Study Desk

"Human, say to the ruler of Tyre: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Because you are proud, you say, "I am a god. I sit on the throne of a god in the middle of the seas." You think you are as wise as a god, but you are a human, not a god.

"‘So this is what the Lord God says: You think you are wise like a god,

While they are killing you, you will not be able to say anymore, "I am a god." You will be only a human, not a god, when your murderers kill you.

You will die like an unclean person; foreigners will kill you. I have spoken, says the Lord God .'"

"Human, sing a funeral song for the king of Tyre. Say to him: ‘This is what the Lord God says: You were an example of what was perfect, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

You had a wonderful life, as if you were in Eden, the garden of God. Every valuable gem was on you: ruby, topaz, and emerald, yellow quartz, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and chrysolite. Your jewelry was made of gold. It was prepared on the day you were created.

I appointed a living creature to guard you. I put you on the holy mountain of God. You walked among the gems that shined like fire.

Because you traded with countries far away, you learned to be cruel, and you sinned. So I threw you down in disgrace from the mountain of God. And the living creature who guarded you forced you out from among the gems that shined like fire.

Say: ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am against you, Sidon, and I will show my glory among you. People will know that I am the Lord when I have punished Sidon; I will show my holiness by defeating her.

"‘No more will neighboring nations be like thorny branches or sharp stickers to hurt Israel. Then they will know that I am the Lord God .

"‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather the people of Israel from the nations where they are scattered. I will show my holiness when the nations see what I do for my people. Then they will live in their own land—the land I gave to my servant Jacob.

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.'"

Say: ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am against you, king of Egypt. You are like a great crocodile that lies in the Nile River. You say, "The Nile is mine; I made it for myself."

"‘So this is what the Lord God says: I will cause an enemy to attack you and kill your people and animals.

"‘This is what the Lord God says: After forty years I will gather Egypt from the nations where they have been scattered.

The Israelites will never again depend on Egypt. Instead, Egypt's punishment will remind the Israelites of their sin in turning to Egypt for help. Then they will know that I am the Lord God .'"

So this is what the Lord God says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will take away Egypt's people and its wealth and its treasures as pay for his army.

I am giving Nebuchadnezzar the land of Egypt as a reward for working hard for me, says the Lord God .

"Human, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Cry and say, "The terrible day is coming."

"‘This is what the Lord says: Those who fight on Egypt's side will fall. The power she is proud of will be lost. The people in Egypt will fall dead in war from Migdol in the north to Aswan in the south, says the Lord God .