Then came{H935} certain{H582} of the elders{H2205} of Israel{H3478} unto me, and sat{H3427} before{H6440} me.

And the word{H1697} of Jehovah{H3068} came unto me, saying,{H559}

Son{H1121} of man,{H120} these men{H582} have taken{H5927} their idols{H1544} into their heart,{H3820} and put{H5414} the stumblingblock{H4383} of their iniquity{H5771} before{H5227} their face:{H6440} should I be inquired{H1875} of at all{H1875} by them?

Therefore speak{H1696} unto them, and say{H559} unto them, Thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} Every man{H376} of the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478} that taketh{H5927} his idols{H1544} into his heart,{H3820} and putteth{H7760} the stumblingblock{H4383} of his iniquity{H5771} before{H5227} his face,{H6440} and cometh{H935} to the prophet;{H5030} I Jehovah{H3068} will answer{H6030} him therein{H935} according to the multitude{H7230} of his idols;{H1544}

that I may take{H8610} the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478} in their own heart,{H3820} because they are all estranged{H2114} from me through their idols.{H1544}

Therefore say{H559} unto the house{H1004} of Israel,{H3478} Thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} Return{H7725} ye, and turn{H7725} yourselves from your idols;{H1544} and turn away{H7725} your faces{H6440} from all your abominations.{H8441}

For every one{H376} of the house{H1004} of Israel,{H3478} or of the strangers{H1616} that sojourn{H1481} in Israel,{H3478} that separateth{H5144} himself from me,{H310} and taketh{H5927} his idols{H1544} into his heart,{H3820} and putteth{H7760} the stumblingblock{H4383} of his iniquity{H5771} before{H5227} his face,{H6440} and cometh{H935} to the prophet{H5030} to inquire{H1875} for himself of me; I Jehovah{H3068} will answer{H6030} him by myself:

and I will set{H5414} my face{H6440} against that man,{H376} and will make{H8074} him an astonishment, for a sign{H226} and a proverb,{H4912} and I will cut him off{H3772} from the midst{H8432} of my people;{H5971} and ye shall know{H3045} that I am Jehovah.{H3068}

And if the prophet{H5030} be deceived{H6601} and speak{H1696} a word,{H1697} I, Jehovah,{H3068} have deceived{H6601} that prophet,{H5030} and I will stretch out{H5186} my hand{H3027} upon him, and will destroy{H8045} him from the midst{H8432} of my people{H5971} Israel.{H3478}

And they shall bear{H5375} their iniquity:{H5771} the iniquity{H5771} of the prophet{H5030} shall be even as the iniquity{H5771} of him that seeketh{H1875} [unto him];

that the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478} may go no more astray{H8582} from me,{H310} neither defile{H2930} themselves any more with all their transgressions;{H6588} but that they may be my people,{H5971} and I may be their God,{H430} saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} Jehovah.{H3069}

And the word{H1697} of Jehovah{H3068} came unto me, saying,{H559}

Son{H1121} of man,{H120} when a land{H776} sinneth{H2398} against me by committing{H4604} a trespass,{H4603} and I stretch out{H5186} my hand{H3027} upon it, and break{H7665} the staff{H4294} of the bread{H3899} thereof, and send{H7971} famine{H7458} upon it, and cut off{H3772} from it man{H120} and beast;{H929}

though these three{H7969} men,{H582} Noah,{H5146} Daniel,{H1840} and Job,{H347} were in it,{H8432} they should deliver{H5337} but their own souls{H5315} by their righteousness,{H6666} saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} Jehovah.{H3069}

If{H3863} I cause evil{H7451} beasts{H2416} to pass through{H5674} the land,{H776} and they ravage{H7921} it, and it be made desolate,{H8077} so that no man may pass through{H5674} because{H6440} of the beasts;{H2416}

though these three{H7969} men{H582} were in it,{H8432} as I live,{H2416} saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} Jehovah,{H3069} they should deliver{H5337} neither sons{H1121} nor daughters;{H1323} they only should be delivered,{H5337} but the land{H776} should be desolate.{H8077}

Or if I bring{H935} a sword{H2719} upon that land,{H776} and say,{H559} Sword,{H2719} go through{H5674} the land;{H776} so that I cut off{H3772} from it man{H120} and beast;{H929}

though these three{H7969} men{H582} were in it,{H8432} as I live,{H2416} saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} Jehovah,{H3069} they should deliver{H5337} neither sons{H1121} nor daughters,{H1323} but they only should be delivered{H5337} themselves.

Or if I send{H7971} a pestilence{H1698} into that land,{H776} and pour out{H8210} my wrath{H2534} upon it in blood,{H1818} to cut off{H3772} from it man{H120} and beast;{H929}

though Noah,{H5146} Daniel,{H1840} and Job,{H347} were in it,{H8432} as I live,{H2416} saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} Jehovah,{H3069} they should deliver{H5337} neither son{H1121} nor{H518} daughter;{H1323} they should but deliver{H5337} their own souls{H5315} by their righteousness.{H6666}

For thus saith{H559} the Lord{H136} Jehovah:{H3069} How much more when I send{H7971} my four{H702} sore{H7451} judgments{H8201} upon Jerusalem,{H3389} the sword,{H2719} and the famine,{H7458} and the evil{H7451} beasts,{H2416} and the pestilence,{H1698} to cut off{H3772} from it man{H120} and beast!{H929}

Yet, behold, therein shall be left{H3498} a remnant{H6413} that shall be carried forth,{H3318} both sons{H1121} and daughters:{H1323} behold, they shall come forth{H3318} unto you, and ye shall see{H7200} their way{H1870} and their doings;{H5949} and ye shall be comforted{H5162} concerning the evil{H7451} that I have brought{H935} upon Jerusalem,{H3389} even concerning all that I have brought{H935} upon it.

And they shall comfort{H5162} you, when ye see{H7200} their way{H1870} and their doings;{H5949} and ye shall know{H3045} that I have not done{H6213} without cause{H2600} all that I have done{H6213} in it, saith{H5002} the Lord{H136} Jehovah.{H3069}