Study Desk

"Now, mortal man, I am making you a lookout for the nation of Israel. You must pass on to them the warnings I give you.

Tell them that as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord , am the living God, I do not enjoy seeing sinners die. I would rather see them stop sinning and live. Israel, stop the evil you are doing. Why do you want to die?

But Israel, you say that what I do isn't right. I am going to judge you by what you do."

"Tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord , am saying: You eat meat with the blood still in it. You worship idols. You commit murder. What makes you think that the land belongs to you?

"Tell them that I, the Sovereign Lord , warn them that as surely as I am the living God, the people who live in the ruined cities will be killed. Those living in the country will be eaten by wild animals. Those hiding in the mountains and in caves will die of disease.

When I punish the people for their sins and make the country a wasteland, then they will know that I am the Lord ."

"Now, you shepherds, listen to what I, the Lord , am telling you.

As surely as I am the living God, you had better listen to me. My sheep have been attacked by wild animals that killed and ate them because there was no shepherd. My shepherds did not try to find the sheep. They were taking care of themselves and not the sheep.

I, the Sovereign Lord , declare that I am your enemy. I will take my sheep away from you and never again let you be their shepherds; never again will I let you take care only of yourselves. I will rescue my sheep from you and not let you eat them.

"I will look for those that are lost, bring back those that wander off, bandage those that are hurt, and heal those that are sick; but those that are fat and strong I will destroy, because I am a shepherd who does what is right.

The trees will bear fruit, the fields will produce crops, and everyone will live in safety on his own land. When I break my people's chains and set them free from those who made them slaves, then they will know that I am the Lord .

"You, my sheep, the flock that I feed, are my people, and I am your God," says the Sovereign Lord .

Tell the people what I, the Sovereign Lord , am saying: "I am your enemy, mountains of Edom! I will make you a desolate wasteland.

I will leave your cities in ruins And your land desolate; Then you will know that I am the Lord .

So then—as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord , am the living God—death is your fate, and you cannot escape it. You are guilty of murder, and murder will follow you.

I will make you desolate forever, and no one will live in your cities again. Then you will know that I am the Lord .

So then, as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord , am the living God, I will pay you back for your anger, your jealousy, and your hate toward my people. They will know that I am punishing you for what you did to them.

just as you rejoiced at the devastation of Israel, my own possession. The mountains of Seir, yes, all the land of Edom, will be desolate. Then everyone will know that I am the Lord ."

"Prophesy, then, and announce what I, the Sovereign Lord , am saying. When the neighboring nations captured and plundered the mountains of Israel, everyone made fun of Israel.

"So prophesy to the land of Israel; tell the mountains, hills, brooks, and valleys what I, the Sovereign Lord , am saying in jealous anger because of the way the nations have insulted and humiliated them.