Study Desk

"As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "you certainly are not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore.

if he walks in My statutes and keeps My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—he is righteous and will certainly live," declares the Lord GOD.

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord GOD, "rather than that he would turn from his ways and live?

"Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each according to his conduct," declares the Lord GOD. "Repent and turn away from all your offenses, so that wrongdoing does not become a stumbling block to you.

"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live!"

"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Do you yourselves come to inquire of Me? As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I certainly will not be inquired of by you."'

and say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God,

"And I said to them, 'Throw away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.'

'I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and follow them.

'Sanctify My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

"Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Again, in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by being disloyal to Me.

"Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Will you defile yourselves in the way of your fathers and adulterously pursue their detestable things?

"And when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I certainly will not be inquired of by you.

"As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I assuredly shall be king over you.

"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.

"As for you, house of Israel," this is what the Lord GOD says: "Go, serve, everyone of you his idols; but later you will certainly listen to Me, and My holy name you will no longer defile with your gifts and your idols.

"For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel," declares the Lord GOD, "there the entire house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them and there I will demand your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things.

"Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you in behalf of My name, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD.'"

and say to the forest of the Negev, 'Hear the word of the LORD: this is what the Lord GOD says: "Behold, I am going to kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not go out and the entire surface from south to north will be scorched by it.

Then I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not just speaking in riddles?'"