Study Desk

The Lord said to the people of Israel: As surely as I am the living Lord God, I will rule over you with my powerful arm. You will feel my fierce anger

so you deserve to be punished. But I will treat you in a way that will bring honor to my name, and you will know that I am the Lord God.

that I, the Lord God, will start a fire that will burn up every tree, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put out the blaze of that fire as it spreads to the north and burns everything in its path.

But I complained, " Lord God, I don't want to do that! People already say I confuse them with my messages."

When they ask why you are groaning, tell them you have terrifying news that will make them faint and tremble in fear and lose all courage. These things will happen soon. I, the Lord God, make this promise!

Ezekiel, tell the people of Jerusalem and their ruler that I, the Lord God, am saying: Everything you do is wicked and shows how sinful you are. You are guilty and will be taken away as prisoners.

I, the Lord God, command you to take off your royal turban and your crown, because everything will be different. Those who had no power will be put in charge, and those who now rule will become nobodies.

The Lord God said: Ezekiel, son of man, the Ammonites have insulted Israel, so condemn them and tell them I am saying: A sword is drawn, ready to slaughter; it is polished and prepared to kill as fast as lightning.

Others of you accept money to murder someone. Your own people charge high interest when making a loan to other Israelites, and they get rich by cheating. Worst of all, you have forgotten me, the Lord God.

You will be humiliated in the eyes of other nations. Then you will know that I, the Lord God, have done these things.

The Lord God said: Oholibah, though you no longer want to be around your lovers, they will surround you like enemies, when I turn them against you.

I, the Lord God, am ready to hand you over to those hateful enemies that you find so disgusting.

I, the Lord God, gave your sister a large, deep cup filled with my anger. And when you drink from that cup, you will be mocked and insulted.

But you must drink every drop! Then smash the cup to pieces and use them to cut your breasts in sorrow. I, the Lord God, have spoken.

So I, the Lord God, now say to these sisters: I will call together an angry mob that will abuse and rob you.

You will be punished for becoming prostitutes and for worshiping idols, and you will know that I am the Lord God.

I, the Lord God, will punish that city of violence! I will make a huge pile of firewood,

That time will certainly come! And when it does, I won't show the people of Jerusalem any pity or change my mind. They must be punished for the evil they have done. I, the Lord God, have spoken.

I answered: The Lord God says

I am a warning sign—everything I have done, you will also do. And then you will know the Lord God has made these things happen.