1

In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some men from the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat before me.

And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

3

Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.'

Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

4

Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Let them know about the detestable practices of their ancestors.

Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5

Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel and lifted up my hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, I made myself known to them in the land of Egypt and lifted up my hand to say, "I am the LORD your God."'

And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;

6

On 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 glorious of all lands.

In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

7

And I said to them, 'Each of you, get rid of the detestable things your eyes are set on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'

Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

8

But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; none of them got rid of the detestable things their eyes were set on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and unleash my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9

But I acted for the sake of my name, to keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and where I had made myself known to them by bringing them out of Egypt.

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10

So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11

I gave them my statutes and made known to them my ordinances, by which a person who obeys them will live.

And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

12

Also, I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the LORD who makes them holy.

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

13

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my statutes and rejected my ordinances—though by them a person will live if they do them—and they greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness to destroy them.

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14

But I acted for the sake of my name, to keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15

Also, 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—

Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16

because they rejected my ordinances, did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths, for their hearts followed after their idols.

Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17

Yet my eye spared them from destruction, and I did not destroy them completely in the wilderness.

Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18

I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not follow the statutes of your fathers, do not observe their ordinances, and do not defile yourselves with their idols.

But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

19

'I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and obey them.

I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20

Sanctify my Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between me and you so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

21

But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes, and they did not keep my ordinances to obey them, though by them a person will live. They profaned my Sabbaths, so I said I would pour out my wrath on them and unleash my anger against them in the wilderness.

Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22

But I withdrew my hand and acted for the sake of my name, to keep it from being profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23

I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands,

I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24

because they did not carry out my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers' idols.

Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25

So I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.

Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26

I defiled them through their own gifts, by making them cause all their firstborn to pass through the fire, in order to devastate them and make them know that I am the LORD.

And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

27

Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Yet in this, your fathers blasphemed me by acting treacherously against me.'

Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28

When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them, and they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices there, provoked me with their offerings, placed their pleasing aromas, and poured out their drink offerings there.

For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29

I said to them: What is this high place to which you go? (It is called 'High Place' to this day.)

Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30

Therefore, say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their detestable things?'

Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

31

When you offer your gifts and make your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Shall I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.

For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

32

What you have in mind will never happen. You say, 'We will be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.'

And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33

As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand, an outstretched arm, and with outpoured wrath.

As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34

I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you have been scattered, with a mighty hand, an outstretched arm, and with outpoured wrath.

And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35

I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

37

I will cause you to pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38

I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against me. Even though I bring them out from the land where they are living, they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

39

As for you, house 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.

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40

For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD, there the entire house of Israel, all of them in the land, will worship me. There I will accept them, and there I will require their contributions, their choice gifts, and all their holy offerings.

For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41

With a pleasing aroma, I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you were scattered. And I will show my holiness through you in the sight of the nations.

I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42

Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.

And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43

There you will remember your ways and all your deeds by which you defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.

And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44

Then you will know that I am the LORD when I deal with you for the sake of my name, not according to your evil ways or your corrupt practices, house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.

And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.