Ezekiel the Watchman for Israel

1 וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

2 בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), דַּבֵּ֤ר (speak) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) עַמְּךָ֙ (of your people), וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ (and say) אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם (to them) אֶ֕רֶץ (A land), כִּֽי־ (when) אָבִ֥יא (I bring) עָלֶ֖יהָ (upon it) חָ֑רֶב (the sword) וְלָקְח֨וּ (and take) עַם־ (the people) הָאָ֜רֶץ (of the land) אִ֤ישׁ (a man) אֶחָד֙ (single) מִקְצֵיהֶ֔ם (from their borders), וְנָתְנ֥וּ (and set) אֹת֛וֹ (him) לָהֶ֖ם (to them) לְצֹפֶֽה׃ (as watchman),

3 וְרָאָ֥ה (and he sees) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶ֖רֶב (the sword) בָּאָ֣ה (coming) עַל־ (upon) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land), וְתָקַ֥ע (and he blows) בַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר (on the shofar), וְהִזְהִ֥יר (and warns) אֶת־ (-) הָעָֽם׃ (the people),

4 וְשָׁמַ֨ע (then hearing) הַשֹּׁמֵ֜עַ (if anyone hears) אֶת־ (-) ק֤וֹל (the voice) הַשּׁוֹפָר֙ (of the shofar), וְלֹ֣א (not) נִזְהָ֔ר (has heeded the warning); וַתָּ֥בוֹא (when comes), חֶ֖רֶב (the sword) וַתִּקָּחֵ֑הוּ (and takes him away), דָּמ֥וֹ (his blood) בְרֹאשׁ֖וֹ (on his head) יִֽהְיֶֽה׃ (will be).

5 אֵת֩ (-) ק֨וֹל (the voice) הַשּׁוֹפָ֤ר (of the shofar), שָׁמַע֙ (he heard) וְלֹ֣א (not) נִזְהָ֔ר (heed the warning); דָּמ֖וֹ (his blood) בּ֣וֹ (upon himself) יִֽהְיֶ֑ה (will be) וְה֥וּא (and he) נִזְהָ֖ר (who has heeded the warning) נַפְשׁ֥וֹ (his soul) מִלֵּֽט׃ (has saved).

6 וְ֠הַצֹּפֶה (And the watchman) כִּֽי־ (if) יִרְאֶ֨ה (he sees) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶ֜רֶב (the sword) בָּאָ֗ה (coming), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) תָקַ֤ע (does blow) בַּשּׁוֹפָר֙ (on the shofar), וְהָעָ֣ם (and the people) לֹֽא־ (not) נִזְהָ֔ר (are warned); וַתָּב֣וֹא (and comes), חֶ֔רֶב (the sword) וַתִּקַּ֥ח (and takes) מֵהֶ֖ם (from among them) נָ֑פֶשׁ (a soul) ה֚וּא (he) בַּעֲוֺנ֣וֹ (in his iniquity); נִלְקָ֔ח (will be taken away) וְדָמ֖וֹ (and his blood) מִיַּֽד־ (from the hand). הַצֹּפֶ֥ה (Of the watchman) אֶדְרֹֽשׁ׃ס (I will seek).

7 וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you), בֶן־ (O son) אָדָ֔ם (of man), צֹפֶ֥ה (a watchman) נְתַתִּ֖יךָ (I have made you) לְבֵ֣ית (for the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel); וְשָׁמַעְתָּ֤ (and you hear) מִפִּי֙ (from My mouth), דָּבָ֔ר (a word) וְהִזְהַרְתָּ֥ (and you will give a warning) אֹתָ֖ם (to them) מִמֶּֽנִּי׃ (from Me),

8 בְּאָמְרִ֣י (In My saying) לָרָשָׁ֗ע (to the wicked), רָשָׁע֙ (O wicked one) מ֣וֹת (dying); תָּמ֔וּת (you will die); וְלֹ֣א (and if not) דִבַּ֔רְתָּ (you do speak) לְהַזְהִ֥יר (to warn) רָשָׁ֖ע (the wicked) מִדַּרְכּ֑וֹ (from his way), ה֤וּא (then that) רָשָׁע֙ (wicked one) בַּעֲוֺנ֣וֹ (in his iniquity); יָמ֔וּת (will die) וְדָמ֖וֹ (and his blood) מִיָּדְךָ֥ (from your hand) אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ (I will seek).

9 וְ֠אַתָּה (And you) כִּֽי־ (if) הִזְהַ֨רְתָּ (if you warn) רָשָׁ֤ע (the wicked) מִדַּרְכּוֹ֙ (from his way) לָשׁ֣וּב (to turn) מִמֶּ֔נָּה (from it) וְלֹא־ (and not) שָׁ֖ב (he does turn) מִדַּרְכּ֑וֹ (from his way), ה֚וּא (then he) בַּעֲוֺנ֣וֹ (in his iniquity); יָמ֔וּת (will die) וְאַתָּ֖ה (and you) נַפְשְׁךָ֥ (your soul) הִצַּֽלְתָּ׃ס (will have delivered).

The Message of the Watchman

10 וְאַתָּ֣ה (And now you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), אֱמֹר֙ (say) אֶל־ (to) בֵּ֣ית (the house) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); כֵּ֤ן (thus) אֲמַרְתֶּם֙ (you⁺ have spoken), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), כִּֽי־ (Surely) פְשָׁעֵ֥ינוּ (our transgressions) וְחַטֹּאתֵ֖ינוּ (and our sins are) עָלֵ֑ינוּ (upon us) וּבָ֛ם (and in them) אֲנַ֥חְנוּ (we) נְמַקִּ֖ים (rot away) וְאֵ֥יךְ (how then) נִֽחְיֶֽה׃ (can we live)?

11 אֱמֹ֨ר (Say) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) חַי־ (As live), אָ֣נִי׀ (I) נְאֻ֣ם׀ (a declaration) אֲדֹנָ֣י (of the Lord) יְהוִ֗ה (YHWH), אִם־ (not) אֶחְפֹּץ֙ (I have delight) בְּמ֣וֹת (in the death) הָרָשָׁ֔ע (of the wicked); כִּ֣י (but) אִם־ (only) בְּשׁ֥וּב (in turning) רָשָׁ֛ע (the wicked) מִדַּרְכּ֖וֹ (from his way) וְחָיָ֑ה (that he should live). שׁ֣וּבוּ (Turn back), שׁ֜וּבוּ (turn back) מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֧ם (from your⁺ ways); הָרָעִ֛ים (evil) וְלָ֥מָּה (and For why) תָמ֖וּתוּ (should you⁺ die), בֵּ֥ית (O house) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פ (of Israel)?

12 וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), אֱמֹ֤ר (say) אֶל־ (to) בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) עַמְּךָ֙ (of your people), צִדְקַ֣ת (The righteousness) הַצַּדִּ֗יק (of the righteous man) לֹ֤א (not) תַצִּילֶ֙נּוּ֙ (will snatch him up) בְּי֣וֹם (in the day) פִּשְׁע֔וֹ (of his transgression), וְרִשְׁעַ֤ת (and the wickedness) הָֽרָשָׁע֙ (of the wicked), לֹֽא־ (not) יִכָּ֣שֶׁל (will he fall) בָּ֔הּ (because of it) בְּי֖וֹם (in the day) שׁוּב֣וֹ (of his turning) מֵֽרִשְׁע֑וֹ (from his wickedness); וְצַדִּ֗יק (and the righteous one) לֹ֥א (not) יוּכַ֛ל (will he be able) לִֽחְי֥וֹת (to live) בָּ֖הּ (by it) בְּי֥וֹם (in the day) חֲטֹאתֽוֹ׃ (of his sinning).

13 בְּאָמְרִ֤י (In My saying) לַצַּדִּיק֙ (to the righteous), חָיֹ֣ה (Living) יִֽחְיֶ֔ה (he will live); וְהֽוּא־ (and he) בָטַ֥ח (trusts) עַל־ (in) צִדְקָת֖וֹ (his righteousness), וְעָ֣שָׂה (and does) עָ֑וֶל (iniquity), כָּל־ (all) צִדְקָתוֹ (his righteousnesses) לֹ֣א (not) תִזָּכַ֔רְנָה (will be remembered); וּבְעַוְל֥וֹ (and because of the iniquity) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) עָשָׂ֖ה (did), בּ֥וֹ (by it) יָמֽוּת׃ (he will die).

14 וּבְאָמְרִ֥י (And in My saying) לָֽרָשָׁ֖ע (to the wicked), מ֣וֹת (Dying) תָּמ֑וּת (you will die) וְשָׁב֙ (and he turns) מֵֽחַטָּאת֔וֹ (from his sin), וְעָשָׂ֥ה (and does) מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (what is just) וּצְדָקָֽה׃ (and right);

15 חֲבֹ֨ל (if a pledge), יָשִׁ֤יב (restores) רָשָׁע֙ (a wicked one) גְּזֵלָ֣ה (for what he has stolen), יְשַׁלֵּ֔ם (makes restitution) בְּחֻקּ֤וֹת (in the statutes) הַֽחַיִּים֙ (of life), הָלַ֔ךְ (and he walks) לְבִלְתִּ֖י (without) עֲשׂ֣וֹת (doing) עָ֑וֶל (iniquity); חָי֥וֹ (living) יִֽחְיֶ֖ה (he will live), לֹ֥א (not) יָמֽוּת׃ (will he die).

16 כָּל־ (All) חַטָּאתוֹ (his sins) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) חָטָ֔א (he had sinned) לֹ֥א (not) תִזָּכַ֖רְנָה (will they be remembered) ל֑וֹ (for him) מִשְׁפָּ֧ט (what is just) וּצְדָקָ֛ה (and right); עָשָׂ֖ה (he has done) חָי֥וֹ (living) יִֽחְיֶֽה׃ (he will live).

17 וְאָמְרוּ֙ (And may say), בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) עַמְּךָ֔ (of your people) לֹ֥א (Not) יִתָּכֵ֖ן (is balanced); דֶּ֣רֶךְ (the way) אֲדֹנָ֑י (of the Lord) וְהֵ֖מָּה (and they), דַּרְכָּ֥ם (their way) לֹֽא־ (not) יִתָּכֵֽן׃ (is balanced).

18 בְּשׁוּב־ (In the turning) צַדִּ֥יק (of the righteous) מִצִּדְקָת֖וֹ (from his righteousness), וְעָ֣שָׂה (and he has done) עָ֑וֶל (iniquity), וּמֵ֖ת (and he will die) בָּהֶֽם׃ (because of it).

19 וּבְשׁ֤וּב (And in the turning) רָשָׁע֙ (of the wicked) מֵֽרִשְׁעָת֔וֹ (from his wickedness), וְעָשָׂ֥ה (and he has done) מִשְׁפָּ֖ט (what is just) וּצְדָקָ֑ה (and righteous), עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (because of it) ה֥וּא (he) יִֽחְיֶֽה׃ (will live).

20 וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם (And you⁺ say), לֹ֥א (Not) יִתָּכֵ֖ן (is balanced). דֶּ֣רֶךְ (The way) אֲדֹנָ֑י (of the Lord) אִ֧ישׁ (each man) כִּדְרָכָ֛יו (according to his ways). אֶשְׁפּ֥וֹט (Will I judge) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺) בֵּ֥ית (O house) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל פ (of Israel).

Word of Jerusalem’s Fall

21 וַיְהִ֞י (And it came to pass) בִּשְׁתֵּ֧י (in the two) עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה (and tenth) שָׁנָ֗ה (year) בָּעֲשִׂרִ֛י (in the tenth month) בַּחֲמִשָּׁ֥ה (on the fifth) לַחֹ֖דֶשׁ (of the month), לְגָלוּתֵ֑נוּ (of our captivity), בָּא־ (that came) אֵלַ֨י (to me) הַפָּלִ֧יט (an escapee) מִירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (from Jerusalem) לֵאמֹ֖ר (and he said), הֻכְּתָ֥ה (Has been struck) הָעִֽיר׃ (the city).

22 וְיַד־ (And the hand) יְהוָה֩ (of YHWH) הָיְתָ֨ה (had been) אֵלַ֜י (upon me) בָּעֶ֗רֶב (in the evening), לִפְנֵי֙ (before) בּ֣וֹא (the coming); הַפָּלִ֔יט (of the escapee) וַיִּפְתַּ֣ח (and He had opened) אֶת־ (-) פִּ֔י (my mouth), עַד־ (until) בּ֥וֹא (his coming) אֵלַ֖י (to me) בַּבֹּ֑קֶר (in the morning); וַיִּפָּ֣תַח (and was opened), פִּ֔י (my mouth) וְלֹ֥א (and not) נֶאֱלַ֖מְתִּי (I was mute) עֽוֹד׃פ (any longer).

23 וַיְהִ֥י (And came) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהֹוָ֖ה (of YHWH) אֵלַ֥י (to me) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

24 בֶּן־ (Son) אָדָ֗ם (of man), יֹ֠שְׁבֵי (those dwelling) הֶחֳרָב֨וֹת (the ruins) הָאֵ֜לֶּה (in these) עַל־ (in) אַדְמַ֤ת (the land) יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (of Israel) אֹמְרִ֣ים (are speaking), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), אֶחָד֙ (One), הָיָ֣ה (was) אַבְרָהָ֔ם (Abraham) וַיִּירַ֖שׁ (and he possessed) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֑רֶץ (the land); וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ (and we are) רַבִּ֔ים (many); לָ֛נוּ (to us) נִתְּנָ֥ה (has been given) הָאָ֖רֶץ (the land) לְמוֹרָשָֽׁה׃ס (as a possession).

25 לָכֵן֩ (Therefore) אֱמֹ֨ר (say) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר׀ (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהֹוִ֗ה (YHWH) עַל־ (That with) הַדָּ֧ם׀ (the blood), תֹּאכֵ֛לוּ (you⁺ eat) וְעֵינֵכֶ֛ם (and your⁺ eyes) תִּשְׂא֥וּ (you⁺ lift up) אֶל־ (toward) גִּלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ם (your⁺ idols), וְדָ֣ם (and blood). תִּשְׁפֹּ֑כוּ (You⁺ pour out) וְהָאָ֖רֶץ (and the land) תִּירָֽשׁוּ׃ (you⁺ would possess)?

26 עֲמַדְתֶּ֤ם (You⁺ rely) עַֽל־ (on) חַרְבְּכֶם֙ (your⁺ sword), עֲשִׂיתֶ֣ן (you⁺ commit) תּוֹעֵבָ֔ה (abominations), וְאִ֛ישׁ (and each man) אֶת־ (-) אֵ֥שֶׁת (the wife). רֵעֵ֖הוּ (Of his neighbor) טִמֵּאתֶ֑ם (defiles) וְהָאָ֖רֶץ (and the land)? תִּירָֽשׁוּ׃ס (You⁺ would possess).

27 כֹּֽה־ (Thus) תֹאמַ֨ר (you shall say) אֲלֵהֶ֜ם (to them) כֹּה־ (thus) אָמַ֨ר (says) אֲדֹנָ֣י (the Lord) יְהוִה֮ (YHWH); חַי־ (As live), אָנִי֒ (I) אִם־ (if) לֹ֞א (not) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (those who are) בֶּֽחֳרָבוֹת֙ (in the ruins) בַּחֶ֣רֶב (by the sword), יִפֹּ֔לוּ (will fall) וַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ (and the one who is) עַל־ (upon) פְּנֵ֣י (the face) הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה (of the field) לַחַיָּ֥ה (to the beasts) נְתַתִּ֖יו (I will give) לְאָכְל֑וֹ (to eat him), וַאֲשֶׁ֛ר (and those who are) בַּמְּצָד֥וֹת (in the strongholds) וּבַמְּעָר֖וֹת (and in the caves) בַּדֶּ֥בֶר (by the pestilence) יָמֽוּתוּ׃ (will die).

28 וְנָתַתִּ֤י (And I will give) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (the land) שְׁמָמָ֣ה (as a desolation) וּמְשַׁמָּ֔ה (and a horror), וְנִשְׁבַּ֖ת (and will cease); גְּא֣וֹן (the pride) עֻזָּ֑הּ (of its strength) וְשָֽׁמְמ֛וּ (and will be desolate), הָרֵ֥י (the mountains) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel) מֵאֵ֥ין (with no one) עוֹבֵֽר׃ (passing through).

29 וְיָדְע֖וּ (And they will know) כִּֽי־ (that) אֲנִ֣י (I am) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH), בְּתִתִּ֤י (in My giving) אֶת־ (-) הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ (the land) שְׁמָמָ֣ה (as a desolation) וּמְשַׁמָּ֔ה (and a horror) עַ֥ל (because of) כָּל־ (all) תּוֹעֲבֹתָ֖ם (their abominations) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (which) עָשֽׂוּ׃ס (they have done).

30 וְאַתָּ֣ה (And you) בֶן־ (son) אָדָ֔ם (of man), בְּנֵ֣י (the sons) עַמְּךָ֗ (of your people) הַנִּדְבָּרִ֤ים (are speaking) בְּךָ֙ (about you) אֵ֣צֶל (beside) הַקִּיר֔וֹת (the walls) וּבְפִתְחֵ֖י (and in the doors) הַבָּתִּ֑ים (of the houses), וְדִבֶּר־ (and they speak) חַ֣ד (one) אֶת־ (to) אַחַ֗ד (to another), אִ֤ישׁ (a man) אֶת־ (to) אָחִיו֙ (his brother), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), בֹּֽאוּ־ (Come), נָ֣א (now), וְשִׁמְע֔וּ (and hear) מָ֣ה (what is) הַדָּבָ֔ר (the word) הַיּוֹצֵ֖א (coming forth) מֵאֵ֥ת (from) יְהוָֽה׃ (YHWH).

31 וְיָב֣וֹאוּ (And they come) אֵ֠לֶיךָ (to you) כִּמְבוֹא־ (like the coming), עָ֞ם (of people) וְיֵשְׁב֤וּ (and they sit) לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ (before you) עַמִּ֔י (My people), וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ (and they hear) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ (your words), וְאוֹתָ֖ם (and them) לֹ֣א (not) יַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ (will they do) כִּֽי־ (for) עֲגָבִ֤ים (loves), בְּפִיהֶם֙ (with their mouth) הֵ֣מָּה (they) עֹשִׂ֔ים (do) אַחֲרֵ֥י (and after) בִצְעָ֖ם (dishonest gain) לִבָּ֥ם (their heart) הֹלֵֽךְ׃ (is pursuing).

32 וְהִנְּךָ֤ (And behold, you are) לָהֶם֙ (to them) כְּשִׁ֣יר (as a song) עֲגָבִ֔ים (of loves) יְפֵ֥ה (one beautiful) ק֖וֹל (of voice), וּמֵטִ֣ב (and playing well) נַגֵּ֑ן (on a stringed instrument); וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ (and for they hear) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ (your words), וְעֹשִׂ֥ים (they do) אֵינָ֖ם (and not) אוֹתָֽם׃ (them).

33 וּבְבֹאָ֑הּ (And in the coming of this), הִנֵּ֣ה (and behold), בָאָ֔ה (it is coming) וְיָ֣דְע֔וּ (and they will know) כִּ֥י (that) נָבִ֖יא (a prophet) הָיָ֥ה (has been) בְתוֹכָֽם׃ס (in their midst).