1 Then came{H935}{(H8799)} certain{H582} of the elders{H2205} of Israel{H3478} unto me, and sat{H3427}{(H8799)} before{H6440} me.

2 And the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068} came unto me, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

3 Son{H1121} of man{H120}, these men{H582} have set up{H5927}{(H8689)} their idols{H1544} in their heart{H3820}, and put{H5414}{(H8804)} the stumblingblock{H4383} of their iniquity{H5771} before{H5227} their face{H6440}: should I be enquired{H1875}{(H8735)} of at all{H1875}{(H8736)} by them?

4 Therefore speak{H1696}{(H8761)} unto them, and say{H559}{(H8804)} unto them, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}; Every man{H376} of the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478} that setteth up{H5927}{(H8686)} his idols{H1544} in his heart{H3820}, and putteth{H7760}{(H8799)} the stumblingblock{H4383} of his iniquity{H5771} before{H5227} his face{H6440}, and cometh{H935}{(H8804)} to the prophet{H5030}; I the LORD{H3068} will answer{H6030}{(H8738)} him that cometh{H935}{(H8804)} according to the multitude{H7230} of his idols{H1544};

5 That I may take{H8610}{(H8800)} the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478} in their own heart{H3820}, because they are all estranged{H2114}{(H8738)} from me through their idols{H1544}.

6 Therefore say{H559}{(H8798)} unto the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}; Repent{H7725}{(H8798)}, and turn{H7725}{(H8685)} yourselves from your idols{H1544}; and turn away{H7725}{(H8685)} your faces{H6440} from all your abominations{H8441}.

7 For every one{H376} of the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, or of the stranger{H1616} that sojourneth{H1481}{(H8799)} in Israel{H3478}, which separateth{H5144}{(H8735)} himself from me{H310}, and setteth up{H5927}{(H8799)} his idols{H1544} in his heart{H3820}, and putteth{H7760}{(H8799)} the stumblingblock{H4383} of his iniquity{H5771} before{H5227} his face{H6440}, and cometh{H935}{(H8804)} to a prophet{H5030} to enquire{H1875}{(H8800)} of him concerning me; I the LORD{H3068} will answer{H6030}{(H8737)} him by myself:

8 And I will set{H5414}{(H8804)} my face{H6440} against that man{H376}, and will make{H8074}{(H8689)} him a sign{H226} and a proverb{H4912}, and I will cut him off{H3772}{(H8689)} from the midst{H8432} of my people{H5971}; and ye shall know{H3045}{(H8804)} that I am the LORD{H3068}.

9 And if the prophet{H5030} be deceived{H6601}{(H8792)} when he hath spoken{H1696}{(H8765)} a thing{H1697}, I the LORD{H3068} have deceived{H6601}{(H8765)} that prophet{H5030}, and I will stretch out{H5186}{(H8804)} my hand{H3027} upon him, and will destroy{H8045}{(H8689)} him from the midst{H8432} of my people{H5971} Israel{H3478}.

10 And they shall bear{H5375}{(H8804)} the punishment of their iniquity{H5771}: the punishment{H5771} of the prophet{H5030} shall be even as the punishment{H5771} of him that seeketh{H1875}{(H8802)} unto him;

11 That the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478} may go no more astray{H8582}{(H8799)} from me{H310}, neither be polluted{H2930}{(H8691)} any more with all their transgressions{H6588}; but that they may be my people{H5971}, and I may be their God{H430}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}.

12 The word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068} came again to me, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

13 Son{H1121} of man{H120}, when the land{H776} sinneth{H2398}{(H8799)} against me by trespassing{H4603}{(H8800)} grievously{H4604}, then will I stretch out{H5186}{(H8804)} mine hand{H3027} upon it, and will break{H7665}{(H8804)} the staff{H4294} of the bread{H3899} thereof, and will send{H7971}{(H8689)} famine{H7458} upon it, and will cut off{H3772}{(H8689)} man{H120} and beast{H929} from it:

14 Though these three{H7969} men{H582}, Noah{H5146}, Daniel{H1840}, and Job{H347}, were in it{H8432}, they should deliver{H5337}{(H8762)} but their own souls{H5315} by their righteousness{H6666}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}.

15 If{H3863} I cause noisome{H7451} beasts{H2416} to pass through{H5674}{(H8686)} the land{H776}, and they spoil{H7921}{(H8765)} it, so that it be desolate{H8077}, that no man may pass through{H5674}{(H8802)} because{H6440} of the beasts{H2416}:

16 Though these three{H7969} men{H582} were in it{H8432}, as I live{H2416}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}, they shall deliver{H5337}{(H8686)} neither sons{H1121} nor daughters{H1323}; they only shall be delivered{H5337}{(H8735)}, but the land{H776} shall be desolate{H8077}.

17 Or if I bring{H935}{(H8686)} a sword{H2719} upon that land{H776}, and say{H559}{(H8804)}, Sword{H2719}, go through{H5674}{(H8799)} the land{H776}; so that I cut off{H3772}{(H8689)} man{H120} and beast{H929} from it:

18 Though these three{H7969} men{H582} were in it{H8432}, as I live{H2416}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}, they shall deliver{H5337}{(H8686)} neither sons{H1121} nor daughters{H1323}, but they only shall be delivered{H5337}{(H8735)} themselves.

19 Or if I send{H7971}{(H8762)} a pestilence{H1698} into that land{H776}, and pour out{H8210}{(H8804)} my fury{H2534} upon it in blood{H1818}, to cut off{H3772}{(H8687)} from it man{H120} and beast{H929}:

20 Though Noah{H5146}, Daniel{H1840}, and Job{H347}, were in it{H8432}, as I live{H2416}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}, they shall deliver{H5337}{(H8686)} neither son{H1121} nor{H518} daughter{H1323}; they shall but deliver{H5337}{(H8686)} their own souls{H5315} by their righteousness{H6666}.

21 For thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}; How much more when I send{H7971}{(H8765)} my four{H702} sore{H7451} judgments{H8201} upon Jerusalem{H3389}, the sword{H2719}, and the famine{H7458}, and the noisome{H7451} beast{H2416}, and the pestilence{H1698}, to cut off{H3772}{(H8687)} from it man{H120} and beast{H929}?

22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left{H3498}{(H8738)} a remnant{H6413} that shall be brought forth{H3318}{(H8716)}, both sons{H1121} and daughters{H1323}: behold, they shall come forth{H3318}{(H8802)} unto you, and ye shall see{H7200}{(H8804)} their way{H1870} and their doings{H5949}: and ye shall be comforted{H5162}{(H8738)} concerning the evil{H7451} that I have brought{H935}{(H8689)} upon Jerusalem{H3389}, even concerning all that I have brought{H935}{(H8689)} upon it.

23 And they shall comfort{H5162}{(H8765)} you, when ye see{H7200}{(H8799)} their ways{H1870} and their doings{H5949}: and ye shall know{H3045}{(H8804)} that I have not done{H6213}{(H8804)} without cause{H2600} all that I have done{H6213}{(H8804)} in it, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}.