37 One day Yahweh gave me another vision, and he took me out by his spirit and put me down in the middle of a valley that was full of bones. 2 Then he led me all around them, and wow, there were so many bones in the valley, and they were totally dried out! 3 “Son of humanity,” he asked me, “can these bones become living people again?”
“My master Yahweh,” I replied, “only you would know that.”
4 Then he told me, “Prophesy over these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones. Listen to Yahweh’s message. 5 The master Yahweh says this to these bones: Listen, I’m about to put breath into you, and you’ll live. 6 I’ll connect sinews to you and put flesh onto you. I’ll cover you with skin and put breath into you so you’ll live. Then you’ll know that I am Yahweh.’ ”
7 So I prophesied as I was instructed, and wow, a sound like something rattling started as the bones moved together—bone against bone! 8 I looked and, wow, the bones now had sinews on them, and flesh grew up over that, and then skin covered them! But there was still no breath in them.
9 Then Yahweh told me, “Prophesy to the wind, son of humanity, prophesy and tell the air, ‘The master Yahweh commands this: Breath, come from the four compass points, and breathe into these who’ve been killed, so they’ll come to life.’ ”
10 So I prophesied just like I was commanded. Then breath came into them and they came to life. Then they stood on their feet—a very large army.
11 Then Yahweh informed me, “Son of humanity, these bones are the entire Israeli population. Listen, they’re saying, ‘Our bones have dried up and our hope is gone. We’ve been cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and tell them, ‘The master Yahweh says this: Listen, I’ll open your graves and lift you, my people, out from them, then I’ll bring you back to Yisrael (Israel). 13 ⇔Then, my people, when I open your graves and bring you out of them, you’ll know that I am Yahweh. 14 I’ll place my spirit within you so you’ll live, and I’ll cause you to rest in your land when you know that I am Yahweh. I declare it, and I will do it. That is Yahweh’s declaration.’ ”
