Ezek 20
1
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 inquire of YHWH, and sat before
me.
2
And the word of YHWH came to me, saying,
3
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord YHWH:
Is it to inquire of me that you are come? As I live, says the Lord YHWH, I will not
be inquired of by you.
4
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations
of their fathers;
5
and say to them, Thus says the Lord YHWH: In the day when I chose Israel, and swore
to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt,
when I swore to them, saying, I am YHWH your God;
6
in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land
that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory
of all lands.
7
And I said to them, Cast you away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile
not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am YHWH your God.
8
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken to 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 would pour out my anger upon them, to accomplish my anger against them
in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9
But I wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the
nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing
them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10
So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11
And I gave them my statutes, and showed them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he
shall live in them.
12
Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they
might know that I am YHWH that sanctifies them.
13
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in
my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live
in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my anger
upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14
But I wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the
nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
15
Moreover also I swore to 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;
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because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my statutes, and profaned
my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
17
Nevertheless mine eye spared them, and I destroyed them not, neither did I make a
full end of them in the wilderness.
18
And I said to their children in the wilderness, Walk you not in the statutes of your
fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.
19
I am YHWH your God: walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;
20
and hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may
know that I am YHWH your God.
21
But the children rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes, neither kept
mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned
my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my anger upon them, to accomplish my anger
against them in the wilderness.
22
Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not
be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.
23
Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations,
and disperse them through the countries;
24
because they had not executed mine ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had
profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers` idols.
25
Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances wherein they
should not live;
26
and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire]
all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might
know that I am YHWH.
27
Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the
Lord YHWH: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed
a trespass against me.
28
For when I had brought them into the land, which I swore to give to them, then they
saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices,
and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their
sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings.
29
Then I said to them, What means the high place to which you go? So its name
is called Bamah to this day.
30
Wherefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord YHWH: Do you pollute yourselves
after the manner of your fathers? and play you the harlot after their abominations?
31
and when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do
you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? and shall I be inquired of
by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord YHWH, I will not be inquired of
by you;
32
and that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that you say, We will
be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
33
As I live, says the Lord YHWH, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched
arm, and with anger poured out, will I be king over you:
34
and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries
wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with
anger poured out;
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and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into
judgment with you face to face.
36
Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of
Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord YHWH.
37
And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of
the covenant;
38
and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me;
I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter
into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am YHWH.
39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord YHWH: Go you, serve every one his
idols, and hereafter also, if you will not hearken to me; but my holy name shall you
no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.
40
For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord YHWH,
there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will
I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your
oblations, with all your holy things.
41
As a sweet savor will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather
you out of the countries wherein you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified
in you in the sight of the nations.
42
And you shall know that I am YHWH, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel,
into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
43
And there shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein you have polluted
yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that
you have committed.
44
And you shall know that I am YHWH, when I have dealt with you for my name`s sake,
not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O you house
of Israel, says the Lord YHWH.
45
And the word of YHWH came to me, saying,
46
Son of man, set your face toward the south, and drop [your word] toward the south,
and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;
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and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of YHWH: Thus says the Lord YHWH,
Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you,
and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the
south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
48
And all flesh shall see that I, YHWH, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.
49
Then said I, Ah Lord YHWH! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?