Study Desk

"Son of man, ask a riddle and present a parable to the house of Israel,

saying, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "A great eagle with great wings, long pinions, and a full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.

"He broke off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders.

"He also took from the seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil, a meadow beside abundant waters; he set it like a willow.

"Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced shoots and sent out branches.

"It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, so that it would produce branches and bear fruit, and become a splendid vine."'

'Then he took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land,

This is what the Lord GOD says: "I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

"On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, so that it may bring forth branches and bear fruit, and become a stately cedar. And birds of every kind will nest under it; they will nest in the shade of its branches.

"But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness,

if he does not eat at the mountain shrines or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period—

and if a man does not oppress anyone, but restores to the debtor his pledge, does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,

"However, he may father a violent son who sheds blood, and does any one of these things to a brother

oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but raises his eyes to the idols and commits abomination,

"Now behold, he has fathered a son who saw all his father's sins which he committed, but he has seen them and does not do likewise.

nor oppressed anyone, nor retained a pledge, nor committed robbery; instead, he gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing,

"The person who sins will die. A son will not suffer the punishment for the father's guilt, nor will a father suffer the punishment for the son's guilt; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.

"But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and does according to all the abominations that the wicked person does, will he live? All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die.

"When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness, commits injustice and dies because of it, for his injustice which he has committed he dies.

"But when a wicked person turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.