Study Desk

"‘Everyone who quotes proverbs^(cc) will quote this proverb about you: "Like mother, like daughter."

You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised^(cd) her husband^(ce) and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.^(cf)

Your older sister^(cg) was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom.^(ch)

You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they.^(ci)

As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign^(cj) Lord , your sister Sodom^(ck) and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.^(cl)

"‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:^(cm) She and her daughters were arrogant,^(cn) overfed and unconcerned;^(co) they did not help the poor and needy.^(cp)

They were haughty^(cq) and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.^(cr)

Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done.^(cs)

Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous^(ct) than you. So then, be ashamed and bear^(cu) your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

"‘However, I will restore^(cv) the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them,^(cw)

so that you may bear your disgrace^(cx) and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort.

And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before.^(cy)

You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride,

before your wickedness was uncovered. Even so, you are now scorned^(cz) by the daughters of Edom^[e](da) and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you.

You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the Lord .^(db)

"‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant.^(dc)

Yet I will remember the covenant^(dd) I made with you in the days of your youth,^(de) and I will establish an everlasting covenant^(df) with you.

Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed^(dg) when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters,^(dh) but not on the basis of my covenant with you.

So I will establish my covenant^(di) with you, and you will know that I am the Lord .^(dj)

Then, when I make atonement^(dk) for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed^(dl) and never again open your mouth^(dm) because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord .^(dn)'"

Two Eagles and a Vine

The word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.^(a)

Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: A great eagle^(b) with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon.^(c) Taking hold of the top of a cedar,

he broke off^(d) its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.

"‘He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water,^(e)

and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches^(f) turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.^(g)

"‘But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water.^(h)

It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches,⁽ⁱ⁾ bear fruit and become a splendid vine.'

"Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.^(j)

It has been planted,^(k) but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?^(l)'"

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?^(m)' Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,⁽ⁿ⁾ bringing them back with him to Babylon.^(o)

Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty^(p) with him, putting him under oath.^(q) He also carried away the leading men^(r) of the land,

so that the kingdom would be brought low,^(s) unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty.

But the king rebelled^(t) against him by sending his envoys to Egypt^(u) to get horses and a large army.^(v) Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?^(w)

"‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord , he shall die^(x) in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.^(y)

Pharaoh^(z) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps^(aa) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.^(ab)

He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge^(ac) and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

"‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.^(ad)

I will spread my net^(ae) for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment^(af) on him there because he was unfaithful^(ag) to me.

All his choice troops will fall by the sword,^(ah) and the survivors^(ai) will be scattered to the winds.^(aj) Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken.^(ak)

"‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot^(al) from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.^(am)

On the mountain heights^(an) of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit^(ao) and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.^(ap)

All the trees of the forest^(aq) will know that I the Lord bring down^(ar) the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.^(as) "‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.^(at)'"

The One Who Sins Will Die

The word of the Lord came to me:

"What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: "‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?^(a)

"As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord , you will no longer quote this proverb^(b) in Israel.

For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins^(c) is the one who will die.^(d)

"Suppose there is a righteous man who does what is just and right.

He does not eat at the mountain^(e) shrines or look to the idols^(f) of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife or have sexual relations with a woman during her period.^(g)

He does not oppress^(h) anyone, but returns what he took in pledge⁽ⁱ⁾ for a loan. He does not commit robbery^(j) but gives his food to the hungry^(k) and provides clothing for the naked.^(l)

He does not lend to them at interest or take a profit from them.^(m) He withholds his hand from doing wrong and judges fairly⁽ⁿ⁾ between two parties.

He follows my decrees^(o) and faithfully keeps my laws. That man is righteous;^(p) he will surely live,^(q) declares the Sovereign Lord .

"Suppose he has a violent son, who sheds blood^(r) or does any of these other things^[a]

(though the father has done none of them): "He eats at the mountain shrines.^(s) He defiles his neighbor's wife.

He oppresses the poor^(t) and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge.^(u) He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.^(v)

He lends at interest and takes a profit.^(w) Will such a man live? He will not! Because he has done all these detestable things, he is to be put to death; his blood will be on his own head.^(x)

"But suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father commits, and though he sees them, he does not do such things:^(y)

"He does not eat at the mountain shrines^(z) or look to the idols^(aa) of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor's wife.

He does not oppress anyone or require a pledge for a loan. He does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry^(ab) and provides clothing for the naked.^(ac)

He withholds his hand from mistreating the poor and takes no interest or profit from them. He keeps my laws^(ad) and follows my decrees. He will not die for his father's sin; he will surely live.

But his father will die for his own sin, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was wrong among his people.

"Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?' Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.^(ae)

The one who sins is the one who will die.^(af) The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.^(ag)

"But if^(ah) a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees^(ai) and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die.^(aj)

None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live.^(ak)

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord . Rather, am I not pleased^(al) when they turn from their ways and live?^(am)

"But if a righteous person turns^(an) from their righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked person does, will they live? None of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness^(ao) they are guilty of and because of the sins they have committed, they will die.^(ap)

"Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.'^(aq) Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust?^(ar) Is it not your ways that are unjust?

If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die.

But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life.^(as)

Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die.^(at)

Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.' Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

"Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord . Repent!^(au) Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.^(av)

Rid^(aw) yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart^(ax) and a new spirit. Why^(ay) will you die, people of Israel?^(az)

For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord . Repent^(ba) and live!^(bb)

A Lament Over Israel's Princes

"Take up a lament^(a) concerning the princes^(b) of Israel

and say: "‘What a lioness^(c) was your mother among the lions! She lay down among them and reared her cubs.^(d)

She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.

The nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him with hooks^(e) to the land of Egypt.^(f)

"‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled, her expectation gone, she took another of her cubs^(g) and made him a strong lion.^(h)

He prowled among the lions, for he was now a strong lion. He learned to tear the prey and he became a man-eater.⁽ⁱ⁾

He broke down^[a] their strongholds and devastated^(j) their towns. The land and all who were in it were terrified by his roaring.

Then the nations^(k) came against him, those from regions round about. They spread their net^(l) for him, and he was trapped in their pit.^(m)

With hooks⁽ⁿ⁾ they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon.^(o) They put him in prison, so his roar^(p) was heard no longer on the mountains of Israel.^(q)

"‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard^[b](r) planted by the water;^(s) it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant water.^(t)

Its branches were strong, fit for a ruler's scepter. It towered high above the thick foliage, conspicuous for its height and for its many branches.^(u)

But it was uprooted^(v) in fury and thrown to the ground. The east wind^(w) made it shrivel, it was stripped of its fruit; its strong branches withered and fire consumed them.^(x)

Now it is planted in the desert,^(y) in a dry and thirsty land.^(z)

Fire spread from one of its main^[c] branches and consumed^(aa) its fruit. No strong branch is left on it fit for a ruler's scepter.'^(ab) "This is a lament^(ac) and is to be used as a lament."

Rebellious Israel Purged

In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire^(a) of the Lord , and they sat down in front of me.^(b)

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, speak to the elders^(c) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire^(d) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord .^(e)'

"Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors^(f)

and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose^(g) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand^(h) to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the Lord your God.⁽ⁱ⁾"

On that day I swore^(j) to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(k) the most beautiful of all lands.^(l)

And I said to them, "Each of you, get rid of the vile images^(m) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols⁽ⁿ⁾ of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.^(o)"

"‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;^(p) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.^(q) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.^(r)

But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.^(s) I did it to keep my name from being profaned^(t) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites.

Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.^(u)

I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.^(v)

Also I gave them my Sabbaths^(w) as a sign^(x) between us,^(y) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.^(z)

"‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled^(aa) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws^(ab)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.^(ac) So I said I would pour out my wrath^(ad) on them and destroy^(ae) them in the wilderness.^(af)

But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned^(ag) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.^(ah)

Also with uplifted hand I swore^(ai) to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands^(aj)—

because they rejected my laws^(ak) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts^(al) were devoted to their idols.^(am)

Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy^(an) them or put an end to them in the wilderness.