Study Desk

God said, "Ezekiel, it's bad enough that the people of Judah are doing these disgusting things. But they have also spread violence and injustice everywhere in Israel and have made me very angry. They have disgraced and insulted me in the worst possible way.

The sound of the creatures' wings was as loud as the voice of God All-Powerful and could even be heard in the outer courtyard.

The Lord 's Spirit took control of me and told me to tell these leaders: I, the Lord God, know what you leaders are saying.

Before I finished speaking, Pelatiah dropped dead. I bowed down and cried out, "Please, Lord God, don't kill everyone left in Israel."

But here is what I want you to tell the Israelites in Babylonia: It's true that I, the Lord God, have forced you out of your own country and made you live among foreign nations. But for now, I will be with you wherever you are, so that you can worship me.

and all my laws and teachings. You will be my people, and I will be your God.

But those who worship idols will be punished and get what they deserve. I, the Lord God, have spoken.

So he sent me back to tell them: The Lord God has a message for the leader of Jerusalem and everyone living there!

I, the Lord God, say those lying prophets are doomed! They don't see visions—they make up their own messages!

I will turn against them and no longer let them belong to my people. They will not be allowed to call themselves Israelites or even to set foot in Israel. Then they will realize that I am the Lord God.

That wall is the city of Jerusalem. And I, the Lord God, am so angry that I will send strong winds, rainstorms, and hailstones to destroy it.

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

I will tear the scarves from their heads and rescue my people from their power once and for all. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.

Now, Ezekiel, tell everyone in Israel: I am the Lord God. Stop worshiping your disgusting idols and come back to me.

I will do this, so that you will come back to me and stop destroying yourselves with these disgusting sins. So turn back to me! Then I will be your God, and you will be my people. I, the Lord God, make this promise.

The Lord God said:

I am the Lord God, and I promise to punish Jerusalem severely. I will send war, starvation, wild animals, and deadly disease to slaughter its people and livestock.

You will be convinced that I, the Lord God, was right in doing what I did.

I, the Lord God, promise that just as the wood of a grapevine is burned as firewood,

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