Study Desk

When I tell wicked people they will die because of their sins, you must warn them to turn from their sinful ways so they won't be punished. If you refuse, you are responsible for their death.

However, if you do warn them, and they keep on sinning, they will die because of their sins, and you will be innocent.

Now suppose faithful people start sinning, and I decide to put stumbling blocks in their paths to make them fall. They deserve to die because of their sins. So if you refuse to warn them, I will forget about the times they were faithful, and I will hold you responsible for their death.

Everyone will be shocked at what is happening, and, because of their sins, they will die a slow death."

You will feel my fierce anger until I have finished taking revenge. Then you will know that I, the Lord , was furious because of your disobedience.

The Lord God then said: Ezekiel, beat your fists together and stomp your feet in despair! Moan in sorrow, because the people of Israel have done disgusting things and now will be killed by enemy troops, or they will die from starvation and disease.

and people who sell property will never get it back, because all of you must be punished for your sins. And I won't change my mind!

A signal has been blown on the trumpet, and weapons are prepared for battle. But no one goes to war, because in my anger I will strike down everyone in Israel.

Anyone who survives will escape into the hills, like doves who leave the valleys to find safety. All of you will moan because of your sins.

Your silver and gold will be thrown into the streets like garbage, because those are the two things that led you into sin, and now they cannot save you from my anger. They are not even worth enough to buy food.

God said, "Ezekiel, do you see what horrible things Israel's leaders are doing in secret? They have filled their rooms with idols. And they say I can't see them, because they think I have already deserted Israel.

Tell the people of Israel that I, the Lord , say that someday everyone in Jerusalem will shake when they eat and tremble when they drink. Their country will be destroyed and left empty, because they have been cruel and violent.

Now tell the people that I, the Lord , am going to prove that saying wrong. No one will ever be able to use it again in Israel, because very soon everything I have said will come true!

because they promised my people peace, when there was no peace. I, the Lord God, have spoken.

because the wood of a grapevine can't be used to make anything, not even a small peg to hang things on.

I will make their country an empty wasteland, because they have not been loyal to me. I, the Lord God, have spoken.

So their punishment will seem light compared to yours. You will be disgraced and put to shame because of your disgusting sins.

The Lord said: Jerusalem, you deserve to be punished, because you broke your promises and ignored our agreement.

As surely as I am the living Lord God, I swear that the king of Judah will die in Babylon, because he broke the treaty with the king of Babylonia, who appointed him king.

You may wonder why a son isn't punished for the sins of his father. It is because the son does what is right and obeys my laws.