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

2 Son{H1121} of man{H120}, speak{H1696}{(H8761)} to the children{H1121} of thy people{H5971}, and say{H559}{(H8804)} unto them, When I bring{H935}{(H8686)} the sword{H2719} upon a land{H776}, if the people{H5971} of the land{H776} take{H3947}{(H8804)} a{H259} man{H376} of their coasts{H7097}, and set{H5414}{(H8804)} him for their watchman{H6822}{(H8802)}:

3 If when he seeth{H7200}{(H8804)} the sword{H2719} come{H935}{(H8802)} upon the land{H776}, he blow{H8628}{(H8804)} the trumpet{H7782}, and warn{H2094}{(H8689)} the people{H5971};

4 Then whosoever{H8085}{(H8802)} heareth{H8085}{(H8804)} the sound{H6963} of the trumpet{H7782}, and taketh not warning{H2094}{(H8737)}; if the sword{H2719} come{H935}{(H8799)}, and take him away{H3947}{(H8799)}, his blood{H1818} shall be upon his own head{H7218}.

5 He heard{H8085}{(H8804)} the sound{H6963} of the trumpet{H7782}, and took not warning{H2094}{(H8737)}; his blood{H1818} shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning{H2094}{(H8737)} shall deliver{H4422}{(H8765)} his soul{H5315}.

6 But if the watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} see{H7200}{(H8799)} the sword{H2719} come{H935}{(H8802)}, and blow{H8628}{(H8804)} not the trumpet{H7782}, and the people{H5971} be not warned{H2094}{(H8737)}; if the sword{H2719} come{H935}{(H8799)}, and take{H3947}{(H8799)} any person{H5315} from among them, he is taken away{H3947}{(H8738)} in his iniquity{H5771}; but his blood{H1818} will I require{H1875}{(H8799)} at the watchman's{H6822}{(H8802)} hand{H3027}.

7 So thou, O son{H1121} of man{H120}, I have set{H5414}{(H8804)} thee a watchman{H6822}{(H8802)} unto the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}; therefore thou shalt hear{H8085}{(H8804)} the word{H1697} at my mouth{H6310}, and warn{H2094}{(H8689)} them from me.

8 When I say{H559}{(H8800)} unto the wicked{H7563}, O wicked{H7563} man, thou shalt surely{H4191}{(H8800)} die{H4191}{(H8799)}; if thou dost not speak{H1696}{(H8765)} to warn{H2094}{(H8687)} the wicked{H7563} from his way{H1870}, that wicked{H7563} man shall die{H4191}{(H8799)} in his iniquity{H5771}; but his blood{H1818} will I require{H1245}{(H8762)} at thine hand{H3027}.

9 Nevertheless, if thou warn{H2094}{(H8689)} the wicked{H7563} of his way{H1870} to turn{H7725}{(H8800)} from it; if he do not turn{H7725}{(H8804)} from his way{H1870}, he shall die{H4191}{(H8799)} in his iniquity{H5771}; but thou hast delivered{H5337}{(H8689)} thy soul{H5315}.

10 Therefore, O thou son{H1121} of man{H120}, speak{H559}{(H8798)} unto the house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}; Thus ye speak{H559}{(H8804)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, If our transgressions{H6588} and our sins{H2403} be upon us, and we pine away{H4743}{(H8737)} in them, how should we then live{H2421}{(H8799)}?

11 Say{H559}{(H8798)} unto them, As I live{H2416}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}, I have no pleasure{H2654}{(H8799)} in the death{H4194} of the wicked{H7563}; but that the wicked{H7563} turn{H7725}{(H8800)} from his way{H1870} and live{H2421}{(H8804)}: turn{H7725}{(H8798)} ye, turn{H7725}{(H8798)} ye from your evil{H7451} ways{H1870}; for why will ye die{H4191}{(H8799)}, O house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}?

12 Therefore, thou son{H1121} of man{H120}, say{H559}{(H8798)} unto the children{H1121} of thy people{H5971}, The righteousness{H6666} of the righteous{H6662} shall not deliver{H5337}{(H8686)} him in the day{H3117} of his transgression{H6588}: as for the wickedness{H7564} of the wicked{H7563}, he shall not fall{H3782}{(H8735)} thereby in the day{H3117} that he turneth{H7725}{(H8800)} from his wickedness{H7562}; neither shall the righteous{H6662} be able{H3201}{(H8799)} to live{H2421}{(H8800)} for his righteousness in the day{H3117} that he sinneth{H2398}{(H8800)}.

13 When I shall say{H559}{(H8800)} to the righteous{H6662}, that he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}; if he trust{H982}{(H8804)} to his own righteousness{H6666}, and commit{H6213}{(H8804)} iniquity{H5766}, all his righteousnesses{H6666} shall not be remembered{H2142}{(H8735)}; but for his iniquity{H5766} that he hath committed{H6213}{(H8804)}, he shall die{H4191}{(H8799)} for it.

14 Again, when I say{H559}{(H8800)} unto the wicked{H7563}, Thou shalt surely{H4191}{(H8800)} die{H4191}{(H8799)}; if he turn{H7725}{(H8804)} from his sin{H2403}, and do{H6213}{(H8804)} that which is lawful{H4941} and right{H6666};

15 If the wicked{H7563} restore{H7725}{(H8686)} the pledge{H2258}, give again{H7999}{(H8762)} that he had robbed{H1500}, walk{H1980}{(H8804)} in the statutes{H2708} of life{H2416}, without committing{H6213}{(H8800)} iniquity{H5766}; he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}, he shall not die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

16 None of his sins{H2403} that he hath committed{H2398}{(H8804)} shall be mentioned{H2142}{(H8735)} unto him: he hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} that which is lawful{H4941} and right{H6666}; he shall surely{H2421}{(H8800)} live{H2421}{(H8799)}.

17 Yet the children{H1121} of thy people{H5971} say{H559}{(H8804)}, The way{H1870} of the Lord{H136} is not equal{H8505}{(H8735)}: but as for them, their way{H1870} is not equal{H8505}{(H8735)}.

18 When the righteous{H6662} turneth{H7725}{(H8800)} from his righteousness{H6666}, and committeth{H6213}{(H8804)} iniquity{H5766}, he shall even die{H4191}{(H8804)} thereby.

19 But if the wicked{H7563} turn{H7725}{(H8800)} from his wickedness{H7564}, and do{H6213}{(H8804)} that which is lawful{H4941} and right{H6666}, he shall live{H2421}{(H8799)} thereby.

20 Yet ye say{H559}{(H8804)}, The way{H1870} of the Lord{H136} is not equal{H8505}{(H8735)}. O ye house{H1004} of Israel{H3478}, I will judge{H8199}{(H8799)} you every one{H376} after his ways{H1870}.

21 And it came to pass in the twelfth{H8147}{H6240} year{H8141} of our captivity{H1546}, in the tenth{H6224} month, in the fifth{H2568} day of the month{H2320}, that one that had escaped{H6412} out of Jerusalem{H3389} came{H935}{(H8804)} unto me, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, The city{H5892} is smitten{H5221}{(H8717)}.

22 Now the hand{H3027} of the LORD{H3068} was upon me in the evening{H6153}, afore{H6440} he that was escaped{H6412} came{H935}{(H8800)}; and had opened{H6605}{(H8799)} my mouth{H6310}, until he came{H935}{(H8800)} to me in the morning{H1242}; and my mouth{H6310} was opened{H6605}{(H8735)}, and I was no more dumb{H481}{(H8738)}.

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

24 Son{H1121} of man{H120}, they that inhabit{H3427}{(H8802)} those wastes{H2723} of the land{H127} of Israel{H3478} speak{H559}{(H8802)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Abraham{H85} was one{H259}, and he inherited{H3423}{(H8799)} the land{H776}: but we are many{H7227}; the land{H776} is given{H5414}{(H8738)} us for inheritance{H4181}.

25 Wherefore say{H559}{(H8798)} unto them, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}; Ye eat{H398}{(H8799)} with the blood{H1818}, and lift up{H5375}{(H8799)} your eyes{H5869} toward your idols{H1544}, and shed{H8210}{(H8799)} blood{H1818}: and shall ye possess{H3423}{(H8799)} the land{H776}?

26 Ye stand{H5975}{(H8804)} upon your sword{H2719}, ye work{H6213}{(H8804)} abomination{H8441}, and ye defile{H2930}{(H8765)} every one{H376} his neighbour's{H7453} wife{H802}: and shall ye possess{H3423}{(H8799)} the land{H776}?

27 Say{H559}{(H8799)} thou thus unto them, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the Lord{H136} GOD{H3069}; As I live{H2416}, surely they that are in the wastes{H2723} shall fall{H5307}{(H8799)} by the sword{H2719}, and him that is in the open{H6440} field{H7704} will I give{H5414}{(H8804)} to the beasts{H2416} to be devoured{H398}{(H8800)}, and they that be in the forts{H4679} and in the caves{H4631} shall die{H4191}{(H8799)} of the pestilence{H1698}.

28 For I will lay{H5414}{(H8804)} the land{H776} most{H4923} desolate{H8077}, and the pomp{H1347} of her strength{H5797} shall cease{H7673}{(H8738)}; and the mountains{H2022} of Israel{H3478} shall be desolate{H8074}{(H8804)}, that none shall pass through{H5674}{(H8802)}.

29 Then shall they know{H3045}{(H8804)} that I am the LORD{H3068}, when I have laid{H5414}{(H8800)} the land{H776} most{H4923} desolate{H8077} because of all their abominations{H8441} which they have committed{H6213}{(H8804)}.

30 Also, thou son{H1121} of man{H120}, the children{H1121} of thy people{H5971} still are talking{H1696}{(H8737)} against{H681} thee by the walls{H7023} and in the doors{H6607} of the houses{H1004}, and speak{H1696}{(H8765)} one{H2297} to another{H259}, every one{H376} to his brother{H251}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Come{H935}{(H8798)}, I pray you, and hear{H8085}{(H8798)} what is the word{H1697} that cometh forth{H3318}{(H8802)} from the LORD{H3068}.

31 And they come{H935}{(H8799)} unto thee as the people{H5971} cometh{H3996}, and they sit{H3427}{(H8799)} before{H6440} thee as my people{H5971}, and they hear{H8085}{(H8804)} thy words{H1697}, but they will not do{H6213}{(H8799)} them: for with their mouth{H6310} they shew{H6213}{(H8802)} much love{H5690}, but their heart{H3820} goeth{H1980}{(H8802)} after{H310} their covetousness{H1215}.

32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely{H5690} song{H7892} of one that hath a pleasant{H3303} voice{H6963}, and can play well{H2895}{(H8688)} on an instrument{H5059}{(H8763)}: for they hear{H8085}{(H8804)} thy words{H1697}, but they do{H6213}{(H8802)} them not.

33 And when this cometh to pass{H935}{(H8800)},(lo, it will come{H935}{(H8802)},) then shall they know{H3045}{(H8804)} that a prophet{H5030} hath been among{H8432} them.