather you into the centre of Yerushalem. 20 Just like men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin, and put it inside a furnace to melt it then blast the fire onto it in order to melt it, so too I’ll gather you in my anger and my rage, and I’ll put you in there and melt you. 21 Yes, I’ll gather you and blow my fire of fury onto you, and you’ll be melted in the middle of it. 22 As silver is melted in a furnace, you will be melted in it, and you will know that I, Yahweh, have poured my wrath out onto you!’ ”

23 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 24 “Humanity’s child, tell her, ‘You’re a land that hasn’t been cleansed. When you’re judged, there won’t be any rain. 25 There’s a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst, like a roaring lion tearing apart a victim. They consume life and take precious wealth—making many widows within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law, and they profane my sacred things. They don’t distinguish between sacred and profane things, and don’t teach the difference between what God approved and what he didn’t. They ignore my rest days so I end up getting mocked among them.[ref] 27 Her leaders within her are like wolves tearing apart their victims. They pour out blood and destroy life, just to make a dishonest profit, 28 but her prophets have painted them over with whitewash. They see false visions and predict falsehoods to them, saying ‘The master Yahweh says this’ when Yahweh hasn’t spoken. 29 The people of the land have oppressed others through extortion and robbery, they mistreat the poor and needy, and they oppress foreigners without any justice. 30 Then I searched for an advocate from them who would build up a wall of righteousness and who would admit the breaches made by the country and make an appeal on their behalf so I wouldn’t destroy it, but I didn’t find anyone. 31 So I’ll pour my indignation out onto them. I will finish them off with the fire of my indignation and their own deeds will seal their fate. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”

23 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Humanity’s child, once there was a woman who had two daughters 3 who as young women, prostituted themselves in Egypt. Their breasts were squeezed and their virgin nipples were fondled there. 4 The older one was Oholah (referring to Shomron or Samaria) and her younger sister was Oholibah (referring to Yerushalem). Then they became my wives and had sons and daughters.

The sin and punishment of Shomron/Samaria

5 But Oholah prostituted herself even when she was mine. She lusted for her lovers: for the Assyrian warriors, 6 princes and captains dressed in fine clothes. They were choice, young men riding their horses, 7 and she gave them sexual favours. They were all the best of Assyria’s men, and she defiled herself with everyone she lusted for, and with all their idols. 8 She hadn’t left her prostitute behaviour behind in Egypt, when they had slept with her when she in her youth—caressesing her virgin nipples and pouring their lust out on her.

9 That’s why I handed her over to her lovers—those Assyrians that she lusted for. 10 They uncovered her nakedness, took her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She had become notorious among women, so they executed judgment on her.

Yerushalem’s sin

11 Her sister Oholibah saw that, but she lusted more passionately and prostituted herself even more wildly than her sister. 12 She also lusted for the Assyrians, the governors and the dominating officials who rode horses and dressed impressively. All of them were strong, handsome men. 13 I saw that she had defiled herself just like her older sister.

14 Then she increased her prostitution even more. She saw men carved on walls, figures of Chaldeans painted in red, 15 wearing belts around their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads. All of them looked like chariot troop officers, similar to Babylonians (whose native land is Chaldea). 16 As soon as she saw those drawings, she lusted for those men, so she sent messengers out to them in Chaldea. 17 The Babylonians came to her and to her bed of lust, and they defiled her with their promiscuousness. Yes, she had defiled herself by what she’d done, so she turned herself away from them in disgust. 18 When she’d exposed her nakedness and openly been involved in prostitution, I turned away from her just like I’d turned away in disgust from her sister. 19 Then she increased her prostitution as she remembered when she was a young prostitute in Egypt 20 and she lusted for her lovers whose private parts were long like those of donkeys, and whose emissions of semen were huge like those of stallions. 21 That’s how you had committed those shameful acts of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young breasts.

Yahweh’s judgement of Yerushalem

22 Therefore, Oholibah, the master Yahweh says this, ‘Listen, I’ll turn your lovers against you. I’ll bring those that you rejected against you from every side: 23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—strong, handsome men, governors and commanders, all of them are officers and men of reputation, all of them riding on horses. 24 They’ll bring many people against you with weapons, as well as chariots and wagons. They will place units with large shields, small shields, and helmets all around against you. I’ll get them to punish you, and they’ll punish you with their actions. 25 I’ll direct my jealous anger at you, and they’ll deal with you in fury. They’ll cut off your noses and your ears, and even the survivors will fall by the sword. They’ll take away your sons and your daughters and the remainder will be burnt. 26 They’ll strip off your clothes and take away all your jewellery. 27 I will remove your shameful behaviour from you, and your acts of prostitution from Egypt. You’ll give up your longing looks towards them, and you won’t think about Egypt any more,’ 28 because the master Yahweh says this, Listen, I’ll hand you over to the ones you hate—back into the control of the ones that you had turned away from. 29 They’ll show their hate for you as they take all your possessions and abandon you naked and bare—yes, your nakedness will be uncovered just like when you engaged in promiscuity and prostitution. 30 These things will be done to you because of your acting like a prostitute—lusting after nations by which you became defiled with their idols.

31 You followed a similar path to that of your older sister, so I’ll give you the same punishment that I gave her.’ 32 The master Yahweh says this, ‘You’ll suffer the same extreme suffering that your sister suffered. You’ll become a laughingstock and a subject for derision—there’s a lot of pain coming your way. 33 You’ll be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, horror and devastation—the same suffering that your sister Shomron was made to drink. 34 You will drink that cup of suffering and drain it empty, then you’ll shatter it and tear your breasts with the pieces. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.’

35 So the master Yahweh says this, ‘Because you’ve forgotten me and thrown me away behind your back, so also you will bear the consequences of your shameful behaviour and your prostitution.’ ”

Revealing the disgusting deeds of the sisters

36 Yahweh said to me, “Humanity’s child, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Present them a list of their disgusting actions, 37 since they’ve committed adultery, and also have blood on their hands. They’ve committed adultery by worshipping their idols, and they have even caused their sons to pass through the fire to be considered as food for their idols. 38 Then on top of that, they defile my sanctuary, and at the same time, they disrespect my rest days. 39 When they’d slaughtered their children for their idols, then they came to my sanctuary on the same day to desecrate it. So listen, that’s what they’ve done right there in my residence.

40 You sent messengers to go and bring men from far away. Now look, they indeed came—those who you prepared for by bathing, painting your eyes, and adorning yourself with jewellery. 41 You sat on a lovely couch bed with a table arranged in front of you where you placed my incense and my olive oil. 42 Then the sound of a noisy crowd was around her as all kinds of men, even Sabeans were brought in from the wilderness, and they put bracelets on their hands and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43 Then I said about that experienced adulterer, ‘Now they’ll treat her as a prostitute, and she’ll fornicate with them.’ 44 They had sex with her like men do with a prostitute. In that way they had sex with the two immoral women, Oholah and Oholibah. 45 But righteous men will pass judgement and punish them as adulteresses, and they’ll punish them with the appropriate sentence for those who’ve shed blood, because they’re adulteresses plus they have blood on their hands.

46 So the master Yahweh says this: I’ll bring a company to attack Shomron and Yerushalem and give them up to be terrorized and plundered. 47 Then that company will stone them with stones and cut them down with their swords. They’ll kill their children and burn down their houses. 48 That’s how I’ll remove shameful behaviour from the land and discipline all the women so they’ll no longer act like prostitutes. 49 They’ll use your shameful behaviour against you. You’ll all bear the guilt of your sins with your idols, and in that way you’ll know that I am the master Yahweh.”

24 Then Yahweh gave me another message on the 15th of January of the ninth year since King Yoyakin (Jehoiachin) had been taken captive. 2 “Humanity’s child, write down the day and month for yourself, because on this exact day, the Babylonian king started his siege of Yerushalem.[ref] 3 So tell this parable to the rebellious Israeli people and explain that it comes from the master Yahweh:

Pour water into the cooking pot and place it on the fire.

4 Put in the leg and shoulder of a good sheep

then fill it up with the best bones.

5 Yes, take the best one from the flock

and pile up the fuel underneath it—

keeping it boiling to make sure that the bones in it cook well.

6 Now the master Yahweh says this: The city of blood won’t end well—it’s like a cooking pot that has rust in it and that rust won’t come out of it. Take piece after piece out of it, but don’t be choosy about which pieces 7 because the blood she shed is all the way through the middle of her. She displayed it on a flat rock to be easily seen, rather than pouring it out on the ground where it could be covered over with dust, 8 so it makes me angry enough to exact vengeance: I placed her blood on the smooth rock so it couldn’t be covered.

9 Therefore, the master Yahweh says this: The city of blood won’t end well. I will also enlarge the pile of firewood to put underneath it. 10 Stack up the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well and mix in the spices and let the bones be charred. 11 Then put the empty pot onto the hot coals in order to heat and scorch its bronze, so the impurities in it will be melted—its corrosion eaten away.’ 12 That was a lot of work, yet the corrosion wasn’t removed from her by the fire. 13 Your shameful behaviour is in your uncleanness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you wouldn’t accept it, then you won’t be purified anymore until I have satisfied my fury upon you. 14 I, Yahweh, have declared it, and I will do it. I won’t relent nor will I rest from it. You’ll be judged by your own ways and your own behaviour. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.”

15 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 16 “Listen, humanity’s child, I’m taking your cherished wife from you with a plague, but you must not mourn nor weep, or let any tears show. 17 You must groan silently. Don’t organise a funeral when she’s dead. Put on your turban and your sandals, but don’t veil your beard, or eat the bread of men who mourn who’ve lost their wives.”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and then my wife died in the evening. In the morning I did what I had been commanded to do. 19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things mean—the way that you’re behaving?”

20 “Yahweh gave me this message,” I answered them, 21 “to tell the Israeli people that the master Yahweh says this to them: Listen, I will desecrate my sanctuary—the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and also your sons and your daughters who you left behind there in Yerushalem will fall by the sword. 22 When that happens, you’ll all do exactly as I have done: you won’t veil your beards, or eat the bread of mourning men, 23 but instead your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You won’t mourn nor weep, because you’ll all melt away due to your disobedience, and everyone will groan for their relatives. 24 So Yehezkel will be a sign for you, because when that time comes, you’ll all do exactly the same as he’s doing. Then you’ll all know that I am the master Yahweh.’ ”

25 “But you, humanity’s child, on the day that I capture their temple, (which is their joy, their pride, and what they see and desire), and when I take away their sons and daughters, 26 a refugee will come to you here on that day to give you the news. 27 At that time, your mouth will be opened up to that refugee and you’ll speak again—you’ll no longer be silent. You’ll be a sign for them so that they will know that I am Yahweh.”

25 Then Yahweh gave me another message:[ref] 2 “Humanity’s child, keep looking towards the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Tell them to listen to this messages because this is what the master Yahweh says: Because you said, “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated, and against the land of Yisrael when it was desolate, and against the kingdom of Yehudah when they went into exile, 4 therefore, listen: I’m giving you to a people in the east as their possession. They’ll set up camp against you and set up their tents among you. They’ll eat your fruit vand drink your milk. 5 I’ll make the Ammonite capital city, Rabbah,[fn] into a camel pasture and the people of Ammon into a resting place for flocks. Then you’ll all know that I am Yahweh.

6 Because the master Yahweh says this: You clapped your hands and stamped your feet and celebrated with all the contempt within you against the Israeli nation, 7 therefore, listen Ammon. I’ll strike you down and give you as plunder to the other nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from among the countries. I’ll destroy you, and you’ll know that I am Yahweh.’

8 The master Yahweh says this, ‘Because Moab and Seir say that the kingdom of Yehudah is just like every other nation,[ref] 9 well listen, I’ll destroy the border cities protecting Moab, starting with the splendour of Beyt-Yeshimot, Baal-Meon, and Kiriataim. 10 I’ll hand them over to the people of the east who’ve already been against the Ammonites—I’ll give them up as a possession so that the Ammonites won’t be remembered among the nations. 11 Yes, I’ll perform judgments against Moab, then they’ll know that I am Yahweh.’

12 The master Yahweh also says, ‘Edom has taken vengeance against the kingdom of Yehudah and has done wrong by doing that.[ref] 13 Therefore, the master Yahweh says: I’ll strike Edom with my hand and destroy every person and animal there. I’ll make it a ruined, abandoned place, from Teman all the way to Dedan—they’ll fall by the sword. 14 I’ll use my people Israel to place my vengeance on Edom, and they’ll apply my anger and fury to Edom so they’ll know my vengeance. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.’

15 The master Yahweh says this, ‘The Philistines have chosen hateful vengeance and have put much effort into trying to destroy Yehudah,[ref] 16 So this is what the master Yahweh says: Listen, I’ll take action against the Philistines, and I’ll cut off the Kerethites and destroy the remnant along the coast. 17 I’ll take severe vengeance against them with furious acts to punish them—they’ll know that I am Yahweh, when I take my vengeance on them.’ ”

26 At the beginning of the month in the eleventh year since King Yoyakin (Jehoiachin) had been taken captive, Yahweh gave me a message:[ref] 2 “Humanity’s child, because Tsor (Tyre) has said against Yerushalem, ‘Nice one! Yerushalem’s gates are broken. It’s going my way—I can take advantage because it’s been destroyed.’

3 Therefore the master Yahweh says this: ‘Listen, I’m opposed to you, Tsor, and I’ll raise up many nations against you just like the sea raises its waves. 4 They’ll destroy Tsor’s walls and tear down its towers, then I’ll sweep its dust away and make it like a bare rock. 5 It’ll become a place in the middle of the sea for people to spread their nets out to dry them, since I’ve declared it and it’ll become plunder for the nations. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration. 6 Its young women who’re in the countryside will be slaughtered by the swords, and then they’ll know that I am Yahweh.’

7 Yes, this is what Yahweh says: Listen, I’m bringing the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar, king of kings from the north, against Tsor, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a large army. 8 He’ll kill your daughters in the countryside. He’ll set up a siege program and build a ramp against your walls and raise up shields against you. 9 He’ll use his battering rams to smash down your walls, and he’ll tear down your towers with his axes. 10 They’ll have so many horses that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake with the noise of their horsemen, wagons, and chariots. When he rides through your gates, he’ll pick his way over the stones like men do when entering a city whose walls have been broken down. 11 The hooves of his horses will trample all of your streets. He’ll slaughter your people with the sword and your mighty stone pillars will be knocked to the ground. 12 They’ll tear down your walls and destroy your nice homes—plundering your riches and looting your merchandise. Then they’ll throw your building stones, wood, and rubble into the ocean. 13 I’ll stop the sound of your songs and the music from your harps won’t be heard anymore. 14 I’ll make you back into a bare rock—you’ll become a place where nets are spread out to dry. You’ll never be built again, because I, master Yahweh have spoken. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.

15 The master Yahweh says this to Tsor, ‘Won’t the islands shake with the sound of your downfall, and with the groans of the wounded when the terrible slaughter is happening in you? 16 Then all the leaders of the coastal kingdoms will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and take off their embroidered clothes. Instead, they’ll clothe themselves with trembling, they’ll sit on the ground and tremble every moment, and they’ll be appalled because of you. 17 Then they’ll sing this song of mourning for you: and say to you,

How you, who were inhabited by sailors, have been destroyed.

The famous city that was so strong, it’s now gone from the sea.

The ones living in her once spread a terror about themselves upon everyone who lived nearby.

18 Now the coastal kingdoms tremble on the day of your downfall.

The islands in the sea are terrified by your passing.’

19 Yes, the master Yahweh says this: When I make you a desolate city, like the other cities that are not inhabited, when I raise up the deeps against you, and when the great waters cover you, 20 then I’ll take you down to the pit that people of ancient times went down to, because I’ll make you live in the lowest realms of the earth as in ruins of ancient times. Because of that, you won’t come back and be splendid in the land of the living. 21 I’ll send disaster onto you, and you won’t exist anymore. Then people will look for you, but you’ll never be found again. That is the master Yahweh’s declaration.”[ref]

27 Then Yahweh gave me another message: 2 “Now you, humanity’s child, begin a funeral song about Tsor (Tyre), 3 and tell Tsor (which is on a coastal island—merchants to peoples on many other islands) that the master Yahweh says this to you:

Tsor, you’ve said, ‘My beauty has reached perfection.’

4 Your borders are surrounded by the ocean.

Your builders have perfected your beauty.[fn]

5 They made all your planks with cypress from Mt. Hermon (Senir).

They got a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

6 They made your oars from the oak trees in Bashan.

They made your decks out of cypress wood from Cyprus, and overlaid them with ivory.

7 Your sails were made from colourful linen from Egypt (Heb. Mitsrayim) that served as your banner.

The colors of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah are used for the awning on your boat.

8 Those who were living in Tsidon and Arvad were your rowers.

The wise men of Tsor were within you—they were your pilots.

9 Experienced craftsmen from Geval sealed your seams.

All the ships and their sailors among you were carrying your merchandise for trade.

10 Warriors from Persia, Lydia, and Libya were in your army.

They hung their shields and helmets within you.

They displayed your splendour.

11 The men of Arvad and Helek in your army were on your walls surrounding you,

and the people from Gammad were in your towers.

They hung up their shields on your walls all around you.

They completed your beauty.

12 “Tarshish was a trading partner with you because of your abundant wealth of goods. They traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares. 13 Yavan, Tubal, and Meshech traded slaves as well as bronze items for your merchandise. 14 Beyt-Togarmah provided horses, stallions, and mules in exchange for your products. 15 The men of Dedan (Rhodes Island) were your traders on many coasts. You sent the merchandise and they sent back ivory tusks and ebony wood as payment. 16 Syria (Heb. Aram) was a dealer in your many products—they provided emeralds, purple dye, coloured cloth, fine fabric, pearls, and rubies for your merchandise. 17 Yehudah and Yisrael were trading with you. They provided wheat from Minnit, cakes, honey, oil, and balsam for your merchandise. 18 Damascus was a trader of all your products, of all your enormous wealth, and of the wine from Helbon and the wool from Zahar.[fn] 19 Dan and Yavan from Uzal provided you with merchandise of wrought iron, cinnamon, and fragrant calamus seeds which became merchandise for you. 20 Dedan was your dealer in woven saddle blankets. 21 Arabia and all the leaders of Kedar were traders with you—they provided you with lambs, rams and goats. 22 Traders from Sheba and Ramah came to sell you the best of every spice and all kinds of precious gems—they traded gold for your goods. 23 Haran, Kanneh, and Eden were traders with you, along with Sheba, Ashur, and Kilmad. 24 Those were your traders in fancy robes of violet cloths with woven colours, and in blankets of multicoloured, embroidered, and well-woven cloth in your marketplaces. 25 The ships of Tarshish were the transporters of your merchandise.

So you were filled up—heavily laden with cargo there in the heart of the seas.

26 Your rowers have brought you into vast seas.

The east wind has wrecked you in the middle of them.

27 Your wealth, merchandise, and trade goods,

your sailors, pilots, and ship-builders,

your traders of merchandise and all the men of war who are in you, and all your crew—

they will sink into the depths of the sea at the time of your destruction.

28 The surroundings will shake

when they hear your pilot’s cry of distress.

29 All the oarsmen will come down off their ships.

Mariners and all the pilots on the sea will stand on the land,

30 then they’ll raise their voices towards you and will wail bitterly.

They’ll throw dust up onto their heads. They’ll roll around to get covered in ashes.[fn]

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