Study Desk

"‘People of Aram became traders for you, because you had so many good things to sell. They traded your goods for turquoise, purple cloth, cloth with designs sewed on, fine linen, coral, and rubies.

"‘People of Judah and Israel became merchants for you. They traded your goods for wheat from Minnith, and for honey, olive oil, and balm.

"‘People of Damascus became traders for you because you have many good things and great wealth. They traded your goods for wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar, and barrels of wine from Izal. They received wrought iron, cassia, and sugar cane in payment for your good things.

"‘People of Arabia and all the rulers of Kedar became traders for you. They received lambs, male sheep, and goats in payment for you.

"‘The merchants of Sheba and Raamah became merchants for you. They traded your goods for all the best spices, valuable gems, and gold.

They were paid with the best clothes, blue cloth, cloth with designs sewed on, carpets of many colors, and tightly wound ropes.

They cry loudly about you; they cry very much. They throw dust on their heads and roll in ashes to show they are sad.

They shave their heads for you, and they put on rough cloth to show they are upset. They cry and sob for you; they cry loudly.

And in their loud crying they sing a funeral song for you: "No one was ever destroyed like Tyre, surrounded by the sea."

but I will bring foreign people against you, the cruelest nation. They will pull out their swords and destroy all that your wisdom has built, and they will dishonor your greatness.

I will send diseases to Sidon, and blood will flow in her streets. Those who are wounded in Sidon will fall dead, attacked from all sides. Then they will know that I am the Lord .

They will live safely in the land and will build houses and plant vineyards. They will live in safety after I have punished all the nations around who hate them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.'"

When their hands grabbed you, you splintered and tore open their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and made all their backs twist.

Egypt will become an empty desert. Then they will know that I am the Lord . "‘Because you said, "The Nile River is mine, and I have made it,"

I will bring back the Egyptian captives and make them return to southern Egypt, to the land they came from. They will become a weak kingdom there.

"At that time I will make Israel grow strong again, and I will let you, Ezekiel, speak to them. Then they will know that I am the Lord ."

Then they will know that I am the Lord when I set fire to Egypt and when all those nations on her side are crushed.

Nebuchadnezzar and his army, the cruelest army of any nation, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will pull out their swords against Egypt and will fill the land with those they kill.

So I will punish Egypt, and they will know I am the Lord .'"

So the trees that grow by the water will not be proud to be tall; they will not put their tops among the clouds. None of the trees that are watered well will grow that tall, because they all are meant to die and go under the ground. They will be with people who have died and have gone down to the place of the dead.