Ezekiel 20
Elders come to inquire of the LORD, but He refuses them and recounts Israel's long history of rebellion — in Egypt, in the wilderness, and in the land. Yet for the sake of His name, He will gather them from the nations, purge the rebels, and bring them to the mountain of Israel where they will serve Him.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
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| 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 enquire of the LORD, and sat before me. | In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD. They sat down in front of me. |
| 2 | Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, | The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 3 | 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. | "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: Have You come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not let You inquire of Me, declares the Lord GOD." |
| 4 | Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: | "Will You judge them? Will You judge them, Son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers." |
| 5 | 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; | "Say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel and raised My hand in oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, I made Myself known to them in Egypt. I raised My hand to them and said, 'I am the LORD Your God.'" |
| 6 | 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: | "On that day I swore to bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them — a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands." |
| 7 | 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. | "I said to them: Each of You — throw away the vile things You set Your eyes on. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD Your God." |
| 8 | 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. | "But they rebelled against Me and would not listen. They did not throw away the vile things they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out My wrath on them and accomplish My anger against them in Egypt." |
| 9 | 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, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt. | "But I acted for the sake of My name, that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the heathen among whom they lived. In their sight I made Myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt." |
| 10 | Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. | "So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the desert." |
| 11 | And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. | "I gave them My decrees and laws. The man who obeys them will live by them." |
| 12 | 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. | "I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between Me and them, so they would know that I am the LORD Who makes them holy." |
| 13 | 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. | "But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the desert. They did not follow My decrees but rejected My laws — though the man who obeys them will live by them — and they greatly desecrated My Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out My wrath on them in the desert and destroy them." |
| 14 | But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. | "But I acted for the sake of My name, that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the heathen who had seen Me bring them out." |
| 15 | 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; | "Also, I swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I had given them — the land flowing with milk and honey, most beautiful of all lands —" |
| 16 | Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. | "because they rejected My laws, did not follow My decrees, and desecrated My Sabbaths. Their hearts were devoted to their idols." |
| 17 | Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. | "Yet I looked on them with pity. I did not destroy them or put an end to them in the desert." |
| 18 | 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: | "I said to their children in the desert: Do not follow your fathers' decrees or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols." |
| 19 | I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; | "I am the LORD Your God. Follow My decrees and keep My laws and carry them out." |
| 20 | 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. | "Keep My Sabbaths holy. They will be a sign between Me and You so You may know that I am the LORD Your God." |
| 21 | 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. | "But the children rebelled against Me too. They did not follow My decrees or keep My laws — though the man who obeys them will live by them — and they desecrated My Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out My wrath on them in the desert and accomplish My anger against them." |
| 22 | 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. | "But I held back My hand. I acted for the sake of My name, that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the heathen who had seen Me bring them out." |
| 23 | 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; | "Also, in the desert I swore to scatter them among the heathen and disperse them through the lands." |
| 24 | 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. | "This was because they had not obeyed My laws but had rejected My decrees and desecrated My Sabbaths, and their eyes had followed after their fathers' idols." |
| 25 | Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; | "So I gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live." |
| 26 | 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. | "I let them become defiled through their gifts — sacrificing every firstborn — so that I could fill them with horror. Then they would know that I am the LORD." |
| 27 | 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. | "Therefore, Son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them: This is what the Lord GOD says: In this also Your fathers blasphemed Me, in that they committed a trespass against Me." |
| 28 | 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. | "When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices there. They brought their offerings that provoked Me. They placed their fragrant incense there and poured out their drink offerings." |
| 29 | Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. | "Then I said to them: What is this high place You go to? It is called Bamah to this day." |
| 30 | 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? | "Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: Will You defile yourselves the way Your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?" |
| 31 | 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. | "When You offer Your gifts — when You sacrifice Your children in the fire — you continue to defile yourselves with all Your idols to this day. And should I let You inquire of Me, house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not let You inquire of Me." |
| 32 | 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. | "What You have in mind will never happen — your thought that You will be like the heathen, like the peoples of the other lands, serving wood and stone." |
| 33 | 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: | "As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will rule over You with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath." |
| 34 | 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. | "I will bring You out from the nations and gather you from the countries where You have been scattered — with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath." |
| 35 | And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. | "I will bring You into the wilderness of the nations and there I will execute judgment on you face to face." |
| 36 | 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. | "As I judged Your ancestors in the wilderness of Egypt, so I will judge You, declares the Lord GOD." |
| 37 | And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: | "I will take note of You as You pass under My 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 country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. | "I will purge You of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land where they are living as strangers, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then You will know that I am the LORD." |
| 39 | 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. | "As for You, house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD 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 Your idols." |
| 40 | 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. | "For on My holy mountain — the high mountain of Israel — the whole house of Israel will serve Me in the land, declares the Lord GOD. There I will accept them. There I will require Your offerings and Your choice gifts, along with all Your holy things." |
| 41 | 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. | "I will accept You as a fragrant offering when I bring You out from the heathen and gather you from the lands where you have been scattered. I will be proved holy through You in the sight of the heathen." |
| 42 | 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. | "You will know that I am the LORD when I bring You into the land of Israel — the land I swore to give Your ancestors." |
| 43 | 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. | "There You will remember Your conduct and all the actions by which You have defiled yourselves. You will despise yourselves for all the evil You have done." |
| 44 | 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. | "You will know that I am the LORD when I deal with You for My name's sake and not according to Your evil ways and Your corrupt practices, house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD." |
| 45 | Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, | The word of the LORD came to me: |
| 46 | Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; | "Son of man, set Your face toward the south. Preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southern region." |
| 47 | And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein. | "Say to the southern forest: Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to set fire to You, and it will consume every green tree and every dry tree in You. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it." |
| 48 | And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. | "Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it. It will not be quenched." |
| 49 | Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? | Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! People are saying of me, 'Isn't he just telling parables?'" |