Study Desk

It will never again be an object of trust for the house of Israel, drawing attention to their iniquity of turning to the Egyptians. Then they will know that I am the Lord God.’”

“Son of man, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon made his army labor strenuously against Tyre. Every head was made bald and every shoulder chafed, but he and his army received no compensation from Tyre for the labor he expended against it.

I have given him the land of Egypt as the pay he labored for, since they worked for me.” This is the declaration of the Lord God.

“In that day I will cause a horn to sprout for the house of Israel, and I will enable you to speak out among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

For a day is near;a day belonging to the Lord is near.It will be a day of clouds,a time of doom for the nations.

On that day, messengers will go out from me in ships to terrify confident Cush. Anguish will come over them on the day of Egypt’s doom. For indeed it is coming.

It was beautiful in its size,in the length of its limbs,for its roots extended to abundant water.

This happened so that no trees planted beside water would become great in height and set their tops among the clouds, and so that no other well-watered trees would reach them in height. For they have all been consigned to death, to the underworld, among the people who descend to the Pit.

“Son of man, lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him,

I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you,and their kings will shudder with fear because of youwhen I brandish my sword in front of them.On the day of your downfalleach of them will trembleevery moment for his life.

“‘For this is what the Lord God says:

Among the slainthey prepare a bed for Elamwith all her hordes.Her graves are all around her.All of them are uncircumcised,slain by the sword,although their terror was once spreadin the land of the living.They bear their disgracewith those who descend to the Pit.They are placed among the slain.

“For I will spread my terrorin the land of the living,so Pharaoh and all his hordeswill be laid to rest among the uncircumcised,with those slain by the sword.”

However, suppose the watchman sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet, so that the people aren’t warned, and the sword comes and takes away their lives. Then they have been taken away because of their iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

“As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me.

If I say to the wicked, ‘Wicked one, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to warn him about his way, that wicked person will die for his iniquity, yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.

But if you warn a wicked person to turn from his way and he doesn’t turn from it, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.

“Now as for you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘You have said this: “Our transgressions and our sins are heavy on us, and we are wasting away because of them! How then can we survive?”’

he returns collateral, makes restitution for what he has stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing injustice—he will certainly live; he will not die.

When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, he will die for it.