| New International Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me. | 1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel's elders came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down in front of me. |
| 2Then the word of the LORD came to me: | 2Then the word of the LORD came to me: |
| 3"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD.' | 3"Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As I live, I will not let you inquire of me. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.' |
| 4"Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors | 4"Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them. |
| 5and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the LORD your God." | 5Say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob's house and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying, "I am the LORD your God." |
| 6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. | 6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. |
| 7And I said to them, "Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." | 7I also said to them, "Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." |
| 8"'But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. | 8"'But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized, and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them, exhausting my anger against them within the land of Egypt. |
| 9But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. | 9But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt. |
| 10Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. | 10"'So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. |
| 11I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live. | 11Then I gave them my statutes and explained my ordinances to them--the person who does them will live by them. |
| 12Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy. | 12I also gave them my Sabbaths to serve as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I am the LORD who consecrates them. |
| 13"'Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws--by which the person who obeys them will live--and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness. | 13"'But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances--the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them. |
| 14But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. | 14But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. |
| 15Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them--a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands-- | 15However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them--the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey-- |
| 16because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols. | 16because they rejected my ordinances, profaned my Sabbaths, and did not follow my statutes. For their hearts went after their idols. |
| 17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness. | 17Yet I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness. |
| 18I said to their children in the wilderness, "Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols. | 18"'Then I said to their children in the wilderness, "Don't follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances. |
| 19I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. | 19I am the LORD your God. Follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them. |
| 20Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God." | 20Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you, so you may know that I am the LORD your God." |
| 21"'But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, "The person who obeys them will live by them," and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. | 21"'But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances--the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness. |
| 22But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. | 22But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out. |
| 23Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, | 23However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. |
| 24because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents' idols. | 24For they did not practice my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols. |
| 25So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live; | 25I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live by. |
| 26I defiled them through their gifts--the sacrifice of every firstborn--that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.' | 26When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the LORD.' |
| 27"Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In this also your ancestors blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me: | 27"Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed me by committing treachery against me: |
| 28When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings. | 28When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there. |
| 29Then I said to them: What is this high place you go to?'" (It is called Bamah to this day.) | 29So I asked them, "What is this high place you are going to?" And it is still called Bamah today.' |
| 30"Therefore say to the Israelites: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images? | 30"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did, and prostituting yourselves with their abhorrent things? |
| 31When you offer your gifts--the sacrifice of your children in the fire--you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me. | 31When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your children in the fire, you still continue to defile yourselves with all your idols today. So should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As I live--this is the declaration of the Lord GOD--I will not let you inquire of me! |
| 32"'You say, "We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone." But what you have in mind will never happen. | 32"'When you say, "Let us be like the nations, like the clans of other countries, serving wood and stone," what you have in mind will never happen. |
| 33As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. | 33As I live--the declaration of the Lord GOD--I will reign over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath. |
| 34I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered--with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. | 34I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath. |
| 35I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. | 35I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples and enter into judgment with you there face to face. |
| 36As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD. | 36Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. |
| 37I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. | 37I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. |
| 38I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. | 38I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. |
| 39"'As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols. | 39"'As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to me, and you will no longer defile my holy name with your gifts and idols. |
| 40For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices. | 40For on my holy mountain, Israel's high mountain--the declaration of the Lord GOD--there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts, all your holy offerings. |
| 41I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations. | 41When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate my holiness through you in the sight of the nations. |
| 42Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors. | 42When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your fathers, you will know that I am the LORD. |
| 43There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. | 43There you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you have defiled yourself, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done. |
| 44You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.'" | 44You will know that I am the LORD, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you for the sake of my name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts. This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.'" |
| 45The word of the LORD came to me: | 45The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 46"Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland. | 46"Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev, |
| 47Say to the southern forest: 'Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it. | 47and say to the forest there, 'Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it. |
| 48Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.'" | 48Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be extinguished.'" |
| 49Then I said, "Sovereign LORD, they are saying of me, 'Isn't he just telling parables?'" | 49Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, 'Isn't he just composing parables?'" |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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