Open English Translation EZE Chapter 20

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.”