Israel’s Rebellion in Egypt 1 WBS 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 the LORD, and sat before me. BSB BSB: In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.
2 WBS Then came the word of the LORD to me, saying, BSB BSB: Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
3 WBS Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. BSB BSB: “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.
4 WBS Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them ? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: BSB BSB: Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers
5 WBS And say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up my hand to them, saying, I am the LORD your God; BSB BSB: and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’
6 WBS In the day that I lifted up my hand to them, to bring them forth from 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: BSB BSB: On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.
7 WBS Then said I to 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. BSB BSB: And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
8 WBS 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 will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. BSB BSB: But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.
9 WBS But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the heathen, among whom they were , in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth from the land of Egypt. BSB BSB: But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness 10 WBS Wherefore I caused them to go forth from the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. BSB BSB: So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
11 WBS And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which if a man doeth, he shall even live in them. BSB BSB: And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.
12 WBS 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. BSB BSB: I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
13 WBS 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 doeth, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. BSB BSB: Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness.
14 WBS But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. BSB BSB: But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
15 WBS Yet also I lifted up my hand 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; BSB BSB: Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—
16 WBS Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but profaned my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. BSB BSB: because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.
17 WBS Nevertheless my eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. BSB BSB: Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
18 WBS But I said to their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: BSB BSB: In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
19 WBS I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; BSB BSB: I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.
20 WBS 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. BSB BSB: Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
21 WBS Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man doeth, he shall even live in them: they profaned my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. BSB BSB: But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.
22 WBS Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. BSB BSB: But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
23 WBS I lifted up my hand to them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; BSB BSB: However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.
24 WBS Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. BSB BSB: For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.
25 WBS Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they should not live; BSB BSB: I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.
26 WBS And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all the first-born, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. BSB BSB: And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.
Israel’s Rebellion in the Land 27 WBS Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. BSB BSB: Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me.
28 WBS For when I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my 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 savor, and poured out there their drink-offerings.BSB BSB: When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.
29 WBS Then I said to them, What is the high place to which ye go? and its name is called Bamah to this day. BSB BSB: So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.)
30 WBS Wherefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye lewd deeds after their abominations? BSB BSB: Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations?
31 WBS For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even to this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you. BSB BSB: When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!
32 WBS 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. BSB BSB: When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass.
Judgment and Restoration 33 WBS As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with an out-stretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:BSB BSB: As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you.
34 WBS And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries in which ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an out-stretched arm, and with fury poured out. BSB BSB: With a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered.
35 WBS And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. BSB BSB: And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36 WBS As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. BSB BSB: 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 Lord GOD.
37 WBS And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. BSB BSB: I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 WBS 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. BSB BSB: And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
39 WBS 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 to me: but profane ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. BSB BSB: And as for you, O 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 you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.
40 WBS For on my holy mountain, on the mountain of the hight 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 first fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. BSB BSB: For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
41 WBS I will accept you with your sweet savor, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries in which ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. BSB BSB: When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.
42 WBS And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers. BSB BSB: Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give your fathers.
43 WBS And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings in which ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. BSB BSB: There you will remember your ways and all the deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you have done.
44 WBS 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. BSB BSB: Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.”
A Prophecy against the South 45 WBS Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, BSB BSB: Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
46 WBS Son of man, set thy face towards the south, and drop thy word towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field; BSB BSB: “Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47 WBS 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. BSB BSB: Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.
48 WBS And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched. BSB BSB: Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”
49 WBS Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? BSB BSB: Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”