 則:1.(ezk)  [厄則克耳]   [Ezekiel]  [共 48 章]   [思高聖經]
  
             緒論　蒙召作先知的神視
  
 則:1.1      [被召的時間和地點]  三十年四月五日，當我在革巴爾河畔，在俘虜之中的時候，天開了，我見了天主的異像，
 則:1.2      時在耶苛泥雅王充軍後第五年四月五日；
 則:1.3      那時在加色丁地，靠近革巴爾河，上主的話傳給步齊的兒子厄則克耳司祭，上主的手臨於我。
 則:1.4      [四活物的奇像]  我觀望，看，有一陣暴風由北方吹來，颳來一大塊火光四射的雲彩，雲中有一團旋轉的火，火中有一種發亮的金屬。
 則:1.5      火中似乎有四個活物的形狀，牠們的外表是這樣：都有人的形狀。
 則:1.6      每個有四種形像，每個有四隻翅膀。
 則:1.7      牠們的腳是直立的腳，腳掌像牛蹄，發亮像磨光的銅。
 則:1.8      在牠們四面的翅膀下邊，都有人手；四個活物各有自己的形像和翅膀。
 則:1.9      牠們的翅膀互相連接，在行走時不必轉身，各朝著自己的前面行走。
 則:1.10     關於牠們外表的形像：牠們四個的正面都具有人的形像，右邊有獅的形像，左邊牛的形像，背面有鷹的形像。
 則:1.11     牠們的翅膀向上伸開，每個用兩隻翅膀互相連接，用兩隻翅膀遮蔽身體。
 則:1.12     每個朝著自己的前面行走；神力催迫牠們往那裏去，牠們就往那裏去；行走時不必轉身。
 則:1.13     在活物中間有壹種相似燃著的炭火，又好似火炬在活物中旋轉。這火有亮光，由火中射出閃光。
 則:1.14     活物來回疾馳，好像閃電。
 則:1.15     [四個輪子]  我觀望那些活物時，看，靠近那些活物的四面，在地上各有一個輪子。
 則:1.16     那些輪子及其構造的外表，光澤有如橄欖石，四輪都有同樣的形狀。四輪結構的樣式，好像輪子套在輪子中。
 則:1.17     輪子轉動時，可向四方旋轉，前行時不必轉轍。
 則:1.18     輪輞高大，我看見四個輪輞都佈滿了眼睛。
 則:1.19     活物行走時，輪子也在牠們旁邊轉動；活物由地面升起時，輪子也升起。
 則:1.20     神力催迫活物往那裏去，牠們就往神力催迫的方向去；輪子也同時與牠們一起升起，因為活物的神力在輪子內。
 則:1.21     活物行走，輪子也轉動；活物站住，輪子也停住；活物由地上升起，輪子也隨之升起，因為活物的神力在輪子內。
 則:1.22     [穹蒼與寶座]  在活物的頭上，有相似穹蒼的東西，好像發亮的水晶，在牠們頭上展開。
 則:1.23     在穹蒼下伸直牠們的翅膀，一隻的翅膀與另一隻的翅膀彼此相接，又各有兩隻翅膀遮蔽著身體。
 則:1.24     當牠們行動時，我聽見翅膀的颯颯聲，像洪水之聲，又像全能者的聲音，又似軍營中的喧噪之聲。當牠們站住時，就歛起翅膀。
 則:1.25     那時，由牠們頭頂上的穹蒼那裏，發出一種響聲；活物即站住，就歛起翅膀。
 則:1.26     在她們頭頂上的穹蒼上面，有一塊像藍玉的石頭，有寶座的形狀；在這狀如寶座之上，有一個外貌像人的坐在上頭。
 則:1.27     我望見在他相似腰部的上面，好像有發亮的金屬，內裏和周圍好像一團火。我又望見在相似腰部的下面，好像有火的形狀，周圍有光環繞，
 則:1.28     環繞在周圍的光，猶如落雨時雲彩中所出現的虹霓。這就是上主的光榮顯現時的奇象。我一看見，就伏地掩面，同時也聽見有一位講話的聲音。
  
 則:2.1      [奉派為先知]  他向我說：「人子，站起來!我要同你講話。」
 則:2.2      他向我講話時，有一種神力進入我內，使我站起來，也聽見他同我講話。
 則:2.3      他向我說：「人子，我派遣你到以色列子民，到反抗我的那個叛逆的人民那裏去，他們和他們的祖先，直到今天還違背我。
 則:2.4      那些子民雖厚顏無恥，心腸頑硬，我仍派遣你到他們那裏，向他們說：吾主上主這樣說：
 則:2.5      他們或是聽，或是不聽──他們原是叛逆的家族──終究要承認在他們中有一位先知。
 則:2.6      人子，你不必怕他們，也不要怕他們說什麼，也不要怕他們反抗你，輕慢你，好像叫你坐在毒蠍之上；不要怕他們說什麼，在他們面前，也不要膽怯，因為他們是叛逆的家族。
 則:2.7      無論他們聽，或是不聽，你應向他們宣講我的話，他們原是叛逆的家族。」
 則:2.8      [神見書卷]  人子，你要聽我向你講的話，你不要叛逆，像叛逆的家族。你要張口，把我給你的吞下。」
 則:2.9      我觀望時，看，有一隻手向我伸來，手上有一卷書。
 則:2.10     他把那卷書在我面前展開，內外都寫著字，寫的是：「哀傷、悲歎和災禍。」
  
 則:3.1      [吞書卷]  以後他向我說：「人子，將給你的吞下去。你吞下這卷書，然後去向以色列子民宣講。」
 則:3.2      我遂張開口，他便使我吞下那卷書，
 則:3.3      並向我說：「人子，要吞到肚子裏，要把我給你的這卷書充滿你的五內。」我遂吃了，這卷書在我嘴裏甘甜如蜜。
 則:3.4      [先知受訓勉]  然後他向我說：「人子，起來以色列家族那裏去，向他們宣講我所說的話。
 則:3.5      你被派遣，並不是往言語不通，說話不懂的人民那裏去，而是到以色列家族。
 則:3.6      也不是到言語不通，說話不懂，而你聽不明白他們他們話的各民族那裏去；若是我派遣你到他們那裏，他們必肯聽你的話。
 則:3.7      但是以色列家族卻不肯聽你，原來他們不肯聽我，因為以色列家族都額堅心硬。
 則:3.8      看，我要使你的臉堅硬，好像他們的臉，使你的額堅硬，好像他們的額。
 則:3.9      使你的額好像金鋼，比火石還堅硬。他們雖是叛你的家族，不必害怕他們，在他們面前不必膽怯。」
 則:3.10     他又向我說：「人子，我向你說的一切話，要聽到耳中，存在心裏。
 則:3.11     起來，到充軍者，你百姓的子民那裏，向他們宣講，對他們說：吾主上主這樣說。不管他們聽不聽。」
 則:3.12     [先知去見充軍者]  當上主的光榮由那地方升起時，神力也把我舉起，我聽見在我後面有轟轟之聲很大，
 則:3.13     是活物的翅膀彼此磨擦的響聲，是靠近牠們的輪子的響聲，轟轟之聲很大。
 則:3.14     神力把我舉起，把我提去；我走時，心中激動而苦悶，那時上主的手重壓在我身上。
 則:3.15     以後我到了特耳阿彼部的充軍者那裏，他們靠近革巴爾河居住。我在他們那裏憂鬱地居留了七天。
 則:3.16     [先知的任務]  過了七天，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:3.17     「人子，我派你作以色列家族的守衛；當你由我口中聽到什麼話時，你應代我警告他們。
 則:3.18     幾時我向惡人說：你必喪亡!你若不警告他，也不宣講，使惡人知所警惕，而脫離邪道，為得生存；那惡人要因自己的罪惡而喪亡，但我必向你追討血債。
 則:3.19     你若警告了惡人，而他不肯離開罪惡和邪道，那他必要因自己的罪惡而喪亡；至於你卻救了你的靈魂。
 則:3.20     幾時一個義人離棄正義而行不義，我要在他面前安放絆腳石，使他死亡；若你沒有警告他，他必因自己的罪惡而喪亡，他所行的正義，也不被記念；但我必向你追討血債。
 則:3.21     但若你警告了義人，使他不犯罪，而他沒有犯罪：這樣他必要生存，因為他聽從了警告，你也救了你的靈魂。」
 則:3.22     [奉命緘口不言]  我在那裏時，上主的手臨於我，他向我說：「起來，到平原裏，去我要在那裏同你說話。」
 則:3.23     我就起身到了平原。看，上主的光榮停在那裏，就如我在革巴爾河所見過的光榮；我遂伏地掩面。
 則:3.24     有一種神力進入我身，使我站起來。他向我說：「你去，把你關鎖在房中!
 則:3.25     人子，你看人們要用繩索捆縛你；你被捆起後，便不能到他們中間。
 則:3.26     我還要使你的舌頭緊貼在上顎，使你成為啞吧，不能斥責他們，因為他們是叛逆的家族。
 則:3.27     但是我給你說話時，要開啟你的口。以後你要向他們說：『吾主上主這樣說。』誰肯聽，就讓他聽；誰不肯聽，就讓他不聽好了，因為他們是叛逆的家族。」
  
           第一編　論猶大和耶路撒冷滅亡的預言(4-24)
  
 則:4.1      [耶京被困的象徵]  人子，你拿一塊磚，放在你面前，把一座耶路撒冷城刻劃在上面。
 則:4.2      安排圍城的事；製造攻城的雲梯，堆起攻城的高台，擺列攻城的陣營，四周架起破城機。
 則:4.3      再拿一個鐵鏊，將它立在你和城的中間，當作鐵牆。然後朝著城板起面孔，使城好像被圍困，你好像在攻城：這樣給以色列家一個徵兆。」
 則:4.4      [充軍期限的象徵]  你要向左側臥下!我把以色列家的罪惡放在你身上。你臥多少日子，就多少日子承擔他們的罪惡。
 則:4.5      我把他們犯罪的年數算為三百九十日，你要在這些日子內承擔以色列家的罪惡。
 則:4.6      滿了那些日子，你要向右側臥下，為承擔猶大家的罪惡，共四十日；我給你規定一日算一年。
 則:4.7      你要朝著被圍困的耶路撒冷板起面孔，露出臂膊，向她預言。
 則:4.8      看，我要用繩索捆縛你，叫你不能輾轉反側，直到你被困的日子期滿。」
 則:4.9      [吃不潔與配給之物的象徵]  你要拿小麥、大麥、豆子、扁豆、黍米和粗麥，裝在一個器皿裏，用來為你做一些餅，在你三百九十日側臥的日子內，就吃這些餅。
 則:4.10     每天要按分量吃，每日二十「協刻耳，」按時食用。
 則:4.11     喝水也要有分量，每日喝六分之一「歆」的水，按時而飲。
 則:4.12     你吃那食物像吃烙的大麥餅，且用人糞在他們眼前烤。」
 則:4.13     上主說：「以色列子民也要這樣在我趕他們所到的異民中，吃不潔之物。」
 則:4.14     我答說：「哎呀!吾主上主!我從來沒有受過玷污；從幼年到現在，沒有吃過自然死的，或被撕裂的獸肉；不潔的祭肉從未進過我的口。」
 則:4.15     他向我說：「好罷!我許你用牛糞代人糞烤你的餅。」
 則:4.16     他又向我說：「人子!看，我要斷絕耶路撒冷的糧源，叫他們懷著焦慮吃配給的飯，懷著恐怖喝限制的水；
 則:4.17     甚至缺少食糧和水，個個消瘦，因自己的罪惡而歸於消滅。」
  
 則:5.1      [剃鬚髮的象徵]  人子，你拿一把快刀，當理髮的剃刀用，剃去你的頭髮和鬍鬚，然後拿一個天平，分開那些鬚髮。
 則:5.2      等被困的日子一滿，把三分之一在城內用火燒掉；再拿三分之一在城四周用劍擊砍；其他三分之一，要揚在風中，我要拔出劍來追趕他們。
 則:5.3      但你要從鬍鬚中取出幾根來，繫在你的衣服邊上，
 則:5.4      再從其中取出幾根投入火中，讓火燒掉；然後你向以色列全家說：
 則:5.5      吾主上主這樣說：這就是耶路撒冷!我將她安置在萬民之中，使萬國環繞著她；
 則:5.6      但是她違背了我的法令，作惡甚於異民，違背我的法律甚於環繞她的列國，因為她們輕視了我的法令，沒有照我的法律行事。
 則:5.7      為此，吾主上主這樣說：因為你們比環繞你們的異民更為叛逆，沒有照我的法律行事；沒有遵行我的法令，也沒有按照環繞你們異民的法律行事；
 則:5.8      因此吾主上主這樣說：看，我要親自對付你；在你中間，在異民眼前實行懲罰。
 則:5.9      為了你的一切醜惡，我要對你實習未曾實行過的，將來也不會實行的事；
 則:5.10     在你境內，為父的要吃自己的兒子，為子的要吃自己的父親。我必如此在你境內實行懲罰，且把遺民分散到四方。
 則:5.11     為此我指著我的生命起誓說：──吾主上主的斷語──因為你用你的一切可憎和可惡之物玷污了我的聖所，我必將你剷除，我的眼決不憐視，一點也不憐惜。
 則:5.12     你三分之一的人民要在你境內死於瘟疫，亡於饑荒；另三分之一，在你四周各地喪身刀下；其他三分之一，我要分散到各地。我且拔出劍來追趕他們。
 則:5.13     這樣，我的忿怒纔可以發洩，我的怒火在他們身上纔會平息，得到了報復；當我的憤怒在他們身上發洩時，他們要承認我，上主，在妒火中講了話。
 則:5.14     我要使你成為荒野，使你在環繞你的異民前，和所有的過客前，成為辱罵的對象。
 則:5.15     當我大發憤怒，以嚴厲的懲罰在你身上施行裁判時，你就成為環繞你的異民凌辱、恥笑、警戒和警駭的對象：這是我上主說的。
 則:5.16     當我向你們射出饑荒的毒箭──射出毀滅的箭，毀滅你們時──我必使饑荒在你們境內更加嚴重，斷絕你們的糧源。
 則:5.17     我必使饑荒和猛獸危害你們，掠去你們的子女，並使瘟疫和血案在你境內盛行，還有刀兵來打擊你：這是我上主說的。」
  
 則:6.1      [敬拜邪神之地必被消滅]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:6.2      「人子，你要面對以色列的群山，講預言攻斥他們，
 則:6.3      說以色列的群山，請聽吾主上主的話：吾主上主這樣對高山、丘陵、山溪、山谷說：看，我要使刀兵臨於你們，蕩平你們的丘壇；
 則:6.4      破壞你們的祭壇，打碎你們的太陽柱，並使你們被殺的人倒在你們的偶像之前。
 則:6.5      我還要把以色列屍體放在他們的偶像前，把你們的骨頭散在你們的祭壇周圍。
 則:6.6      在你們居住的地方，城池變為荒野，丘壇遭受破壞，為叫你們的祭壇也成為荒涼，變為廢墟，偶像被粉碎，被消滅，太陽柱被打碎，你們所製造的東西都剷除淨盡。
 則:6.7      被殺的人橫臥在你們中間：如此你們要承認我是上主。」
 則:6.8      [遺民蒙恩獲救]  當我把你們分散到各國時，我還要把一些倖免於刀兵的人，殘留在異民中。
 則:6.9      你們被擄到異民中的遺民，必要想念我，因為我擊碎了他們好淫而背棄我的心，也擊碎了他們好淫而隨從偶像的眼睛，那時他們必要為了一切邪神所行的事而自怨自艾。
 則:6.10     如此，他們會承認，我上主說要對他們施行懲罰，並非空話。」
 則:6.11     [哀傷以色列作惡受罰]  吾主上主這樣說：「我要拍手頓足地說：禍哉!以色列家，因了一切醜惡的罪行，她必要亡於刀兵、饑荒和瘟疫：
 則:6.12     遠處的要死於瘟疫，近處的要喪身刀下，剩餘而被圍困的，要死於饑餓，我必要這樣對他們發洩我的怒火。
 則:6.13     幾時被殺的人橫臥在他們的祭壇四周，在他們的偶像中間，在各高山，各山頂，在各綠樹下，在密茂的樟樹下，即在他們給各偶像獻香的地方，那時，你們必承認我是上主。
 則:6.14     我要伸手打擊他們，凡他們所居之地，我要使田地變為沙漠和荒野，自曠野直到黎貝拉：這樣，他們必承認我是上主。」
  
 則:7.1      [結局已到]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:7.2      「人子，你要說：吾主上主這樣對以色列地域說：結局到了，大地四極的結局到了。
 則:7.3      現今你的結局已到：我要向你發洩我的憤怒，按你的行為裁判你，按照你所有的醜行報復你。
 則:7.4      我的眼決不憐視你，一點也不顧惜你；反之，我必按照你的行為報復你，使你的醜惡彰顯在你中間；這樣，你們必承認我是上主。
 則:7.5      吾主上主這樣說：「看，災禍，那唯一的災禍來了。
 則:7.6      結局到了，那對付你的結局到了，看，已來到目前。
 則:7.7      當地的居民啊!惡運已臨於你，時辰已到，恐怖的日子已近，山上再聽不到歡呼的聲音。
 則:7.8      現今我就快要向你發洩我的憤怒，在你身上盡洩我的怒火，要按照你的行為裁判你，按照你所有的醜行報復你。
 則:7.9      我的眼決不憐視，一點也不顧惜；反之，我要照你的行為報復你，使你的醜惡彰顯在你中間：這樣你們必承認我是施罰的天主。」
 則:7.10     [同歸於盡]  看，那日子確已來到，惡運已定，暴行開花，傲慢發芽。
 則:7.11     殘暴興起，成為作惡的權杖；他們中將一無所存，他們的財富沒有了，豪華不見了，光榮一無所留。
 則:7.12     時辰到了，日子近了；買主不要歡樂，賣主也不要憂愁，因為怒火要降在一切財富上。
 則:7.13     賣主雖還活著，但不得再贖回他所賣的，因為懲罰一降在一切民眾身上，誰也不能再挽回。無人在罪惡中能保全生命。
 則:7.14     [戰爭的慘狀]  你們吹喇叭，將一切準備便當；但無人出征上陣，因為我的怒火要降在所有人民身上。
 則:7.15     外有刀兵，內有瘟疫饑荒；凡在鄉間的，要喪身刀下；在城中的，要死於瘟疫饑荒。
 則:7.16     那些僥倖逃亡的，到了山中，必像谷中哀鳴的鴿子，各人悲泣自己的罪惡。
 則:7.17     人人雙手疲憊無力，雙膝軟弱如水，
 則:7.18     身穿苦衣，都為恐怖所籠罩；每人面帶羞慚，頭頂完全剃光。
 則:7.19     他們將自己的銀子丟在街頭，金子為他們成了污穢之物；他們的金銀，在上主發怒之日，不能拯救他們；金銀不能使他們充饑，不能填滿他們的肚腹，因為金銀是他們犯罪的絆腳石。
 則:7.20     他們既然把自己華麗的裝飾品作為誇耀的東西，做成醜惡的偶像和怪物；
 則:7.21     所以我要使偶像成為他們的不潔之物，我要把它交於外邦人手中作勝利品，給本地匪徒作為掠物，而予以褻瀆。
 則:7.22     我要轉面不看他們，讓外人褻瀆我的寶藏，讓野人侵入而加以褻瀆，
 則:7.23     並用來製造鎖鏈；因為此地充滿了血債，城中充滿了殘暴。
 則:7.24     為此，我必叫最兇惡的異民來佔據他們的房舍，消滅他們傲慢的勢力，並使他們的聖所受到褻瀆。
 則:7.25     當恐怖來臨時，他們尋求救援，卻沒有救援。
 則:7.26     禍上加禍，噩耗接踵而來；那時人向先知要求異像，卻毫無所得；司祭失去了教言，長老沒有了主意，
 則:7.27     君王失聲痛哭，王侯驚惶失措，當地居民的手顫動無力。我必按他們的行為向他們報復，照他們的功過裁判他們：這樣，他們必要承認我是天主。」
  
 則:8.1      [神見耶京的神像]  六年六月五日，當我坐在我屋內，猶大的長老門坐在我面前時，吾主上主的手臨於我。
 則:8.2      我觀望，看，有一個形像，形狀如人，在他相似腰部的下面，有一團火，在他腰部的上面好像有一道光輝，像發亮的金屬。
 則:8.3      他伸出一隻像手的形狀，抓住我的一綹頭髮，有一種神力把我提到天地之間，在神視中將我提往耶路撒冷去，到了內門的北門門口，在那裏供奉著引起上主妒火的偶像。
 則:8.4      在那裏出現了以色列天主的光榮，相似我在平原所見的異像。
 則:8.5      他向我說：「人子，舉目向北方看!」我遂舉目向北方看；看見在靠近祭壇的北門門口，有那引起上主妒火的偶像。
 則:8.6      他又向我說：「人子，你看他們作的是什麼﹖以色列家族在這裏所行的極其醜惡之事，使我非離開我的聖所不可，但你還要看見更為醜惡的事。」
 則:8.7      [昆蟲走獸神像]  以後，他引我到外院的大門口，我看見在牆上有一個洞。
 則:8.8      他向我說：「人子，把這牆穿一個洞!」我遂在牆上穿了一個洞，出現了一道門。
 則:8.9      他又向我說：「你進去看一看他們在那裏所做的窮凶極惡的醜行。」
 則:8.10     我便進去，看見有各種爬蟲和走獸的像，都是可憎惡的；還有以色列家的各種偶像，都刻畫在四周的牆上。
 則:8.11     以色列家族的七十長老，沙番的兒子雅匝尼雅也在他們中間，都站在那些像前，每人手中拿著香爐，燒的香煙如濃雲，正在上騰。
 則:8.12     他對我說：「人子，你看見了以色列的長老在黑暗中，每人在藏神像的暗室中所行的事嗎﹖他們說：上主看不見我們，上主已離棄了此地。」
 則:8.13     他又向我說：「你還要看見他們所行的更醜惡的事。」
 則:8.14     [塔慕次神及太陽神]  以後，他引我到了上主的聖殿朝北的大門口。看，有些婦女坐在那裏，哀悼塔慕次。
 則:8.15     他向我說：「人子，你看見了嗎﹖但你還要看見比這更醜惡的事。」
 則:8.16     以後，他引我到了上主聖殿的內庭院內；看，在上主聖所的門口，在走廊和祭壇中間約有二十五個人，背向上主的聖所，面向東方，他們正在向東方朝拜太陽。
 則:8.17     [懲罰的恐嚇]  他又向我說：「人子，你看見了嗎﹖在這裏行的這些醜惡之事，為猶大家還不夠嗎﹖他們還將此地充滿了殘暴之事，時時惹我忿怒。看，他們還把枝條舉到自己鼻子上。
 則:8.18     我必大發憤怒，我的眼決不憐視，一點也不顧惜；極使他們在我耳旁高聲喊叫，我仍不俯聽他們。」
  
 則:9.1      [擊殺無記號者]  以後我聽見他高聲喊說：「懲罰此城的，快來!每人手中應拿著毀滅的工具。」
 則:9.2      看，有六個人從上邊朝北的門走來，每人拿著破壞的武器。他們中間有一個人身穿細麻衣，腰間帶著書記的墨盒。他們來到，就站在銅祭壇旁。
 則:9.3      那停在革魯賓上的以色列的天主光榮，就由革魯賓身上升起，來到聖殿的門限上，叫將那身穿細麻衣，腰間帶著墨盒的人召來。
 則:9.4      上主對他說：「你要走遍此城，即走遍耶路撒冷，凡因城中發生的醜惡之事而悲痛哀號的人，要在他們額上劃一個十字記號。」
 則:9.5      以後我聽見他向其餘的人說：「你們也跟著他走遍全城擊殺，你們的眼不要憐視，一點也不要顧惜；
 則:9.6      把老人、少年、處女、嬰兒和婦女都要殺盡滅絕；但凡額上有十字記號的人，不可走近。你們從聖所這裏開始。」果然他們就從在聖殿前的長老開始。
 則:9.7      以後又向他們說：「你們要玷污這聖殿，使被殺者充塞整個庭院，然後出去!」他們就出去，在城中擊殺。
 則:9.8      [先知祈禱未獲准]  他們去擊殺時，只留下我一人。我就伏地掩面呼求說：「哎!吾主上主，你在耶路撒冷發洩你的憤怒，要滅絕以色列的遺民嗎﹖」
 則:9.9      他回答我說：「以色列和猶大的家族，實在罪大惡極；此地充滿了血債，滿城都是暴行，他們還說：上主已離棄了此地，上主看不見。
 則:9.10     因此，我的眼也決不憐視，一點也不顧惜；反而我要把他們的行為，歸在他們頭上。」
 則:9.11     看啊，那身穿細麻衣，腰間帶著墨盒的人，回來報告說：「我已照你的吩咐的做了。」
  
 則:10.1     [取火炭異像]  我觀望時，見在革魯賓頭上，穹蒼之上，有一塊像碧玉的石頭，看似寶座，出現在他們上邊。
 則:10.2     上主問那身穿細麻衣的人說：「你到革魯賓下邊的輪子中間，由革魯賓中間取一滿掬火炭，撒在城上。」他就在我眼前進去了。
 則:10.3     當那人進去時，革魯賓站在聖殿的右邊，雲彩瀰漫了內院。
 則:10.4     上主的光榮，由革魯賓之間升起，停在聖殿的門限上，聖殿內充滿了雲彩，庭院中也充滿了上主光榮的燦爛。
 則:10.5     革魯賓展翅的響聲達於外院，像全能的天主講話的聲音。
 則:10.6     以後他吩咐那身穿細麻衣的人說：「從輪子中間，從革魯賓中間取火罷!」那人就前去，站在輪子旁邊。
 則:10.7     一位革魯賓由革魯賓中間伸手，到革魯賓中間的火上取了火，放在那身穿細麻衣的手中；那人接過去就走了。
 則:10.8     我看見革魯賓在翅膀下的手好像人手。
 則:10.9     我觀望時，見革魯賓旁邊有四個輪子，每一位革魯賓旁有一個輪子，輪子的外表光澤有如橄欖玉石。
 則:10.10    輪子的外表，四個都有同樣的形狀，好像輪子套在輪子中。
 則:10.11    轉動時可向四面旋轉，前行時不必回轉。
 則:10.12    在他們的身體、背、手、翅膀和四個輪子上，佈滿了眼睛。
 則:10.13    我所說的輪子名叫「加耳加耳。」
 則:10.14    每一個革魯賓有四個形狀：第一個形狀是牛形，第二個形狀是人形，第三個形狀是獅形，第四個形狀是鷹形。
 則:10.15    以後革魯賓上升去了；這是我在革巴爾河岸所見的活物。
 則:10.16    革魯賓前行時，輪子也在他們旁邊轉動；革魯賓展開翅膀，由地面升起時，輪子也不離他們左右。
 則:10.17    他們站住，輪子也停下；他們升起，輪子也同他們一起升起，因為輪子內有活物的神力。
 則:10.18    [上主的光榮離開聖殿]  那時，上主的光榮離開了聖殿的門限，停在革魯賓上。
 則:10.19    革魯賓展開翅膀，在我眼前由地面升起；當他們離去時，輪子也跟著離去。他們停在上主聖殿的東門門口時，以色列的天主的光榮就停在他們上面。
 則:10.20    這就是我靠近革巴爾河，在以色列的天主下面所見的那些活物，現在我明白他們是革魯賓。
 則:10.21    每個有四樣形狀，每個有四個翅膀，在他們翅膀下有相似人的手。
 則:10.22    關於他們的形像，和我靠近革巴爾河所見的形像一樣，每個朝自己的前面進行。
  
 則:11.1     [懲罰猶大的首領]  以後，神力把我提起，把我帶到上主聖殿東面的東門那裏。看，在大門口有二十五個人，我看見在他們中有阿組爾的兒子亞匝尼雅和貝納雅的兒子培拉提雅，他們是民眾的首領。
 則:11.2     上主向我說：「人子，在這城中圖謀不軌，出壞主意的就是這些人。
 則:11.3     他們說：房屋不是剛建築不久嗎﹖城是鍋，我們是肉。
 則:11.4     為此你要發言反對他們；人子，發言罷!」
 則:11.5     上主的神臨於我，向我說：「你要說：上主這樣說：以色列家，你們所說過的話，心中想的什麼，我都知道。
 則:11.6     你們在此城中殺害了許多人，街市上滿了傷亡的人。
 則:11.7     為此吾主上主這樣說：你們在城內所殺害的人是肉，城是鍋，但你們都要由城中趕出去。
 則:11.8     你們怕刀劍，我必使刀劍臨於你們──吾主上主的斷語－－
 則:11.9     我要把你們由城中趕出，把你們交於外人手中，在你們身上實行懲罰。
 則:11.10    你們要喪身刀下；我必要在以色列邊境上懲罰你們；如此，你們要承認我是上主。
 則:11.11    這城為你們決不是鍋，你們也決不是其中的肉；我必要在以色列邊境上懲罰你們。
 則:11.12    如此你們必承認我是上主，因為你們沒有遵行我的法令，沒有實行我的法律，卻照你們四鄰異民的法律去行。」
 則:11.13    我正在講預言的時候，貝納雅的兒子培拉提雅死了；我遂伏地掩面，高聲哀呼說：「哎!吾主上主，你要滅盡以色列的遺民嗎﹖」
 則:11.14    [遺民更新]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:11.15    「人子，耶路撒冷的居民論及你的同胞兄弟，同你一起被擄的人，即以色列全家族的人，這樣說：他們遠離了上主，這地應歸於我們佔有了。
 則:11.16    為此你應宣講說：吾主上主這樣說：我雖遷移他們，遠至異民之中，將他們分散到各國，但在他們所到的地方，我暫時仍是他們的聖所。
 則:11.17    因此你應宣講：吾主上主這樣說：我要從各民族聚集你們，由你們分散所到的各國中召集你們，把以色列地域再賜給你們。
 則:11.18    他們一回到那裏，必滅絕那裏的偶像，剷除那裏的一切醜惡的事。
 則:11.19    我必賜給他們另一顆心，在他們臟腑放上另一種精神；拿走他們鐵石的心，給他們換上一顆血肉的心，
 則:11.20    為使他們遵行我的法令，謹守我的法律，而一一實行：如此他們要作我的百姓，我要作他們的天主。
 則:11.21    至於那些心中仍隨從偶像和醜惡之事的人，我要把他們的行為歸在他們的頭上──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:11.22    [上主的光榮離開聖城]  那時革魯賓展開了翅膀，輪子也隨著轉動，以色列天主的光榮停在他們之上。
 則:11.23    上主的光榮由城中升起，停在城東的山上。
 則:11.24    神力把我提起，在異象中，即在天主的神力中，把我帶到加色丁充軍的人那裏。我所見的異象就在我面前消失了。
 則:11.25    我遂向充軍的人講述上主給我顯示的一切事。
  
 則:12.1     [充軍的象徵]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:12.2     「人子，你是住在叛逆的家族中，他們有眼，卻視而不見；有耳，卻聽而不聞；因為他們是叛逆的家族。
 則:12.3     人子，你要白天在他們眼前準備充軍的行囊，並在他們眼前從一地遷移到另一地；他們或者能看清自己是叛逆的家族。
 則:12.4     你白天在他們眼前把行囊搬出，像搬出充軍的行囊；傍晚在他們眼前出發，像充軍者出發。
 則:12.5     你還要在他們眼前在牆上穿一個洞，由那裏走過去。
 則:12.6     你當著他們的面，把行囊背在肩上，天黑時出發，並且蒙著臉，看不到地面：因為我要使你作為以色列家族的一個預兆。」
 則:12.7     我遂遵命行了：白天我把行囊搬出，有如充軍的行囊，傍晚用手在牆上穿了一個洞；到天黑時，當著他們的面，把行囊背在肩上出發。
 則:12.8     [預兆的意義]  到了早晨，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:12.9     「人子，以色列家族，那叛逆的家族不是問你說：你在作什麼﹖
 則:12.10    你要回答他們說：吾主上主這樣說：這神諭是有關耶路撒冷的君王和城中的以色列全家族。
 則:12.11    並且說：我為你們是一個預兆：像我所行過的，也要實現在他們身上：他們要被擄充軍異地。
 則:12.12    君王在他們當中肩上背著重擔，在黑夜出發，在牆上要穿一洞，為叫他出去；他要蒙著臉，以致他再不能親眼看見這地方。
 則:12.13    我要在他面前設下羅網，他必要陷在我的羅網中而被捉住；然後我他到加色丁人的地方巴比倫，但他一無所見，就死在那裏。
 則:12.14    我還要把他左右的護衛，以及一切軍隊，分散到四方，並拔出劍來追趕他們。
 則:12.15    當我把他們驅散到異民中，把他們分散到各國時，他們必承認我是上主。
 則:12.16    但我在他們中仍保留少數的人，免受刀兵、饑荒和瘟疫之害，為叫他們給他們所到之地的異民，講述自己的醜惡之事，使那些人也認識我是上主。」
 則:12.17    [預示聖城的饑荒]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:12.18    「人子，你要戰戰兢兢地吃飯，懷著顫慄和惶恐喝水。
 則:12.19    你應向此地的人民宣講說：吾主上主論及耶路撒冷的居民和以色列地域這樣說：他們要惶恐地吃飯，驚懼地喝水，為了那裏的居民所行的殘暴，那地方要被洗劫，變為荒蕪之地。
 則:12.20    人煙稠密的城市要變為曠野，那地方必變為沙漠：如此，你們必承認我是上主。」
 則:12.21    [先知所言必要實現]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:12.22    「人子，在以色列地域，有人說：日期遲延了，異象落空了。這流言是什麼意思﹖
 則:12.23    為此你應向他們說：吾主上主這樣說：我必使這流言停止，以色列必不再說這流言；你該向他們說：日期近了，所有的異象必要實現。
 則:12.24    在以色列家族內，決不再有虛偽的異象和欺詐的預言。
 則:12.25    因為是我上主講話，我講的話必要實現，不再遲延。叛逆的家族!我說的話必在你們這一代實現──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:12.26    上主的話傳給我說：
 則:12.27    人子，以色列家族說：這人所見的異象是指遙遠的來日；他說的預言，是指遙遠的時期。
 則:12.28    為此你要向他們說：吾主上主這樣說：我說的一切話，不再遲延；我所說的話，必要實現──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:13.1     [攻斥假先知]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:13.2     「人子，你要斥責那些在以色列講預言的先知，向那些隨心所欲說預言的人說：你們應聽上主的話!
 則:13.3     吾主上主這樣說：那些隨心所欲，而一無所見的愚妄先知，是有禍的!
 則:13.4     以色列!你的先知好像廢墟中的狐狸。
 則:13.5     你們沒有上到缺口處，也沒有圍繞以色列家建築圍牆，好叫她在上主的日子，在戰爭中穩立。
 則:13.6     他們所見的盡是空虛，所預言的盡是欺詐，反而說是「上主的斷語；」其實上主並沒有派遣他們，他們還指望自己的話能夠實現。
 則:13.7     你們豈不是見了幻像，說了欺詐的預言，還說是「上主的斷語﹖」其實我並沒有說過。
 則:13.8     [假先知必受懲罰]  為此，吾主上主這樣說：因為你們說的是謊話，見的是幻像，我必攻斥你們──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:13.9     我必伸手打擊那些見幻像，說欺詐預言的先知。他們決不得參加我人民的議會，不得登記在以色列家族的名冊上，也不得進入以色列地域：如此你們要承認我是上主。
 則:13.10    因為他們迷惑我的人民說：「平安；」其實並沒有平安。人民築起牆來，看，他們就來墁泥。
 則:13.11    你要向墁泥的人說；我要使驟雨降下，冰雹落下，暴風颳來，
 則:13.12    那牆必要傾倒。那時，人豈不是要向你們說：你們所墁的泥在那裏呢﹖
 則:13.13    為此，吾主上主這樣說：在我憤怒時，我要使暴風颳來，在怒火中使驟雨降下，在憤怒時使冰雹降下，破壞一切。
 則:13.14    我要摧毀你們墁過泥的牆，使它傾倒在地，基礎暴露；牆傾倒了，你們也要消失在其中：如此，你們要承認我是上主。
 則:13.15    當我對那牆和在牆上墁泥的人發洩了我的憤怒，我要對你們說：牆沒有了，墁牆的人也不見了。
 則:13.16    這是指那些向耶路撒冷講預言的以色列的先知，他們說見過平安的異象；其實並沒有平安──吾主上主的斷語。
 則:13.17    [攻斥假女先知]  人子，你要轉面向那些隨心所欲，講預言的你百姓中的女先知，你要斥責她們。
 則:13.18    你宣講說：吾主上主這樣說：那些為手腕縫製各種帶子，照頭的大小製做各種頭巾，以獵取人命的女人，是有禍的!你們獵取了我百姓的性命，難道能挽救你們自己的性命﹖
 則:13.19    你們竟為了一掬麥子，一塊餅，就在我百姓前褻瀆了我，使不應死的人死去，使不應活的人活著，以欺騙我那好聽信謊言的百姓。
 則:13.20    為此，吾主上主這樣說：看，我要把你們像捕鳥一樣獵取人命的帶子，從你們手腕上撕下，釋放你們所獵取的人，像釋放飛鳥；
 則:13.21    撕破你們的頭巾，由你們手中救出我的百姓；他們決不再做你們手中的獵物：如此，你們要承認我是上主。
 則:13.22    因為你們以謊言使義人的心沮喪；其實，我並沒有使義人悲哀；你們又鼓勵惡人，使他不肯離開罪惡的路，以求生存。
 則:13.23    為此，你們不得再見幻像，不得再說預言；反之，我要從你們手中救出我的百姓：如此，你們必承認我是上主。」
  
 則:14.1     [崇拜邪神不可救藥]  有些以色列的長老來見我，坐在我面前。
 則:14.2     那時上主的話傳給我說：
 則:14.3     「人子，這些人心中供著他們自己的邪神，在自己面前放著犯罪的絆腳石，我豈能讓他們來求問﹖
 則:14.4     為此，你要告訴他們，對他們說：吾主上主這樣說：以色列家族中的任何人，或心中仍供著自己的神，在自己面前仍放著犯罪的絆腳石，而來求見先知，我上主必按照他偶像的數目親自答覆他，
 則:14.5     為能打動以色列家族的心，因為他們為了所有的偶像疏遠了我。
 則:14.6     為此，你應對以色列家族說：吾主上主這樣說：回頭罷!離開你們的偶像，放棄你們所有的醜惡!
 則:14.7     以色列家族中任何人，甚或在以色列中僑居的外國人，如果疏遠了我，把自己的邪神供在心中，把犯罪的絆腳石放在自己面前，而敢來見先知求問我，我上主必親自答覆他。
 則:14.8     我必正面打擊這樣的人，使他成為一種警戒和笑柄，把他由人民中剷除：如此，你們必承認我是上主。
 則:14.9     若一個先知受騙而發言，這是我上主哄騙了那先知；我要伸手打擊他，從我人民以色列中間把他消滅。
 則:14.10    求問者與先知的罪一樣，都應負咎。
 則:14.11    如此，以色列家族不再遠離我而走入迷途，不再受任何罪惡的玷污；他們要作我的人民，我要作他們的天主：這是吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:14.12    [義人得救惡人喪亡]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:14.13    「人子，若某地背信違約，犯罪得罪我，我必伸手打擊她，斷絕她的糧源，使饑荒降到那地，把人和獸從那地剷除。
 則:14.14    縱然在那裏有諾厄、達尼爾和約伯三個人，這三個人也只能為了自己的義德救自己──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:14.15    或者我使猛獸橫行那地，滅絕人跡，使那地變為荒野，由於猛獸而沒人敢經過。
 則:14.16    縱然在那裏有這三個人，我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──他們也不能救自己的子女，只能救自己，那地方必變為荒蕪。
 則:14.17    或者我使刀兵來到那地，且吩咐說：刀兵應橫行那地，剷除那裏的人和獸類!
 則:14.18    縱然在那裏有這三個人，我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──他們也不能救自己的子女，而只能救自己。
 則:14.19    或者使那地發生瘟疫，以屠殺發洩我的憤怒，好從那裏滅絕人和獸類，
 則:14.20    縱然諾厄、達尼爾和約伯也在那裏，我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──他們連一子一女也救不出，只能因自己的義德救自己。
 則:14.21    因為吾主上主這樣說：我雖然使刀兵、饑荒、猛獸、瘟疫四大災難降在耶路撒冷，為滅絕那裏的人和獸類；
 則:14.22    但是那裏還有幸免的人，領著子女逃出。看，他們要到你們這裏來，使你們看見他們的行為和動作，而對我加於耶路撒冷的災難和我對她所行的一切，獲得寬慰。
 則:14.23    當你們看見他們的行為和動作時，你們必能獲得安慰：這樣你們必然知道：我在耶路撒冷行了所行的一切，並非無因──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:15.1     [耶路撒冷是不結果的葡萄樹]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:15.2     「人子，樹林中這棵葡萄樹，到底有什麼超越其他一切樹木之處﹖
 則:15.3     豈能取它的木材製造用具，或者能取出它一根枝條，在上面懸掛器具﹖
 則:15.4     只有投入火中焚燒；火焚燒了它的兩端，中間也在焚燒；它還能有什麼用途﹖
 則:15.5     當它完整時，還不能作什麼用具，何況經火燃燒焚化之後，豈不是更不能製造什麼用具﹖
 則:15.6     為此，吾主上主這樣說：我怎樣把樹林中的葡萄樹投入火中焚燒，也必怎樣對待耶路撒冷的居民。
 則:15.7     我要翻臉打擊他們：他們雖從火中逃出來，仍要為火焚燒。當我翻臉打擊他們時，他們必承認我是上主。
 則:15.8     因為他們背信違約，我必使那地方變為荒野──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:16.1     [以色列是上主的淨配]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:16.2     「人子，你要去使耶路撒冷知道她的一切醜惡!
 則:16.3     你要宣講說：吾主上主這樣對耶路撒冷說：你的起源和來歷是出自客納罕地，你的父親是阿摩黎人，你的母親是赫特人。
 則:16.4     當你出生時，在你誕生的那一天，沒有人割斷你的臍帶，用水洗淨你，用鹽擦你，用襁褓裹你；
 則:16.5     沒有一個人憐視你，為你做一件上述的事，對你表同情。反之，在你誕生之日，因為你惹人討厭，就把你拋棄在田野間。
 則:16.6     我從你身旁經過時，見你輾轉在血污中，就向你說：你在血中生活罷!
 則:16.7     生長有如田野間的花草。你遂漸漸發育長大，到了青春年華，你的乳房碩壯，頭髮蔓長，但還是赤身裸體。
 則:16.8     我又經過你身旁時，看見了你，見你的時期即懷春期到了，我就向你展開了我的衣襟，遮蓋了你得裸體，也向你發了誓，立了約──吾主上主的斷語──你遂成了我的。
 則:16.9     我用水洗淨了你，滌除了你身上的血污；又用香膏傅抹了你，
 則:16.10    給你穿上錦繡的衣服，穿上海狗皮鞋，蒙上細麻頭巾，披上綢緞；
 則:16.11    以後又用珠寶裝飾你，給你腕上帶上鐲子，頸上掛上項鏈，
 則:16.12    鼻子上套上環子，耳朵掛上金環，頭上戴上花冠。
 則:16.13    金銀作你的點綴，細麻、綢緞和錦繡作你的衣服；細麵、蜂蜜和油作你的飲食。你實在美麗絕倫，堪登后位。
 則:16.14    因你的美麗，你的名聲傳遍了萬國；因我用我的飾物點綴了你，你才如此美麗無瑕──吾主上主的斷語。
 則:16.15    [以色列背棄天主]  然而你仗恃你的美麗，憑著你的名聲去行淫，與任何過客縱情淫亂。
 則:16.16    你還用你的衣服，作為高丘的點綴，為在那裏行淫。
 則:16.17    又用我給你的金銀飾物，製造男人的像，同它們行淫；
 則:16.18    又將錦繡衣服，給它們穿上，把我給你的油和香料，供在它們前。
 則:16.19    我給你的食品：細麵、油和蜜，原是為養活你的，你卻拿去供在它們前，作為甘飴的馨香──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:16.20    甚至你還祭殺你給我生的子女，作為它們的食品。你這淫行還算小嗎﹖
 則:16.21    你竟祭殺了我的子女，予以焚化，獻給它們。
 則:16.22    你行這些醜惡和淫亂之事時，卻沒有想起你幼年的時期，那時你本來赤身露體，輾轉在血污中。
 則:16.23    你除了行這一切邪惡之外──你有禍了，你有禍了，吾主上主的斷語──
 則:16.24    你還為自己建築高台，在各街上建立丘壇。
 則:16.25    又在所有的街頭設立丘壇，去損害你的美麗，把你的腳伸向所有過客，縱情淫亂；
 則:16.26    又與你那身體肥大的鄰居埃及人行淫；你盡情淫蕩，激起我的怒火。
 則:16.27    我曾伸手打擊你，削減了你的供應品，把你交給那仇恨你的培肋舍特城邑，她們對你那淫蕩的行為都感到羞恥。
 則:16.28    因你還不滿足，又與亞述人行淫；與他們行淫之後，仍未獲得滿足，
 則:16.29    又與商業之國的加色丁人縱慾淫亂，但你仍得不到滿足。
 則:16.30    你的心是何等的腐化──吾主上主的斷語──你行的這一切，簡直是無恥娼婦之所為!
 則:16.31    你在各街頭為你建築高台，在各廣場上建立丘壇，但你並不像娼妓只為獲得淫資，
 則:16.32    卻是一個淫婦，雖有丈夫，仍接納外人。
 則:16.33    對妓女都給以纏頭，但你卻把纏頭給你的情人，吸引他們從各方來與你行淫。
 則:16.34    關於你，你行淫正與其他婦女相反，沒有人追求你行淫，人不給你淫資，而你卻拿出淫資給人：這就是你與人相反的地方。
 則:16.35    [淫婦所受之罰]  為此，你這淫婦，聽上主的話罷!
 則:16.36    吾主上主這樣說：因為你暴露了你的下身，揭開了你的裸體，同你的情人，同你的醜惡之神行淫，更因為你把子女的血獻給它們；
 則:16.37    為此，看，我要聚集你所戀愛的情人，你所愛的人，和你所恨的人；我由各方把他們聚集來打擊你，我要在他們前揭開你的裸體，使他們看見你整個的裸體。
 則:16.38    我要照姦婦和流血的女人的案件裁判你，對你發洩憤怒和妒火。
 則:16.39    我要把你交在他們手中，他們要破壞你的高台，蕩平你的丘壇，剝下你的衣服，奪去你的裝飾，赤身露體地拋棄你。
 則:16.40    他們還要召集聯軍來攻打你，用石頭砸死你，用刀劍把你凌遲，
 則:16.41    放火燒你的房舍，在眾婦女前裁判你。我要這樣停止你的淫亂，使你再也不能贈送淫資。
 則:16.42    如此，我就平息了我向你發的憤怒，我的妒火也要遠離你，我要寧靜，不再發怒。
 則:16.43    因為你不追念你幼年的日子，反在這些事上惹我憤怒；看，我要把你的行為報復在你頭上──吾主上主的斷語──使你再不與你所有的醜惡之物行淫。
 則:16.44    [選民比索多瑪人更壞]  凡說格言的必以格言指著你說：有其母，必有其女!
 則:16.45    你真不愧是你母親的女兒，因為她憎嫌了自己的丈夫和子女；你也不愧是你姊妹們的姊妹，因為她們也憎嫌了自己的丈夫和子女；你們的母親是赫特人，你們的父親是阿摩黎人﹖
 則:16.46    你的姐姐是撒瑪黎雅，她和她所有的女兒住在你的北面；你的妹妹是索多瑪，她和她所有的女兒住在你的南面。
 則:16.47    你沒有走她們所走的路，沒有行她們所行的醜事，為時很短；但後來你在你的一切行為上比她們更壞。
 則:16.48    我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──你的妹妹索多瑪和她的女兒沒有行過像你和你的女兒們所行的事。
 則:16.49    你的妹妹索多瑪的罪惡是：她和她的女兒生活奢華，飲食豐富，安享太平，卻沒有伸手扶助遭難和貧窮的人，
 則:16.50    妄自尊大，在我面前行了醜惡的事；我一看見，就把她們予以消除。
 則:16.51    連撒瑪黎雅也沒有犯過你一半的罪過，你行的敗德之事更甚於她們；由於你行了這樣多的醜惡，使你的姐姐卻顯得比你更正義。
 則:16.52    現今，你應當承受你罪惡的羞辱，因為你好像為了你的姊妹作了擔保人，因為你所犯的罪過比她們犯的更重，使她們顯得比你更正義；現今，你應當害羞，承受羞辱，因為你使你的姊妹顯得更正義。
 則:16.53    [預言以色列民與萬民復興]  我要改變她們的命運：即索多瑪和她女兒們的命運，撒瑪黎雅和她女兒們的命運，同時我也改變你在她們中的命運；
 則:16.54    為叫你承受你應受的羞辱時，你對自己所行的一切自覺慚愧，可使她們略得寬慰。
 則:16.55    那時你的妹妹索多瑪和她的女兒們，要恢復原狀，撒瑪黎雅和她的女兒們也要恢復原狀，同時你和你的女兒也要恢復原狀。
 則:16.56    當你心高氣傲時，你的妹妹索多瑪在你的口中不是有過臭名嗎﹖
 則:16.57    但這是在暴露你的裸體之前。現今你卻成了厄東的女兒們及其四鄰，並培肋舍特的女兒們辱罵的對象，她們在四周都嘲笑你。
 則:16.58    你應承當你淫蕩和醜行的報應──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:16.59    吾主上主這樣說：因為你輕視了誓言，破壞了盟約，我要照你所行的對待你；
 則:16.60    然而我還紀念同你在你青年的時日所立的盟約，並且還要同你結一個永久的盟約。
 則:16.61    當你收納比你年長的姐姐和比你年幼的妹妹，我把她們交給你作你的女兒時，你要想起你的行為，自覺羞愧，但這並不是出於與你所立的盟約。
 則:16.62    我要與你重訂盟約，你要承認我是上主，
 則:16.63    為的是當我寬恕你所行的一切時，你一回想就慚愧，面對這恥辱再不敢開口──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:17.1     [大鷹比喻]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:17.2     「人子，你要向以色列家族說寓言，講比喻。
 則:17.3     你應宣講說：吾主上主這樣說：有一隻大鷹，翅膀龐大，翅翼廣闊，羽毛豐滿，異彩燦爛，飛到黎巴嫩，啄下香柏的樹梢，
 則:17.4     折下了嫩枝的尖端，帶到貿易的地方，安放在商賈的城中。
 則:17.5     牠又取了本地的種子，種植在苗圃中，把它栽種在多水之旁，有如栽植柳樹。
 則:17.6     它果然長起，成了一棵蔓延而軀幹矮小的葡萄樹；蔓子向鷹伸展，根子向下生長；它遂成了一棵葡萄樹，生出蔓子，長出枝子。
 則:17.7     又有另一隻大鷹，翅膀龐大，羽毛豐滿；看，這裏葡萄樹往牠那裏伸展自己的根子，也把枝子蔓延到牠那裏，想獲得比在被栽植的園圃中更多的滋潤。
 則:17.8     但它原是種植在多水的肥田中，為生長枝蔓，結出果實，成為一棵茂盛的葡萄樹。
 則:17.9     你應宣講：吾主上主這樣說：它能茂盛嗎﹖那鷹豈不是要拔出它的根子，啄下它的果實，使正在生出的枝葉枯萎；為拔出它的根子，並不需要強有力的手和眾多的人。
 則:17.10    它雖被栽植，但豈能茂盛﹖東風一吹來，豈不全要枯萎﹖它必在生長的園圃中枯萎。」
 則:17.11    [比喻的釋義]  上主的話又傳給我說：
 則:17.12    「請向這叛逆的家族說：你們明白不明白這有什麼意思﹖你要說：看，巴比倫王來到耶路撒冷，捉住城中的君王和官員，把他穿了王室的一個後裔同他立了約叫他宣了誓帶到巴比倫來見他。
 則:17.13    他挑選了王室的一個後裔，同他立了約，叫他宣了誓；以後擄走了那地的貴族，
 則:17.14    為使那王國衰微，不再有野心，使她遵守盟約，得以生存。
 則:17.15    但是耶路撒冷的君王卻背叛了他，派使臣到埃及去，要求給他戰馬和大軍。他作了這事，豈能順利獲得救援﹖他破壞了盟約，豈能幸免逃脫﹖
 則:17.16    我指著我的生命起誓：──吾主上主的斷語──他必要死在立他為王者的地方，即巴比倫，因為他沒有尊重自己的誓言，破壞了同他所立的盟約。
 則:17.17    當人們堆起高台，建造雲梯，屠殺許多生靈時，法郎卻沒有率領大軍，也沒有召集人馬來協助他作戰。
 則:17.18    他既然不尊重誓言，破壞了盟約，舉手宣誓之後，而又行了這一切，他決不會逃脫。
 則:17.19    因此，吾主上主這樣說：我指著我的生命起誓：因為他輕視了我的誓言，破壞了我的盟約，報復必臨在他的頭上。
 則:17.20    我要在他上面張開羅網，叫他陷在我的網中而被逮捕；以後帶他到巴比倫去，由於他背叛我的罪過，我要在那裏栽判他。
 則:17.21    他軍中所有的精兵都要亡於刀下，剩餘的逃散到四方。那時你們便要承認是我上主說了這話。」
 則:17.22    [論默西亞的預言]  吾主上主這樣說：「我要親自由高大的香柏樹梢上取下一枝條，從嫩枝的尖上折下一根嫩芽，親自把它栽植在高山峻嶺之上，
 則:17.23    栽植在以色列的高山上，它要生長枝葉，結出果實，成為一棵高大的香柏；各種飛鳥要棲在它下，棲在他枝葉的蔭影之下。
 則:17.24    如此，田野間的一切樹木都承認我是上主，都知道我曾使高大的樹矮小，使矮小的樹高大，使綠樹枯萎，使枯木發綠，我上主言出必行。
  
 則:18.1     [行善者生作惡者死]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:18.2     「在以色列地區內，你們有這樣流行的俗話說：『祖先吃了酸葡萄，而子孫的牙酸倒』這話有什麼意思﹖
 則:18.3     我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──在以色列決不能再容許這俗話流行。
 則:18.4     所有的生命都屬於我，祖先的生命與子孫的生命全屬於我；誰犯罪，誰喪亡。
 則:18.5     一個人若正義，必行公道正義的事。
 則:18.6     他不上山吃祭物，不舉目瞻仰以色列家族的偶像，不污辱近人的妻子，不接近經期中的婦女，
 則:18.7     不欺壓任何人，清還債戶的抵押，不搶劫，施給饑餓者食物，給赤身者衣穿，
 則:18.8     不放重利，不取息金，使自己的手遠避邪惡，在人與人之間執行公正的審斷，
 則:18.9     遵行我的法度，謹守我的誡命，行事忠信：這樣的人纔是正義的，必得生存──吾主的斷語──
 則:18.10    倘若這人生了一個兒子，性暴好殺，只行這類的事；
 則:18.11    對上述的事不但不作，反而上山吃祭物，污辱近人的妻子，
 則:18.12    欺壓貧窮無告的人，搶劫，不清還抵押，舉目瞻仰偶像，行醜惡之事，
 則:18.13    放重利，取利息：這樣的人決不能生存，因為他行了這些醜事，必要喪亡，他的血債必由他自己來負。
 則:18.14    倘若這人生了一個兒子，這兒子雖看見了他父親所行的一切罪過，但考慮之後，卻未依照去做；
 則:18.15    不在山上吃祭物，不舉目瞻仰以色列家族的偶像，不污辱近人的妻子，
 則:18.16    不欺壓，不索取抵押，不搶劫，施給饑餓者食物，給赤身者衣穿，
 則:18.17    使自己的手戒絕邪惡，不取重利和利息，謹守我的法律，遵行我的法度：這人必不因他父親的罪而喪亡，必得生存。
 則:18.18    至於他的父親，由於暴行，搶劫，在自己人民中從未行過善。看，他必因自己的罪而喪亡。
 則:18.19    你們或問：兒子為什麼不承當父親的罪過﹖因為兒子遵行法律和正義，謹守了我一切法度，而一一遵行，他必得生存。
 則:18.20    誰犯罪，誰就該喪亡；兒子不承當父親的罪過，父親不承當兒子的罪過；義人的正義歸於義人自己，惡人的邪惡也歸於惡人自己。
 則:18.21    若惡人悔改，遠離所犯的罪過，遵守我的法度，遵行我的法律和正義，必得生存，不至喪亡。
 則:18.22    他所行的一切邪惡必被遺忘；他必因所行的正義而得生存。
 則:18.23    我豈能喜歡惡人的喪亡﹖──吾主上主的斷語──我豈不更喜歡他離開舊道而得生存﹖
 則:18.24    若義人離棄了正義而行惡，一如惡人所慣行的醜惡，他豈能生存﹖他行過的正義必被遺忘，因為他背信違約，犯了罪過，必要喪亡。
 則:18.25    你們或說：上主的作法不公平! 以色列家族，請聽我說：是我的作法不公平嗎﹖豈不是你們的作法不公平﹖
 則:18.26    若是義人離棄正義而行惡，因而喪亡，是因為他所行的惡而喪亡。
 則:18.27    若惡人遠離他所行的惡事，而遵行法律和正義，必能保全自己的生命，
 則:18.28    因為他考慮之後，離棄了所行的一切惡事，他必生存，不至喪亡。
 則:18.29    若以色列家族還說：吾主的作法不公平。以色列家族!是我的作法不公平嗎﹖豈不是你們的作法不公平﹖
 則:18.30    [勸充軍者改惡遷善]  以色列家族!我要照各人的行為裁判你們──吾主上主的斷語──你們應回心轉意，離開你們的一切罪惡，避免它們再做你們犯罪的絆腳石。
 則:18.31    由你們身上拋契一切得罪我的惡行罷!你們應改造一個新心，一種新的精神!以色列家族，為何你們偏要喪亡﹖
 則:18.32    因為我不喜歡任何人喪亡──吾主上主的斷語──你們回心轉意罷!你們必得生存!
  
 則:19.1     [母獅與幼獅的寓言]  你應為以色列的君王唱一篇哀歌，
 則:19.2     說：「你的母親原像什麼﹖她像群獅中的一隻牝獅，臥在壯獅中養大了幼獅。
 則:19.3     牠養大了一隻幼小的。牠就長成了壯獅，學會了撕裂獵物，吞噬人類。
 則:19.4     列國於是下令追捕牠，牠遂在她們所設的陷阱中被捕，人便用鼻環把牠牽到埃及地。
 則:19.5     母獅見自己所等待的，所希望的落了空，就另取了一隻幼獅，使牠成為壯獅。
 則:19.6     牠在群獅中徘徊，成了壯獅，學會了撕裂獵物，吞噬人類。
 則:19.7     牠把裂物帶到自己的穴中，恐嚇羊群，那地方和居民對牠的吼聲，無不驚懼。
 則:19.8     於是各國由四周各地追蹤牠，設下羅網捕捉牠，終於在她們的陷阱中被捕。
 則:19.9     然後給牠帶上鼻環，把牠裝在籠中，將他解送到巴比倫王那裏，將牠囚禁在獄中，免得在以色列的山上再聽到牠的吼聲。
 則:19.10    [葡萄樹的寓言]  你的母親像園中的一棵葡萄樹，栽植在水旁，因為水多，果實纍纍，枝葉繁茂。
 則:19.11    她生出一根粗壯的枝條，可作統治者的權杖，它的軀幹高大，超過其他的枝葉。因它身量高大，在密茂的枝葉中，也可以見到。
 則:19.12    但是在狂怒中，它竟被拔出，拋棄在地上，東風吹乾了它的果實，它粗壯的枝幹被折斷而乾枯，為火所焚燒。
 則:19.13    現今它被栽植在沙漠中，在那枯燥乾旱的地方。
 則:19.14    由枝梢上冒出一團火，焚燒了它的枝葉和果實，沒有給它留下一根粗壯的枝條，作統治者的權杖。」這是一篇哀歌，可為追悼之用。
  
 則:20.1     [斥責以民在埃及犯的罪]  七年五月十日，有些以色列長老前來求問上主，他們坐在我面前。
 則:20.2     上主的話傳給我說：「
 則:20.3     人子，你要向以色列長老發言，對他們說：吾主上主這樣說：你們是為求問我而來的嗎﹖我指著我的生命起誓：我決不讓你們求問──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:20.4     人子，你應開庭審問他們，叫他們知道他們祖先的醜惡。
 則:20.5     你向他們說：吾主上主這樣說：在我揀選以色列之日，便向雅各伯的後裔舉手起誓，並在埃及地顯示給他們，向他們舉手起誓說：我是上主，你們的天主。
 則:20.6     在那一天，我曾向他們舉手起誓，要領他們出離埃及地，到我早給他們揀選的流奶流蜜的地方去，那是普世最肥美的地方。
 則:20.7     那時我向他們說：你們每人都該拋棄自己最喜愛的偶像，不要為埃及的神像所玷污：我是上主，你們的天主；
 則:20.8     但他們竟背棄我，不肯聽從我，沒有人拋棄自己所喜愛的偶像，也沒有人丟開埃及的神像。那時我本想在他們身上發洩我的憤怒，在埃及地域向他們盡洩我的怒氣。
 則:20.9     然而我為了我的名沒有這樣作，免得我的名在異民眼前，即在他們居留的地方，受到褻瀆，因為我曾在他們眼前顯示給他們，要領我的百姓離開埃及地。
 則:20.10    [在曠野犯的罪過]  我引他們離開埃及地，領他們到了曠野，
 則:20.11    給他們頒佈了我的誡命，給他們啟示了我的法律：凡遵守那些法律的，便可賴以生存。
 則:20.12    我還給他們規定了我的安息日，作為我與他們中間的記號，為承認我就是祝聖他們的上主。
 則:20.13    但是以色列家族在曠野中背棄了我，沒有奉行我的法度，輕視了我的法律，即遵行的人可賴以生存的法律，並對我的安息日大加褻瀆；那時我本想在他們身上發洩我的憤怒，在曠野中消滅他們。
 則:20.14    然而我為了我的名，沒有這樣作，免得我的名在異民前受褻瀆，因為我曾在異民眼前將他們引領出來。
 則:20.15    甚至在曠野中我也親自向他們舉手起過誓，不再領他們進入我曾賜給他們那流奶流蜜之地，即普世最肥美的地方；
 則:20.16    因為他們拋棄了我的法律，沒有奉行我的法度，並且褻瀆了我的安息日，因為他們的心隨從了他們的偶像；
 則:20.17    但是我的眼睛還憐視了他們，沒有擊殺他們，也沒有在曠也中消滅他們。
 則:20.18    以後，我在曠野中向他們的後代說：你們不要追隨你們祖先的習慣，不要遵行他們的慣例，也不要為他們的偶像所玷污。
 則:20.19    我是上主你們的天主；你們應奉行我的法度，謹守我的法律，要一一履行；
 則:20.20    要聖化我的安息日，作為我與你們之間的記號，承認我是上主，你們的天主。
 則:20.21    然而他們的後代也背棄了我，沒有奉行我的法度，也沒有遵守我的法律，即遵行的人可賴以生存的法律，並且也褻瀆了我的安息日。我本想在他們身上發洩我的憤怒，在曠野中盡洩我的怒氣，
 則:20.22    但是為了我的名我縮回了手，沒有那樣作，免得我的名在異民前受到褻瀆，因為我剛由他們面前將他們領出來。
 則:20.23    並且在曠野中我也親自向他們舉手起過誓，要將他們分散在異民中，將他們放逐在各國中；
 則:20.24    因為他們沒有遵行我的法律，且輕視了我的法度，褻瀆了我的安息日，他們的眼目轉向了他們的祖先的偶像。
 則:20.25    為此，我容許他們有不良的法度，和不能賴以生存的法律；
 則:20.26    並使他們因自己的祭獻成為不潔，讓他們將頭胎所生的，予以焚化祭祀，為使他們滅絕；如此，他們要承認我是上主。
 則:20.27    [在客納罕犯的罪過]  人子，為此你應告訴以色列家族，向他們說：吾主上主這樣說：你們的祖先，連在這事上也褻瀆了我，對我背信違約：
 則:20.28    當我引領他們進入曾向他舉手誓許要賜給他們的地域時，他們無論看見那一座高丘，那一棵密茂的樹木，就在那裏祭殺犧牲，在那裏獻上甘飴的馨香，並在那裏行奠酒禮。
 則:20.29    我曾向他們說：「高丘」算是什麼﹖你們竟往那裏去；直到今日人還叫那地方為「巴瑪。」
 則:20.30    為此你要告訴以色列家族：吾主上主這樣說：你們仍追隨你們祖先的行徑而玷污自己，仍同他們的邪神犯姦淫；
 則:20.31    你們仍奉獻供物，火化你們的子女，為了你們的一切偶，像使自己受玷污直到今日。以色列家族，我還能讓你們求我嗎﹖我指著我的生命起誓：──吾主上主的斷語──我決不讓你們求問。
 則:20.32    [以民的淨化]  你們幻想說：我們要像異民，像各地的的人民一樣敬拜木石，你們心中所想的決不能成功!
 則:20.33    我指著我的生命起誓：──吾主上主的斷語──我必以強力的手，伸出的臂，暴發怒氣，統治你們。
 則:20.34    我必以強力的手，伸出的臂，暴發的怒氣，把你們由萬民中領出，由你們所散居的各地聚集起來；
 則:20.35    把你們引領到異民的曠野中，在那裏面對面地懲罰你們。
 則:20.36    我怎樣在埃及地的曠野中，懲罰了你們的祖先，也怎樣懲罰你們──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:20.37    我要使你們在我的杖下經過，引你們受盟約的束縛。
 則:20.38    我要從你們中分別出那些反叛和背棄我的人，我也要將他們由流徙之地領出，但是他們卻不得進入以色列地域；如此你們必承認我是上主。
 則:20.39    [以民淨化後歸依上主]  你們以色列家族，吾主上主這樣說：你們每人去崇拜自己的偶像罷!可是你們終於要聽從我，不再以你們的祭獻和偶像來褻瀆我的聖名，
 則:20.40    因為在我的聖山上，在以色列的高山上──吾主上主的斷語──凡住在本地的以色列家族，都要在那裏事奉我。我要在那裏悅納你們，在那裏等待你們的祭品，和你們一切聖物中最優美的祭物。
 則:20.41    當我把你們由異民中領出來，由你們所散居的各地聚集起來時，我要悅納你們，好像甘飴的馨香；如此，藉著你們，我在異民眼前顯為神聖。
 則:20.42    當我引領你們進入以色列地域時，即我舉手起誓要賜給你們祖先的那地方時，你們必承認我是上主。
 則:20.43    在那裏你們記起你們的行為，及所有玷污自己的行事，你們自己對所作的一切醜惡，也必感到厭惡。
 則:20.44    以色列家族，為了我的名，我沒有照你們的惡行和敗壞的行為對待你們：如此，你們該承認我是上主──吾主上主的斷語。』
  
 則:21.1     [懲罰猶大]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:21.2     「人子，你轉面向南，向南方發言，講預言攻斥乃革布地方的樹林，
 則:21.3     向乃革布的樹林說：你聽上主的話罷!吾主上主這樣說：看，我要在你那裏點火，燒盡你那裏所有的綠樹和枯木；燃起的火燄決不熄滅，必由南方到北方燒盡一切。
 則:21.4     凡有血肉的人都看到這火是我上主點燃的，決不能撲滅。」
 則:21.5     我遂喊說：「哎，吾主上主啊!他們評論我說：這人只會說寓言!」
 則:21.6     「[懲罰以民的劍]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:21.7     人子，你轉面向耶路撒冷，發言攻斥聖所，講預言攻斥以色列地域，
 則:21.8     向以色列地域說：吾主上主這樣說：看，我要攻擊你，我要拔劍出鞘，剷除你境內的義人和惡人，
 則:21.9     因為我要剷除你境內的義人和惡人，為此，我的劍從鞘內抽出，攻擊由南至北一切有血肉的人；
 則:21.10    這樣，凡有血肉的人都知道：是我，上主拔劍出鞘，決不再放回。
 則:21.11    人子，你應哀歎!應在他們眼前傷心痛苦哀歎。
 則:21.12    假使有人問你說：你為什麼哀歎﹖你就說：是為了一個凶信，當這事來到，所有的心靈必要沮喪，手臂必要無力，精神必要頹唐，膝蓋必要軟弱如水。看，災禍來到時，必將如此──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:21.13    [劍喻巴比倫]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:21.14    「人子，講預言罷!吾主這樣說：你要說：有一把劍：是一把磨快而擦亮的劍。
 則:21.15    磨快了，是為大屠殺；擦亮了，是為閃爍發光。
 則:21.16    把它拿去擦亮，好握在掌中；這把磨快的劍，這把擦亮的劍，是為交在屠殺者的手中。
 則:21.17    人子，你要哀號痛哭，因為劍擊在我百姓身上，砍在以色列的一切首領身上。他們同我的百姓都喪身刀下。為此你應擊股示哀，
 則:21.18    因為已試過一次，這要怎麼辦﹖它連權杖都輕視了，以致不叫它存在──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:21.19    人子，你講預言，且鼓掌罷!那劍將是雙刃的，是屠殺的劍；那把大屠殺的劍向他們揮起，
 則:21.20    叫他們膽顫心驚，死亡的人加多。我將屠殺的劍尖指向他們所有的門戶上：劍擦亮了，是為閃爍；磨快了，是為屠殺。
 則:21.21    你的刀鋒無論轉向何方，或向左，或向右，都應是鋒利的。
 則:21.22    我也要親自鼓掌，以平息我的憤怒：這是我上主說的。」
 則:21.23    [劍指向耶路撒冷]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:21.24    「人子，你應劃出兩條路，叫巴比倫王的劍沿路而來。這兩條路應由一地出發；又劃出一隻手，置於通往城市的道路起點。
 則:21.25    你所劃的路，一條使劍至阿孟子民的辣巴特；一條使劍至猶大的堅城耶路撒冷。
 則:21.26    因為巴比倫王站在岔路上，在兩條路口上占卜、搖籤、求問「忒辣芬，」窺察牲肝。
 則:21.27    在他右手中出現了指向耶路撒冷的籤，他便下令屠殺，吶喊衝鋒，架起攻城門機，堆起高台，建造雲梯。
 則:21.28    可是在曾經發過誓願的以色列子民看來，那籤是假的。但他卻想起了他們的罪過，為使他們俯首就擒。
 則:21.29    為此吾主上主這樣說：因為你們顯露了你們的過犯，在你們的行為上，現出你們的惡行，使我想起了你們的罪惡；你們既然使我想起你們的罪惡，你們必在他們手中俯首就擒。
 則:21.30    你這無恥而萬惡的以色列首領，你的日子到了，犯罪的時候完了。
 則:21.31    吾主上主這樣說：取下頭巾，摘去冠冕，一切都要轉變：卑下的要高陞，崇高的要降低。
 則:21.32    我必要使他的國澈底滅亡，再也不能存在，直到那掌權者來到，我再交給他。」
 則:21.33    [劍指向阿孟]  人子，你應講預言說，吾主上主這樣攻斥阿孟子民和他們的侮辱說：你要說：有一把劍，拔出是為屠殺，磨快是為毀滅，擦亮是為閃爍──
 則:21.34    那時人所給予你的，是虛假的異像，欺騙的占卜──是為砍在作惡犯罪者的脖子上，他們的日子到了，犯罪的時候完了。
 則:21.35    把劍插入鞘內，我要在你受造之地，在你生長之地裁判你。
 則:21.36    我要在你身上發洩我的怒氣，在你身上點起我的怒火，將你交在善於破壞的野蠻人手中。
 則:21.37    你要成為烈火的燃料；你的血要傾流在國中，以後再沒有人記念你，因為我上主說了。」
  
 則:22.1     [耶路撒冷的罪過]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:22.2     「人子，你應開庭裁判這座流人血的城，叫她知道自己的醜惡。
 則:22.3     你應說：吾主上主這樣說：那流人血，使時辰迫近，製造偶像，自染不潔的城，是有禍的!
 則:22.4     因你傾流人血，自負血債；因你製造偶像，自染不潔，致使你的日子已近，你的年限已到；為此，我要使你成為萬民所侮辱，萬邦所恥笑的對象。
 則:22.5     那離你近，離你遠的，都要恥笑你為一惡名多亂的城。
 則:22.6     看，以色列的首領，在你中間各逞其能，傾流人的血。
 則:22.7     在你中間有人輕視父母，在你中間有人壓迫外方人，在你中間也有人欺壓孤兒寡婦。
 則:22.8     你藐視了我的聖物，褻瀆了我的安息日。
 則:22.9     在你中間有人誹謗，好傾流人血。在你中間有人到山上吃祭物，在你中間有人行淫亂。
 則:22.10    在你中間有人揭開父親的下體，在你中間有人玷污行經不潔的婦女。
 則:22.11    在你中間有人同鄰人的妻子行醜惡之事，有人姦污自己的兒媳，有人玷辱自己的姊妹，即父親的女兒。
 則:22.12    在你中間有人接受賄賂，以傾流人血。你收息金，放重利，用強力剝削你的近人，而你竟忘了我──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:22.13    看，對對你所放的重利，對在你中間所流的血債，我要鼓掌。
 則:22.14    在我與你算賬的那天，難道你的心還能忍受，你的手還能堅強﹖我，上主言出必行。
 則:22.15    我要將你驅逐在異民中，將你散佈在各地，消除你的污穢。
 則:22.16    以後在異民眼前，我必再使你做我的產業：如此你要承認我是上主。」
 則:22.17    [以民像渣滓]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:22.18    「人子，以色列家族對我好像是渣滓，他們成了爐中的銅、錫、鐵和鋁，他們都成了銀渣。
 則:22.19    因此吾主上主這樣說：因為你們都成了渣滓，為此，看，我必將你們聚集在耶路撒冷，
 則:22.20    就如把銀、銅、鐵、鉛和錫聚集在煉爐中，在上面吹火，使它們鎔化；照樣，我也要把你們聚集在我的怒火和憤恨中，將你們拋在裏面鎔化。
 則:22.21    我要聚集你們，在你們身上吹起我的怒火，使你們鎔化在耶路撒冷；
 則:22.22    就像銀子在煉爐中鎔化，你們也照樣在城中鎔化：如此，你們就承認我是上主，是我在你們身上發洩了怒火。」
 則:22.23    [以民的罪與當受之罰]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:22.24    「人子，你應對此城說：你是一塊在震怒之日無雨無水之地。
 則:22.25    城中的王侯像司裂獵物的吼獅，他們吞噬人民，搶奪財物和珍寶，增加了城中的寡婦。
 則:22.26    城中司祭違犯我的法律，褻瀆我的聖物，不分別聖與俗，不辨明潔與不潔，且掩目不顧我的安息日，致使我在他們中蒙受褻瀆。
 則:22.27    城中的首長像撕裂獵物的豺狼，傾流人血，殺害人命，以圖謀不義之財。
 則:22.28    城中的先知還為他們掩飾罪過，所見的都是假異象，所說的都是欺詐的預言。他們說：吾主上主這樣說，其實上主並沒有說。
 則:22.29    本地的人民蠻橫強暴，劫奪搶掠，欺壓窮苦貧困的人，迫害外方人，無法無天。
 則:22.30    我在他們中找尋一個能修理城牆的人，能在我面前為保護本地，站在缺口處，免得我去破壞那地方的人；但我沒找到一個。
 則:22.31    為此，我向他們發洩我的怒氣，用我的怒火消滅他們，把他們的行為報復在他們頭上──吾主上主的斷語。
  
 則:23.1     [淫亂兩姊妹喻]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:23.2     「人子，有兩個女人，同是一母的女兒，
 則:23.3     她們在埃及行過淫，年輕時當過娼，在那裏有人撫弄過她們的乳房，在那裏有人糟蹋了她們的童身。
 則:23.4     她們的名字，大的叫敖曷拉，她妹妹叫敖曷里巴。她們本來屬於我，也給我生了子女。至於她們的名字：敖曷拉是指撒瑪黎雅，敖曷里巴是指耶路撒冷。
 則:23.5     [姐姐的罪行]  敖曷拉屬我時，已行邪淫，戀愛了她的情人，鄰邦亞述人，
 則:23.6     即那穿紫紅衣服的將領和公卿，全是英俊的青年，善於騎馬的騎士。
 則:23.7     於是她與所有的亞述青年行淫，並為她所戀愛的情人及其偶像所玷污。
 則:23.8     但她仍沒有放棄埃及的淫蕩，因為他們在她青年時曾同她共寢過，糟蹋過她的童身，在她身上發洩過淫慾。
 則:23.9     為此我把她交在她情人手中，即她所熱戀的亞述人手中。
 則:23.10    他們必要揭露她的私處，擄去她的子女，用刀把她殺死：如此，因所加於她身上的懲罰，她成了婦女的警戒。
 則:23.11    [妹妹的罪行]  她妹妹敖曷里巴雖看見了這一切，但她的情慾更甚於她姐姐，她的淫亂也遠超過她姐姐的淫亂。
 則:23.12    她也戀愛那些身為將領公卿的鄰邦亞述子民，他們都是衣著華美，善於騎馬的騎士，而且都是英俊的青年。
 則:23.13    我也見了她受玷污，她們兩的行徑完全一樣。
 則:23.14    她的淫行有增無減。當她看見繪畫在牆上的人──用丹青繪畫的加色丁人像，
 則:23.15    腰間束著佩帶，頭上纏著突出的頭巾，都有軍官的模樣，相似巴比倫人，加色丁即是他們的出生地──
 則:23.16    她的眼一看見，就愛上了他們，遣派使者往加色丁，到他們那裏去。
 則:23.17    巴比倫人一來到她那裏，登上愛情的床，行了淫，玷污了她；她所玷污之後，遂即厭棄了他們。
 則:23.18    她既暴露了自己的淫行，揭開了自己的私處，因此我也厭棄她，如同厭棄她姐姐一樣。
 則:23.19    她又想念年輕時在埃及行淫的日子，遂增強了她的淫慾。
 則:23.20    她仍戀愛體壯似驢，精足似馬的情人。
 則:23.21    於是你渴望你年輕時的淫行，那時埃及人曾撫摸過你的胸懷，撫弄過你青春的乳房。
 則:23.22    [妹妹應受的懲罰]  因此，敖曷里巴!吾主上主這樣說：看，我要鼓動你所厭棄的情人來攻擊你，引他們從四周來攻擊你，
 則:23.23    即巴比倫人和一切加色丁人，培科得、芍亞和科亞，以及一切同他們聯合的亞述人，英俊的青年，一切長官和公卿、軍官和將領，一切善於騎馬的人。
 則:23.24    他們率領大軍、車輛和輜重車，大隊士卒，都佩著甲、盾和盔，由四周攻擊你。我讓他們處罰你，照他們的法律判決你。
 則:23.25    如此，我要在你身上發洩我的妒火，讓他們以憤怒待你，割去你的鼻子和耳朵；其餘的都死於刀下；他們還要擄去你的子女，餘下的都為火燒死。
 則:23.26    他們還要剝光你的衣服，奪去你的裝飾品。
 則:23.27    這樣，我才消除你心中的淫蕩，和由埃及地開始的淫行，使你再不敢舉目看他們，再不想念埃及。
 則:23.28    因為吾主上主這樣說：看，我要將你交在你所惱恨的人手中，和你所厭惡的人手中。
 則:23.29    他們要以惱恨對待你，奪去你的一切財物，赤身露體的拋棄你：因此你放蕩的私處，好色和淫亂都要暴露出來。
 則:23.30    他們這樣對待你，是因為你同異民行了淫，受了他們偶像的玷污。
 則:23.31    你既然走了你姐姐的路，我也要把她的苦爵放在你手中。
 則:23.32    吾主上主這樣說：你要喝你姐姐又深又大，容量又多的苦爵，你要成為恥笑和辱罵的對象，
 則:23.33    你要酩酊大醉，滿懷憂愁。你姐姐撒瑪黎雅的爵是驚惶和毀滅的爵，
 則:23.34    你必要喝，且要喝盡，連渣滓也要吞下；你還要抓破你自己的乳房：這是我所說的──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:23.35    為此吾主上主這樣說：因為你忘了我，把我拋在背後，你也要親自承擔你好色和淫亂的懲罰。」
 則:23.36    [兩姊妹必受情人之害]  上主對我說：「人子，你要審判敖曷拉和敖曷里巴，向她們說明她們的醜惡：
 則:23.37    她們犯了姦淫，手上帶著殺人的血，同偶像犯了姦淫，還焚化了她們給我所生的子女，祭祀偶像。
 則:23.38    此外，她們還對我行了這事：在那一天她們還玷污了我的聖所，褻瀆了我的安息日，
 則:23.39    因為當她們給她們的偶像祭殺自己的子女時，同一天也進了我的聖所，加以褻瀆。的確，她們在我聖殿中這樣行了。
 則:23.40    並且他們還想從遠方召人來，便遣使者到他們那裏。看，他們果然來了，你就為了他們而沐浴，畫眼，佩戴珠寶。
 則:23.41    以後你坐在華麗的床上，床前安放桌子，上面擺上本來獻給我的香和油。
 則:23.42    在她那裏可以聽到曠野來的群眾的歡樂嘈雜聲，他們在她們姐妹的腕上帶上鐲子，在她們頭上戴上花冠。
 則:23.43    那時我就關於這老淫婦說：現今她當然又要去行淫。
 則:23.44    的確，人都到她們那裏，就如到娼妓那裏，也照樣到淫婦敖曷拉和敖曷里巴那裏。
 則:23.45    但正義的人必要裁判她們，如裁判姦婦和流血的人，因為她們是姦婦，血還在她們手上。
 則:23.46    因為吾主上主這樣說：我要使許多人來攻擊她們，叫她們飽受虐待並遭受搶掠。
 則:23.47    這群人要用石頭砸死她們，用刀砍碎她們，屠殺她們的子女，火燒她們的房屋。
 則:23.48    如此，我要把淫亂由此地剷除，使所有的婦女受到警戒，不敢效法你們的淫行。
 則:23.49    我要使你們的淫行歸在你們身上。承擔敬拜偶像的罪罰：如此，你們纔承認我是上主。
  
 則:24.1     [銹鍋的寓言]  九年十月十日，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:24.2     「人子，你要記下今天的日期，就是在今天這一日，巴比倫王開始圍困耶路撒冷。
 則:24.3     你要向叛逆的家族講一個寓言，給他們說：吾主上主這樣說：你要安放一口鍋，安好後，裏面倒上水，
 則:24.4     把肉塊、後腿和肩上的好肉放到鍋裏，用最好的骨頭填滿，
 則:24.5     再放上最好的羊肉，然後在鍋下堆起木柴，烹煮肉塊，連其中的骨頭也煮爛。
 則:24.6     因此吾主上主這樣說：負血債的城，有銹而銹不退的鍋，是有禍的!從鍋中一塊一塊地取出來，不必拈鬮。
 則:24.7     因為在其中所流的血，是流在光滑的石崖上，而沒有流在土中，用塵土掩蓋；
 則:24.8     為的是激起我的憤怒，施行報復，所以我也使她的血流在光滑的石頭上，不得掩蓋。
 則:24.9     因此吾主上主這樣說：負血債的城是有禍的!我要親自使火堆擴大。
 則:24.10    你再加添木柴，點上火，把肉塊煮化，把湯熬乾，把骨頭烤焦；
 則:24.11    然後把空鍋放在火炭上燒熱，把銅燒紅，把其中的污穢燒淨，把鍋銹燒盡。
 則:24.12    但因鍋銹過多，雖用盡氣力，火也燒不掉。
 則:24.13    這就是你淫行的污穢，我原設法使你潔淨，你卻不願意潔淨；那麼，直到我在你身上來洩盡我的憤怒，你的污穢得不到潔淨。
 則:24.14    我上主言出必行，決不退縮，決不憐恤，決不翻悔。我必照你的行徑，照你的行為審判你──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:24.15    [妻死的徵兆]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:24.16    「人子，看，我要把你眼中所喜悅的猝然奪去，但你不可哀悼，不可哭泣，不可流淚，
 則:24.17    只可默默歎息，卻不可哀悼死者。頭上仍纏著頭巾，腳上仍穿著鞋，不可遮蓋鬍鬚，也不可吃喪食。」
 則:24.18    早晨我向百姓講了這事，晚上我的妻子便死了；次日早晨我便照吩咐給我的作了。
 則:24.19    百姓問我說：「你能不能告訴我們：你這樣作對我們有什麼意思﹖」
 則:24.20    我回答他們說：「上主的話傳給我說：
 則:24.21    你要告訴以色列家族：吾主上主這樣說：看，我要把我的聖所，即你們所誇耀的勢力，眼目所喜愛，心靈所繫戀的地方，加以褻瀆，你們所遺留下的子女要死於刀下。
 則:24.22    那時你們要作我所作的：不遮蓋你們的鬍鬚，不吃喪食，
 則:24.23    你們的頭仍纏著頭巾，腳仍穿著鞋，不舉哀，不哭泣，但因你們的罪惡而消沉，而彼此傷歎。
 則:24.24    厄則克耳為你們是一個預兆：當那事來到時，你們要照他所作的去作。那時你們必承認我是上主。」
 則:24.25    [先知任務的轉變]  人子，在我從他們中取去他們的堡壘，即他們所誇耀的喜樂，眼目所喜愛，心靈所繫戀的子女的那一天，
 則:24.26    那天必有一個逃難的來到你這裏，報告你這消息。
 則:24.27    在那一天你要向那逃難的開口說話，不再作啞吧。這樣，你為他們是一個預兆，那時他們將承認我是上主。」
  
           第二編　論列國滅亡的預言(25-32)
  
 則:25.1     [阿孟的滅亡]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:25.2     「人子，你面向阿孟子民，講預言攻擊他們，
 則:25.3     向阿孟子民說：你們聽吾主上主的話!吾主上主這樣說：因為你譏笑我的聖殿說：『哈哈!聖殿可受了褻瀆!』對以色列地域說：『它可荒蕪了!』對猶大家族說：『他們可被擄去了!』
 則:25.4     為此，看，我要將你交給東方的子民作為產業，他們要在你那裏設立自己的帳幕，在那裏定居，吃你的果實，喝你的奶。
 則:25.5     我要使辣巴成為牧放駱駝之地，使阿孟人的地方成為羊棧；如此你們必承認我是上主。
 則:25.6     因為吾主上主這樣說：因為你們對以色列地方所遭受的一切，曾手舞足蹈，滿心喜歡；
 則:25.7     因此，看，我要伸手打擊你，將你交給異族作為掠物；我要從人民中剷除你，由各國中消滅你；我要使你滅絕；如此，你必承認我是上主。」
 則:25.8     [摩阿布的滅亡]  吾主上主這樣說：「因為摩阿布【和色依爾】說：看猶大家族與所有異民並無不同!
 則:25.9     為此，看，我要暴露摩阿布的山區，以及她邊垂的城池，暴露她全國的精華，如貝特耶史摩特，巴耳默紅和克黎雅塔殷。
 則:25.10    我要將他們同阿孟子民一起交給東方的子民作為產業，使他們在異民中再不被人提及。
 則:25.11    我要向摩阿布施行懲罰：如此，他們必承認我是上主。」
 則:25.12    [厄東的滅亡]  吾主上主這樣說：「因為厄東曾對猶大家族復仇雪恥，因對他們復仇而犯了重罪；
 則:25.13    為此，吾主上主這樣說：我要伸手打擊厄東，將人與走獸由境內剷除，使她成為曠野，從特曼到德丹的人都要死於刀下。
 則:25.14    我要藉我的百姓以色列的手替我報復厄東，他們要按我的怒氣和憤恨對待厄東，如此他們便知道這是我的報復──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:25.15    [培肋舍特的滅亡]  吾主上主這樣說：「因為培肋舍特人以極殘忍的報復心來施行報復，為了他們的世仇，企圖消滅以色列；
 則:25.16    為此吾主上主這樣說：我要伸手打擊培肋舍特人，剷除革勒提人，毀滅殘留在海濱的人。
 則:25.17    我要在他們身上以盛怒的懲罰施行嚴厲的報復；當我在他們身上施行報復時，他們便承認我是上主。」
  
 則:26.1     [消滅提洛的決定]  十一年十一月一日，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:26.2     「人子，因為提洛譏笑耶路撒冷說：『哈哈!眾民的門戶已破壞，已轉讓與我；我要富強，她反要荒蕪。』
 則:26.3     為此吾主上主這樣說：提洛，看，我要攻擊你，引領眾民像滾來的海潮來攻擊你。
 則:26.4     他們要破壞提洛的城牆，蕩平角樓，而我要掃除其中的塵土，使她成為光滑的磐石，
 則:26.5     作為海中曬網的地方：這是我，上主親自說的──吾主上主的斷語──她必成為異民的掠物。
 則:26.6     那在陸地上的屬城，必毀於刀劍：如此，他們要承認我是上主。
 則:26.7     [拿步高毀滅提洛]  因為吾主上主這樣說：看，我要使王中之王，巴比倫王拿步高，從北方率領戰馬、戰車、騎兵和龐大的聯軍來攻打提洛。
 則:26.8     他要用刀劍屠殺你陸上的屬城，豎起攻你的雲梯，築起攻你的高台，設立攻你的高楯，
 則:26.9     支起破城機撞擊你的城牆，用鐵器擊毀你的角樓。
 則:26.10    你要為他大批戰馬所掀起的塵土所掩蓋，你的城牆要為他的騎兵、車輪和戰車的轟轟聲所震動；當他進入你的城門時，好像進入一座已征服的城。
 則:26.11    他戰馬的鐵蹄要踏遍你的街道，他將用刀劍屠殺你的人民，且把你的神柱推倒在地。
 則:26.12    他們要搶掠你的財富，劫奪你的貨品，破壞你的城垣，拆毀你豪華的宮室，並把你的石頭、木材和瓦礫拋到海中。
 則:26.13    我要使你的歌聲停止，再也聽不到你的琴聲。
 則:26.14    我要使你成為光滑的磐石，成為曬網的乾地；你將永不得重建，因為是我，上主說的──吾主上主的斷語。
 則:26.15    [列國震驚]  吾主上主論提洛這樣說：當屠刀在你中間屠殺之時，受傷者呻吟之際，你傾倒之聲，群島聽了，豈不震動﹖
 則:26.16    所有海上的王子都要由寶座上下來，除去朝服，脫下錦衣，皆為恐怖所籠罩，坐在地上，不停地戰慄，為你而驚駭。
 則:26.17    他們且作哀歌憑弔你說：你這居於水上，海上稱霸的名城，你和你的居民曾威脅過陸上的居民，怎麼滅亡了呢﹖
 則:26.18    現今，群島在你傾覆之日大為震動，海中島嶼為了你的結局，甚為恐懼。
 則:26.19    因為吾主上主這樣說：當我使你成為一座荒蕪，像無人居住的城池時，當我使深淵上升，使大水淹沒你時，
 則:26.20    我要把你推下，與先前下到陰府的古人在一起；我要使你住在極深之處，即住在久已荒蕪之地；與下到陰府的人在一起，以致你再不得返回，在生活的大地上復興。
 則:26.21    我要使你成為恐怖的對象，永不復存在；即便人找你，也永遠再找不到──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:27.1     [提洛像隻豪華的船]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:27.2     「人子，你唱哀歌憑弔提洛，
 則:27.3     向位於海口，同許多島嶼及人民通商的提洛說：吾主上主這樣說：提洛，你曾說過：我是一隻完美華麗的船；
 則:27.4     你的領域伸入海心，你的建築者造成了你的豪華：
 則:27.5     他們用色尼爾的松柏製造了你的舷板，以黎巴嫩的香柏做了你的桅檣，
 則:27.6     以巴商的橡木做了你的櫓槳，用由基廷島運來的松柏做了嵌有象牙的甲板，
 則:27.7     用埃及的繡花麻布做了你的帆幔，作了你的旗幟，用厄里沙島的紫色與朱色的布做了你的船蓬；
 則:27.8     漆冬和阿爾瓦得的居民給你搖櫓，責默爾的技工在你那裏作你的舵手，
 則:27.9     革巴耳的長老和技工在你那裏修理你的漏洞。
 則:27.10    [各國的市場：一切航海的船隻和海員都到你那裏，交易貨物。]  波斯、路丁和普特人在你隊伍中作你的軍人，他們將盾牌和銅盔懸在你中間，增加你的光彩。
 則:27.11    阿爾瓦得和赫肋客子民圍繞在你的城牆上，加瑪得人在你的角樓中；他們把自己的盾，掛在四周的城牆上，使你的華麗更為圓滿。
 則:27.12    塔爾史士因你的財帛豐富，作你的客商以銀、鐵、錫、鉛來與你交易。
 則:27.13    雅汪、突巴耳、默舍客和你通商，以人口和銅器與你交易貨物。
 則:27.14    由托加爾瑪地方，有人以馬、戰馬、騾子來交換貨物。
 則:27.15    德丹人也和你通商，許多島民作你手下的商人，以象牙角和烏木作送給你的貢物。
 則:27.16    阿蘭人因你的出品多，也作你的客商，以紫寶石、紅布、刺繡、細麻、珊瑚和紅瑪瑙與你交換貨物。
 則:27.17    猶大和以色列地也和你通商，以米尼特穀、蠟、蜜、油和香料與你交易貨物。
 則:27.18    大馬士革因你出產多，財帛豐富，也作你的客商，以赫耳朋酒和匝哈爾羊毛與你交易。
 則:27.19    此外丹、雅汪和烏匝耳也與你交易，以鋼鐵、肉桂和香菖蒲交換你的貨物。
 則:27.20    德丹以騎馬的坐墊和你交易。
 則:27.21    阿剌伯和刻達爾的一切酋長也作你手下的商人，以羔羊、山羊和公羊與你交換貨品。
 則:27.22    舍巴和辣阿瑪的買賣人也作你的顧客，以各種上等的香料，各種寶石和黃金和你交換貨品。
 則:27.23    哈郎、加乃、厄登和舍巴的商人，亞述和一切瑪待人也與你通商。
 則:27.24    他們在你的商場上，以華麗的衣服、朱色的外氅、刺繡、花毯、編織的結實繩索與你交易。
 則:27.25    塔爾史士船隻載運你的貨物。
 則:27.26    [提洛滅亡似船沈海底：你在海上滿了載，極其沉重。]  你的槳夫將你划到汪洋大海，東風將你在海中吹毀。
 則:27.27    你的財帛、商品、貨物，你的水手、舵手、船工，同你交易的商人，在你中間的一切戰士，以及在你中間所有的民眾，都在你沉沒之日，溺死海中。
 則:27.28    海岸都因你舵手的狂叫聲而震動。
 則:27.29    所有搖櫓的人、水手和航海的舵手都要離船登岸，
 則:27.30    狂呼吶喊哀弔你，在頭上撒灰，輾轉於塵埃之中，
 則:27.31    並且為你而剃光了頭，穿上苦衣，痛心哭泣，悲痛哀悼你。
 則:27.32    他們在痛苦中，向你唱哀歌，追悼你說：『有誰相似沉沒於海中的提洛﹖
 則:27.33    你的貨品由海中運出時，曾使許多民族滿足；以你大量的財帛和貨物，使陸地上的列王豐富。
 則:27.34    現今你沉入海中，落在海底，你的財物和所有的人，都隨著你而沉沒了。』
 則:27.35    群島所有的居民都為你而驚駭，那裏的列王都極為戰慄，面帶憂色。
 則:27.36    各國的商人都要嗤笑你；你竟成了恐怖的對象，且永遠不復存在。」
  
 則:28.1     [弔提洛王哀歌：第一篇 ]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:28.2     「人子，你要向提洛的王子說：吾主上主這樣說：因為你心高氣傲地說：『我是神，我在海心坐在神位上。』其實，你只是人，而不是神，你心中卻自以為是神。
 則:28.3     看，至於明智，你勝過達尼爾，任何秘密都不能隱瞞你。
 則:28.4     你憑你的智慧和聰明發了財，把金銀儲滿你寶庫。
 則:28.5     你在貿易上憑你的豐富智慧，不斷增加你的財富；因你的財富，你便心高氣傲，
 則:28.6     為此吾主上主這樣說：因為你心中自以為是神，
 則:28.7     為此，看我要率領外方人，即列國最蠻橫的人來攻打你，他們要拔出劍來攻擊你以智慧所得的美麗，玷污你的光華，
 則:28.8     將你拋入深淵，使你在海中遭受慘死。
 則:28.9     在殺戮你的面前，你還敢說『我是神』嗎﹖在擊殺你的人手中，你只是人，而不是神。
 則:28.10    你必在外方人手中死去，像未受割損的人死去一樣：這是我，上主說的──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:28.11    [第二篇]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:28.12    「人子，你要為提洛的王子唱哀歌，哀悼他說：吾主上主這樣說：你原是一個完美的的模型，滿備智慧，十分美觀。
 則:28.13    你曾住在「伊甸」──天主的樂園內，有各種寶石作你的服飾，如赤玉、青玉、金鋼石、橄欖玉、紅瑪瑙、水蒼玉、藍玉、紫寶石、翡翠；衣邊和繡花是用金做的，在你受造的那天，都已準備好了。
 則:28.14    我曾立你為革魯賓，作光耀的守衛，在天主的聖山上，在烈火的石中往來。
 則:28.15    從你受造之日起，你的行為原是齊全的，直到你犯了罪之時。
 則:28.16    因你生意興隆，你就充滿了欺壓，犯了重罪，因此我從天主的山上將你趕走，從烈火石中將你這作守衛的革魯賓剷除。
 則:28.17    你因美麗而心高氣傲，為了你的光耀，你失去了智慧，所以我要把你拋在地上，叫你在列王面前出醜。
 則:28.18    因你罪過眾多，因你經商不公，褻瀆了你的聖所，所以我要使火由你中間冒出，將你燒毀，在眾目昭彰之下，使你成為地上的塵埃。
 則:28.19    萬民中凡認識你的，都因你而驚駭。你將成為恐怖的對象，且永遠不復存在。」
 則:28.20    [漆冬的滅亡]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:28.21    「人子，你應面向漆冬，講預言攻擊她，
 則:28.22    對她說：吾主上主這樣說：漆冬，看，我要攻擊你，在你中間受光榮；當我對她施行懲罰，對她顯示我的聖善時，他們必承認我是上主。
 則:28.23    我要在她境內散發瘟疫，使血傾流在街市上，刀劍由四周向她襲擊，傷亡的人橫臥在她中間：這樣，他們必承認我是上主。
 則:28.24    以色列的四鄰中，為以色列家族再沒有刺人的荊棘和惱人的蒺藜，敢於輕視他們：這樣，他們必承認我是上主。」
 則:28.25    [以民的復興]  吾主上主這樣說：「當我把分散在各民族中的以色列家族聚集起來時，我要在異民前，在他們身上顯示為聖：他們要住在我所賜予我僕人雅各伯的地域內。
 則:28.26    他們要安全地住在那裏，建造房屋，栽植葡萄園；當我向一般輕視過他們的四鄰施行懲罰時，他們必平安地住在那裏。那麼他們必承認我，上主，是他們的天主。」
  
           第一篇論埃及的神諭
  
 則:29.1     十年十月十二日，上主的話傳給我說：「
 則:29.2     人子，你面向埃及王法郎，講預言攻擊他和埃及全國。
 則:29.3     你應發言說：吾主上主這樣說：埃及王法郎，你這臥在河中的大鱷魚!看，我要攻擊你；你曾說過：『河是我的，是我造成的。』
 則:29.4     但是我要用鉤子鉤住你的鰓，使你河中的魚都附在你的鱗上，將你和你河中所有附在你鱗上的魚，從河中拉上來；
 則:29.5     將你和你河中的魚拋在曠野；你要倒斃在地面上，而無人收殮，也無人掩埋；我要把你交給地上的走獸和空中的飛鳥作食物；
 則:29.6     如此，所有埃及的居民便承認我是上主，因為你曾作過支持以色列家族的蘆葦，
 則:29.7     當他們手中握著你時，你就破裂了，刺傷了他們的手掌；他們依靠你時，你就折斷了，使他們的腰顫慄；
 則:29.8     為此，吾主上主這樣說：看，我要使刀臨於你，消滅你境內的人和獸，
 則:29.9     埃及地將成為荒野沙漠：這樣，他們便承認我是上主；因為你說過：『河是我的，是我造成的。』
 則:29.10    為此，看，我要攻擊你和你的河，我要使埃及地，由米革多耳到色威乃，直到雇士邊界，都成為荒野和沙漠。
 則:29.11    人足不再經過那裏，獸蹄也不從那裏踏過；無人居住凡四十年之久。
 則:29.12    我要使埃及地成為荒蕪地中最荒蕪的，使她的城變為荒廢城中最荒廢的，凡四十年之久；我便要把埃及人分散到外邦，散佈在各地。
 則:29.13    因為吾主上主這樣說：過了四十年，我必從各民族中把四散的埃及人聚集起來，
 則:29.14    我要轉變埃及人的命運，領他們回到他們出生的帕特洛斯地方，他們要在那裏成立一個小國。
 則:29.15    在萬國中她是最小的，再也不得高踞萬民之上；我還要減少他們的人數，使她不再統治列國，
 則:29.16    也不再做以色列家族的靠山，卻使以色列記起求救於他們的罪行：如此，他們必承認我是上主。」
  
           第二篇論埃及的神諭
  
 則:29.1     二十七年一月一日，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:29.1     「人子，巴比倫王拿步高為攻打提洛，使自己的軍隊服了重役，他們的頭都禿了肩也磨破了；但是他和他的軍隊為攻打提洛所服的重役，從提洛卻沒有報酬；
 則:29.1     為此吾主上主這樣說：看，我必將埃及地交給巴比倫王拿步高，他要運走她的財富，奪去她的掠物，搶去她的戰利品，作為自己軍隊的報酬。
 則:29.2     我將埃及地賜給他，作為他服役的報酬，因為他們為我而工作──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:29.2     在那一天我要給以色列興起一位大能者，我要使你在他們中間開口：如此他們必承認我是上主。」
  
           第三篇論埃及的神諭
  
 則:30.1     上主的話傳給我說：
 則:30.2     「人子，你要講預言說：吾主上主這樣說：你們應悲哀；禍哉，那一日!
 則:30.3     因為那一日近了，上主的日子近了，那是密雲的日子，是異民的終期。
 則:30.4     刀劍必臨於埃及；傷亡者橫臥在埃及時，恐怖必籠罩著雇士。她的財富必被搶去，她的基礎必被拆毀。
 則:30.5     雇士、普特、路得和一切雜族，利比亞和同他們結盟的本地人，都要喪身刀下。
 則:30.6     上主這樣說：凡支持埃及的人都要喪亡，她驕傲的勢力必要衰落，由米革多耳到色威乃的人，必喪身刀下──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:30.7     她要在荒蕪地帶中，成為最荒蕪的；她的城在荒廢的城中，將成為最荒廢的。
 則:30.8     當我在埃及點火時，凡輔佐她的都要毀滅，那時他們便承認我是上主。
 則:30.9     在那一日，我必派遣使主，乘著船，恐嚇安居的雇士；恐怖必要籠罩他們，如埃及的日子。看，已來到了。
 則:30.10    吾主上主這樣說：我要藉巴比倫王拿步高的手，消滅埃及的民眾。
 則:30.11    他和跟他來的人民，是萬民中最兇殘的；他們被派來，是為破壞此地；他們將拔刀攻打埃及，使此地充滿傷亡的人。
 則:30.12    我要使河流成為乾地，把此地賣給惡人，藉外人的手破壞此地和此地的一切：這是我，上主說的。
 則:30.13    吾主上主這樣說：我必要消滅偶像，使邪神由諾夫絕跡，由埃及再不出現王侯；使恐怖降在埃及地，
 則:30.14    使帕特洛斯變為曠野，在左罕點火，對諾施行懲罰。
 則:30.15    我要向新──埃及的要塞，發洩我的怒氣，剷除諾的民眾。
 則:30.16    我要在埃及點火，新必因恐怖而戰慄，諾必被破壞，諾夫白日遭受敵人攻擊。
 則:30.17    翁及丕貝色特的壯丁必喪身刀下，二城的人都要被擄去。
 則:30.18    當我在塔黑培乃斯打斷埃及的權杖，消滅她驕傲的勢力時，白日將變為黑暗，烏雲籠罩著她，她的女兒也要被擄去。
 則:30.19    當我對埃及施行懲罰時，他們必承認我是上主。」
  
           第四篇論埃及的神諭
  
 則:30.20    十一年一月初七日，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:30.21    「人子，我打斷了埃及王法郎的臂膊，看，沒有人包紮，沒有人敷藥，或用繃帶裹起，使臂膊有力拿劍。
 則:30.22    為此，吾主上主這樣說：看，我要打擊埃及王法郎，打斷他那還有力量的臂膊，使刀由他手中跌落。
 則:30.23    我要將埃及人分散到外邦，把他們散布在各地。
 則:30.24    我必要加強巴比倫王的臂膊，把我的刀放在他手中；我要打斷法郎的臂膊，使他在那人面前呻吟，像受傷的人呻吟一樣。
 則:30.25    我要加強巴比倫王的臂膊，而法郎的臂膊反要衰弱；當我把我的刀交在巴比倫王手中，使他伸向埃及地時，他們便要承認我是上主。
 則:30.26    我要將埃及人分散到外邦，把他們散佈在各地：如此，他們便要承認我是上主。」
  
           第五篇論埃及的神諭
  
 則:31.1     十一年三月一日，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:31.2     「人子，你要向埃及王法郎和他的民眾說：你的偉大相似誰呢﹖
 則:31.3     看，你是一棵黎巴嫩香柏，枝葉美觀，蔭影濃密，枝幹高大，樹梢插入雲霄。
 則:31.4     水使它長大，淵泉使它長高；河水由四周流入栽植它之地，支流灌溉田中其他的樹木。
 則:31.5     為此它的枝幹高過田間的一切樹木，因為水多，生長時枝業繁茂，枝條特長。
 則:31.6     天上的一切飛鳥在它枝幹上築巢，田間的野獸在他的枝葉下生子，各國的人民住在它的蔭影下。
 則:31.7     它的枝葉廣闊，高大華麗，因為它的根深入多水之地。
 則:31.8     天主樂園中的香柏，都不能同它相比，扁柏不及它的枝幹，楓樹不及它的枝椏，天主樂園中所有的樹木都沒有它那樣美麗。
 則:31.9     我使它枝葉茂盛而美麗，致令「伊甸」──天主樂園──中所有的樹木都嫉妒它。
 則:31.10    因此吾主上主這樣說：因它枝幹高大，枝梢插入雲霄，遂因自己高大而心高氣傲。
 則:31.11    我必將它交在列國最強的人手中，他們要任意對待它；我必要因它的罪行而將它剷除；
 則:31.12    列國最兇殘的人必要將它伐倒，把它拋棄在山上；它的枝椏，倒臥在山谷中，枝條折落在一切窪地上；萬國的人民都要離開它的蔭影，而棄捨它；
 則:31.13    天上飛鳥都棲在它倒了的枝幹上，田間的各種野獸都停在它的枝條下，
 則:31.14    這是為使一切有水滋潤的樹木，不要因自己的軀幹高大而自負，不要再讓枝梢插入雲霄，免得各種有水滋潤的樹木，因高聳而自大，因為他們都要歸於死亡，降到陰間，到那些已降入深淵的人子中。
 則:31.15    吾主上主這樣說：在它下到陰府的那天，我要使人哀弔它；為了它我要使深淵閉塞，使江河凝結，洪水停流，使黎巴嫩為它舉哀，使田間所有的樹木因它而枯萎。
 則:31.16    當我使它下到陰府與已在深淵的人在一起時，也使列國因它下墜之聲而戰慄；那時「伊甸」中的各種樹木，黎巴嫩一切有水滋潤的華麗而高大的樹木，在陰間都感到安慰。
 則:31.17    那些在各國住在它蔭影下幫助過它的的人，也隨它下到陰府，同那喪身刀下的人在一起。
 則:31.18    「伊甸」的樹木中，就華麗和高大說，你相似那一棵﹖你也要同「伊甸」的樹木一起被推入陰間，在未受割損的人中，同喪身刀下的人臥在一起：這是指法郎和他所有的人民說的──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:32.1     [第六篇論埃及的神諭]  十一年十二月一日，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:32.2     「人子，你要唱哀歌追悼埃及王法郎，向他說：你曾自比作列國的雄獅，其實你卻似海中的鱷魚，衝入你的河中，用爪攪混了水，弄污了河流。
 則:32.3     吾主上主這樣說：我要藉列國的聯軍向你張開我的羅網，用我的往把你拖上來。
 則:32.4     我要把你丟在地上，拋在田野間，使天上的各種飛鳥落在你身上，使地上的各種野獸吃你個飽。
 則:32.5     我要把你的肉丟在山上，用你的屍首填滿山谷，
 則:32.6     用你的流汁灌溉大地，以你的血灌溉至山邊，以你的腐屍填滿溝壑。
 則:32.7     當你被消滅時，我要遮蔽天空，使星辰也昏暗；以雲彩遮住太陽，使月亮不放光明。
 則:32.8     我要使天上一切照在你身上的光體變為黑暗，使黑暗籠罩你的國土──吾主上主的斷語－－
 則:32.9     當我在列國把你滅亡的消息，傳到你不認識的國家時，我要使許多民族心神憂傷。
 則:32.10    當我在他們面前揮動我的刀劍時，我要使許多民族，為了你而驚駭，使她們的君王驚惶失措；在你傾覆之日，他們每人都為自己的性命而戰慄，
 則:32.11    因為吾主上主這樣說：巴比倫王的刀劍必臨於你。
 則:32.12    我必使你的民眾喪身在眾英雄，即列國中最兇殘之人的刀下；他們必要破壞埃及的光華，消滅她的民眾。
 則:32.13    我要從大水之旁，把她所有的牲畜滅絕，人腳不再攪混此水，獸蹄也不再使水混濁；
 則:32.14    那時，我要澄清他們的水，使他們的河徐徐流下如油一般──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:32.15    當我使埃及地荒蕪，使其他所有的一切荒廢，打擊其中所有居民時，他們必要承認我是上主。
 則:32.16    這是列國女子所要唱的哀歌，她們詠唱此歌憑弔埃及其人民──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:32.17    [第七篇論埃及的神諭]  十二年一月十五日，上主的話傳給我說：
 則:32.18    「人子，你要哀悼埃及的民眾，因為我要將她和各強國的女兒推入陰間，同已下到陰府的人在一起。
 則:32.19    你比誰更華美呢﹖你下去罷!同未受割損的人臥在一起罷!
 則:32.20    他們必倒在喪身刀下的人中，刀已交出，必使她和她的群眾一起喪亡。
 則:32.21    最英勇的戰士和她的同盟，必從陰府中論及她說：他們也下來了，同未受割損的人，同那些喪身刀下的人，臥在一起。
 則:32.22    在那裏有亞述，她的民眾都圍繞著她的墳墓：他們都是被殺而喪身刀下的。
 則:32.23    他們的墳墓位於極深的坑中，她的民眾圍繞著她的墳墓：他們都是被殺而喪身刀下的，他們曾在活人地上，散布過恐怖。
 則:32.24    在那裏有厄藍，她的民眾都圍繞著她的墳墓：他們都是被殺而喪身刀下的，未受割損而降入陰間的；他們曾在活人地上，散布過恐怖，所以他們與已下到深淵的人一同蒙受羞辱。
 則:32.25    在喪亡者中為她安置了床榻，她的民眾圍繞著她的墳墓：他們全是未受割損，喪身刀下的，因為他們曾在活人地上，散布過恐怖，所以被安置在被殺的人中，與已下到深淵的人一同蒙受羞辱。
 則:32.26    在那裏有默舍客和突巴耳，她們的民眾都圍繞著她們的墳墓：他們全是未受割損，喪身刀下的；他們曾在活人地上散布過恐怖。
 則:32.27    他們不得與古代已死的英雄臥在一起，這些人帶著武器降入陰府，人們把他們的刀劍放在他們頭下，盾牌放在他們的骨骸上，因為他們曾在活人地上，散布過恐怖。
 則:32.28    至於你，你要臥在未受割損的人中，同喪身刀下的人在一起。
 則:32.29    在那裏有厄東和她的君王，以及她所有的首長，他們雖然英勇，卻同喪身刀下的人被安置在一起，同未受割損而下到深淵的人臥在一起。
 則:32.30    在那裏有北方的一切首領和所有的漆冬人，他們雖然英勇，令人驚駭，也同被殺者一起下去了；他們同未受割損的人和喪身刀下的臥在一起，與已下到深淵的人一同蒙受羞辱。
 則:32.31    法郎看見那些人，便為自己所有的人民，感到安慰，因為法郎和他的軍隊也都是喪身刀下的──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:32.32    因為他曾在活人地上，散布過恐怖，所以法郎和他所有的人民，也都要臥在未受割損的人中，與喪身刀下的人在一起──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
           第三編　以色列的復興(33-48)
  
 則:33.1     [先知作以民的警衛]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:33.2     人子，你應告訴你民族的子女，向他們說：當我使刀劍臨於一地，那地的百姓就應從自己的人中選出一人，立他作為他們的警衛，
 則:33.3     他一見刀劍臨近那地，就吹號筒，警告人民；
 則:33.4     人民聽見號筒的聲音，若不加戒備；刀劍來了，將他除掉，他的血債應歸他自己承當，
 則:33.5     因為他聽見號聲，而不加戒備，他的血債應由他自己承當，那發警告的必安全無恙。
 則:33.6     警衛若見刀劍來臨，卻不吹號筒，人民因此沒有受到警告；刀劍來了，即便除掉他們中一人，這人雖因自己的罪惡被除掉，但我也要由警衛手中追討他的血債。
 則:33.7     人子，我也這樣立你作以色列家族的警衛；你聽了我口中的話，應代我警告他們。
 則:33.8     為此，當我告訴惡人：『惡人，你必喪亡!』你若不講話，也不警告惡人離開邪道，那惡人雖因自己的罪惡而喪亡，但我要由你手中追討他的血債。
 則:33.9     你若警告惡人叫他離開邪道，但他不肯歸正，離開邪道，他必因自己的罪惡而喪亡，你卻救了自己。」
 則:33.10    [悔改者存作惡者亡]  人子，你應告訴以色列家族：你們曾這樣說：『我的過犯和罪惡重壓著我們，我們必因此消滅，我們還怎能生存﹖』
 則:33.11    你要告訴他們：我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──我決不喜歡惡人喪亡，但卻喜歡惡人歸正，離開邪道，好能生存。以色列家族啊!歸正罷!歸正罷! 離開你們的邪道罷!何必要死去呢﹖
 則:33.12    人子，你要告訴你民族的子女：義人的正義在他犯罪之日不能救他；惡人的罪過在惡人悔改之日，也不會使它喪亡在他罪過中；義人在他犯罪之日，不能因著他的正義而生存。
 則:33.13    幾時我向義人說：他必生存；但他卻依仗自己的正義行惡，他所有的正義必不再被記念，他必因他所犯的罪惡而喪亡。
 則:33.14    幾時我向惡人說：你必喪亡；但他由罪惡中悔改，且遵行法律和正義，
 則:33.15    清償抵押，歸還劫物，遵行生命的誡命，再不作惡，他必生存，不致死亡。
 則:33.16    他所犯的一切罪過，不再被提起，因他遵行法律和正義，必定生存。
 則:33.17    如果你民族的子女還說：『吾主的作法不公平。』其實是他們的作法不公平。
 則:33.18    幾時義人離棄正義而去行惡，他必因此而喪亡；
 則:33.19    幾時惡人離棄罪惡，而遵行法律和正義，他必因此而生存。
 則:33.20    你們怎麼還說：『吾主的作法不公平﹖』以色列家族，我必照你們每人的行為審判你們。」
 則:33.21    [耶京失陷的消息]  我們充軍後十一年十月五日，有一個從耶路撒冷逃到我這裏的人說：『京城陷落了。』
 則:33.22    在逃難者來的前一晚上，上主的手臨於我，開了我的口；及至他早晨來到我這裏以前，我的口已開了，我不再作啞吧。
 則:33.23    [殘存猶大者必被消滅]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:33.24    「人子，在以色列地區住在那些廢墟裏的人仍說道：亞巴郎只一個人就佔據了此地，我們人數眾多，此地應歸我們佔有。
 則:33.25    為此你應告訴他們：吾主上主這樣說：你們吃了帶血的祭物，舉目仰望了你們的偶像，且殺人流血，而你們還要佔據此地﹖
 則:33.26    你們仍仗著刀劍，行醜惡之事，每人玷污近人的妻子，而你們還要佔據此地﹖
 則:33.27    你應告訴他們：吾主上主這樣說：我指著我的生命起誓：那在廢墟中的，必喪身刀下；在原野的，我要把他們交給野獸吞噬；在堡壘和山洞中的，必死於瘟疫。
 則:33.28    我要使此地變為沙漠和荒野，使她再不能誇耀自己的勢力；我要使以色列的山變為荒丘，再無人經過。
 則:33.29    為了他們所行的醜惡，我使此地變為沙漠和荒野時，他們必承認我是上主。
 則:33.30    [宣講的後果]  人子，你民族的子女在牆下及他們的門口，彼此談論你說：來，我們去聽聽由上主那裏傳出了什麼話﹖
 則:33.31    他們便成群結隊地來到你這裏，像我的百姓般坐在你面前，聽你的話，但不去實行；他們口頭上說的是甜言蜜語，但他們的心卻在追求不義的利益。
 則:33.32    你對他們好像唱情歌的人，歌喉悅耳，彈奏美妙；他們喜歡聽你說的話，卻不去實行。
 則:33.33    當這事來時──看，已來了!──他們必承認在他們中有位先知。」
  
 則:34.1     [譴責牧者]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:34.2     「人子，你應說預言攻斥以色列的牧者，向他們講預言說：吾主上主這樣說：禍哉以色列的牧者!你們只知牧養自己；牧人豈不應該牧養羊群﹖
 則:34.3     你們吃羊奶，穿羊毛衣，宰肥羊，卻不牧養羊群：
 則:34.4     瘦弱的，你們不扶養；患病的，你們不醫治；受傷的，你們不包紮；迷路的，你們不領回；遺失的，你們不尋找，反而用強力和殘暴去管治他們。
 則:34.5     因為沒有牧人，羊都四散了；羊四散後，便成了一切野獸的食物。
 則:34.6     我的羊在群山峻嶺中迷了路，我的羊四散在全地面上，沒有人去尋，沒有人去找。
 則:34.7     為此牧者啊，聽上主的話罷!
 則:34.8     我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──因為我的羊群由於沒有牧者，成了獵物；我的羊群成了一切野獸的食物，因為我的牧者不尋找我的羊，只知牧養自己，而不牧養我的羊：
 則:34.9     為此，牧者啊，聽上主的話罷!
 則:34.10    吾主上主這樣說：我要攻擊那些牧者，從他們手裏追討我的羊，我不再讓他們牧放羊群；這樣，牧者便不能再牧養自己了；我要從他們口中救出我的羊，不再作他們的食物。
 則:34.11    [上主為善牧]  因為吾主上主這樣說：看，我要親自去尋找我的羊，我要親自照顧我的羊。
 則:34.12    猶如牧人在羊群失散的那日怎樣尋找他的羊，我也怎樣尋找我的羊；我要把那些曾在陰雲和黑暗之日四散在各地的羊，從那些地方救回來。
 則:34.13    我要從各民族中將他們領出，從各國將他們聚集起來，領他們回到自己的地域；我要在以色列的群山上，溪水畔，以及本國的一切牧場上牧放他們。
 則:34.14    我要在茂盛的草原上牧放他們，在以色列的高山上有他們的羊棧，在那裏他們要臥在舒適的羊棧裏，在以色列的群山上，在肥美的牧場上吃草。
 則:34.15    我要親自牧放我的羊，親自使他們臥下──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:34.16    失落的我要尋找；迷路的，我要領回；受傷的，我要包紮；病弱的，我要療養；肥胖和強壯的，我要看守；我要按正義牧放他們。
 則:34.17    [懲罰惡羊]  我的羊群啊!關於你們，吾主上主這樣說：看，我要在羊與羊，綿羊與山羊之間，施行審判。
 則:34.18    你們在茂盛的草場上吃飽後，就用蹄子把吃剩的踐踏；喝足了清水，就用蹄子把剩下的弄髒，你們還以為是件小事嗎﹖
 則:34.19    我的羊群就該吃你們蹄子踏過的草，喝你們蹄子弄髒的水﹖
 則:34.20    為此，吾主上主向他們這樣說：看我要，親自在肥羊與瘦羊之間施行審判，
 則:34.21    因為你們用臀部，和肩膀排擠，用角牴撞一切病弱的，直到把他們趕到外面；
 則:34.22    因此我要拯救我的羊，使之不再作獵物；我要在羊與羊之間施行審判。
 則:34.23    [有關默西亞的預言]  我要為他們興起一個牧人，那即是我的僕人達味，他要牧放他們，作他們的牧人。
 則:34.24    我，上主要作他們的天主，我的僕人達味在他們中作領袖：這是我上主說的。
 則:34.25    我要同他們訂立平安盟約，使猛獸由那地上滅絕，他們便可在曠野中安居，在森林裏安眠。
 則:34.26    我要祝福他們和我山丘的四周，按時降雨，那是滿帶幸福的雨；
 則:34.27    因此田間的樹木要結果，地要有出產；他們將安居在本鄉。當我打斷他們所負的軛，由奴役他們者的手中救出他們時，他們必承認我是上主。
 則:34.28    他們不再作異民的獵物，地裏的野獸也不吞噬他們，他們反而要安居樂業，不再受人恐嚇。
 則:34.29    我要使植物為他們而茂盛，他們在這地上不再為飢荒所消滅，也不再受異民的羞辱：
 則:34.30    如此，他們必承認我上主是他們的天主，且與他們同在，而他們──以色列家族，是我的百姓──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:34.31    你們作我的羊群，是我牧場上的羊群；我是你們的天主──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:35.1     [反對厄東的神諭]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:35.2     「人子，你要面向色依爾山，講預言攻斥它，
 則:35.3     對它說：吾主上主這樣說：色依爾山啊!看，我要攻擊你，伸手打擊你，使你變成沙漠和荒野。
 則:35.4     我要使你的城市變成廢墟，你將成為沙漠：如此，你便承認我是上主。
 則:35.5     因為在以色列子民遭難時，在他們罪惡滿盈時，你懷著永不忘的仇恨將他們交於刀劍：
 則:35.6     為此，我指著我的生命起誓──吾主上主的斷語──你既仇恨了血，血也必迫害你。
 則:35.7     我必使色依爾山成為沙漠和荒野，由其中滅絕來往經過的人。
 則:35.8     我要使你的群山、丘陵、山谷和溪澗，堆滿傷亡的人，使刀劍傷亡的人橫臥其中。
 則:35.9     我要使你永久變為荒蕪，你的城邑再沒有人居住：如此，你們便承認我是上主。
 則:35.10    因為你說過：這兩個民族，這兩個地域應屬於我，雖然雅威住在那裏，我還要去佔領；
 則:35.11    為此，我指著我的生命起誓，──吾主上主的斷語──就如你怎樣懷著仇恨對待他們，同樣我也必以怒火和妒恨來對待你；當我懲罰你時，我叫你知道我在他們中，
 則:35.12    並要你知道，我上主聽見了你向以色列的群山所講的一切詛咒的話，說：它們已荒蕪了，已交給我們享用。
 則:35.13    當你們開口說大話攻斥我，說出許多凌辱我的話時，我都聽見了。
 則:35.14    吾主上主這樣說：當全地歡躍時，我要使你荒蕪，
 則:35.15    就如在以色列家的產業荒蕪時，你曾喜樂；同樣，我也要這樣對待你；色依爾山必變成荒野，全厄東必被消滅：如此，人必承認我是上主。」
  
 則:36.1     [以色列山受祝福]  人子，你向以色列群山講預言說：以色列群山，聽上主的話罷!
 則:36.2     吾主上主這樣說：因為敵人曾論你們說：『哈!永遠荒涼了，那地已成了我們的產業。』
 則:36.3     為此你要預言說：吾主上主這樣說：因人使你們荒涼了，從各方面侵蝕你們，使你們成為殘餘民族的產業，並使你們成為人們的口頭禪和話柄：
 則:36.4     為此，以色列群山!你們聽吾主上主的話罷!吾主上主這樣對高山、丘陵、溪澗、山谷、荒涼的廢墟，以及那些曾為四周殘餘民族的掠物和笑柄而被遺棄的城邑說：
 則:36.5     吾主上主這樣說：我必在我妒火中發言攻斥各殘餘的民族和整個厄東，她們心裏懷著幸災樂禍，和輕視的心情，將我的地方據為自己的產業，劫掠它當作戰利品。
 則:36.6     為此，你向以色列地域講預言，對高山、丘陵、溪澗和山谷說：吾主上主這樣說：因為你們遭受了異民的凌辱，看，我必在妒火和憤怒中發言。
 則:36.7     為此，吾主上主這樣說：我舉手起誓：你們四周的異民必要遭受他們當受的凌辱。
 則:36.8     以色列群山，你們要給我的百姓以色列生出枝葉，結出果實，因為他們快來到了。
 則:36.9     看，我偕同你們，眷顧你們，使你們得以耕種，得以播種，
 則:36.10    在你們那裏增加全以色列家族的人數，使城邑再有居民，廢墟得以重建。
 則:36.11    我要在你們那裏，使人和牲畜的數目增多，他們要增加繁殖；我要使你們再有居民，如同昔日一樣，優待你們勝過先前，如此，你們便承認我是上主。
 則:36.12    我要引領人，即我的百姓以色列到你們上面，他們要佔領你，你要成為他們的產業，再不使他們喪失子女。
 則:36.13    吾主上主這樣說：因為人向你說：你吞噬了人，並使你的百姓喪失子女；
 則:36.14    從此你不再吞噬人，也不再使你的百姓喪失子女──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:36.15    我不再讓在你那裏聽到異民的凌辱，你也不再受異民咒罵，也不再使你的百姓喪失子女──吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:36.16    [上主施救是為了自己的榮名]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:36.17    「人子，以色列家族住在自己的地域時，以自己的品行和作為玷污了此地，他們的品行在我面前好似經期的污穢。
 則:36.18    因他們在此地所流的血，又因他們的偶像玷污了此地，我遂在他們身上發洩我的憤怒，
 則:36.19    將他們分散在異民中，散佈在各國，照他們的品行和作為懲罰了他們。
 則:36.20    他們到了應去的異民那裏，還褻瀆了我的聖名，因為人們論及他們說：『這些人原是雅威的百姓，但他們卻應當離開他的地域!』
 則:36.21    我遂憐惜我的聖名，即以色列家族在他們所到的異民中所褻瀆的聖名。
 則:36.22    為此，你要告訴以色列家族，吾主上主這樣說：以色列家族，我作這事並不是為了你們，而是為了我的聖名，即你們在所到的異民中所褻瀆的聖名。
 則:36.23    我要使我的大名顯聖，即在異民中被褻瀆，即你們在他們中所褻瀆的聖名；當我在你們身上，在他們眼前顯為聖的時候，異民就要承認我是上主──吾主上主的斷語。
 則:36.24    我要把你們從異民中領出，從各地聚集你們，領你們回到你們的地域。
 則:36.25    那時，我要在你們身上灑清水，潔淨你們，淨化你們，脫離各種不潔和各種偶像。
 則:36.26    我還要賜給你們一顆新心，在你們五內放上一種新的精神，從你們的肉身內取去鐵石的心，給你們換上一顆血肉的心。
 則:36.27    我要將我的神賜與你們五內，使你們遵行我的規律，恪守我的誡命，且一一實行。
 則:36.28    如此，你們要居住在我賜給你們祖先的地方；你們要作我的百姓，我作你們的天主。
 則:36.29    我要救你們脫離各種不潔，命五穀豐登，不再讓你們遭受饑荒。
 則:36.30    我要使樹上的果實，天間的出產豐收，免得你們因饑荒受異民凌辱。
 則:36.31    那時你們記起了你們的惡行和那些不好的行為，連你們自己對你們的罪過和醜惡之事，也感覺討厭。
 則:36.32    你們應清楚知道：我作這事並不是為了你們──吾主上主的斷語──以色列家族! 對你們的品行害羞慚愧罷們!
 則:36.33    [以色列的復興]  吾主上主這樣說：在我潔化你們脫離各種罪過的那天，使城邑有人居住，廢墟得以重建，
 則:36.34    在過客眼中曾為荒蕪的地方，再得以耕種之時，
 則:36.35    人們要說：那曾荒廢的地方，如今成了「伊甸」樂園；荒蕪廢棄和破壞的城邑，如今成了設防安居之地。
 則:36.36    如此，你們四周的殘餘民族便承認，是我上主重建了破壞的城，種植了荒廢的地。我上主言出必行。
 則:36.37    吾主上主這樣說：我還要讓以色列家族求我實行這事：叫他們的人數繁殖，多如羊群；
 則:36.38    就如被奉獻的羊群，就如在慶節日耶路撒冷的羊群有多少，荒蕪的城邑也要充滿那麼多的人群：如此，他們便承認我是上主。」
  
 則:37.1     [枯骨復生的神視]  上主的手臨於我，上主的神引我出去，把我放在平原中，那裏佈滿了骨頭；
 則:37.2     他領我在骨頭周圍走了一遭；見平原上骨頭的確很多，又很乾枯。
 則:37.3     他問我說：「人子，這些骨頭可以復生嗎﹖」我答說：「吾主上主!你知道。」
 則:37.4     他對我說：「你可向這些骨頭講預言，向他們說：乾枯的骨頭，聽上主的話罷!
 則:37.5     吾主上主對這些骨頭這樣說：看，我要使氣息進入你們內，你們必要復活。
 則:37.6     我給你們放上筋，加上肉，包上皮，把氣息注入你們內，你們就復活了：如此，你們便要承認我是上主。」
 則:37.7     於是我遵命講預言。正當我講預言時，忽然有一個響聲，一陣震動，骨頭與骨頭互鄉結合起來。
 則:37.8     我望見他們身上有了筋，生了肉，包了皮，但他們還沒有氣息。
 則:37.9     上主對我說：「你應向氣息講預言!人子，應向氣息講預言說：吾主上主這樣說：氣息，你應由四方來，吹在這些被殺的人身上，使他們復活。」
 則:37.10    我遵命一講了預言，氣息就進入他們內，他們遂復活了，並且站了起來；實在是一支龐大的軍隊。
 則:37.11    [枯骨的寓意]  上主對我說：「人子，這些骨頭就是以色列家族。他們常說：我們的骨頭乾枯了，絕望了，我們都完了!
 則:37.12    為此，你向他們講預言說：吾主上主這樣說：看，我要親自打開你們的墳墓；我的百姓，我要從你們的墳墓中把你們領出來，引你們進入以色列地域。
 則:37.13    我的百姓!當我打開你們的墳墓，把你們從墳墓內領出來的時候，你們便承認我是上主。
 則:37.14    我要把我的神注入你們內，使你們復活，叫你們安居在你們的地域內，那時，你們便要承認我，上主言出必行－吾主上主的斷語。」
 則:37.15    [新以色列復合的象徵]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:37.16    「人子，你拿一塊木頭，上面寫：『猶大和他的同族以色列子民。』再拿另一塊木頭，上面寫：『若瑟──厄弗辣因的木頭──和他的同族的以色列子民。』
 則:37.17    以後，你把兩塊木頭連成一塊，在你手中成為一塊。
 則:37.18    若你民族的子民詢問你說：這是什麼意思，你不能告訴我們嗎﹖
 則:37.19    你要回答他們說：吾主上主這樣說：看，我要拿若瑟的──即在厄弗辣因手中的──和他的同族以色列支派的木頭，將它同猶大的木頭連結成為一塊木頭，在我手中只成為一塊。
 則:37.20    你應把在上面寫過字的兩塊木頭，拿在你手中，在他們面前，
 則:37.21    對他們說：吾主上主這樣說：看，我要把以色列子民從他們所到的異民中領出，把他們由各方聚集起來，引他們回到自己的地域；
 則:37.22    我要使他們在那地和以色列山上成為一個民族，他們只有一位國王，不再是兩個民族，不再分為兩個國家；
 則:37.23    他們也不再為他們的偶像、怪物和各種邪惡所玷污；我要把他們由他們因背約所犯的各種罪過中救拔出來，淨化他們，成為我的民族，我作他們的天主。
 則:37.24    我的僕人達味要作他們的國王，他們全體只有一個牧人；他們要遵行我的法律，謹守我的誡命，且一一實行；
 則:37.25    他們要安居在我賜給我的僕人雅各伯，即他們的祖先所居住的地方；他們、他們的兒子，他們的子子孫孫直到永遠住在那裏；我的僕人達味永遠作他們的領袖。
 則:37.26    我要同他們訂立和平的盟約，同他們訂立永遠的盟約；我要厚待他們，使他們昌盛，且在他們中立我的聖所，直到永遠。
 則:37.27    我的住所也設在他們中間；我要作他們的天主，他們要作我的百姓。
 則:37.28    當我的聖所永遠在他們中間時，異民便承認我是祝聖以色列的天主。」
  
 則:38.1     [哥格攻擊以色列]  上主的話傳給我說：
 則:38.2     「人子，你面向哥格和瑪哥格地，即面向默舍克和突巴耳的最高領袖，講預言攻斥他，
 則:38.3     說：吾主上主這樣說：默舍客和突巴耳的最高領袖，看，我要攻擊你，
 則:38.4     我要用鉤子鉤住你的牙床，把你拖出來，使你帶領你的大軍、馬隊和騎兵出征，都是全副武裝，戴著盔甲和盾牌的大軍，都手持刀劍。
 則:38.5     還有波斯、雇士和普特人同他們聯盟，都帶著盾牌和銅盔。
 則:38.6     哥默爾及其隊伍，極北方的托加爾瑪家族及其隊伍，還有許多人民同你聯合。
 則:38.7     你和同你聯合的各種隊伍都要戒備武裝起來，好為我服務。
 則:38.8     多日之後，你要奉到命令；到末年，你要去攻擊那脫離兵災已復原的地方，那裏的居民是由各民族聚集起來的；你要去攻擊那久已荒涼的以色列山，那裏的居民是由各民族歸來，已安居在那裏。
 則:38.9     你和你的大軍，以及同你聯合的各種隊伍都一起上去，有如狂風來臨，有如濃雲遮地。
 則:38.10    [哥格的惡謀]  吾主上主這樣說：到那一天，你要心起惡念，籌劃一個惡計。
 則:38.11    你要想：我要進攻不設防的地方，進攻安居無憂的人民；他們住的地方沒有圍牆，沒有門閂，也沒有門。
 則:38.12    我要去搶奪劫掠，下手攻擊已為人居住的廢墟，攻擊那由各民族匯集而來，已有牲畜財物，已安居在地中心的人民。
 則:38.13    舍巴、德丹、塔爾史士的商人和客商都問你說：你來豈不是為了搶奪﹖集合你的聯軍豈不是為了劫掠，奪去金銀，帶走牲畜和財物，拿去大批掠物﹖
 則:38.14    [哥格被殲滅]  人子，為此你要講預言，向哥格說：吾主上主這樣說：當我的百姓以色列安居的那一天，你不是就起了身，
 則:38.15    離開你的住處，由極北之地而來，率領許多民族都騎著馬，實在是一支龐大的聯軍，極強大的隊伍，
 則:38.16    上來進攻我的百姓以色列，有如密雲遮地一般﹖哥格!到末日我要領你來攻打我的地方，為的是當我在異民眼前，在你身上顯聖時，叫他們認識我。
 則:38.17    吾主上主這樣說：你就是我昔日藉我的僕人以色列的先知在那些歲月中所預言的：我要領你進攻他們的那一位。
 則:38.18    到哥格進攻以色列的那一天──吾主上主的斷語──我的怒氣要從我的鼻孔發出；
 則:38.19    我要在妒忌怒火中說：的確，到那一天，以色列地必要發生大地震；
 則:38.20    海裏的魚，空中的飛鳥，田間的走獸，地上所有的爬蟲，地面上所有的人，都要在我面前戰慄；山要崩裂，懸崖要塌陷，所有牆垣要傾倒地上。
 則:38.21    我要召刀劍到我的各山上來攻擊他──吾主上主的斷語──人們要用刀劍互相殘殺。
 則:38.22    我要以瘟疫和殘殺懲罰他，且要在他和他的軍隊以及同他聯合的眾民身上，降下暴雨、冰雹、火燄和硫磺。
 則:38.23    如此，我要顯示我的偉大和神聖，且在眾民眼前顯示我自己，使他們承認我是上主。」
  
 則:39.1     [哥格失敗]  人子，你講預言攻斥哥格說：吾主上主這樣說：默舍客和突巴耳的最高領袖哥格，看，我要攻擊你，
 則:39.2     我要引誘你，挾持你，使你從極北之地上來，領你到以色列的山上，
 則:39.3     在那裏我要打掉你左手上的弓，打落你右手上的箭。
 則:39.4     你和你所有的軍隊，以及同你聯合的眾民，都要喪亡在以色列的山上；我要使你成為各種猛禽和野獸的食物。
 則:39.5     你要喪亡在原野之上，這原是我親口說的──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:39.6     我要使火降到瑪哥格和那些安居在群島的人們身上：如此，他們必承認我是上主。
 則:39.7     我也要在我的百姓以色列中間，顯揚我的聖名，再不讓我的名受到褻瀆：如此，異民便承認我是上主，是以色列的聖者。
 則:39.8     看，我所說的那一天，已經來近，必要實現──吾主上主的斷語。
 則:39.9     [哥格的慘敗]  那時，住在以色列各城的人必要出來，點火焚燒武器：有大小盾牌、弓、箭、槍和茅；他們將用來燒火，七年之久。
 則:39.10    他們不必到田間拾柴，也不必到林中伐木，因為也武器可作柴燒；他們還要搶奪那些搶奪過他們的人，劫掠那些劫掠過他們的人──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:39.11    在那一天，我要在以色列把一出名的地方，即死海以東阿巴陵山谷，給哥格作墳地；這山谷使過路的人止步，哥格和他的一切軍隊要埋在那裏，因此人叫那地方為『哥格群眾谷。』
 則:39.12    以色列家族埋葬他們，為清除此地，要費時七個月。
 則:39.13    那地方的全體百姓都要埋葬他們。在我顯示光榮的日子，為他們也要光榮──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:39.14    他們還要派定一些人不斷巡邏那地，尋找在那地方遺留下的屍體，為清除那地；七個月之後它們仍繼續尋找。
 則:39.15    過路的人經過那地的時候，若發見一個人的骨骸，就在他旁邊放一個記號，等待埋葬的人將他埋葬在『哥格群眾谷。』
 則:39.16    那裏有一座城，要叫哈摩納。他們就這樣清除了那地。
 則:39.17    吾主上主這樣說：人子，你要向各種飛鳥，各樣野獸說：你們應集合前來，從四方來參加我給你們在以色列山上所準備的隆重祭餐，你們要吃肉飲血。
 則:39.18    你們要吃將士的肉，飲各地王侯的血；還有山羊、綿羊、公山羊、牛犢，都是巴商的肥畜。
 則:39.19    你們要在我給你們準備的祭餐中，吃肉吃到飽，飲血飲到醉。
 則:39.20    你們在我的宴席上要飽食馬肉，戰馬、將士和所有軍人的肉──吾主上主的斷語。
 則:39.21    [天主的聖名得光榮]  我要在異民中顯示我的光榮，萬民要看見我所施行的懲罰，看見是我舉手打擊了他們。
 則:39.22    從那天起，以色列家族必要承認我，上主是他們的天主。
 則:39.23    異民也要知道以色列家族充軍，是為了他們的罪惡，因為他們違背了我，我遂掩面不顧他們，把他們交在敵人手中，全都喪身刀下。
 則:39.24    我按他們的罪過和惡行對待了他們，掩面不看他們。
 則:39.25    為此吾主上主這樣說：現今我要轉變雅各伯的命運，憐恤以色列家族。為我的聖名而大發妒火。
 則:39.26    當他們安居在自己的地域中，沒有人來驚擾時，他們將忘記自己的恥辱和違背我所犯的一切抗命之罪。
 則:39.27    當我從各民族中把他們領回，從他們敵人的地方聚集他們，在眾異民眼前，在他們身上顯聖時，
 則:39.28    他們必承認我上主是他們的天主，因為我將他們放逐於異民之中以後，又把他們聚集到自己的地方，一個也沒有留在異民中。
 則:39.29    我不再掩面不看他們，因為我將我的神已傾注於以色列家族──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:40.1     [新聖殿的神視]  我們充軍後第二十五年，京城被毀後第十四年，年初，月之初十日，就在這一天，上主的手臨於我。
 則:40.2     在神視中領我來到以色列地，把我放在最高的山上，山的南方有座像城的建築物。
 則:40.3     他領我到了那裏，看，有一個人，面色似銅，手中拿著一條麻繩和測量竿。他站在門樓旁。
 則:40.4     那人對我說：「人子，你要用眼看，用耳聽，留意我向你指示的一切，因為我引你到這裏來，為叫你看見；凡你所見的，你要告訴以色列家族。」
 則:40.5     [垣牆]  看，在殿外四周有一道圍牆。那人手中拿的測量竿長六肘──肘是一肘加一掌──他用竿量了牆：寬一竿，高一竿。
 則:40.6     [外東門]  他來到面朝東的門樓，上了石級，量了門限，寬一竿；
 則:40.7     量了守衛房：長一竿，寬一竿；房與房之間相離五肘；內裏門廊的門限，為一竿。
 則:40.8     又量了內裏的門廊，
 則:40.9     為八肘，壁柱厚二肘，門廊是在內裏。
 則:40.10    東門樓的守衛房，這邊三間，那邊三間；三間的尺寸相同，兩邊壁柱的尺寸也相同。
 則:40.11    量了門口的寬度，為十肘；門的通道為十三肘寬。
 則:40.12    守衛房前面有柵欄，兩邊各突出一肘。守衛房各邊為六肘。
 則:40.13    量了門樓，由守衛房頂到對面守衛房頂，寬二十五肘；門與門相對。
 則:40.14    量了門廊，為二十肘；通過門廊，即是外院。
 則:40.15    由門樓的前面到內裏門廊的前面，共五十肘。
 則:40.16    門樓四周，在守衛房和牆壁上，有向內斜帶櫺的窗戶；走廊四周也有這樣向內的窗戶。壁柱上有棕櫚枝。
 則:40.17    [外院]  他引我到了外院；看，有廊房，在庭院四周修的有舖道，舖道上有廊房三十間。
 則:40.18    在各門樓旁邊也有舖道，同門樓一樣長，這是低舖道。
 則:40.19    他由下門樓前面，量到內院門樓前面，共一百肘寬。然後他向北走去。
 則:40.20    [外北門]  看，在外院有一座面朝北的門樓。他量的門樓的寬和長。
 則:40.21    守衛房，兩邊各有三間；壁柱和走廊，如上面所有的尺寸一樣：五十肘長，二十五肘寬。
 則:40.22    窗戶、走廊、棕櫚枝、如朝東的門樓所有的尺寸一樣。上去的台階有七級，直達面前的走廊。
 則:40.23    外北門的對面有一座通內院的門樓，與東門樓一樣；量了門樓與門樓的距離，為一百肘。
 則:40.24    [外南門]  他又領我往南走，看，朝南有一座門樓；他量了壁柱和走廊，尺寸與前面的相同。
 則:40.25    走廊四周也有窗戶，一如上述的窗戶。門樓五十肘長，二十五肘寬。
 則:40.26    上去的台階有七級，直達面前的走廊；兩邊的壁柱上都有棕櫚枝。
 則:40.27    通內院朝南也有一座門樓。量了二門樓之間的距離，為一百肘。
 則:40.28    [內南門]  他領我由南門走進內院，量了南門樓，尺寸與上述者相同。
 則:40.29    守衛房、壁柱和走廊，一如上述的尺寸；走廊四周也有窗戶；門樓五十肘長，二十五肘寬。
 則:40.30    四周共五十肘長，二十五肘寬。
 則:40.31    門廊面向外院，壁柱上也有棕櫚枝。上去台階有八級。
 則:40.32    [內東門]  他引我到了面朝東的內院門樓，量了門樓，尺寸有如上述。
 則:40.33    守衛房、壁柱和走廊，尺寸有如上述；走廊四周也有窗戶。門樓長五十肘，寬二十五肘。
 則:40.34    門廊面向外院；兩邊壁柱上也有棕櫚枝。上去的台階有八級。
 則:40.35    [北門]  他引我到了北門樓，量了門樓，尺寸有如上述。
 則:40.36    守衛房、壁柱和走廊，四周也有窗戶；門樓長五十肘，寬二十五肘。
 則:40.37    門廊面向外院；兩邊壁柱上也有棕櫚枝。上去的台階有八級。
 則:40.38    [宰牲石桌]  在門樓的門廊兩旁，各有一間有門的廂房，在裏面洗滌全燔祭牲。
 則:40.39    在門廊兩邊，每邊有兩張桌子，在上面宰殺全燔祭、贖罪祭和贖過祭犧牲。
 則:40.40    在登上門廊的入口處的北面，靠外的一面有兩張桌子，在門廊的另一面也有兩張桌子。
 則:40.41    門樓旁邊，每邊有四張桌子，共八張，在上面宰殺祭牲。
 則:40.42    又有四張為全燔祭用的桌子，都是四方石頭砌成的：長一肘半，寬一肘半，高一肘；上面放宰殺全燔祭犧牲和其他祭牲的用具。
 則:40.43    屋內四周釘有一掌長的掛鉤，桌上放有祭肉。
 則:40.44    [司祭廂房]  他領我走到內院，看見在內院中，有兩座廂房：一座靠北門的廂房，面朝南；一座看南門的廂房，面朝北。
 則:40.45    他對我說：「那面朝南的廂房是為在殿內供職的司祭之用，
 則:40.46    那面朝北的廂房是為在祭壇前供職的司祭之用，他們是肋未的後代中，走近祭壇供職的匝多克的子孫。」
 則:40.47    他量了庭院：長一百肘，寬一百肘，為四方形；在殿前有一祭壇。
 則:40.48    [聖殿走廊]  他領我進了聖殿的門廊，量了門廊的壁柱，兩邊各有五肘。門寬十四肘，牆壁每邊三肘。
 則:40.49    門廊長二十肘，寬十二肘；上去的台階有十級。靠著壁柱，有二柱，每邊一柱。
  
 則:41.1     [聖所]  他領我到了聖所，量了壁柱，兩邊，各厚六肘；
 則:41.2     門口寬十肘；門口兩邊的牆，各為五肘；他又量了聖所的長度為四十肘，寬為二十肘。
 則:41.3     [至聖所]  他進到裏面，量了門口的壁柱，厚二肘，入口六肘，門口總寬七肘。
 則:41.4     量了聖所的盡頭長二十肘，寬二十肘。以後對我說：「這是至聖所。」
 則:41.5     [廂樓]  他量了殿牆，厚六肘；沿殿周圍的廂房，寬四肘。
 則:41.6     廂房一層在另一層之上，共三層，每層三十間。廂房周圍靠著殿牆，有突出的牆，為銜接廂房，免得嵌在殿牆內。
 則:41.7     廂房越高越寬，因為周圍聖殿的牆越高越窄，為此上邊的房間較寬。人由下層可登至中層，再登往上層。
 則:41.8     我見殿周圍有一高台，為廂房的基礎，台腳高一竿，即六肘。
 則:41.9     廂房的外牆厚五肘。在靠殿的廂房之前的人行道，也寬五肘。
 則:41.10    廂房之外有二十肘寬的空地，環繞著殿的四周。
 則:41.11    廂房的門向著人行道：一朝北，一朝南；人行道寬五肘。
 則:41.12    [無頂建築物]  在空地的西面有一建築物：寬七十肘，長九十肘；這建築物周圍的牆厚五肘。
 則:41.13    [聖殿面積]  他量了聖殿，長一百肘：包括空地、建築物和牆，共長一百肘。
 則:41.14    聖殿的前面和東邊的空地，共寬一百肘。
 則:41.15    他量了聖殿後邊的建築，連空地和牆在內，由這一端到另一端，共長一百肘。
 則:41.16    [聖所內部的裝修：至於聖所內部和外邊的門廊]  門框、帶櫺的窗和三面的圍牆，以及門限周圍都鑲上木板，由地到窗──窗是遮蔽的；
 則:41.17    直到門上邊，以至殿的內部和外部；周圍所有的，裏面和外面的牆上，都有雕像，
 則:41.18    雕刻著革魯賓和棕櫚枝，棕櫚枝在革魯賓與革魯賓之間；革魯賓有兩個面貌：
 則:41.19    人的面貌向著這邊的棕櫚枝，獅的面貌向著那邊的棕櫚枝；全殿四周都是這樣。
 則:41.20    由地到門上邊，聖所的牆上都雕刻著革魯賓和棕櫚枝。
 則:41.21    聖所的門框是方的。在至聖所前面，有一座看似木頭的祭壇：
 則:41.22    高三肘，長寬各二肘；角、底座和鑲板，都是木的。以後他對我說：「這是在上主前的祭桌。」
 則:41.23    聖所與至聖所各有兩門，
 則:41.24    門各有兩扇，每扇又有兩頁；可以摺疊。每一扇門都有兩頁。
 則:41.25    門扇上都雕刻著革魯賓和棕櫚枝，像牆上刻的一樣。門廊外的前面有木做的飛簷。
 則:41.26    門廊兩邊與靠殿的廂房牆上，有有櫺的窗和棕櫚枝，還有飛簷。
  
 則:42.1     [司祭的樓房]  以後他領我出來，到了內院的北部，引我來到位於空地前，向北的建築物前的樓房那裏。
 則:42.2     樓長一百肘，寬五十肘，
 則:42.3     是在內院空地與外院舖道的前面，走廊與走廊相對，樓房共有三層。
 則:42.4     樓房前面有向內的過道，寬十肘，長一百肘，門都朝北。
 則:42.5     樓上層房屋比下層與中曾的較窄，因為上層有走廊佔去了面積。
 則:42.6     因為樓房有三層，沒有像外院所有的柱子，上層的比地上的下層和中層的較窄。
 則:42.7     沿著樓房外邊，靠著外院有道牆，長五十肘，立在樓房前面，
 則:42.8     因為靠近外院的樓房長五十肘，靠近殿的樓房為一百肘。
 則:42.9     在這些房屋下邊，有個向東方的入口，為由外院來的人進入。
 則:42.10    入口開在院牆的橫面。在南邊，在空地與建築物的前面，也有樓房。
 則:42.11    在樓房前面有相似北邊的樓房所有的通道。長、寬、出路、位置和門與北邊的樓房完全一樣。
 則:42.12    在南邊樓房的下邊，在牆的開端，空地和建築之前有一入口，為由東邊來的人進入。
 則:42.13    以後他又對我說：「空地前南北兩面的樓房，都是聖的，走近上主的司祭在那裏吃至聖之物，並在那裏存放至聖之物，如供物、贖罪祭與贖過祭肉，因為此地是聖的。
 則:42.14    司祭進入此處之後，不可直接由此聖地出去，前往外院，必須先在那裏脫去自己供職時所穿的衣服，因為那些衣服也是聖的，應換上別的衣服，然後方可走近人民所在的地方。
 則:42.15    [隔開聖與俗的垣牆]  他測量完了聖殿的內部，就領我從面朝東的門出來，量了周圍：
 則:42.16    他用測量竿量了東邊，依測量竿為五百肘；
 則:42.17    他又量了北邊，依測量竿為五百肘；
 則:42.18    又量了南邊，依測量竿為五百肘；
 則:42.19    又轉身量了西邊，依測量竿為五百肘。
 則:42.20    他周圍量了四邊環繞聖殿的垣牆，長五百肘，寬五百肘，為分開聖地與俗地。
  
 則:43.1     [上主返回聖殿]  他領我到了面朝東的門那裏。
 則:43.2     看，以色列天主的光榮由東方而來，有一種響聲，像大水的澎湃聲，大地也因他的光榮而炫耀。
 則:43.3     我所見的神視與我前次來摧毀城市時所見的神視相似，神視的情形也與我以前在革巴爾河畔所見的神視一樣。於是我就伏地掩面。
 則:43.4     上主的光榮由朝東的門進入聖殿。
 則:43.5     神力將我提起，領我進入內院。看，上主的充滿了聖殿。
 則:43.6     [新聖殿為天主所居]  當那人站在我身旁時，我聽見殿內有一位向我說話的，
 則:43.7     對我說：「人子，這是安放我寶座的地方，這是我腳掌所踏的地方，我願在這裏永遠住在以色列子民中。以色列家族，他們和他們的的君王，不再以淫亂和自己君王的屍體，玷污我的聖名。
 則:43.8     因為他們靠著我的門限安置他們的門限，在我與他們之間僅有一牆之隔。他們曾以自己所行的邪惡之事玷污了我的聖名，為此，我發怒將他們予以消滅。
 則:43.9     現今他們要從我面前，除去他們的淫亂和君王的屍體，這樣我要永遠住在他們中。
 則:43.10    人子，你要向以色列家族闡述這聖殿，使他們對自己的所行感到慚愧；闡述聖殿的完美和構造，
 則:43.11    叫他們對自己的所行的醜事而感到慚愧。你要劃出殿的圖形、結構、出路、進口和所有的式樣，並將各種規定和和種法律告知他們，在他們眼前寫出好叫他們遵守各種法律和規定，一一奉行。
 則:43.12    這是關於聖殿的規定：山頂周圍所有之地，是神聖不可侵犯的。
 則:43.13    [全燔祭壇]  祭壇按肘──肘為一肘加一掌──的尺寸如下：底座高一肘，邊寬一肘，在底座四周邊緣有一掌深的溝漕：這是壇座。
 則:43.14    地上的底座到下層台座高二肘，邊寬一肘；從小台座到大台座高四肘，邊寬一肘。
 則:43.15    至於壇爐，高四肘；壇爐之上有四個角突出，高一肘。
 則:43.16    壇爐一二肘畏，十二肘寬；四面成一正方形。
 則:43.17    台座十四肘長，面面共十四肘寬；四周有半肘的溝槽；周圍還有寬一肘的底座。石階向東。
 則:43.18    [祝聖祭壇禮]  以後他對我說：「人子，吾主上主這樣說：祭壇造成之日，在上面獻全燔祭和灑血的規定如下：
 則:43.19    你應給那走近我事奉我的匝多克的後裔肋未司祭──吾主上主的斷語──一頭牛犢，獻為贖罪祭。
 則:43.20    你要取血塗在祭壇的四角，台座的四角和周圍的溝槽上，應這樣為祭壇贖罪取潔。
 則:43.21    此外，再取一頭公牛作贖罪祭，在聖殿固定的地方，聖所之外，將牠焚化。
 則:43.22    第二天要獻一隻無瑕的小公山羊為贖罪祭，如獻公牛犢所行的一樣，為祭壇取潔。
 則:43.23    你行完贖罪祭之後，應獻一頭無瑕的公牛和羊群中一隻無瑕瑕的公羊，
 則:43.24    把牠獻在上主前，司祭在上面撒上鹽，獻予上主為全燔祭。
 則:43.25    七天之久，你應每天獻一隻公山羊為贖罪祭，還應獻一頭公牛和羊群中一隻公羊，都應純潔無瑕。
 則:43.26    七天之久為祭壇贖罪取潔，予以祝聖。
 則:43.27    這日期滿了，即第八日及以後，司祭才可以在祭壇上奉獻你們的全燔祭與和平祭，如此我才喜悅你們──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:44.1     [東門的用途]  他領我回到聖殿朝東的外門，門卻關著。
 則:44.2     他對我說：「這門必關閉不開，任何人不得由此門而入，因為上主以色列的天主已由此門而入，為此常應關閉。
 則:44.3     至於元首，因為他是元首，惟有他可坐在裏面，在上主前進食；他由門廊的路而入，亦由原路而出。」
 則:44.4     [外方人不准進聖殿]  以後，他領我由北門到聖殿，我一看，看見上主的光榮上主的殿，我便伏地掩面。
 則:44.5     上主對我說：「人子，我對你所說上主殿內的所有定和法律，你要留心，要眼看耳聽，又要注意准入聖殿的規則。
 則:44.6     你對叛逆的以色列家族說：吾主上主這樣說：以色列家族，你們所行的一切醜惡之事，該夠了吧!
 則:44.7     當你們奉獻給我食品、脂肪和牲血時，竟引領心身未受割損的外方人進入我的聖所，褻瀆我的殿宇；這樣以你們的一切醜惡，破壞了我的盟約。
 則:44.8     你們的既不在我聖所內供職，卻派他們代你們在我聖所內供職。
 則:44.9     為此吾主上主這樣說：一切心身未受割損的外邦人，以及所有在以色列子民中的外邦人，不得進入我的聖所。
 則:44.10    [肋未人只可充侍役]  至於肋未人，當以色列墮落，離開我而追隨他們的偶像時，他們也脫離了我，他們必要承認自己的罪債。
 則:44.11    他們在我聖所內供職，只能充當看守殿門的，作的侍役，為百姓宰殺全燔祭和其他祭牲，站在他們面前，給他們服務。
 則:44.12    因為他們曾在百姓的偶像前給他們服務過，做了以色列家族的胖腳石，為此我必舉手反對他們──吾主上主的斷語──他們必要承擔自己的罪債。
 則:44.13    他們不得走近我，也不得接我的的一切聖物，和至聖之物；反要自己的羞辱和所行的一切醜惡。
 則:44.14    我只委派他們在聖殿供職，服各種勞役，做其中應做的一切事務。
 則:44.15    [對司祭的各種規定]  惟有那些在以色列子民墮落我時，仍然為我的聖所供職的匝多克的兒子，肋未司祭們，可走近我，服事我，侍立我前，給我奉獻脂油與牲血──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:44.16    他們可進入我的聖所，起近我的祭桌，服事我，奉行給我供職的事。
 則:44.17    幾時他們進入內院的門，應身穿麻衣；當他們在內院門內或在聖殿供職時，不可穿羊毛衣。
 則:44.18    他們頭上應戴麻布頭巾，腰間應穿麻巾褲子，不可穿容易出汗的衣服。
 則:44.19    但他們幾時要出去到外院百姓那裏時，應脫去供職的衣服，放在聖所的廂房內，穿上別的衣服，免得因自己的祭服使百姓沾污聖潔。
 則:44.20    你們不可剃頭，也不可讓頭髮自由生長，應該修剪頭髮。
 則:44.21    任何司祭要進入內院時，不可飲酒。
 則:44.22    他們不可娶寡婦或棄婦為妻，應娶以色列家族的處女為妻；或娶司祭的寡婦。
 則:44.23    廿應教訓我的百姓區別聖與俗，知道潔與不潔。
 則:44.24    在訴訟上，他們應充任裁判，按我的法律定斷；他們在我的各種慶節上，應遵守規我的法律和規律，又應聖化我的安息日。
 則:44.25    他們不可走近死人，免得沾染不潔；但為父母子女、兄弟和未嫁的姊妹，可自染不潔。
 則:44.26    在他取潔以後，再過七天，
 則:44.27    他要進入聖所，進內院，為在聖所內供職的那一天，應奉獻贖罪祭──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:44.28    他們不可有產業；在以色列也不可分給他們地業我是他們的地業。
 則:44.29    他們可以吃素餐，贖罪祭和贖過祭：凡在以色列所獻的禁物，都應歸於他們。
 則:44.30    各種初熟之物，和你們藉舉祭所獻的一切祭物，都應歸於司祭；此外，將你們粗麥麵中最好的一份，分與司祭，好叫祝福降在你們家庭中。
 則:44.31    凡自然死或被猛獸撕裂的飛禽走獸，司祭都不可吃。」
  
 則:45.1     [獻於上主的保留地]  「當你們抽籤分地作為產業時，應將一塊聖地獻給上主，當作獻地，長二萬五千肘，寬二萬肘。凡在這範圍之內的地全是聖的。
 則:45.2     其中一個作為聖所，長百肘；四面成方形，周圍有空地，寬五十肘。
 則:45.3     在這一區量出二萬五千肘，一萬肘寬的地方其中應有聖所；
 則:45.4     這塊聖地，應歸於在聖所內為服事上主供職的司祭，作為的住處和他們羊群的牧場。
 則:45.5     另一塊五千肘長，一萬肘寬的地方，歸於在殿內服務的肋未人，作為他們的地業，及他們居住的城邑。
 則:45.6     [京城和元首之地]  再劃出建京城的地段，寬五千肘，長二萬五千肘，在保留的獻地之旁，歸於全以色列家族。
 則:45.7     在保留的獻地，和建城的地段的兩旁，緊靠著保留的獻地和建城的地段，由西邊往西，由東邊往東的土地，全歸於元首。西邊的邊界，東邊的邊界，其長與其他支派所分得的土地相同。
 則:45.8     這是在以色列劃歸元首的領土：這樣，我的元首不再壓迫我的百姓，並將土地留給以色列家族及他們的各支派o
 則:45.9     [元首的義務與權利]  吾主上主這樣說：「以色列的元首，你們該舒了吧!你們應放棄強暴與搶掠，實行正義與公道，你們不要再向我的人民橫徵暴歛──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:45.10    你們應用公平的天平，準確的「厄法」，準確的「巴特」。
 則:45.11    「厄法」和「巴特」的容量應當相等：即一「巴特」等於「荷默爾」的十分之一，十分之一「荷默爾」即一「厄法。」分量應依照「荷默爾」而十定。
 則:45.12    一「協刻耳」應為二十「革辣。」二十「協刻耳」加二十五「協刻耳」，再加十五「協刻耳」，為你們是一「米納」。
 則:45.13    你們應奉上的獻儀如下：由一「荷默爾」小麥，，應獻六分之一「厄法」；由一「荷默爾」大麥，也應獻六分之一「厄法」。
 則:45.14    對油的規定由一「苛爾」油，應獻十分之一「巴特」，因為十「巴特」為一「荷爾」。
 則:45.15    由以色列茂盛的牧場，每二百隻羊中取出一隻羔羊獻為供物，做全燔祭與笸平祭，為自己贖罪──吾主上主的斷語──
 則:45.16    全國人民應將這樣的獻儀交給以色列的元首；
 則:45.17    元首在慶節、月朔和安息日，以及以色列家族所有的慶節，應備辦全燔祭、素祭和奠祭，又應備辦贖罪祭、素祭、全燔祭與和平祭，為以色列家族贖罪。」
 則:45.18    [各慶節的祭獻]  吾主上主這樣說：「正月初一，你應取一頭無瑕的公牛犢，為聖所取潔。
 則:45.19    司祭應取贖罪祭祭牲的血，塗在聖殿的門框上，祭壇座的四角上，和內院的門框上。
 則:45.20    正月初七，為那不慎誤犯的人，也應照樣行，為聖殿取潔。
 則:45.21    正月十四，你們應過逾越節，七天吃無酵餅。
 則:45.22    在那一天，元首應為自己和本國人民獻一頭公牛犢，為贖罪祭。
 則:45.23    七天的慶節，他應向上主獻全燔祭；七天內每天應獻七頭無瑕的公牛犢，和七隻無瑕的公羊；每天獻一隻小山羊，為贖罪祭。
 則:45.24    還應獻素祭：為每頭公牛犢獻一「厄法」麵；為一「厄法」麵加一「辛」油。
 則:45.25    七月十五日的慶節，他應獻同樣的祭品；七天之久應獻同樣的贖罪祭、全燔祭、素祭和油。」
  
 則:46.1     [安息日與月朔的祭獻]  吾主上主這樣說：「內院朝東的大門，六天勞作的日子應關閉，安息日應敞開，月朔之日，也應敞開。
 則:46.2     元首應由外門經門廊進入，站在門框旁，此時司祭奉獻給他的全燔祭與和平祭。他在門限上朝拜後，就出去。這門直到晚上不應關閉。
 則:46.3     安息日和月朔，本國的人民也在這門口，在上主前朝拜。
 則:46.4     安息日，元首應獻於上主的全燔祭，應是無瑕的羔羊六隻，無瑕的公羊一隻。
 則:46.5     至於同獻的素祭，為一隻公羊獻一「厄法」麵，為羔羊的素可隨奉獻。為一「厄法」麵加一「辛」油。
 則:46.6     在月朔之日，應獻無瑕的公牛犢一頭，羔羊六隻，公羊一隻，都應是無瑕的。
 則:46.7     至於同祭的素祭，為一頭公牛獻一「厄法」麵，為一隻公羊獻一「厄法」麵，為羔羊的素祭隨意奉獻。為一「厄法」應加一「辛」油。
 則:46.8     元首住入時，應從門廊進，並由原路出。
 則:46.9     每逢慶日，本國人到上主面前時，凡由北門進來朝拜的，應由南門出去；由南門進來的，應由北門出去。誰也不可從他進來的門出去，但該從對面的門出去。
 則:46.10    元首常應在百姓中，幾時百姓進來，他也進來；幾時百姓出去，他也出去。
 則:46.11    [其他祭獻的規定]  每逢慶日和慶典，同獻的素祭，為每頭公牛犢，獻一「厄法」麵，為每隻公羊獻一「厄法」麵，為羔羊可隨意奉獻；為一「厄法」麵加一「辛」油。
 則:46.12    幾時元首自願獻全燔祭或和平祭，作為上主的自願祭，就給他敞開朝東的門，他獻的全燔祭或和平祭，像安息日所行的一樣，以後就出去；他出去後，即關上大門。
 則:46.13    你應每日奉獻給上主一隻無瑕當年的羔羊為全燔祭，應每天早晨奉獻。
 則:46.14    每天早晨又應同時獻素祭，獻六分之一「厄法」及三分之一「辛」油調和的細麵，獻給上主作素祭：這是恆常全燔祭的規定。
 則:46.15    為此每天早晨應奉獻羔羊，素祭和油：這是恆常的全燔祭。」
 則:46.16    [元首的產業]  吾主上主這樣說：「如果元首將自己的一分產業賜給自己的兒子，這產業就歸他的兒子所有。他們可據為己有。
 則:46.17    但是，如果他將自己的一分產業賜給自己的一個臣僕，直到「釋放年」歸他所有；以後，仍歸元首。只有賜給兒子的產業，永歸兒子。
 則:46.18    元首不應強取人民的業，奪取他們的的土地，他應拿自己的土地給兒子作產業，免得我百姓中有人從自己的土地上疲趕走。」
 則:46.19    [煮祭牲之所]  以後，他領我由大門旁的入口，到聖所北面的司祭樓房那裏。看，西面的盡頭有塊地方。
 則:46.20    他對我說：「這是司祭煮贖過祭和贖罪祭牲並烤素祭的地方，免得帶到外院仗百姓沾染聖潔。」
 則:46.21    他引我到了外院，叫我走遍庭院金角，在庭院的每個角上有個小庭院。
 則:46.22    庭院四角的小庭院，長金十肘，寬三十肘，都有一樣的尺寸。
 則:46.23    四個小庭院的周圍有垣牆，周圍垣牆下邊設有爐灶。
 則:46.24    他對我說：「這些都是聖殿的侍役為百姓煮祭牲的灶房。」
  
 則:47.1     [聖殿下水湧成河]  以後，他領我回到聖殿門口，看，有水從聖殿下面湧出，流向東方──因為聖殿正面朝東；水從聖殿的右邊經聖殿經祭壇的南邊流出。
 則:47.2     隨後他引我由北門出來，帶我由外面轉到朝東的外門。看，水從右邊流出。
 則:47.3     那人手拿繩索向東走去，量了一千肘，遂叫我由水中走過，水深及踝。
 則:47.4     他再量了一千肘，再叫我由水中走過，水深及膝。又量了一千肘，又叫我走過，水深及腰。
 則:47.5     他又量了一千肘，水已成河，不能走過，因為水已高漲，成了可供游泳的水，不能走過去的河。
 則:47.6     於是他對我說：「人子，你看見了嗎﹖」遂我回到了河岸。
 則:47.7     [河流的好處]  當我回來時，看，沿河兩岸，樹木很多。
 則:47.8     於是他對我說：「這水流往東方，下至阿辣巴，而入於海──鹽海中，海水遂變成好水。
 則:47.9     這河所流過的地方，凡蠕動的生物都得生活，魚也繁多，因為凡這水所到的地方百物必能生存。
 則:47.10    漁夫要住在海邊，自恩革狄到恩厄革拉因，都是曬網的地方。那裏的魚種類很多，像大海的一樣。
 則:47.11    但所有的池沼和湖澤卻不改變，留作產鹽之區。
 則:47.12    沿河兩岸，畏有各種果木樹，枝葉總不凋零，果實決不匱乏，且按月結果，因為水我出自聖所；樹上的果實可當作食物，枝葉可當作藥材。」
 則:47.13    [聖地的邊界]  吾主上主這樣說：「這是你們按以色列十二支派分地為業的界限。──若瑟應得兩份。
 則:47.14    你們應彼此平分我舉手誓許給你們祖先的土地，應抽籤分這地作你們的產業。
 則:47.15    以下是國土的邊界：北方由大海經赫特隆經哈瑪特口，經責達得，
 則:47.16    經貝洛達與位於大馬士革邊界與哈瑪特邊界之間的息貝辣因，直到靠近豪郎邊界的哈匝爾厄南。
 則:47.17    所以這邊界是由大海到哈匝爾厄南，北面有大馬士革為界，再向北有哈瑪特為界：這是北方的邊界。
 則:47.18    東方的邊界是在豪郎與大馬士革之間，在基肋阿得與以色列之間有約旦河為界，直到東海，再到塔瑪爾：這是東方的邊界。
 則:47.19    南方向陽的邊界是由塔瑪爾到默黎巴卡德士水，沿河直到大海：這是南方向陽的邊界。
 則:47.20    西方的邊界是以大海為界，直到哈瑪特口的對面：這是西方的邊界。
 則:47.21    [外方人應分之地]  你們應按以色列的支派分開此地。
 則:47.22    你們應為你們，並為住在你們中作客，且在你們中已生有子女的外方人，抽籤分開這地為產業。你們應你們為生在以色列子民間的人一樣，他們將與你們在以色列支派中籤分地作為產業。
 則:47.23    將來如有外方人在一支派中作客，也要分給他們產業──吾主上主的斷語。」
  
 則:48.1     [七支派平分北部]  各支派的姓名如下：由極北瑞起，沿赫特隆路至哈瑪特口，再至哈匝爾厄南，；──北有大馬士革邊界，有哈馬特邊界──每支派由東界到西界各有一份：這是丹的一份。
 則:48.2     靠近丹的邊界，由東界到西界，是阿協爾的一份；
 則:48.3     靠近阿協爾的邊界，由東界到西界，是納斐塔里的邊界，
 則:48.4     靠近納納斐塔里的邊界，由東界到西界，是默納協的邊界，
 則:48.5     靠近默納協的邊界，由東界到西界是厄法辣因的一份。
 則:48.6     靠近厄弗辣因的邊界，由東界到西界，是勒烏本的一份。
 則:48.7     靠近勒烏本的邊界，由東界到西界是猶大的一份。
 則:48.8     [中部保留地]  靠近猶大的邊界，由東界到西界，是你們應保留的獻地，寬二萬五千肘，長由東界到西界，如每支派分得的一份一樣，中間是聖所。
 則:48.9     你們為上主保留的獻地，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘。
 則:48.10    這塊所獻的聖地應歸司祭，北面長二萬五千肘，西面寬一肘，東面寬一萬肘，南面寬二五千肘，衵間是上主的聖所。
 則:48.11    這地應歸疲祝聖作上主司祭的匝多克的子孫，他們謹慎遵行了我的禮規，當以色列子民墮落時，他們沒有像肋未人一樣落時下去。
 則:48.12    屬司祭之地是獻地中至聖之地，靠近近肋未人的邊界。
 則:48.13    屬肋未人的地與司祭的邊界平行，長二萬五千肘，寬一萬肘，總計長二萬五千肘，寬二萬肘。
 則:48.14    其中的地不可變賣，不可交換也不可轉讓，這是地中最好的一份，因為是祝聖於上主的。
 則:48.15    [京城和元首之地]  由二萬五千肘的面積所餘的五千肘應列為俗地，作為居住的城市和郊區，城市應在中心。
 則:48.16    城市的面積如下：北面四千五百肘，北面四千五百肘，南面四千五百肘，東面四千五百肘。
 則:48.17    城市外的郊區是：北面二百五十肘，南面二百五十肘，東面二百五十肘，西面二百五十肘。
 則:48.18    至於那與所獻聖地平行的所餘之地，東面長一萬肘，西面長一萬肘，甚中出產應作為城內居民的食糧。
 則:48.19    城內的居民是由以色列各支派分派來住的。
 則:48.20    整個獻地為二萬五千肘長，二萬五千肘寬，為一方形，是你們應保留的所獻聖地和城市地段。
 則:48.21    在所獻聖地和城市地段的兩所餘之地，二萬五千肘由東至東面的邊界，由西至西面的邊界，與各支派所分之地平行，都歸元首，所獻聖地與聖所在中間。
 則:48.22    除在屬元首的地中間，有肋未人的產業和城市地段外，凡在猶大邊界和本雅明邊界飲間的土地，皆歸元首所有。
 則:48.23    [五個支派平分南部]  至於其餘的支派：由東界到西界，是本雅明的一份。
 則:48.24    靠近本雅明的邊界由東界至西界是西默盎的一份。
 則:48.25    靠近西默盎的一邊界，由東界至西界是依撒加爾的一份。
 則:48.26    靠近依撒加爾的邊界，由東界至西界是則布隆的一份。
 則:48.27    靠近則布隆的邊界，由東界至西界，是加得的一份。
 則:48.28    靠近加得的邊界，是南方向陽的邊界，由塔瑪爾到默黎巴卡德士水沿河直到大海。
 則:48.29    這是你們各支派抽籤平分的土地，是你們應得的產業──吾主上主的斷語。
 則:48.30    [新京城的面積與門]  城的出口如下：北面為四千五百肘，
 則:48.31    北面有三門：一為勒烏本門，一為猶大門，一為肋未門。城門都是照以色列支的名字派起的。
 則:48.32    東面為四千五百肘，有三門：一為若瑟門，一為本雅明門，一為丹門。
 則:48.33    南面為四千五百肘，有三門：一為西默盎門，一為依撒加爾門，一為則步隆門。
 則:48.34    西面為四千五百肘，有三門：一為加得門，一為阿協爾門，一為納斐塔里門。
 則:48.35    周圍共一萬八千肘。這城從那天起名叫「上主在那裏。」 [厄則克耳完篇]

 ezk1.           [Ezekiel]   48 chapters    [厄則克耳]   [英文版]

 ezk:1.1    In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens opened, and I saw divine visions.--
 ezk:1.2    On the fifth day of the month, the fifth year, that is, of King Jehoiachin's exile,
 ezk:1.3    the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar.--There the hand of the LORD came upon me.
 ezk:1.4    As I looked, a stormwind came from the North, a huge cloud with flashing fire (enveloped in brightness), from the midst of which (the midst of the fire) something gleamed like electrum.
 ezk:1.5    Within it were figures resembling four living creatures that looked like this: their form was human,
 ezk:1.6    but each had four faces and four wings,
 ezk:1.7    and their legs went straight down; the soles of their feet were round. They sparkled with a gleam like burnished bronze.
 ezk:1.8    Human hands were under their wings, and the wings of one touched those of another.
 ezk:1.9    Their faces (and their wings) looked out on all their four sides; they did not turn when they moved, but each went straight forward.
 ezk:1.10   Their faces were like this: each of the four had the face of a man, but on the right side was the face of a lion, and on the left side the face of an ox, and finally each had the face of an eagle.
 ezk:1.11   Each had two wings spread out above so that they touched one another's, while the other two wings of each covered his body.
 ezk:1.12   (Each went straight forward; wherever the spirit wished to go, there they went; they did not turn when they moved.)
 ezk:1.13   In among the living creatures something like burning coals of fire could be seen; they seemed like torches, moving to and fro among the living creatures. The fire gleamed, and from it came forth flashes of lightning.
 ezk:1.14   Each had two wings spread out above so that they touched another's, while the other two wings of each covered his body.
 ezk:1.15   As I looked at the living creatures, I saw wheels on the ground, one beside each of the four living creatures.
 ezk:1.16   The wheels had the sparkling appearance of chrysolite, and all four of them looked the same: they were constructed as though one wheel were within another.
 ezk:1.17   They could move in any of the four directions they faced, without veering as they moved.
 ezk:1.18   The four of them had rims, and I saw that their rims were full of eyes all around.
 ezk:1.19   When the living creatures moved, the wheels moved with them; and when the living creatures were raised from the ground, the wheels also were raised.
 ezk:1.20   Wherever the spirit wished to go, there the wheels went, and they were raised together with the living creatures; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
 ezk:1.21   So every time the animals moved or stopped or rose in the air, the wheels did exactly the same, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.
 ezk:1.22   Over the heads of the living creatures, something like a firmament could be seen, seeming like glittering crystal, stretched straight out above their heads.
 ezk:1.23   Beneath the firmament their wings were stretched out, one toward the other. (Each of them had two covering his body.)
 ezk:1.24   Then I heard the sound of their wings, like the roaring of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty. When they moved, the sound of the tumult was like the din of an army. (And when they stood still, they lowered their wings.)
 ezk:1.25   Above the firmament over their heads something like a throne could be seen, looking like sapphire.
 ezk:1.26   Upon it was seated, up above, one who had the appearance of a man.
 ezk:1.27   Upward from what resembled his waist I saw what gleamed like electrum; downward from what resembled his waist I saw what looked like fire; he was surrounded with splendor.
 ezk:1.28   Like the bow which appears in the clouds on a rainy day was the splendor that surrounded him. Such was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I had seen it, I fell upon my face and heard a voice that said to me:
   
 ezk:2.1    Son of man, stand up! I wish to speak with you.
 ezk:2.2    As he spoke to me, spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking
 ezk:2.3    say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have revolted against me to this very day.
 ezk:2.4    Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD!
 ezk:2.5    And whether they heed or resist--for they are a rebellious house--they shall know that a prophet has been among them.
 ezk:2.6    But as for you, son of man, fear neither them nor their words when they contradict you and reject you, and when you sit on scorpions. Neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
 ezk:2.7    (But speak my words to them, whether they heed or resist, for they are rebellious.)
 ezk:2.8    As for you, son of man, obey me when I speak to you: be not rebellious like this house of rebellion, but open your mouth and eat what I shall give you.
 ezk:2.9    It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me, in which was a written scroll
 ezk:2.10   which he unrolled before me. It was covered with writing front and back, and written on it was: Lamentation and wailing and woe!
   
 ezk:3.1    He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.
 ezk:3.2    So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat.
 ezk:3.3    Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said:
 ezk:3.4    Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them.
 ezk:3.5    Not to a people with difficult speech and barbarous language am I sending you,
 ezk:3.6    nor to the many peoples (with difficult speech and barbarous language) whose words you cannot understand. If I were to send you to these, they would listen to you;
 ezk:3.7    but the house of Israel will refuse to listen to you, since they will not listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is stubborn of brow and obstinate in heart.
 ezk:3.8    But I will make your face as hard as theirs, and your brow as stubborn as theirs,
 ezk:3.9    like diamond, harder than flint. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
 ezk:3.10   Son of man, he said to me, take into your heart all my words that I speak to you; hear them well.
 ezk:3.11   Now go to the exiles, to your countrymen, and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD!--whether they heed or resist!
 ezk:3.12   Then spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the noise of a loud rumbling as the glory of the LORD rose from its place:
 ezk:3.13   the noise made by the wings of the living creatures striking one another, and by the wheels alongside them, a loud rumbling.
 ezk:3.14   The spirit which had lifted me up seized me, and I went off spiritually stirred, while the hand of the LORD rested heavily upon me.
 ezk:3.15   Thus I came to the exiles who lived at Tel-abib by the river Chebar, and for seven days I sat among them distraught.
 ezk:3.16   At the end of seven days. . .
 ezk:3.17   Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them for me.
 ezk:3.18   If I say to the wicked man, You shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked conduct so that he may live: that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.
 ezk:3.19   If, on the other hand, you have warned the wicked man, yet he has not turned away from his evil nor from his wicked conduct, then he shall die for his sin, but you shall save your life.
 ezk:3.20   If a virtuous man turns away from virtue and does wrong when I place a stumbling block before him, he shall die. He shall die for his sin, and his virtuous deeds shall not be remembered; but I will hold you responsible for his death if you did not warn him.
 ezk:3.21   When, on the other hand, you have warned a virtuous man not to sin, and he has in fact not sinned, he shall surely live because of the warning, and you shall save your own life.
 ezk:3.22   The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he said to me: Get up and go out into the plain, where I will speak with you.
 ezk:3.23   So I got up and went out into the plain, and I saw that the glory of the LORD was in that place, like the glory I had seen by the river Chebar. I fell prone,
 ezk:3.24   but then spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and he spoke with me. He said to me: Go shut yourself up in your house.
 ezk:3.25   (As for you, son of man, they will put cords upon you and bind you with them, so that you cannot go out among them.)
 ezk:3.26   I will make your tongue stick to your palate so that you will be dumb and unable to rebuke them for being a rebellious house.
 ezk:3.27   Only when I speak with you and open your mouth, shall you say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD! Let him heed who will, and let him resist who will, for they are a rebellious house.
   
 ezk:4.1    As for you, son of man, take a clay tablet; lay it in front of you, and draw on it a city (Jerusalem).
 ezk:4.2    Raise a siege against it: build a tower, lay out a ramp, pitch camps, and set up batteringrams all around.
 ezk:4.3    Then take an iron griddle and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city. Fix your gaze on it: it shall be in the state of siege, and you shall besiege it. This shall be a sign for the house of Israel.
 ezk:4.4    Then you shall lie on your left side, while I place the sins of the house of Israel upon you. As many days as you lie thus, you shall bear their sins.
 ezk:4.5    For the years of their sins I allot you the same number of days, three hundred and ninety, during which you will bear the sins of the house of Israel.
 ezk:4.6    When you finish this, you are to lie down again, but on your right side, and bear the sins of the house of Judah forty days; one day for each year I have allotted you.
 ezk:4.7    Fixing your gaze on the siege of Jerusalem, with bared arm you shall prophesy against it.
 ezk:4.8    See, I will bind you with cords so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.
 ezk:4.9    Again, take wheat and barley, and beans and lentils, and millet and spelt; put them in a single vessel and make bread out of them. Eat it for as many days as you lie upon your side, three hundred and ninety.
 ezk:4.10   The food you eat shall be twenty shekels a day by weight; each day the same.
 ezk:4.11   And the water you drink shall be the sixth of a hin by measure; each day the same.
 ezk:4.12   For your food you must bake barley loaves over human excrement in their sight, said the LORD.
 ezk:4.13   Thus the Israelites shall eat their food unclean among the nations where I scatter them.
 ezk:4.14   "Oh no, Lord GOD!" I protested. "Never have I been made unclean, and from my youth till now, never have I eaten carrion flesh or that torn by wild beasts; never has any unclean meat entered my mouth."
 ezk:4.15   Very well, he replied, I allow you cow's dung in place of human excrement; bake your bread on that.
 ezk:4.16   Then he said to me: Son of man, I am breaking the staff of bread in Jerusalem. They shall eat bread which they have weighed out anxiously, and they shall drink water which they have measured out fearfully,
 ezk:4.17   so that, owing to the scarcity of bread and water, everyone shall be filled with terror and waste away because of his sins.
   
 ezk:5.1    As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it like a barber's razor, passing it over your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair you have cut.
 ezk:5.2    Burn a third in the fire, within the city, when the days of your siege are completed; place another third around the city and strike it with the sword; the final third strew in the wind, and pursue it with the sword.
 ezk:5.3    (But of the last take a small number and tie them in the hem of your garment.
 ezk:5.4    Then take some of these and throw them in the midst of the fire and burn them.) Say to the whole house of Israel:
 ezk:5.5    Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem! In the midst of the nations I placed her, surrounded by foreign countries.
 ezk:5.6    But she rebelled against my ordinances more wickedly than the nations, and against my statutes more than the foreign countries surrounding her; she has spurned my ordinances and has not lived by my statutes.
 ezk:5.7    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have been more rebellious than the nations surrounding you, not living by my statutes nor fulfilling my ordinances, but acting according to the ordinances of the surrounding nations;
 ezk:5.8    therefore thus says the Lord GOD: See, I am coming at you! I will inflict punishments in your midst while the nations look on.
 ezk:5.9    Because of all your abominations I will do with you what I have never done before, the like of which I will never do again.
 ezk:5.10   This means that fathers within you shall eat sons, and sons shall eat fathers. I will inflict punishments upon you and scatter all that remain of your people in every direction.
 ezk:5.11   Therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable abominations, I swear to cut you down. I will not look upon you with pity nor have mercy.
 ezk:5.12   A third of your people shall die of pestilence and perish of hunger within you; another third shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third I will scatter in every direction, and I will pursue them with the sword.
 ezk:5.13   Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will wreak my fury upon them till I am appeased; they shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken in my jealousy when I spend my fury upon them.
 ezk:5.14   I will make you a waste and a reproach among the nations that surround you, which every passer-by may see.
 ezk:5.15   When I execute judgment upon you in anger and fury and with furious chastisements, you shall be a reproach and an object of scorn, a terrible warning to the nations that surround you. I, the LORD, have spoken!
 ezk:5.16   When I loose against you the cruel, destructive arrows of hunger, I will break your staff of bread;
 ezk:5.17   I will send famine against you, and wild beasts that shall rob you of your children. Pestilence and bloodshed shall stalk through you, and I will bring the sword upon you. I, the LORD, have spoken!
   
 ezk:6.1    Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:6.2    Son of man, turn toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them:
 ezk:6.3    Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. Thus says the Lord GOD (to the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys): See, I am bringing a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.
 ezk:6.4    Your altars shall be laid waste, your incense stands shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain ones before your idols;
 ezk:6.5    I will scatter their bones all around your altars.
 ezk:6.6    In all your dwelling places cities shall be made desolate and high places laid waste, so that your altars will be made desolate and laid waste, your idols broken and removed, and your incense stands smashed to bits.
 ezk:6.7    (The slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:6.8    I have warned you.) When some of your people have escaped to other nations from the sword, and have been scattered over the foreign lands,
 ezk:6.9    then those who have escaped will remember me among the nations to which they have been exiled, after I have broken their adulterous hearts that turned away from me (and their eyes which lusted after idols). They shall loathe themselves because of their evil deeds, all their abominations.
 ezk:6.10   Then they shall know that it was not in vain that I, the LORD, threatened to inflict this calamity upon them.
 ezk:6.11   Thus says the Lord GOD: Clap your hands, stamp your feet, and cry "Alas!" because of all the abominations of the house of Israel, for which they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.
 ezk:6.12   He that is far off shall die of pestilence, he that is near shall fall by the sword, and he that is besieged shall perish by famine; so will I spend my fury upon them.
 ezk:6.13   Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when their slain shall lie amid their idols, all about their altars, on every high hill and mountaintop, beneath every green tree and leafy oak, wherever they offered appeasing odors to any of their gods.
 ezk:6.14   I will stretch out my hand against them, and wherever they live I will make the land a desolate waste, from the desert to Riblah; thus shall they know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:7.1    Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:7.2    Son of man, now say: Thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land!
 ezk:7.3    Now the end is upon you; I will unleash my anger against you and judge you according to your conduct and lay upon you the consequences of all your abominations.
 ezk:7.4    I will not look upon you with pity nor have mercy; I will bring your conduct down upon you, and the consequences of your abominations shall be in your midst; then shall you know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:7.5    Thus says the Lord GOD: Disaster upon disaster! See it coming!
 ezk:7.6    An end is coming, the end is coming upon you! See it coming!
 ezk:7.7    The climax has come for you who dwell in the land! The time has come, near is the day: a time of consternation, not of rejoicing.
 ezk:7.8    Soon now I will pour out my fury upon you and spend my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your conduct and lay upon you the consequences of all your abominations.
 ezk:7.9    I will not look upon you with pity nor have mercy; I will deal with you according to your conduct, and the consequences of your abominations shall be in your midst; then shall you know that it is I, the LORD, who strike.
 ezk:7.10   See, the day of the LORD! See, the end is coming! Lawlessness is in full bloom, insolence flourishes,
 ezk:7.11   violence has risen to support wickedness. It shall not be long in coming, nor shall it delay.
 ezk:7.12   The time has come, the day dawns. Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn, for wrath shall be upon all the throng.
 ezk:7.13   The seller shall not regain what he sold as long as he lives, for wrath shall be upon all the throng. Because of his sins, no one shall preserve his life.
 ezk:7.14   They shall sound the trumpet and make everything ready, yet no one shall go to war, for my wrath is upon all the throng.
 ezk:7.15   The sword is outside; pestilence and hunger are within. He that is in the country shall die by the sword; pestilence and famine shall devour those in the city.
 ezk:7.16   Even those who escape and flee to the mountains like the doves of the valleys--I will put them all to death, each one for his own sins.
 ezk:7.17   All their hands shall be limp, and all their knees shall run with water.
 ezk:7.18   They shall put on sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; shame shall be on all their faces and baldness on all their heads.
 ezk:7.19   They shall fling their silver into the streets, and their gold shall be considered refuse. Their silver and gold cannot save them on the day of the LORD'S wrath. They shall not be allowed to satisfy their craving or fill their bellies, for this has been the occasion of their sin.
 ezk:7.20   In the beauty of their ornaments they put their pride: they made of them their abominable images (their idols). For this reason I make them refuse.
 ezk:7.21   I will hand them over as booty to foreigners, to be spoiled and defiled by the wicked of the earth.
 ezk:7.22   I will turn away my face from them, and my treasure shall be profaned: robbers shall enter and profane it.
 ezk:7.23   They shall wreak slaughter, for the land is filled with bloodshed and the city full of violence.
 ezk:7.24   I will bring in the worst of the nations, who shall take possession of their houses. I will put an end to their proud strength, and their sanctuaries shall be profaned.
 ezk:7.25   When anguish comes they shall seek peace, but there will be none.
 ezk:7.26   There shall be disaster after disaster, rumor after rumor. Prophetic vision shall fade; instruction shall be lacking to the priest, and counsel to the elders,
 ezk:7.27   while the prince shall be enveloped in terror, and the hands of the common people shall tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and according to their judgments I will judge them; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:8.1    On the fifth day of the sixth month, in the sixth year, as I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there.
 ezk:8.2    I looked up and saw a form that looked like a man. Downward from what seemed to be his waist, there was fire; from his waist upward there seemed to be a brightness like the sheen of electrum. He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and seized me by the hair of my head. . . .
 ezk:8.3    Spirit lifted me up in the air and brought me in divine visions to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate, where stood the statue of jealousy which stirs up jealousy.
 ezk:8.4    I saw there the glory of the God of Israel, like the vision I had seen in the plain. The cherubim were stationed to the right of the temple;
 ezk:8.5    He said to me: Son of man, look toward the north! I looked toward the north and saw northward of the gate the altar of the statue of jealousy.
 ezk:8.6    Son of man, he asked me, do you see what they are doing? Do you see the great abominations that the house of Israel is practicing here, so that I must depart from my sanctuary? But you shall see still greater abominations!
 ezk:8.7    Then he brought me to the entrance of the court, where I saw there was a hole in the wall.
 ezk:8.8    Son of man, he ordered, dig through the wall. I dug through the wall and saw a door.
 ezk:8.9    Enter, he said to me, and see the abominable evils which they are doing here.
 ezk:8.10   I entered and saw that all around upon the wall were pictured the figures of all kinds of creeping things and loathsome beasts (all the idols of the house of Israel).
 ezk:8.11   Before these stood seventy of the elders of the house of Israel, among whom stood Jaazaniah, son of Shaphan, each of them with his censer in his hand, and the fragrance of the incense was rising upward.
 ezk:8.12   Then he said to me: Do you see, son of man, what each of these elders of the house of Israel is doing in his idol room? They think: "The LORD cannot see us; the LORD has forsaken the land."
 ezk:8.13   He continued: You shall see still greater abominations that they are practicing.
 ezk:8.14   Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the temple, and I saw sitting there the women who were weeping for Tammuz.
 ezk:8.15   Then he said to me: Do you see this, son of man? You shall see other abominations, greater than these!
 ezk:8.16   Then he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and there at the door of the LORD'S temple, between the vestibule and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the LORD'S temple and their faces toward the east; they were bowing down to the sun.
 ezk:8.17   Do you see, son of man? he asked me. Is it such a trivial matter for the house of Judah to do the abominable things they have done here--for they have filled the land with violence, and again and again they have provoked me--that now they must also put the branch to my nose?
 ezk:8.18   Therefore I in turn will act furiously: I will not look upon them with pity nor will I show mercy.
   
 ezk:9.1    Then he cried loud for me to hear: Come, you scourges of the city!
 ezk:9.2    With that I saw six men coming from the direction of the upper gate which faces the north, each with a destroying weapon in his hand. In their midst was a man dressed in linen, with a writer's case at his waist. They entered and stood beside the bronze altar.
 ezk:9.3    Then he called to the man dressed in linen with the writer's case at his waist,
 ezk:9.4    saying to him: Pass through the city (through Jerusalem) and mark an X on the foreheads of those who moan and groan over all the abominations that are practiced within it.
 ezk:9.5    To the others I heard him say: Pass through the city after him and strike! Do not look on them with pity nor show any mercy!
 ezk:9.6    Old men, youths and maidens, women and children--wipe them out! But do not touch any marked with the X; begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the men (the elders) who were in front of the temple.
 ezk:9.7    Defile the temple, he said to them, and fill the courts with the slain; then go out and strike in the city.
 ezk:9.8    As they began to strike, I was left alone. I fell prone, crying out, Alas, Lord GOD! Will you destroy all that is left of Israel when you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?"
 ezk:9.9    He answered me: The sins of the house of Israel are great beyond measure; the land is filled with bloodshed, the city with lawlessness. They think that the LORD has forsaken the land, that he does not see them.
 ezk:9.10   I, however, will not look upon them with pity, nor show any mercy. I will bring down their conduct upon their heads.
 ezk:9.11   Then I saw the man dressed in linen with the writing case at his waist make his report: "I have done as you ordered."
   
 ezk:10.1   I looked and saw in the firmament above the cherubim what appeared to be sapphire stone; something like a throne could be seen upon it.
 ezk:10.2   He said to the man dressed in linen: Go within the wheelwork under the cherubim; fill both your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim, then scatter them over the city. As I looked on, he entered. The glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherubim, upon which it had been, to the threshold of the temple.
 ezk:10.3   As the man entered, the cloud filled the inner court,
 ezk:10.4   and the glory of the LORD rose from over the cherubim to the threshold of the temple; the temple was filled with the cloud, and all the court was bright with the glory of the LORD.
 ezk:10.5   The noise of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far as the outer court; it was like the voice of God the Almighty when he speaks.
 ezk:10.6   When he had commanded the man dressed in linen to take fire from within the wheelwork, among the cherubim, the man entered and stood by one of the wheels.
 ezk:10.7   Thereupon its cherub stretched out his hand toward the fire that was among the cherubim. He took up some of it and put it in the hands of the one dressed in linen, who took it and came out.
 ezk:10.8   (Something like human hands could be seen under the wings of the cherubim.)
 ezk:10.9   I also saw four wheels beside them, one wheel beside each cherub; the wheels appeared to have the luster of chrysolite stone.
 ezk:10.10  All four of them seemed to be made the same, as though they were a wheel within a wheel.
 ezk:10.11  When they moved, they went in any one of their four directions without veering as they moved; for in whichever direction they were faced, they went straight toward it without veering as they moved.
 ezk:10.12  The rims of the four wheels were full of eyes all around.
 ezk:10.13  I heard the wheels given the name "wheelwork."
 ezk:10.14  Each had four faces: the first face was that of an ox, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.
 ezk:10.15  Such were the living creatures I had seen by the river Chebar.
 ezk:10.16  When the cherubim moved, the wheels went beside them; when the cherubim lifted their wings to rise from the earth, even then the wheels did not leave their sides.
 ezk:10.17  When they stood still, the wheels stood still; when they rose, the wheels rose with them; for the living creatures' spirit was in them.
 ezk:10.18  Then the glory of the LORD left the threshold of the temple and rested upon the cherubim.
 ezk:10.19  These lifted their wings, and I saw them rise from the earth, the wheels rising along with them. They stood at the entrance of the eastern gate of the LORD'S house, and the glory of the God of Israel was up above them.
 ezk:10.20  these were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the river Chebar, whom I now recognized to be cherubim.
 ezk:10.21  Each ohad four faces and four wings; something like human hands were under their wings.
 ezk:10.22  Their faces looked just like those I had seen by the river Chebar; each one went straight forward.
   
 ezk:11.1   Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the temple. At the entrance of the gate I saw twenty-five men, among whom were Jaazaniah, son of Azzur, and Pelatiah, son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
 ezk:11.2   The LORD said to me: Son of man, these are the men who are planning evil and giving wicked counsel in this city.
 ezk:11.3   "Shall we not," they say, "be building houses soon? The city is the kettle, and we are the meat."
 ezk:11.4   Therefore prophesy against them, son of man, prophesy!
 ezk:11.5   Then the spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he told me to say: Thus says the LORD: This is the way you talk, house of Israel, and what you are plotting I well know.
 ezk:11.6   You have slain many in this city and have filled its streets with your slain.
 ezk:11.7   Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Your slain whom you have placed within it, they are the meat, and the city is the kettle; but you I will take out of it.
 ezk:11.8   You fear the sword, but the sword I will bring upon you, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:11.9   I will bring you out of the city, and hand you over to foreigners, and inflict punishments upon you.
 ezk:11.10  By the sword you shall fall; at the boundaries of Israel I will judge you; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:11.11  The city shall not be a kettle for you, nor shall you be the meat within it. At the boundaries of Israel I will judge you,
 ezk:11.12  and you shall know that I am the LORD, by whose statutes you have not lived, and whose ordinances you have not kept; rather, you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you.
 ezk:11.13  While I was prophesying, Pelatiah, the son of Benaiah, died. I fell prone and cried out in a loud voice: "Alas, Lord GOD! will you utterly wipe out what remains of Israel?"
 ezk:11.14  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:11.15  Son of man, it is about your kinsmen, your fellow exiles, and the whole house of Israel that the inhabitants of Jerusalem say, "They are far away from the LORD; to us the land of Israel has been given as our possession."
 ezk:11.16  Therefore say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I have removed them far among the nations and scattered them over foreign countries--and was for a while their only sanctuary in the countries to which they had gone--
 ezk:11.17  I will gather you from the nations and assemble you from the countries over which you have been scattered, and I will restore to you the land of Israel.
 ezk:11.18  They shall return to it and remove from it all its detestable abominations.
 ezk:11.19  I will give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the stony heart from their bodies, and replace it with a natural heart,
 ezk:11.20  so that they will live according to my statutes, and observe and carry out my ordinances; thus they shall be my people and I will be their God.
 ezk:11.21  But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their detestable abominations, I will bring down their conduct upon their heads, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:11.22  Then the cherubim lifted their wings, and the wheels went along with them, while up above them was the glory of the God of Israel.
 ezk:11.23  And the glory of the LORD rose from the city and took a stand on the mountain which is to the east of the city.
 ezk:11.24  Spirit lifted me up and brought me back to the exiles in Chaldea (in a vision, by God's spirit). Then the vision I had seen left me,
 ezk:11.25  and I told the exiles everything the LORD had shown me.
   
 ezk:12.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:12.2   Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
 ezk:12.3   Now, son of man, during the day while they are looking on, prepare your baggage as though for exile, and again while they are looking on, migrate from where you live to another place; perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house.
 ezk:12.4   You shall bring out your baggage like an exile in the daytime while they are looking on; in the evening, again while they are looking on, you shall go out like one of those driven into exile;
 ezk:12.5   while they look on, dig a hole in the wall and pass through it;
 ezk:12.6   while they look on, shoulder the burden and set out in the darkness; cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.
 ezk:12.7   I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden.
 ezk:12.8   Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:12.9   Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing?
 ezk:12.10  Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it.
 ezk:12.11  I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile.
 ezk:12.12  The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole that he has dug in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone.
 ezk:12.13  But I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, into the land of the Chaldeans--but he shall not see it--and there he shall die.
 ezk:12.14  All his retinue, his aides, and his troops I will scatter in every direction, and pursue them with the sword.
 ezk:12.15  Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them over foreign lands.
 ezk:12.16  Yet I will leave a few of them to escape the sword, famine and pestilence, so that they may tell of all their abominations among the nations to which they will come; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:12.17  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:12.18  Son of man, eat your bread trembling, and drink your water shaking with anxiety.
 ezk:12.19  Then say to the people of the land: Thus says the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem (to the land of Israel): They shall eat their bread in anxiety and drink their water in horror, that their land may be emptied of the violence of all its inhabitants that now fills it.
 ezk:12.20  Inhabited cities shall be in ruins, and the land shall be a waste; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:12.21  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:12.22  Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: "The days drag on, and no vision ever comes to anything"?
 ezk:12.23  Say to them therefore: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb; they shall never quote it again in Israel. Rather, say to them: The days are at hand, and also the fulfillment of every vision.
 ezk:12.24  There shall no longer be any false visions or deceitful divinations within the house of Israel, because it is I, the LORD, who will speak.
 ezk:12.25  Whatever I speak is final, and it shall be done without further delay. In your days, rebellious house, whatever I speak I will bring about, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:12.26  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:12.27  Son of man, listen to the house of Israel saying, "The vision he sees is a long way off; he prophesies of the distant future!"
 ezk:12.28  Say to them therefore: Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words shall be delayed any longer; whatever I speak is final, and it shall be done, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:13.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:13.2   Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, prophesy! Say to those who prophesy their own thought: Hear the word of the LORD:
 ezk:13.3   Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to those prophets who are fools, who follow their own spirit and have seen no vision.
 ezk:13.4   Like foxes among ruins are your prophets, O Israel!
 ezk:13.5   You did not step into the breach, nor did you build a wall about the house of Israel that would stand firm against attack on the day of the LORD.
 ezk:13.6   Their visions are false and their divination lying. They say, "Thus says the LORD!" though the LORD did not send them; then they wait for him to fulfill their word!
 ezk:13.7   Was not the vision you saw false, and your divination lying?
 ezk:13.8   Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have spoken falsehood and have seen lying visions, therefore see! I am coming at you, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:13.9   But I will stretch out my hand against the prophets who have false visions and who foretell lies. They shall not belong to the community of my people, nor be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor enter the land of Israel; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:13.10  For the very reason that they led my people astray, saying, "Peace!" when there was no peace, and that, as one built a wall, they would cover it with whitewash,
 ezk:13.11  say then to the whitewashers: I will bring down a flooding rain; hailstones shall fall, and a stormwind shall break out.
 ezk:13.12  And when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked: Where is the whitewash you spread on?
 ezk:13.13  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: In my fury I will let loose stormwinds; because of my anger there shall be a flooding rain, and hailstones shall fall with destructive wrath.
 ezk:13.14  I will tear down the wall that you have whitewashed and level it to the ground, laying bare its foundations. When it falls, you shall be crushed beneath it; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:13.15  When I have spent my fury on the wall and its whitewashers, I tell you there shall be no wall, nor shall there be whitewashers--
 ezk:13.16  those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw for it visions of peace when there was no peace, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:13.17  Now, son of man, turn toward the daughters of your people who prophesy their own thoughts; against these, prophesy: Thus says the Lord GOD:
 ezk:13.18  Woe to those who sew bands for everyone's wrists and make veils for every size of head so as to entrap their owners. Do you think to entrap the lives of my people, yet keep yourselves alive?
 ezk:13.19  You dishonor me before my people with handfuls of barley and crumbs of bread, killing those who should not die and keeping alive those who should not live, lying to my people who willingly hear lies.
 ezk:13.20  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at those bands of yours in which you entrap men's lives: I will tear them from their arms and set free those you have caught.
 ezk:13.21  I will tear off your veils and rescue my people from your power, so that they shall no longer be prey to your hands. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:13.22  Because you have disheartened the upright man with lies when I did not wish him grieved, and have encouraged the wicked man not to turn from his evil conduct and save his life;
 ezk:13.23  therefore you shall no longer see false visions and practice divination, but I will rescue my people from your power. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:14.1   When certain elders of Israel came and sat down before me,
 ezk:14.2   the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:14.3   Son of man, these men have the memory of their idols fresh in their hearts, and they keep the occasion of their sin before them. Why should I allow myself to be consulted by them?
 ezk:14.4   Therefore speak with them, and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: If anyone of the house of Israel, holding the memory of his idols in his heart and keeping the occasion of his sin before him, has recourse to a prophet, I, the LORD, will be his answer in person because of his many idols.
 ezk:14.5   Thus would I bring back to their senses the house of Israel, who have become estranged from me through all their idols.
 ezk:14.6   Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: Return and be converted from your idols; turn yourselves away from all your abominations.
 ezk:14.7   For if anyone of the house of Israel or any alien resident in Israel is estranged from me, and holds the memory of his idols in his heart and keeps the occasion of his sin before him, yet asks a prophet to consult me for him, I, the LORD, will be his answer in person.
 ezk:14.8   I will turn against that man, and make of him an example and a byword. I will cut him off from the midst of my people. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:14.9   As for the prophet, if he is beguiled into speaking a word, I, the LORD, shall have beguiled that prophet; I will stretch out my hand against him and root him out of my people Israel.
 ezk:14.10  Each shall receive punishment for his sin, the inquirer and the prophet shall be punished alike,
 ezk:14.11  so that the house of Israel may no longer stray from me and may no longer be defiled by all their sins. Thus they shall be my people, and I will be their God, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:14.12  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:14.13  Son of man, when a land sins against me by breaking faith, I stretch out my hand against it and break its staff of bread, I let famine loose upon it and cut off from it both man and beast;
 ezk:14.14  and even if these three men were in it, Noah, Daniel, and Job, they could save only themselves by their virtue, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:14.15  If I were to cause wild beasts to prowl the land, depopulating it so that it became a waste, traversed by none because of the wild beasts,
 ezk:14.16  and these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I swear they could save neither sons nor daughters; they alone would be saved, and the land would be a waste.
 ezk:14.17  Or if I brought the sword upon this country, commanding the sword to pass through the land cutting off from it man and beast,
 ezk:14.18  and these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they would be unable to save either sons or daughters; they alone would be saved.
 ezk:14.19  Or if I were to send pestilence into this land, pouring out upon it my bloodthirsty fury, cutting off from it man and beast,
 ezk:14.20  even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I swear that they could save neither son nor daughter; they would save only themselves by their virtue.
 ezk:14.21  Thus says the Lord GOD: Even though I send Jerusalem my four cruel punishments, the sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast,
 ezk:14.22  still some survivors shall be left in it who will bring out sons and daughters; when they come out to you, you shall see their conduct and their actions and be consoled regarding the evil I have brought on Jerusalem (all that I have brought upon it).
 ezk:14.23  They shall console you when you see their conduct and actions, for you shall then know that it was not without reason that I did to it what I did, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:15.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:15.2   Son of man, what makes the wood of the vine better than any other wood? That branch among the trees of the forest!
 ezk:15.3   Can you use its wood to make anything worthwhile? Can you make even a peg from it, to hang on it any kind of vessel?
 ezk:15.4   If you throw it on the fire as fuel and the fire devours both ends and even the middle is scorched, is it still good for anything?
 ezk:15.5   Why, even when it was whole it was good for nothing; how much less, when the fire has devoured and scorched it, can it be used for anything!
 ezk:15.6   Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have destined as fuel for the fire, do I make the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
 ezk:15.7   I will set my face against them; they have escaped from the fire, but the fire shall devour them. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD, when I turn my face against them.
 ezk:15.8   I will make the land a waste, because they have broken faith, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:16.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:16.2   Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations.
 ezk:16.3   Thus says the Lord GOD to Jerusalem: By origin and birth you are of the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.
 ezk:16.4   As for your birth, the day you were born your navel cord was not cut; you were neither washed with water nor anointed, nor were you rubbed with salt, nor swathed in swaddling clothes.
 ezk:16.5   No one looked on you with pity or compassion to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out on the ground as something loathsome, the day you were born.
 ezk:16.6   Then I passed by and saw you weltering in your blood. I said to you: Live in your blood
 ezk:16.7   and grow like a plant in the field. You grew and developed, you came to the age of puberty; your breasts were formed, your hair had grown, but you were still stark naked.
 ezk:16.8   Again I passed by you and saw that you were now old enough for love. So I spread the corner of my cloak over you to cover your nakedness; I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you; you became mine, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:16.9   Then I bathed you with water, washed away your blood, and anointed you with oil.
 ezk:16.10  I clothed you with an embroidered gown, put sandals of fine leather on your feet; I gave you a fine linen sash and silk robes to wear.
 ezk:16.11  I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms, a necklace about your neck,
 ezk:16.12  a ring in your nose, pendants in your ears, and a glorious diadem upon your head.
 ezk:16.13  Thus you were adorned with gold and silver; your garments were of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. Fine flour, honey, and oil were your food. You were exceedingly beautiful, with the dignity of a queen.
 ezk:16.14  You were renowned among the nations for your beauty, perfect as it was, because of my splendor which I had bestowed on you, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:16.15  But you were captivated by your own beauty, you used your renown to make yourself a harlot, and you lavished your harlotry on every passer-by, whose own you became.
 ezk:16.16  You took some of your gowns and made for yourself gaudy high places, where you played the harlot. . . .
 ezk:16.17  You took the splendid gold and silver ornaments that I had given you and made for yourself male images, with which also you played the harlot.
 ezk:16.18  You took your embroidered gowns to cover them; my oil and my incense you set before them;
 ezk:16.19  the food that I had given you, the fine flour, the oil, and the honey with which I fed you, you set before them as an appeasing odor, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:16.20  The sons and daughters you had borne me you took and offered as sacrifices to be devoured by them! Was it not enough that you had become a harlot?
 ezk:16.21  You slaughtered and immolated my children to them, making them pass through fire.
 ezk:16.22  And through all your abominations and harlotries you remembered nothing of when you were a girl, stark naked and weltering in your blood.
 ezk:16.23  Then after all your evildoing--woe, woe to you! says the Lord GOD--
 ezk:16.24  you raised for yourself a platform and a dais in every public place.
 ezk:16.25  At every street corner you built a dais for yourself to use your beauty obscenely, spreading your legs for every passer-by, playing the harlot countless times.
 ezk:16.26  You played the harlot with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, so many times that I was provoked to anger.
 ezk:16.27  Therefore I stretched out my hand against you, I diminished your allowance and delivered you over to the will of your enemies, the Philistines, who revolted at your lewd conduct.
 ezk:16.28  You also played the harlot with the Assyrians, because you were not satisfied; and after playing the harlot with them, you were still not satisfied.
 ezk:16.29  Again and again you played the harlot, now going to Chaldea, the land of the traders; but despite this, you were still not satisfied.
 ezk:16.30  How wild your lust! says the Lord GOD, that you did all these things, acting like a shameless prostitute,
 ezk:16.31  building your platform at every street corner and erecting your dais in every public place! Yet you were unlike a prostitute, since you disdained payment.
 ezk:16.32  The adulterous wife receives, instead of her husband, payment.
 ezk:16.33  All harlots receive gifts. But you rather bestowed your gifts on all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from all sides for your harlotry.
 ezk:16.34  Thus in your harlotry you were different from all other women. No one sought you out for prostitution. Since you gave payment instead of receiving it, how different you were!
 ezk:16.35  Therefore, harlot, hear the word of the LORD!
 ezk:16.36  Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you poured out your lust and revealed your nakedness in your harlotry with your lovers and abominable idols, and because you sacrificed the life-blood of your children to them,
 ezk:16.37  I will now gather together all your lovers whom you tried to please, whether you loved them or loved them not; I will gather them against you from all sides and expose you naked for them to see.
 ezk:16.38  I will inflict on you the sentence of adulteresses and murderesses; I will wreak fury and jealousy upon you.
 ezk:16.39  I will hand you over to them to tear down your platform and demolish your dais; they shall strip you of your garments and take away your splendid ornaments, leaving you stark naked.
 ezk:16.40  They shall lead an assembly against you to stone you and hack you with their swords.
 ezk:16.41  They shall burn your apartments with fire and inflict punishments on you while many women look on. Thus I will put an end to your harlotry, and you shall never again give payment.
 ezk:16.42  When I have wreaked my fury upon you I will cease to be jealous of you, I will be quiet and no longer vexed.
 ezk:16.43  Because you did not remember what happened when you were a girl, but enraged me with all these things, therefore in return I am bringing down your conduct upon your head, says the Lord GOD. For did you not add lewdness to the rest of your abominable deeds?
 ezk:16.44  See, everyone who is fond of proverbs will say of you, 'Like mother, like daughter.'
 ezk:16.45  Yes, you are the true daughter of the mother who spurned her husband and children, and you are a true sister to those who spurned their husbands and children--your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.
 ezk:16.46  Your elder sister was Samaria with her daughters, living to the north of you; and your younger sister, living to the south of you, was Sodom with her daughters.
 ezk:16.47  Yet not only in their ways did you walk, and act as abominably as they did; in a very short time you became more corrupt in all your ways than they.
 ezk:16.48  As I live, says the Lord GOD, I swear that your sister Sodom, with her daughters, has not done as you and your daughters have done!
 ezk:16.49  And look at the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters were proud, sated with food, complacent in their prosperity, and they gave no help to the poor and needy.
 ezk:16.50  Rather, they became haughty and committed abominable crimes in my presence; then, as you have seen, I removed them.
 ezk:16.51  Samaria did not commit half your sins! You have done more abominable things than they, and have even made your sisters appear just, with all the abominable deeds you have done.
 ezk:16.52  You, then, bear your shame; you are an argument in favor of your sisters! In view of your sinful deeds, more abominable than theirs, they appear just in comparison with you. Blush for shame, and bear the shame of having made your sisters appear just.
 ezk:16.53  I will restore their fortunes, the fortune of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters (and I will restore your fortune along with them),
 ezk:16.54  that you may bear your shame and be disgraced for all the comfort you brought them.
 ezk:16.55  Yes, your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, Samaria and her daughters, shall return to their former state (you and your daughters shall return to your former state).
 ezk:16.56  Was not your sister Sodom kept in bad repute by you while you felt proud of yourself,
 ezk:16.57  before your wickedness became evident? Now you are like her, reproached by the Edomites and all your neighbors, despised on all sides by the Philistines.
 ezk:16.58  The penalty of your lewdness and your abominations--you must bear it all, says the LORD.
 ezk:16.59  For thus speaks the Lord GOD: I will deal with you according to what you have done, you who despised your oath, breaking a covenant.
 ezk:16.60  Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were a girl, and I will set up an everlasting covenant with you.
 ezk:16.61  Then you shall remember your conduct and be ashamed when I take your sisters, those older and younger than you, and give them to you as daughters, even though I am not bound by my covenant with you.
 ezk:16.62  For I will re-establish my covenant with you, that you may know that I am the LORD,
 ezk:16.63  that you may remember and be covered with confusion, and that you may be utterly silenced for shame when I pardon you for all you have done, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:17.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:17.2   Son of man, propose a riddle, and speak this proverb to the house of Israel:
 ezk:17.3   Thus speaks the Lord GOD: The great eagle, with great wings, with long pinions, with thick plumage, many-hued, came to Lebanon. He took the crest of the cedar,
 ezk:17.4   tearing off its topmost branch, And brought it to a land of tradesmen, set it in a city of merchants.
 ezk:17.5   Then he took some seed of the land, and planted it in a seedbed; A shoot by plentiful waters, like a willow he placed it,
 ezk:17.6   To sprout and grow up a vine, dense and low-lying, Its branches turned toward him, its roots lying under him. Thus it became a vine, produced branches and put forth shoots.
 ezk:17.7   But there was another great eagle, great of wing, rich in plumage; To him this vine bent its roots, sent out its branches, That he might water it more freely than the bed where it was planted.
 ezk:17.8   In a fertile field by plentiful waters it was planted, to grow branches, bear fruit, and become a majestic vine.
 ezk:17.9   Say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Can it prosper? Will he not rather tear it out by the roots and strip off its fruit, so that all its green growth will wither when he pulls it up by the roots? (No need of a mighty arm or many people to do this.)
 ezk:17.10  True, it is planted, but will it prosper? Will it not rather wither, when touched by the east wind, in the bed where it grew?
 ezk:17.11  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:17.12  Son of man, say now to the rebellious house: Do you not understand what this means? It is this: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took away its king and princes with him to Babylon.
 ezk:17.13  Then he selected a man of the royal line with whom he made a covenant, binding him under oath, while removing the nobles of the land,
 ezk:17.14  so that the kingdom would remain a modest one, without aspirations, and would keep his covenant and obey him.
 ezk:17.15  But this man rebelled against him, sending envoys to Egypt to obtain horses and a great army. Can he prosper? Can he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still go free?
 ezk:17.16  As I live, says the Lord GOD, in the home of the king who set him up to rule, whose oath he spurned, whose covenant with him he broke, there in Babylon I swear he shall die!
 ezk:17.17  When ramps are cast up and siege towers are built for the destruction of many lives, he shall not be saved in the conflict by Pharaoh with a great army and numerous troops.
 ezk:17.18  He spurned his oath, breaking his covenant. Though he gave his hand in pledge, he did all these things. He shall not escape!
 ezk:17.19  Therefore say: Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, my oath which he spurned, my covenant which he broke, I swear to bring down upon his head.
 ezk:17.20  I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and enter into judgment with him there over his breaking faith with me.
 ezk:17.21  All the crack troops among his forces shall fall by the sword, and the survivors shall be scattered in every direction. Thus you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken.
 ezk:17.22  Therefore say: Thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, And plant it on a high and lofty mountain;
 ezk:17.23  on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs.
 ezk:17.24  And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the LORD, Bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, Wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom. As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.
   
 ezk:18.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man,
 ezk:18.2   what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel: "Fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children's teeth are on edge"?
 ezk:18.3   As I live, says the Lord GOD: I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel.
 ezk:18.4   For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die.
 ezk:18.5   If a man is virtuous--if he does what is right and just,
 ezk:18.6   if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor's wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;
 ezk:18.7   if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
 ezk:18.8   if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent;
 ezk:18.9   if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous--he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:18.10  But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer, or who does any of these things
 ezk:18.11  (though the father does none of them), a son who eats on the mountains, defiles the wife of his neighbor,
 ezk:18.12  oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not give back a pledge, raises his eyes to idols, does abominable things,
 ezk:18.13  lends at interest and exacts usury--this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault.
 ezk:18.14  On the other hand, if a man begets a son who, seeing all the sins his father commits, yet fears and does not imitate him;
 ezk:18.15  a son who does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife;
 ezk:18.16  who does not oppress anyone, or exact a pledge, or commit robbery; who gives his food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
 ezk:18.17  who holds off from evildoing, accepts no interest or usury, but keeps my ordinances and lives by my statutes--this one shall not die for the sins of his father, but shall surely live.
 ezk:18.18  Only the father, since he violated rights, and robbed, and did what was not good among his people, shall in truth die for his sins.
 ezk:18.19  You ask: "Why is not the son charged with the guilt of his father?" Because the son has done what is right and just, and has been careful to observe all my statutes, he shall surely live.
 ezk:18.20  Only the one who sins shall die. The son shall not be charged with the guilt of his father, nor shall the father be charged with the guilt of his son. The virtuous man's virtue shall be his own, as the wicked man's wickedness shall be his own.
 ezk:18.21  But if the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, if he keeps all my statutes and does what is right and just, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
 ezk:18.22  None of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him; he shall live because of the virtue he has practiced.
 ezk:18.23  Do I indeed derive any pleasure from the death of the wicked? says the Lord GOD. Do I not rather rejoice when he turns from his evil way that he may live?
 ezk:18.24  And if the virtuous man turns from the path of virtue to do evil, the same kind of abominable things that the wicked man does, can he do this and still live? None of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered, because he has broken faith and committed sin; because of this, he shall die.
 ezk:18.25  You say, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
 ezk:18.26  When a virtuous man turns away from virtue to commit iniquity, and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.
 ezk:18.27  But if a wicked man, turning from the wickedness he has committed, does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life;
 ezk:18.28  since he has turned away from all the sins which he committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
 ezk:18.29  And yet the house of Israel says, "The LORD'S way is not fair!" Is it my way that is not fair, house of Israel, or rather, is it not that your ways are not fair?
 ezk:18.30  Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you.
 ezk:18.31  Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
 ezk:18.32  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!
   
 ezk:19.1   As for you, son of man, raise a lamentation over the prince of Israel:
 ezk:19.2   What a lioness was your mother, a lion of lions! Among young lions she couched to rear her whelps.
 ezk:19.3   One whelp she raised up, a young lion he became; He learned to seize prey, men he devoured.
 ezk:19.4   Then nations raised cries against him, in their pit he was caught; They took him away with hooks to the land of Egypt.
 ezk:19.5   Then she saw that in vain she had waited, her hope was destroyed. She took another of her whelps, him she made a young lion.
 ezk:19.6   He prowled among the lions, a young lion he became; He learned to seize prey, men he devoured;
 ezk:19.7   He ravaged their strongholds, their cities he wasted. The land and all in it were appalled at the noise of his roar.
 ezk:19.8   Nations laid out against him snares all about him; They spread their net to take him, in their pit he was caught.
 ezk:19.9   They put him in a cage and took him away to the king of Babylon, So that his voice would not be heard on the mountains of Israel.
 ezk:19.10  Your mother was like a vine planted by the water; Fruitful and branchy was she because of the abundant water.
 ezk:19.11  One strong branch she put out as a royal scepter. Stately was her height amid the dense foliage; Notably tall was she with her many clusters.
 ezk:19.12  But she was torn up in fury and flung to the ground; The east wind withered her up, her fruit was torn off; Then her strong branch withered up, fire devoured it.
 ezk:19.13  So now she is planted in the desert, in a land dry and parched,
 ezk:19.14  For fire came out of the branch and devoured her shoots; She is now without a strong branch, a ruler's scepter. This is a lamentation and serves as a lamentation.
   
 ezk:20.1   In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to consult the LORD and sat down before me.
 ezk:20.2   Then the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:20.3   Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: Have you come to consult me? As I live! I swear I will not allow myself to be consulted by you, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:20.4   Will you judge them? Will you judge, son of man? Make known to them the abominations of their ancestors
 ezk:20.5   in these words: Thus speaks the Lord GOD: The day I chose Israel, I swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob; in the land of Egypt I revealed myself to them and swore: I am the LORD, your God.
 ezk:20.6   That day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt to the land I had scouted for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, a jewel among all lands.
 ezk:20.7   Then I said to them: Throw away, each of you, the detestable things that have held your eyes; do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD, your God.
 ezk:20.8   But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me; none of them threw away the detestable things that had held their eyes, they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I thought of pouring out my fury on them and spending my anger on them there in the land of Egypt;
 ezk:20.9   but I acted for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they were, in whose presence I had made myself known to them, revealing that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt.
 ezk:20.10  Therefore I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the desert.
 ezk:20.11  Then I gave them my statutes and made known to them my ordinances, which everyone must keep, to have life through them.
 ezk:20.12  I also gave them my sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, to show that it was I, the LORD, who made them holy.
 ezk:20.13  But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not observe my statutes, and they despised my ordinances that bring life to those who keep them. My sabbaths, too, they desecrated grievously. Then I thought of pouring out my fury on them in the desert to put an end to them,
 ezk:20.14  but I acted for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose presence I had brought them out.
 ezk:20.15  Nevertheless I swore to them in the desert not to bring them to the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, a jewel among all lands.
 ezk:20.16  So much were their hearts devoted to their idols, they had not lived by my statutes, but despised my ordinances and desecrated my sabbaths.
 ezk:20.17  But I looked on them with pity, not wanting to destroy them, so I did not put an end to them in the desert.
 ezk:20.18  Then I said to their children in the desert: Do not observe the statutes of your parents or keep their ordinances; do not defile yourselves with their idols.
 ezk:20.19  I am the LORD, your God: observe my statutes and be careful to keep my ordinances;
 ezk:20.20  keep holy my sabbaths, as a sign between me and you to show that I am the LORD, your God.
 ezk:20.21  But their children rebelled against me: they did not observe my statutes or keep my ordinances that bring life to those who observe them, and my sabbaths they desecrated. Then I thought of pouring out my fury on them, of spending my anger on them in the desert;
 ezk:20.22  but I stayed my hand, acting for my name's sake, lest it be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose presence I brought them out.
 ezk:20.23  Nevertheless I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them over foreign lands;
 ezk:20.24  for they did not keep my ordinances, but despised my statutes and desecrated my sabbaths, with eyes only for the idols of their fathers.
 ezk:20.25  Therefore I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances through which they could not live.
 ezk:20.26  I let them become defiled by their gifts, by their immolation of every first-born, so as to make them an object of horror.
 ezk:20.27  Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: In this way also your fathers blasphemed me, breaking faith with me:
 ezk:20.28  when I had brought them to the land I had sworn to give them, and they saw all its high hills and leafy trees, there they offered their sacrifices (there they brought their offensive offerings), there they sent up appeasing odors, and there they poured out their libations.
 ezk:20.29  I asked them: To what sort of high place do you betake yourselves?--and so they call it a high place even to the present day.
 ezk:20.30  Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers? Will you lust after their detestable idols?
 ezk:20.31  By offering your gifts, by making your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols even to this day. Shall I let myself be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live! says the Lord GOD: I swear I will not let myself be consulted by you.
 ezk:20.32  What you are thinking of shall never happen: "We shall be like the nations, like the peoples of foreign lands, serving wood and stone."
 ezk:20.33  As I live, says the Lord GOD, with a mighty hand and outstretched arm, with poured-out wrath, I swear I will be king over you!
 ezk:20.34  With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, with poured-out wrath, I will bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries over which you are scattered;
 ezk:20.35  then I will lead you to the desert of the peoples, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
 ezk:20.36  Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:20.37  I will count you with the staff and bring back but a small number.
 ezk:20.38  I will separate from you those who have rebelled and transgressed against me; from the land where they sojourned as aliens I will bring them out, but they shall not return to the land of Israel. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:20.39  As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: Come, each one of you, destroy your idols! Then listen to me, and never again profane my holy name with your gifts and your idols.
 ezk:20.40  For on my holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, says the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel without exception shall worship me; there I will accept them, and there I will claim your tributes and the first fruits of your offerings, and all that you dedicate.
 ezk:20.41  As a pleasing odor I will accept you, when I have brought you from among the nations and gathered you out of the countries over which you were scattered; and by means of you I will manifest my holiness in the sight of the nations.
 ezk:20.42  Thus you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you back to the land of Israel, the land which I swore to give to your fathers.
 ezk:20.43  There you shall recall your conduct and all the deeds by which you defiled yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves because of all the evil things you did.
 ezk:20.44  And you shall know that I am the LORD when I deal with you thus, for my name's sake, and not according to your evil conduct and corrupt actions, O house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:21.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:21.2   Son of man, look southward, preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the southern land.
 ezk:21.3   Hear the word of the LORD! you shall say to the southern forest. Thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am kindling a fire in you that shall devour all trees, the green as well as the dry. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, but from south to north every face shall be scorched by it.
 ezk:21.4   Everyone shall see that I, the LORD, have kindled it, and it shall not be quenched.
 ezk:21.5   But I said, "Alas! Lord GOD, they say to me, 'Is not this the one who is forever spinning parables?'"
 ezk:21.6   Then the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:21.7   Son of man, look toward Jerusalem, preach against their sanctuary, and prophesy against the land of Israel,
 ezk:21.8   saying to the land of Israel: Thus says the LORD: See! I am coming at you; I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off from you the virtuous and the wicked.
 ezk:21.9   Thus my sword shall leave its sheath against everyone from south to north,
 ezk:21.10  and everyone shall know that I, the LORD, have drawn my sword from its sheath, and it shall not be sheathed again.
 ezk:21.11  As for you, son of man, groan! with shattered strength groan bitterly while they look on.
 ezk:21.12  And when they ask you, "Why are you groaning?", you shall say: Because of a report; when it comes every heart shall fail, every hand shall fall helpless, every spirit shall be daunted, and every knee shall run with water. See, it is coming, it is here! says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:21.13  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:21.14  Son of man, prophesy! say: Thus says the LORD: A sword, a sword has been sharpened, a sword, a sword has been burnished:
 ezk:21.15  To work slaughter has it been sharpened, to flash lightning has it been burnished. Why should I now withdraw it? You have spurned the rod and every judgment!
 ezk:21.16  I have given it over to the burnisher that he might hold it in his hand, A sword sharpened and burnished to be put in the hand of a slayer.
 ezk:21.17  Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is destined for my people; It is for all the princes of Israel, victims of the sword with my people. Therefore, slap your thigh,
 ezk:21.18  for the sword has been tested; and why should it not be so? says the Lord GOD, since you have spurned the rod.
 ezk:21.19  As for you, son of man, prophesy, brushing one hand against the other: While the sword is doubled and tripled, this sword of slaughter, This great sword of slaughter which threatens all around,
 ezk:21.20  That every heart may tremble; for many will be the fallen. At all their gates I have appointed the sword for slaughter, Fashioned to flash lightning, burnished for slaughter.
 ezk:21.21  Cleave to the right! destroy! to the left! wherever your edge is turned.
 ezk:21.22  Then I, too, shall brush one hand against the other and wreak my fury. I, the LORD, have spoken.
 ezk:21.23  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:21.24  Son of man, make for yourself two roads over which the sword of the king of Babylon can come. Both roads shall lead out from the same land. Then put a signpost at the head of each road,
 ezk:21.25  so that the sword can come to Rabbah of the Ammonites or to Judah's capital, Jerusalem.
 ezk:21.26  For at the fork where the two roads divide stands the king of Babylon, divining; he has shaken the arrows, inquired of the teraphim, inspected the liver.
 ezk:21.27  In his right hand is the divining arrow marked "Jerusalem," bidding him to give the order for slaying, to raise his voice in the battle cry, to post battering rams at the gates, to cast up a ramp, to build a siege tower.
 ezk:21.28  In their eyes this is but a lying oracle; yet they are bound by the oaths they have sworn, and the arrow taken in hand marks their guilt.
 ezk:21.29  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, with your crimes laid bare and your sinfulness in all your wicked deeds revealed (because attention has been drawn to you), you shall be taken in hand.
 ezk:21.30  And as for you, depraved and wicked prince of Israel, whose day is coming when your life of crime will be ended,
 ezk:21.31  thus says the Lord GOD: Off with the turban and away with the crown! Nothing shall be as it was! Up with the low and down with the high!
 ezk:21.32  Twisted, twisted, twisted will I leave it; it shall not be the same until he comes who has the claim against the city; and to him I will hand it over.
 ezk:21.33  As for you, son of man, prophesy: Thus says the Lord GOD against the Ammonites and their insults: A sword, a sword is drawn for slaughter, burnished to consume and to flash lightning,
 ezk:21.34  because you planned with false visions and lying divinations to lay it on the necks of depraved and wicked men whose day has come when their crimes are at an end.
 ezk:21.35  Return it to its sheath! In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
 ezk:21.36  I will pour out my indignation upon you, breathing my fiery wrath upon you, I will hand you over to ravaging men, artisans of destruction.
 ezk:21.37  You shall be fuel for the fire, your blood shall flow throughout the land. You shall not be remembered, for I, the LORD, have spoken.
   
 ezk:22.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:22.2   You, son of man, would you judge, would you judge the bloody city? Then make known all her abominations,
 ezk:22.3   and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the city which sheds blood within herself so that her time has come, and which has made idols for her own defilement.
 ezk:22.4   By the blood which you shed you have been made guilty, and with the idols you made you have become defiled; you have brought on your day, so that the end of your years has come. Therefore I make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all foreign lands.
 ezk:22.5   Those near you and those far off shall deride you because of your foul reputation and your great perversity.
 ezk:22.6   See! the princes of Israel, family by family, are in you only for bloodshed.
 ezk:22.7   Within you, father and mother are despised; in your midst, they extort from the resident alien; within you, they oppress orphans and widows.
 ezk:22.8   What is holy to me you have spurned, and my sabbaths you have desecrated.
 ezk:22.9   There are those in you who slander to cause bloodshed; within you are those who feast on the mountains; in your midst are those who do lewd things.
 ezk:22.10  In you are those who uncover the nakedness of their fathers, and in you those who coerce women in their menstrual period.
 ezk:22.11  There are those in you who do abominable things with the wives of their neighbors, men who defile their daughters-in-law by incest, men who coerce their sisters, the daughters of their own fathers.
 ezk:22.12  There are those in you who take bribes to shed blood. You exact interest and usury; you despoil your neighbors violently; and me you have forgotten, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:22.13  See, I am brushing one hand against the other because of the unjust profits you have made and because of the blood shed in your midst.
 ezk:22.14  Can your heart remain firm, will your hands be strong, in the days when I deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will act.
 ezk:22.15  I will disperse you among the nations and scatter you over foreign lands, so that I may purge your uncleanness.
 ezk:22.16  In you I will allow myself to be profaned in the eyes of the nations; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:22.17  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:22.18  Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross for me. All of them are bronze and tin, iron and lead (in the midst of a furnace): dross from silver have they become.
 ezk:22.19  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because all of you have become dross, therefore I must gather you together within Jerusalem.
 ezk:22.20  Just as silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin are gathered into a furnace and smelted in the roaring flames, so I will gather you together in my furious wrath, put you in, and smelt you.
 ezk:22.21  When I have assembled you, I will blast you with the fire of my anger and smelt you with it.
 ezk:22.22  You shall be smelted by it just as silver is smelted in a furnace. Thus you shall know that I, the LORD, have poured out my fury on you.
 ezk:22.23  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:22.24  Son of man, say to her: You are a land unrained on (that is, not rained on) at the time of my fury.
 ezk:22.25  Her princes are like roaring lions that tear prey; they devour people, seizing their wealth and precious things, and make widows of many within her.
 ezk:22.26  Her priests violate my law and profane what is holy to me; they do not distinguish between the sacred and the profane, nor teach the difference between the unclean and the clean; they pay no attention to my sabbaths, so that I have been profaned in their midst.
 ezk:22.27  Her nobles within her are like wolves that tear prey, shedding blood and destroying lives to get unjust gain.
 ezk:22.28  Her prophets cover them with whitewash, pretending to visions that are false and performing lying divinations, saying, "Thus says the Lord GOD," although the LORD has not spoken.
 ezk:22.29  The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they afflict the poor and the needy, and oppress the resident alien without justice.
 ezk:22.30  Thus I have searched among them for someone who could build a wall or stand in the breach before me to keep me from destroying the land; but I found no one.
 ezk:22.31  Therefore I have poured out my fury upon them; with my fiery wrath I have consumed them; I have brought down their conduct upon their heads, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:23.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:23.2   Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
 ezk:23.3   who even as young girls played the harlot in Egypt. There the Egyptians caressed their bosoms and fondled their virginal breasts.
 ezk:23.4   Oholah was the name of the elder, and the name of her sister was Oholibah. They became mine and bore sons and daughters. (As for their names: Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah.)
 ezk:23.5   Oholah became a harlot faithless to me; she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians, warriors
 ezk:23.6   dressed in purple, governors and officers, all of them attractive young men, knights mounted on horses.
 ezk:23.7   Thus she gave herself as a harlot to them, to all the elite of the Assyrians, and she defiled herself with all those for whom she lusted (with all their idols).
 ezk:23.8   She did not give up the harlotry which she had begun in Egypt, when they had lain with her as a young girl, fondling her virginal breasts and pouring out their impurities on her.
 ezk:23.9   Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she had lusted.
 ezk:23.10  They exposed her nakedness, her sons and daughters they took away, and herself they slew with the sword. Thus she became a byword for women, for they punished her grievously.
 ezk:23.11  Though her sister Oholibah saw all this, her lust was more depraved than her sister's, and she outdid her in harlotry.
 ezk:23.12  She too lusted after the Assyrians, governors and officers, warriors impeccably clothed, knights mounted on horses, all of them attractive young men.
 ezk:23.13  I saw that she had defiled herself. Both had gone down the same path,
 ezk:23.14  yet she went further in her harlotry. When she saw men drawn on the wall, the images of Chaldeans drawn with vermillion,
 ezk:23.15  with sashes girded about their waists, flowing turbans on their heads, all looking like chariot warriors, the portraits of Babylonians, natives of Chaldea,
 ezk:23.16  she lusted for them; no sooner had she set eyes on them than she sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
 ezk:23.17  Then the Babylonians came to her, to the love couch, and defiled her with their intercourse. As soon as she was defiled by them, she became disgusted with them.
 ezk:23.18  Her harlotry was discovered and her shame was revealed, and I became disgusted with her as I had become disgusted with her sister.
 ezk:23.19  But she played the harlot all the more, recalling the days of her girlhood, when she had been a harlot in the land of Egypt.
 ezk:23.20  She lusted for the lechers of Egypt, whose members are like that of an ass, and whose heat is like that of stallions.
 ezk:23.21  You yearned for the lewdness of your girlhood, when the Egyptians fondled your breasts, caressing your bosom.
 ezk:23.22  Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: I will now stir up your lovers against you, those with whom you are disgusted, and I will bring them against you from every side:
 ezk:23.23  the men of Babylon and all of Chaldea, Pekod, Shoa and Koa, along with all those of Assyria, attractive young men, all of them governors and officers, charioteers and warriors, all of them horsemen.
 ezk:23.24  They shall come against you from the north with chariots and wagons and many peoples. Shields, bucklers, and helmets they shall array against you everywhere.
 ezk:23.25  I will leave it to them to judge, and they will judge you by their own ordinances. I will let loose my jealousy against you, so that they shall deal with you in fury, cutting off your nose and ears; and what is left of you shall fall by the sword. They shall take away your sons and daughters, and what is left of you shall be devoured by fire.
 ezk:23.26  They shall strip off your clothes and seize your splendid ornaments.
 ezk:23.27  I will put an end to your lewdness and to the harlotry you began in Egypt; you shall no longer look toward it, nor shall you remember Egypt again.
 ezk:23.28  For thus says the Lord GOD: I am now handing you over to those whom you hate, to those who fill you with disgust.
 ezk:23.29  They shall deal with you in hatred, seizing all that you have worked for and leaving you stark naked, so that your indecent nakedness is exposed. Your lewdness and harlotry
 ezk:23.30  have brought these things upon you, because you played the harlot with the nations by defiling yourself with their idols.
 ezk:23.31  Because you followed in the path of your sister, I will hand you her cup.
 ezk:23.32  Thus says the Lord GOD: The cup of your sister you shall drink, so wide and deep, which holds so much,
 ezk:23.33  Filled with destruction and grief, a cup of dismay, the cup of your sister.
 ezk:23.34  You shall drain it dry, and gnaw at the very sherds of the cup, and you shall tear out your breasts; for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:23.35  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, it is for you to bear the penalty of your lewdness and harlotry.
 ezk:23.36  Then the LORD said to me: Son of man, would you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then make known to them their abominations.
 ezk:23.37  For they committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; to feed them they immolated the children they had borne me.
 ezk:23.38  (This, too, they did to me: they defiled my sanctuary and desecrated my sabbaths.
 ezk:23.39  On the very day they slew their children for their idols, they entered my sanctuary to desecrate it. Thus they acted within my house.)
 ezk:23.40  Moreover, they sent for men who had to come from afar, to whom messengers were sent. And so they came--and for them you bathed yourself, painted your eyes, and put on ornaments.
 ezk:23.41  You sat on a couch prepared for them, with a table spread before it, on which you had set my incense and oil.
 ezk:23.42  Then was heard the shout of a carefree mob in the city, and these were men brought in from the desert, who put bracelets on the women's arms and splendid diadems on their heads.
 ezk:23.43  So I said: "Oh, this woman jaded with adulteries! Now they will commit whoredom with her, and as for her. . . ."
 ezk:23.44  And indeed they did come to her as men come to a harlot. Thus they came to Oholah and Oholibah, the lewd women.
 ezk:23.45  But just men shall punish them with the sentence meted out to adulteresses and murderesses, for they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands.
 ezk:23.46  Thus says the Lord GOD: Summon an assembly against them, and deliver them over to terror and plunder.
 ezk:23.47  The assembly shall stone them and hack them to pieces with their swords. They shall slay their sons and daughters, and burn their houses with fire.
 ezk:23.48  Thus I will put an end to lewdness in the land, and all the women will be warned not to imitate your lewdness.
 ezk:23.49  They shall inflict on you the penalty of your lewdness, and you shall pay for your sins of idolatry. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:24.1   On the tenth day of the tenth month, in the ninth year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:24.2   Son of man, write down this date today, for this very day the king of Babylon has invested Jerusalem.
 ezk:24.3   Propose this parable to the rebellious house: Thus says the Lord GOD: Set up the pot, set it up, then pour in some water.
 ezk:24.4   Put in it pieces of meat, all good pieces: thigh and shoulder; Fill it with the choicest joints
 ezk:24.5   taken from the pick of the flock. Then pile the wood beneath it; bring to a boil these pieces and the joints that are in it.
 ezk:24.6   Take out its pieces, one by one, without casting lots for it. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, a pot containing rust, whose rust has not been removed.
 ezk:24.7   For the blood she shed is in her midst; she poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it out on the earth, to be covered with dust.
 ezk:24.8   To work up my wrath, to excite my vengeance, she put her blood on the bare rock, not to be covered.
 ezk:24.9   Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will heap up a great bonfire,
 ezk:24.10  piling on wood and kindling the fire, Till the meat has been cooked, till the broth has boiled.
 ezk:24.11  Then I will set the pot empty on the coals till its metal glows red hot, till the impurities in it melt, and its rust disappears.
 ezk:24.12  Yet not even with fire will its great rust be removed.
 ezk:24.13  Because you have sullied yourself with lewdness when I would have purified you, and you refused to be purified of your uncleanness, therefore you shall not be purified until I wreak my fury on you.
 ezk:24.14  I, the LORD, have spoken; it is coming, for I will bring it about without fail. I will not have pity nor repent. By your conduct and your deeds you shall be judged, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:24.15  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:24.16  Son of man, by a sudden blow I am taking away from you the delight of your eyes, but do not mourn or weep or shed any tears.
 ezk:24.17  Groan in silence, make no lament for the dead, bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, and do not eat the customary bread.
 ezk:24.18  That evening my wife died, and the next morning I did as I had been commanded.
 ezk:24.19  Then the people asked me, "Will you not tell us what all these things that you are doing mean for us?" I therefore spoke to the people that morning,
 ezk:24.20  saying to them: Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:24.21  Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the stronghold of your pride, the delight of your eyes, the desire of your soul. The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword.
 ezk:24.22  You shall do as I have done, not covering your beards nor eating the customary bread.
 ezk:24.23  Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet. You shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away because of your sins and groan one to another.
 ezk:24.24  Ezekiel shall be a sign for you: all that he did you shall do when it happens. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:24.25  As for you, son of man, truly, on the day I take away from them their bulwark, their glorious joy, the delight of their eyes, the desire of their soul, and the pride of their hearts, their sons and daughters,
 ezk:24.26  that day the fugitive will come to you, that you may hear it for yourself;
 ezk:24.27  that day your mouth shall be opened and you shall be dumb no longer. Thus you shall be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:25.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:25.2   Son of man, turn toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
 ezk:25.3   Say to the Ammonites: Hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you cried out your joy over the desecration of my sanctuary, the devastation of the land of Israel, and the exile of the house of Judah,
 ezk:25.4   therefore I will deliver you into the possession of the Easterners. They shall set up their encampments among you and pitch their tents; they shall eat your fruits and drink your milk.
 ezk:25.5   I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and the villages of the Ammonites a resting place for flocks. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:25.6   For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing most maliciously in your heart over the land of Israel,
 ezk:25.7   therefore I will stretch out my hand against you. I will make you plunder for the nations, I will cut you off from the peoples, and remove you from the lands. I will destroy you, and thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:25.8   Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Moab said, "See! the house of Judah is like all other nations,"
 ezk:25.9   therefore I will clear the shoulder of Moab totally of its cities, the jewels of the land: Beth-jesimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim.
 ezk:25.10  I will hand her over, along with the Ammonites, into the possession of the Easterners, that she may not be remembered among the peoples.
 ezk:25.11  Thus I will execute judgment upon Moab, that they may know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:25.12  Thus says the Lord GOD: Because Edom has taken vengeance on the house of Judah and has made itself grievously guilty by taking vengeance on them,
 ezk:25.13  therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. I will make it a waste from Teman to Dedan; they shall fall by the sword.
 ezk:25.14  My vengeance upon Edom I will entrust to my people Israel, who will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my fury; thus they shall know my vengeance, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:25.15  Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines have acted revengefully, and have taken vengeance with destructive malice in their hearts, with an undying enmity,
 ezk:25.16  therefore thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am stretching out my hand against the Philistines; I will cut off the Cherethites and wipe out the remnant on the seacoast.
 ezk:25.17  I will execute great acts of vengeance on them, punishing them furiously. Thus they shall know that I am the LORD, when I wreak my vengeance on them.
   
 ezk:26.1   On the first day of the. . . month in the eleventh year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:26.2   Son of man, because of what Tyre said of Jerusalem: "Aha! it is broken, the gateway to the peoples; now that it is ruined, its wealth reverts to me!"
 ezk:26.3   therefore thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at you, Tyre; I will churn up against you many nations, even as the sea churns up its waves;
 ezk:26.4   They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and raze her towers. I will scrape the ground from her and leave her a bare rock;
 ezk:26.5   She shall be a drying place for nets in the midst of the sea. I have spoken, says the Lord GOD: and she shall be booty for the nations.
 ezk:26.6   And her daughters on the mainland shall be slaughtered by the sword; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:26.7   For thus says the Lord GOD: I am now bringing up against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great and mighty army.
 ezk:26.8   Your daughters on the mainland he shall slay with the sword; He shall place a siege tower against you, cast up a ramp about you, and raise his shields against you.
 ezk:26.9   He shall pound your walls with battering-rams and break down your towers with his weapons.
 ezk:26.10  The surge of his horses shall cover you with dust, amid the noise of steeds, of wheels and of chariots. Your walls shall shake as he enters your gates, even as one enters a city that is breached.
 ezk:26.11  With the hoofs of his horses he shall trample all your streets; Your people he shall slay by the sword; your mighty pillars he shall pull to the ground.
 ezk:26.12  Your wealth shall be plundered, your merchandise pillaged; Your walls shall be torn down, your precious houses demolished; Your stones, your timber, and your clay shall be cast into the sea.
 ezk:26.13  I will put an end to the noise of your songs, and the sound of your lyres shall be heard no more.
 ezk:26.14  I will make you a bare rock; a drying place for nets shall you be. Never shall you be rebuilt, for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:26.15  Thus says the Lord GOD to Tyre: At the noise of your fall, at the groaning of the wounded, when the sword slays in your midst, shall not the isles quake?
 ezk:26.16  All the princes of the sea shall step down from their thrones, lay aside their robes, and strip off their embroidered garments. They shall be clothed in mourning and, sitting on the ground, they shall tremble at every moment and be horrified at you.
 ezk:26.17  Then they shall utter a lament over you: How have you perished, gone from the seas, city most prized! Once she was mighty on the sea, she and her dwellers, Who spread terror into all that dwelt by the sea.
 ezk:26.18  On this, the day of your fall, the islands quake! The isles in the sea are terrified at your passing.
 ezk:26.19  For thus says the Lord GOD: When I make you a city desolate like cities that are no longer inhabited, when I churn up the abyss against you, and its mighty waters cover you,
 ezk:26.20  then I will thrust you down with those who descend into the pit, those of the bygone age; and I will make you dwell in the nether lands, in the everlasting ruins, with those who go down to the pit, so that you may never return to take your place in the land of the living.
 ezk:26.21   I will make you a devastation, and you shell be no more; you shall be sought , but never again found, says the Lord God.
   
 ezk:27.1  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:27.2  As for you, son of man, utter a lament over Tyre,
 ezk:27.3  and say to Tyre that is situated at the approaches of the sea, that brought the trade of the peoples to many a coastland: Thus says the Lord GOD: Tyre, you said, "I am a ship, perfect in beauty."
 ezk:27.4  In the midst of the sea your builders placed you, perfected your beauty.
 ezk:27.5  With cypress from Senir they built for you all of your decks; Cedar from Lebanon they took to make you a mast;
 ezk:27.6  From the highest oaks of Bashan they made your oars; Your bridge they made of cypress wood from the coasts of Kittim.
 ezk:27.7  Fine embroidered linen from Egypt became your sail (to serve you as a banner). Purple and scarlet from the coasts of Elishah covered your cabin.
 ezk:27.8  Citizens of Sidon and Arvad served as your oarsmen; Skilled men of Zemer were in you to be your mariners;
 ezk:27.9  The elders and experts of Gebal were in you to caulk your seams. Every ship and sailor on the sea came to you to carry trade.
 ezk:27.10  Persia and Lud and Put were in your army as warriors; shield and helmet they hung upon you, increasing your splendor.
 ezk:27.11  The men of Arvad were all about your walls, and the Gamadites were in your towers; they hung their bucklers all around on your walls, and made perfect your beauty.
 ezk:27.12  Tarshish traded with you, so great was your wealth, exchanging silver, iron, tin, and lead for your wares.
 ezk:27.13  Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were also traders with you, exchanging slaves and articles of bronze for your goods.
 ezk:27.14  From Beth-togarmah horses, steeds, and mules were exchanged for your wares.
 ezk:27.15  The Rhodanites trafficked with you; many coastlands traded with you; ivory tusks and ebony wood they gave you for payment.
 ezk:27.16  Edom traded with you, so many were your products, exchanging garnets, purple, embroidered cloth, fine linen, coral, and rubies for your wares.
 ezk:27.17  Judah and the land of Israel trafficked with you, exchanging Minnith wheat, figs, honey, oil, and balm for your goods.
 ezk:27.18  Damascus traded with you, so great was your wealth, exchanging Helbon wine and Zahar wool.
 ezk:27.19  Javan exchanged wrought iron, cassia, and aromatic cane from Uzal for your wares.
 ezk:27.20  Dedan traded with you for riding gear.
 ezk:27.21  I will make you a devastation, and you shall be no more; you shall be sought, but never again found, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:27.21  The trade of Arabia and of all the sheikhs of Kedar belonged to you; they dealt in lambs, rams, and goats.
 ezk:27.22  The merchants of Sheba and Raamah also traded with you, exchanging for your wares the very choicest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold.
 ezk:27.23  Haran, Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad
 ezk:27.24  traded with you, marketing with you rich garments, violet mantles, embroidered cloth, varicolored carpets, and firmly woven cords.
 ezk:27.25  Ships of Tarshish journeyed for you in your merchandising. You were full and heavily laden in the heart of the sea.
 ezk:27.26  Through the deep waters your oarsmen brought you home, But the east wind smashed you in the heart of the sea.
 ezk:27.27  Your wealth, your goods, your wares, your sailors, and your crew, (the caulkers of your seams, those who traded for your goods, all your warriors who were in you, and all the great crowd within you) Sank into the heart of the sea on the day of your shipwreck.
 ezk:27.28  Hearing the shouts of your mariners, the shores begin to quake.
 ezk:27.29  Down from their ships come all who ply the oar; The sailors, all the mariners of the sea, stand on the shore,
 ezk:27.30  Making their voice heard on your behalf, shouting bitter cries, Strewing dust on their heads, rolling in the ashes.
 ezk:27.31  For you they shave their heads and put on sackcloth, For you they weep in anguish, with bitter lament.
 ezk:27.32  In their mourning they utter a lament over you; thus they wail over you: Who was ever destroyed like Tyre in the midst of the sea?
 ezk:27.33  With your goods which you drew from the seas you filled many peoples; With your great wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth.
 ezk:27.34  Now you are wrecked in the sea, in the watery depths; Your wares and all your crew have gone down with you.
 ezk:27.35  All who dwell on the coastlands are aghast over you, Their kings are terrified, their faces convulsed.
 ezk:27.36  The traders among the peoples now hiss at you; You have become a horror, and you shall be no more.
   
 ezk:28.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:28.2   Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because you are haughty of heart, you say, "A god am I! I occupy a godly throne in the heart of the sea!"-- And yet you are a man, and not a god, however you may think yourself like a god.
 ezk:28.3   Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel, there is no secret that is beyond you.
 ezk:28.4   By your wisdom and your intelligence you have made riches for yourself; You have put gold and silver into your treasuries.
 ezk:28.5   By your great wisdom applied to your trading you have heaped up your riches; your heart has grown haughty from your riches--
 ezk:28.6   therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have thought yourself to have the mind of a god,
 ezk:28.7   Therefore I will bring against you foreigners, the most barbarous of nations. They shall draw their swords against your beauteous wisdom, they shall run them through your splendid apparel.
 ezk:28.8   They shall thrust you down to the pit, there to die a bloodied corpse, in the heart of the sea.
 ezk:28.9   Will you then say, "I am a god!" when you face your murderers? No, you are a man, not a god, handed over to those who will slay you.
 ezk:28.10  You shall die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners, for I have spoken, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:28.11  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:28.12  Son of man, utter a lament over the king of Tyre, saying to him: Thus says the Lord GOD: You were stamped with the seal of perfection, of complete wisdom and perfect beauty.
 ezk:28.13  In Eden, the garden of God, you were, and every precious stone was your covering (carnelian, topaz, and beryl, chrysolite, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, garnet, and emerald); Of gold your pendants and jewels were made, on the day you were created.
 ezk:28.14  With the Cherub I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God, walking among the fiery stones.
 ezk:28.15  Blameless you were in your conduct from the day you were created, Until evil was found in you,
 ezk:28.16  the result of your far-flung trade; violence was your business, and you sinned. Then I banned you from the mountain of God; the Cherub drove you from among the fiery stones.
 ezk:28.17  You became haughty of heart because of your beauty; for the sake of splendor you debased your wisdom. I cast you to the earth, so great was your guilt; I made you a spectacle in the sight of kings.
 ezk:28.18  Because of your guilt, your sinful trade, I have profaned your sanctuaries, And I have brought out fire from your midst which will devour you. I have reduced you to dust on the earth in the sight of all who should see you.
 ezk:28.19  Among the peoples, all who knew you stand aghast at you; You have become a horror, you shall be no more.
 ezk:28.20  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:28.21  Son of man, look toward Sidon, and prophesy against it:
 ezk:28.22  Thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at you, Sidon; I will be glorified in your midst. Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I inflict punishments upon it and use it to manifest my holiness.
 ezk:28.23  Into it I will send pestilence, and blood shall flow in its streets. Within it shall fall those slain by the sword that comes against it from every side. Thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:28.24  Sidon shall no longer be a tearing thorn for the house of Israel, a brier that scratches them more than all the others about them who despise them; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:28.25  Thus says the Lord GOD: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, then I will manifest my holiness through them in the sight of the nations. Then they shall live on their land which I gave to my servant Jacob;
 ezk:28.26  they shall live on it in security, building houses and planting vineyards. They shall dwell secure while I inflict punishments on all their neighbors who despised them; thus they shall know that I, the LORD, am their God.
   
 ezk:29.1   On the twelfth day of the tenth month in the tenth year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:29.2   Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.
 ezk:29.3   Say this to him: Thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, Great crouching monster amidst your Niles: Who say, "The Niles are mine; it is I who made them!"
 ezk:29.4   I will put hooks in your jaws and make the fish of your Niles stick to your scales, then draw you up from the midst of your Niles along with all the fish of your Niles sticking to your scales.
 ezk:29.5   I will cast you into the desert, you and all the fish of your Niles; You shall fall upon the open field, you shall not be taken up or buried; To the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air I give you as food,
 ezk:29.6   That all who dwell in Egypt may know that I am the LORD. Because you have been a reed staff for the house of Israel:
 ezk:29.7   When they held you in hand, you splintered, throwing every shoulder out of joint; When they leaned on you, you broke, bringing each one of them down headlong;
 ezk:29.8   therefore thus says the Lord GOD: See! I will bring the sword against you, and cut off from you both man and beast.
 ezk:29.9   The land of Egypt shall become a desolate waste; thus they shall know that I am the LORD. Because you said, "The Niles are mine; it is I who made them,"
 ezk:29.10  therefore see! I am coming at you and against your Niles; I will make the land of Egypt a waste and a desolation from Migdol to Syene, and even to the frontier of Ethiopia.
 ezk:29.11  No foot of man or beast shall pass through it; they shall not pass through it, and it will be uninhabited for forty years.
 ezk:29.12  I will make the land of Egypt the most desolate of lands, and its cities shall be the most deserted of cities for forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and strew them over foreign lands.
 ezk:29.13  Yet thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the peoples among whom they are scattered,
 ezk:29.14  and I will restore Egypt's fortune, bringing them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin, where it will be the lowliest
 ezk:29.15  of kingdoms, never more to set itself above the nations. I will make them few, that they may not dominate the nations.
 ezk:29.16  No longer shall they be for the house of Israel to trust in, but the living reminder of its guilt for having turned to follow after them. Thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:29.17  On the first day of the first month in the twenty-seventh year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:29.18  Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has led his army in an exhausting campaign against Tyre. Their heads became bald and their shoulders were galled; but neither he nor his army received any wages from Tyre for the campaign he led against it.
 ezk:29.19  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I am now giving the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He shall carry off its riches, plundering and pillaging it for the wages of his soldiers, who did it for me;
 ezk:29.20  as payment for his toil I have given him the land of Egypt, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:29.21  On that day I will make a horn sprout for the house of Israel, and I will cause you to speak out in their midst; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:30.1   whus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:30.2   Son of man, speak this prophecy: Thus says the Lord GOD: Cry, Oh, the day!
 ezk:30.3   for near is the day, near is the day of the LORD; a day of clouds, doomsday for the nations shall it be.
 ezk:30.4   Then a sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt, when her riches are seized and her foundations are overthrown.
 ezk:30.5   Ethiopia, Put, Lud, all Arabia, Libya, and people of the allied territory shall fall by the sword with them.
 ezk:30.6   Those who support Egypt shall fall, and down shall come her proud strength; from Migdol to Syene they shall fall there by the sword, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:30.7   She shall be the most devastated of lands, and her cities shall be the most desolate of all.
 ezk:30.8   Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and when all who help her are broken.
 ezk:30.9   On that day messengers shall hasten forth at my command to terrify unsuspecting Ethiopia; they shall be in anguish on the day of Egypt, which is surely coming.
 ezk:30.10  Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to the throngs of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
 ezk:30.11  He and his people with him, the most ruthless of nations, shall be brought in to devastate the land. They shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with the slain.
 ezk:30.12  I will turn the Niles into dry land and sell the land over to the power of the wicked. The land and everything in it I will hand over to foreigners to devastate. I, the LORD, have spoken.
 ezk:30.13  Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to the great ones of Memphis and the princes of the land of Egypt, that they may be no more. I will cast fear into the land of Egypt, and devastate Pathros.
 ezk:30.14  I will set fire to Zoan, and inflict punishments on Thebes.
 ezk:30.15  I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium, Egypt's stronghold, and cut down the crowds in Memphis.
 ezk:30.16  I will set fire to Egypt; Syene shall writhe in anguish; Thebes shall be breached and its walls shall be demolished.
 ezk:30.17  The young men of On and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword, and the cities themselves shall go into captivity.
 ezk:30.18  In Tehaphnehes the day shall be darkened when I break the scepter of Egypt. Her haughty pride shall cease from her, clouds shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.
 ezk:30.19  Thus will I inflict punishments on Egypt, that they may know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:30.20  On the seventh day of the first month in the eleventh year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:30.21  Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and see, it has not been bound up with bandages and healing remedies that it may be strong enough to hold the sword.
 ezk:30.22  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. I will break his strong arm, so that the sword drops from his hand.
 ezk:30.23  I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and strew them over foreign lands.
 ezk:30.24  But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand, which he will bring against Egypt so as to plunder and pillage it.
 ezk:30.25  (I will make the arms of the king of Babylon strong, but the arms of Pharaoh shall drop.) Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I put my sword in the hand of the king of Babylon for him to wield against the land of Egypt.
 ezk:30.26  (I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and strew them over foreign lands.) Thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:31.1   On the first day of the third month in the eleventh year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:31.2   Son of man, say to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to his hordes: What are you like in your greatness?
 ezk:31.3   Behold, a cypress (cedar) in Lebanon, beautiful of branch, lofty of stature, amid the very clouds lifted its crest.
 ezk:31.4   Waters made it grow, the abyss made it flourish, sending its rivers round where it was planted, turning its streams to all the trees of the field.
 ezk:31.5   Thus it grew taller than every other tree of the field, and longer of branch because of the abundant water.
 ezk:31.6   In its boughs nested all the birds of the air, under its branches all beasts of the field gave birth, in its shade dwelt numerous peoples of every race.
 ezk:31.7   It became beautiful and stately in its spread of foliage, for its roots were turned toward abundant water.
 ezk:31.8   The cedars in the garden of God were not its equal, nor could the fir trees match its boughs, Neither were the plane trees like it for branches; no tree in the garden of God matched its beauty.
 ezk:31.9   I made it beautiful, with much foliage, the envy of all Eden's trees in the garden of God.
 ezk:31.10  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it became lofty in stature, raising its crest among the clouds, and because it became proud in heart at its height,
 ezk:31.11  I have handed it over to the mightiest of the nations, which has dealt with it in keeping with its wickedness. I humiliated it.
 ezk:31.12  Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it on the mountains. Its foliage was brought low in all the valleys, its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the land withdrew from its shade, abandoning it.
 ezk:31.13  On its fallen trunk rested all the birds of the air, and by its branches were all the beasts of the field.
 ezk:31.14  Thus no tree may grow lofty in stature or raise its crest among the clouds; no tree fed by water may stand by itself in its loftiness. For all of them are destined for death, for the land below, For the company of mortals, those who go down into the pit.
 ezk:31.15  Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day he went down to the nether world I made the abyss close up over him; I stopped its streams so that the deep waters were held back. I cast gloom over Lebanon because of him, so that all the trees in the land drooped on his account.
 ezk:31.16  At the crash of his fall I made the nations rock, when I cast him down to the nether world with those who go down into the pit. In the land below, all Eden's trees were consoled, Lebanon's choice and best, all that were fed by water.
 ezk:31.17  They too have come down with him to the nether world, to those slain by the sword; those who dwelt in his shade are dispersed among the nations.
 ezk:31.18  Which was your equal in glory or size among the trees of Eden? Yet you have been brought down with the trees of Eden to the land below. You shall lie with the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. Such are Pharaoh and all his hordes, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:32.1   On the first day of the twelfth month in the twelfth year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:32.2   Son of man, utter a lament over Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, saying to him: Lion of the nations, you are destroyed. You were like a monster in the sea, spouting in your streams, Stirring the water with your feet and churning its streams.
 ezk:32.3   Thus says the Lord GOD: I will spread my net over you (with a host of many nations), and draw you up in my seine.
 ezk:32.4   I will leave you on the land; on the open field I will cast you. I will have all the birds of the air alight on you, and all the beasts of the earth eat their fill of you.
 ezk:32.5   I will leave your flesh on the mountains, and fill the valleys with your carcass.
 ezk:32.6   I will water the land with what flows from you, and the river beds shall be filled with your blood.
 ezk:32.7   When I snuff you out I will cover the heavens, and all their stars I will darken; The sun I will cover with clouds, and the moon shall not give its light.
 ezk:32.8   All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken on your account, And I will spread darkness over your land, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:32.9   I will grieve the hearts of many peoples when I lead you captive among the nations, to lands which you do not know.
 ezk:32.10  Many peoples shall be appalled at you, and their kings shall shudder over you in horror when they see me brandish my sword, and on the day of your downfall every one of them shall continuously tremble for his own life.
 ezk:32.11  For thus says the Lord GOD: The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you.
 ezk:32.12  I will cut down your horde with the blades of warriors, all of them the most ruthless of the nations; They shall lay waste the glory of Egypt, and all her hordes shall be destroyed.
 ezk:32.13  I will have all of her animals perish beside her abundant waters; The foot of man shall stir them no longer, nor shall the hoof of beast disturb them.
 ezk:32.14  Then will I make their waters clear, and their streams flow like oil, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:32.15  When I turn Egypt into a waste, the land shall be devastated of all that is in it; when I strike all who live there, they shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:32.16  This is a dirge, and it shall be sung: the daughters of the nations shall chant it; over Egypt and all its hordes shall they chant it, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:32.17  On the fifteenth day of the first month in the twelfth year, the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:32.18  Son of man, lament over the throngs of Egypt, for the mighty nations have thrust them down to the bottom of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
 ezk:32.19  "Whom do you excel in beauty?
 ezk:32.20  In the midst of those slain by the sword shall they fall, and place shall be made with them for all their hordes. Then from the midst of the nether world, the mighty warriors shall speak to Egypt:
 ezk:32.21  Come down, you and your allies, lie with the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword."
 ezk:32.22  There is Assyria with all her company, all of them slain,
 ezk:32.23  whose graves have been made in the recesses of the pit; her company is around Egypt's grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who spread terror in the land of the living.
 ezk:32.24  There is Elam with all her throng about Egypt's grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword: they have gone down uncircumcised to the bottom of the earth, who spread their terror in the land of the living, and they bear their disgrace with those who go down into the pit;
 ezk:32.25  in the midst of the slain they are placed.
 ezk:32.26  There are Meshech and Tubal and all their throng about her grave, all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, for they spread their terror in the land of the living.
 ezk:32.27  They do not lie with the mighty men fallen of old, who went down to the nether world with their weapons of war, whose swords were placed under their heads and whose shields were laid over their bones, though the mighty men caused terror in the land of the living.
 ezk:32.28  But in the midst of the uncircumcised shall you lie, with those slain by the sword.
 ezk:32.29  There are Edom, her kings, and all her princes, who despite their might have been placed with those slain by the sword; with the uncircumcised they lie, and with those who go down into the pit.
 ezk:32.30  There are all the princes of the north and all the Sidonians, who have gone down with the slain, because of the terror their might inspired; they lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword and bear their disgrace with those who go down to the pit.
 ezk:32.31  When Pharaoh sees these, he shall be comforted for all his hordes slain by the sword--Pharaoh and all his army, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:32.32  Since he spread his terror in the land of the living, therefore is he laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword--Pharaoh and all his hordes, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:33.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:33.2   Son of man, speak thus to your countrymen: When I bring the sword against a country, and the people of this country select one of their number to be their watchman,
 ezk:33.3   and the watchman, seeing the sword coming against the country, blows the trumpet to warn the people,
 ezk:33.4   anyone hearing but not heeding the warning of the trumpet and therefore slain by the sword that comes against him, shall be responsible for his own death.
 ezk:33.5   He heard the trumpet blast yet refused to take warning; he is responsible for his own death, for had he taken warning he would have escaped with his life.
 ezk:33.6   But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the warning trumpet, so that the sword comes and takes anyone, I will hold the watchman responsible for that person's death, even though that person is taken because of his own sin.
 ezk:33.7   You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me.
 ezk:33.8   If I tell the wicked man that he shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked man from his way, he (the wicked man) shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death.
 ezk:33.9   But if you warn the wicked man, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.
 ezk:33.10  As for you, son of man, speak to the house of Israel: You people say, "Our crimes and our sins weigh us down; we are rotting away because of them. How can we survive?"
 ezk:33.11  Answer them: As I live, says the Lord GOD, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, but rather in the wicked man's conversion, that he may live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! Why should you die, O house of Israel?
 ezk:33.12  As for you, son of man, tell your countrymen: The virtue which a man has practiced will not save him on the day that he sins; neither will the wickedness that a man has done bring about his downfall on the day that he turns from his wickedness (nor can the virtuous man, when he sins, remain alive).
 ezk:33.13  Though I say to the virtuous man that he shall surely live, if he then presumes on his virtue and does wrong, none of his virtuous deeds shall be remembered; because of the wrong he has done, he shall die.
 ezk:33.14  And though I say to the wicked man that he shall surely die, if he turns away from his sin and does what is right and just,
 ezk:33.15  giving back pledges, restoring stolen goods, living by the statutes that bring life, and doing no wrong, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
 ezk:33.16  None of the sins he committed shall be held against him; he has done what is right and just, he shall surely live.
 ezk:33.17  Yet your countrymen say, "The way of the LORD is not fair!"; but it is their way that is not fair.
 ezk:33.18  When a virtuous man turns away from what is right and does wrong, he shall die for it.
 ezk:33.19  But when a wicked man turns away from wickedness and does what is right and just, because of this he shall live.
 ezk:33.20  And still you say, "The way of the LORD is not fair!"? I will judge every one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.
 ezk:33.21  On the fifth day of the tenth month, in the twelfth year of our exile, the fugitive came to me from Jerusalem and said, "The city is taken!"
 ezk:33.22  The hand of the LORD had come upon me the evening before the fugitive arrived, and he opened my mouth when the fugitive reached me in the morning. My mouth was opened, and I was dumb no longer.
 ezk:33.23  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:33.24  Son of man, they who live in the ruins on the land of Israel reason thus: "Abraham, though but a single individual, received possession of the land; we, therefore, being many, have as permanent possession the land that has been given to us."
 ezk:33.25  Give them this answer: Thus says the Lord GOD: You eat on the mountains, you raise your eyes to your idols, you shed blood--yet you would keep possession of the land?
 ezk:33.26  You rely on your sword, you do abominable things, each one of you defiles his neighbor's wife--yet you would keep possession of the land?
 ezk:33.27  Tell them this: Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, those who are in the ruins I swear shall fall by the sword; those who are in the open field I have given to the wild beasts for food; and those who are in fastnesses and in caves shall die by the plague.
 ezk:33.28  I will make the land a desolate waste, so that its proud strength will come to an end, and the mountains of Israel shall be so desolate that no one will cross them.
 ezk:33.29  Thus they shall know that I am the LORD, when I make the land a desolate waste because of all the abominable things they have done.
 ezk:33.30  As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking about you along the walls and in the doorways of houses. They say to one another, "Come and hear the latest word that comes from the LORD."
 ezk:33.31  My people come to you as people always do; they sit down before you and hear your words, but they will not obey them, for lies are on their lips and their desires are fixed on dishonest gain.
 ezk:33.32  For them you are only a ballad singer, with a pleasant voice and a clever touch. They listen to your words, but they will not obey them.
 ezk:33.33  But when it comes--and it is surely coming!-they shall know that there was a prophet among them.
   
 ezk:34.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:34.2   Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, in these words prophesy to them (to the shepherds): Thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?
 ezk:34.3   You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured.
 ezk:34.4   You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally.
 ezk:34.5   So they were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered
 ezk:34.6   and wandered over all the mountains and high hills; my sheep were scattered over the whole earth, with no one to look after them or to search for them.
 ezk:34.7   Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
 ezk:34.8   As I live, says the Lord GOD, because my sheep have been given over to pillage, and because my sheep have become food for every wild beast, for lack of a shepherd; because my shepherds did not look after my sheep, but pastured themselves and did not pasture my sheep;
 ezk:34.9   because of this, shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
 ezk:34.10  Thus says the Lord GOD: I swear I am coming against these shepherds. I will claim my sheep from them and put a stop to their shepherding my sheep so that they may no longer pasture themselves. I will save my sheep, that they may no longer be food for their mouths.
 ezk:34.11  For thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.
 ezk:34.12  As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark.
 ezk:34.13  I will lead them out from among the peoples and gather them from the foreign lands; I will bring them back to their own country and pasture them upon the mountains of Israel (in the land's ravines and all its inhabited places).
 ezk:34.14  In good pastures will I pasture them, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing ground. There they shall lie down on good grazing ground, and in rich pastures shall they be pastured on the mountains of Israel.
 ezk:34.15  I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:34.16  The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal (but the sleek and the strong I will destroy), shepherding them rightly.
 ezk:34.17  As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.
 ezk:34.18  Was it not enough for you to graze on the best pasture, that you had to trample the rest of your pastures with your feet? Was it not enough for you to drink the clearest water, that you had to foul the remainder with your feet?
 ezk:34.19  Thus my sheep had to graze on what your feet had trampled and drink what your feet had fouled.
 ezk:34.20  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now will I judge between the fat and the lean sheep.
 ezk:34.21  Because you push with side and shoulder, and butt all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them out,
 ezk:34.22  I will save my sheep so that they may no longer be despoiled, and I will judge between one sheep and another.
 ezk:34.23  I will appoint one shepherd over them to pasture them, my servant David; he shall pasture them and be their shepherd.
 ezk:34.24  I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I, the LORD, have spoken.
 ezk:34.25  I will make a covenant of peace with them, and rid the country of ravenous beasts, that they may dwell securely in the desert and sleep in the forests.
 ezk:34.26  I will place them about my hill, sending rain in due season, rains that shall be a blessing to them.
 ezk:34.27  The trees of the field shall bear their fruits, and the land its crops, and they shall dwell securely on their own soil. Thus they shall know that I am the LORD when I break the bonds of their yoke and free them from the power of those who enslaved them.
 ezk:34.28  They shall no longer be despoiled by the nations or devoured by beasts of the earth, but shall dwell secure, with no one to frighten them.
 ezk:34.29  I will prepare for them peaceful fields for planting; they shall no longer be carried off by famine in the land, or bear the reproaches of the nations.
 ezk:34.30  Thus they shall know that I, the LORD, am their God, and they are my people, the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:34.31  (You, my sheep, you are the sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, says the Lord GOD.)
   
 ezk:35.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:35.2   Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it.
 ezk:35.3   Say to it: Thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at you, Mount Seir. I will stretch out my hand against you and make you a desolate waste.
 ezk:35.4   Your cities I will turn into ruins, and you shall be a waste; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:35.5   Because you never let die your hatred for the Israelites, whom you delivered over to the power of the sword at the time of their trouble, when their crimes came to an end,
 ezk:35.6   therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, you have been guilty of blood, and blood, I swear, shall pursue you.
 ezk:35.7   I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste, and cut off from it any traveler.
 ezk:35.8   With the slain I will fill your hills, your valleys, and all your ravines (in them the slain shall fall by the sword):
 ezk:35.9   desolate will I make you forever, and leave your cities without inhabitants; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:35.10  Because you said: The two nations and the two lands have become mine; we shall possess them--although the LORD was there--
 ezk:35.11  therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to your anger and your envy which you have exercised (in your hatred) against them. I will make myself known among you when I judge you,
 ezk:35.12  and you shall know that I am the LORD. I have heard all the contemptuous things you have uttered against the mountains of Israel: "They are desolate, they have been given us to devour."
 ezk:35.13  I have heard the insolent and wild words you have spoken against me.
 ezk:35.14  Thus says the Lord GOD: Just as you rejoiced over my land because it was desolate, so will I do to you.
 ezk:35.15  In keeping with your glee over the devastation of the inheritance of the house of Israel, so will I treat you. A waste shall you be, Mount Seir, you and the whole of Edom. Thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:36.1   As for you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel: Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD!
 ezk:36.2   Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy has said of you, "Ha! the everlasting heights have become our possession"
 ezk:36.3   (therefore prophesy in these words: Thus says the Lord GOD:); because you have been ridiculed and despised on all sides for having become a possession for the rest of the nations, and have become a byword and a popular jeer;
 ezk:36.4   therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD: (Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have been given over to the pillage and mockery of the remaining nations round about;
 ezk:36.5   therefore thus says the Lord GOD:) Truly, with burning jealousy I speak against the rest of the nations (and against all of Edom) who with wholehearted joy and utter contempt have considered my land their possession to be delivered over to plunder.
 ezk:36.6   (Therefore, prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys: Thus says the Lord GOD:) With jealous fury I speak, because you have borne the reproach of the nations.
 ezk:36.7   Therefore do I solemnly swear that your neighboring nations shall bear their own reproach.
 ezk:36.8   As for you, mountains of Israel, you shall grow branches and bear fruit for my people Israel, for they shall soon return.
 ezk:36.9   See, I come to you, it is to you that I turn; you will be tilled and sown,
 ezk:36.10  and I will settle crowds of men upon you, the whole house of Israel; cities shall be repeopled, and ruins rebuilt.
 ezk:36.11  I will settle crowds of men and beasts upon you, to multiply and be fruitful. I will repeople you as in the past, and be more generous to you than in the beginning; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:36.12  (My people Israel are the ones whom I will have walk upon you; they shall take possession of you, and you shall be their heritage. Never again shall you rob them of their children.)
 ezk:36.13  Thus says the Lord GOD: Because they have said of you, "You are a land that devours men, and you rob your people of their children";
 ezk:36.14  therefore, never again shall you devour men or rob your people of their children, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:36.15  No more will I permit you to hear the reproach of nations, or bear insults from peoples, or rob your people of their children, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:36.16  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:36.17  Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their conduct and deeds. In my sight their conduct was like the defilement of a menstruous woman.
 ezk:36.18  Therefore I poured out my fury upon them (because of the blood which they poured out on the ground, and because they defiled it with idols).
 ezk:36.19  I scattered them among the nations, dispersing them over foreign lands; according to their conduct and deeds I judged them.
 ezk:36.20  But when they came among the nations (wherever they came), they served to profane my holy name, because it was said of them: "These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave their land."
 ezk:36.21  So I have relented because of my holy name which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they came.
 ezk:36.22  Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: Not for your sakes do I act, house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you came.
 ezk:36.23  I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it. Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.
 ezk:36.24  For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land.
 ezk:36.25  I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.
 ezk:36.26  I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.
 ezk:36.27  I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees.
 ezk:36.28  You shall live in the land I gave your fathers; you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
 ezk:36.29  I will save you from all your impurities; I will order the grain to be abundant, and I will not send famine against you.
 ezk:36.30  I will increase the fruit on your trees and the crops in your fields; thus you shall no longer bear among the nations the reproach of famine.
 ezk:36.31  Then you shall remember your evil conduct, and that your deeds were not good; you shall loathe yourselves for your sins and your abominations.
 ezk:36.32  Not for your sakes do I act, says the Lord GOD--let this be known to you! Be ashamed and abashed because of your conduct, O house of Israel.
 ezk:36.33  Thus says the Lord GOD: When I purify you from all your crimes, I will repeople the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt;
 ezk:36.34  the desolate land shall be tilled, which was formerly a wasteland exposed to the gaze of every passer-by.
 ezk:36.35  "This desolate land has been made into a garden of Eden," they shall say. "The cities that were in ruins, laid waste, and destroyed are now repeopled and fortified."
 ezk:36.36  Thus the neighboring nations that remain shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was destroyed and replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have promised, and I will do it.
 ezk:36.37  Thus says the Lord GOD: This also I will be persuaded to do for the house of Israel: to multiply them like sheep.
 ezk:36.38  As with sacrificial sheep, the sheep of Jerusalem on its feast days, the cities which were in ruins shall be filled with flocks of men; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:37.1   The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he led me out in the spirit of the LORD and set me in the center of the plain, which was now filled with bones.
 ezk:37.2   He made me walk among them in every direction so that I saw how many they were on the surface of the plain. How dry they were!
 ezk:37.3   He asked me: Son of man, can these bones come to life? "Lord GOD," I answered, "you alone know that."
 ezk:37.4   Then he said to me: Prophesy over these bones, and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
 ezk:37.5   Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: See! I will bring spirit into you, that you may come to life.
 ezk:37.6   I will put sinews upon you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put spirit in you so that you may come to life and know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:37.7   I prophesied as I had been told, and even as I was prophesying I heard a noise; it was a rattling as the bones came together, bone joining bone.
 ezk:37.8   I saw the sinews and the flesh come upon them, and the skin cover them, but there was no spirit in them.
 ezk:37.9   Then he said to me: Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.
 ezk:37.10  I prophesied as he told me, and the spirit came into them; they came alive and stood upright, a vast army.
 ezk:37.11  Then he said to me: Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They have been saying, "Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off."
 ezk:37.12  Therefore, prophesy and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel.
 ezk:37.13  Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people!
 ezk:37.14  I will put my spirit in you that you may live, and I will settle you upon your land; thus you shall know that I am the LORD. I have promised, and I will do it, says the LORD.
 ezk:37.15  Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:37.16  Now, son of man, take a single stick, and write on it: Judah and those Israelites who are associated with him. Then take another stick and write on it: Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.
 ezk:37.17  Then join the two sticks together, so that they form one stick in your hand.
 ezk:37.18  When your countrymen ask you, "Will you not tell us what you mean by all this?",
 ezk:37.19  answer them: Thus says the Lord GOD: (I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and of the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will join to it the stick of Judah, making them a single stick; they shall be one in my hand.
 ezk:37.20  The sticks on which you write you shall hold up before them to see.
 ezk:37.21  Tell them: Thus speaks the Lord GOD:) I will take the Israelites from among the nations to which they have come, and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.
 ezk:37.22  I will make them one nation upon the land, in the mountains of Israel, and there shall be one prince for them all. Never again shall they be two nations, and never again shall they be divided into two kingdoms.
 ezk:37.23  No longer shall they defile themselves with their idols, their abominations, and all their transgressions. I will deliver them from all their sins of apostasy, and cleanse them so that they may be my people and I may be their God.
 ezk:37.24  My servant David shall be prince over them, and there shall be one shepherd for them all; they shall live by my statutes and carefully observe my decrees.
 ezk:37.25  They shall live on the land which I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where their fathers lived; they shall live on it forever, they, and their children, and their children's children, with my servant David their prince forever.
 ezk:37.26  I will make with them a covenant of peace; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them, and I will multiply them, and put my sanctuary among them forever.
 ezk:37.27  My dwelling shall be with them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
 ezk:37.28  Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the LORD, who make Israel holy, when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
   
 ezk:38.1   Thus the word of the LORD came to me:
 ezk:38.2   Son of man, turn toward Gog (the land of Magog), the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him:
 ezk:38.3   Thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
 ezk:38.4   I will lead you forth with all your army, horses and riders all handsomely outfitted, a great horde with bucklers and shields, all of them carrying swords:
 ezk:38.5   Persia, Cush, and Put with them (all with shields and helmets),
 ezk:38.6   Gomer with all its troops, Beth-togarmah from the recesses of the north with all its troops, many peoples with you.
 ezk:38.7   Prepare yourself, be ready, you and all your horde assembled about you, and be at my disposal.
 ezk:38.8   After many days you will be mustered (in the last years you will come) against a nation which has survived the sword, which has been assembled from many peoples (on the mountains of Israel which were long a ruin), which has been brought forth from among the peoples and all of whom now dwell in security.
 ezk:38.9   You shall come up like a sudden storm, advancing like a cloud to cover the earth, you and all your troops and the many peoples with you.
 ezk:38.10  Thus says the Lord GOD: At that time thoughts shall arise in your mind, and you shall devise an evil scheme:
 ezk:38.11  "I will go up against a land of open villages and attack the peaceful people who are living in security, all of them living without walls, having neither bars nor gates,
 ezk:38.12  to plunder and pillage, turning my hand against the ruins that were repeopled and against a people gathered from the nations, a people concerned with cattle and goods, who dwell at the navel of the earth."
 ezk:38.13  Sheba and Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish and all her young lions shall ask you: "Is it for plunder that you have come? Is it for pillage that you have summoned your horde, to carry off silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to seize much plunder?"
 ezk:38.14  Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: Thus says the Lord GOD: When my people Israel are dwelling in security, will you not bestir yourself
 ezk:38.15  and come from your home in the recesses of the north, you and many peoples with you, all mounted on horses, a great horde and a mighty army?
 ezk:38.16  You shall come up against my people Israel like a cloud covering the land. In the last days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know of me, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you, O Gog.
 ezk:38.17  Thus says the Lord GOD: It is of you that I spoke in ancient times through my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days that I would bring you against them.
 ezk:38.18  But on that day, the day when Gog invades the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, my fury shall be aroused. In my anger
 ezk:38.19  and in my jealousy, in my fiery wrath, I swear: On that day there shall be a great shaking upon the land of Israel.
 ezk:38.20  Before me shall tremble the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, the beasts of the field and all the reptiles that crawl upon the ground, and all men who are on the land. Mountains shall be overturned, and cliffs shall tumble, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
 ezk:38.21  Against him I will summon every terror, says the Lord GOD, every man's sword against his brother. I will hold judgment with him in pestilence and bloodshed;
 ezk:38.22  flooding rain and hailstones, fire and brimstone, I will rain upon him, upon his troops, and upon the many peoples with him.
 ezk:38.23  I will prove my greatness and holiness and make myself known in the sight of many nations; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
   
 ezk:39.1   Now, son of man, prophesy against Gog in these words: Thus says the Lord GOD: See! I am coming at you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
 ezk:39.2   I will turn you about, I will urge you on, and I will make you come up from the recesses of the north; I will lead you against the mountains of Israel.
 ezk:39.3   Then I will strike the bow from your left hand, and make the arrows drop from your right.
 ezk:39.4   Upon the mountains of Israel you shall fall, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you. To birds of prey of every kind and to the wild beasts I am giving you to be eaten.
 ezk:39.5   On the open field you shall fall, for I have decreed it, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:39.6   I will send fire upon Magog and upon those who live securely in the coastlands; thus they shall know that I am the LORD.
 ezk:39.7   I will make my holy name known among my people Israel; I will no longer allow my holy name to be profaned. Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
 ezk:39.8   Yes, it is coming and shall be fulfilled, says the Lord GOD. This is the day I have decreed.
 ezk:39.9   Then shall those who live in the cities of Israel go out and burn weapons: (shields and bucklers,) bows and arrows, clubs and lances; for seven years they shall make fires with them.
 ezk:39.10  They shall not have to bring in wood from the fields or cut it down in the forests, for they shall make fires with the weapons. Thus they shall plunder those who plundered them and pillage those who pillaged them, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:39.11  On that day I will give Gog for his tomb a well-known place in Israel, the Valley of Abarim east of the sea (it is blocked to travelers). Gog shall be buried there with all his horde, and it shall be named "Valley of Hamon-gog."
 ezk:39.12  To purify the land, the house of Israel shall need seven months to bury them.
 ezk:39.13  All the people of the land shall bury them and gain renown for it, when I reveal my glory, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:39.14  Men shall be permanently employed to pass through the land burying those who lie unburied, so as to purify the land. For seven months they shall keep searching.
 ezk:39.15  When they pass through, should they see a human bone, let them put up a marker beside it, until others have buried it in the Valley of Hamon-gog.
 ezk:39.16  (Also the name of the city shall be Hamonah.) Thus the land shall be purified.
 ezk:39.17  As for you, son of man, says the Lord GOD, say to birds of every kind and to all the wild beasts: Come together, from all sides gather for the slaughter I am about to provide for you, a great slaughter on the mountains of Israel: you shall have flesh to eat and blood to drink.
 ezk:39.18  You shall eat the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the land (rams, lambs, and goats, bullocks, fatlings of Bashan, all of them).
 ezk:39.19  From the slaughter which I will provide for you, you shall eat fat until you are filled and drink blood until you are drunk.
 ezk:39.20  You shall be filled at my table with horses and riders, with warriors and soldiers of every kind, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:39.21  Thus I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see the judgment I have executed and the hand I have laid upon them.
 ezk:39.22  From that day forward the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD, their God.
 ezk:39.23  The nations shall know that because of its sins the house of Israel went into exile; for they transgressed against me, and I hid my face from them and handed them over to their foes, so that all of them fell by the sword.
 ezk:39.24  According to their uncleanness and their transgressions I dealt with them, hiding my face from them.
 ezk:39.25  Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have pity on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name.
 ezk:39.26  They shall forget their disgrace and all the times they broke faith with me, when they live in security on their land with no one to frighten them.
 ezk:39.27  When I bring them back from among the peoples, I will gather them from the lands of their enemies, and will prove my holiness through them in the sight of many nations.
 ezk:39.28  Thus they shall know that I, the LORD, am their God, since I who exiled them among the nations, will gather them back on their land, not leaving any of them behind.
 ezk:39.29  No longer will I hide my face from them, for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:40.1   On the tenth day of the month beginning the twenty-fifth year of our exile, fourteen years after the city was taken, that very day the hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me
 ezk:40.2   in divine visions to the land of Israel, where he set me down on a very high mountain. On it there seemed to be a city being built before me.
 ezk:40.3   When he had brought me there, all at once I saw a man whose appearance was that of bronze; he was standing in the gate, holding a linen cord and a measuring rod.
 ezk:40.4   The man said to me, "Son of man, look carefully and listen intently, and pay strict attention to all that I will show you, for you have been brought here so that I might show it to you. Tell the house of Israel all that you see."
 ezk:40.5   (Then I saw an outer wall that completely surrounded the temple. The man was holding a measuring rod six cubits long, each cubit being a cubit and a handbreadth; he measured the width and the height of the structure, each of which were found to be one rod.)
 ezk:40.6   Then he went to the gate which faced the east, climbed its steps, and measured the gate's threshold, which was found to be a rod wide.
 ezk:40.7   The cells were a rod long and a rod wide, and the pilasters between the cells measured five cubits. The threshold of the gate adjoining the vestibule of the gate toward the inside measured one rod.
 ezk:40.8   He measured the vestibule of the gate,
 ezk:40.9   which was eight cubits, and its pilasters, which were two cubits. The vestibule of the gate was toward the inside.
 ezk:40.10  The cells of the east gate were three on either side, of equal size, and the pilasters on either side were also of equal size.
 ezk:40.11  He measured the gate's entrance, which was ten cubits wide, while the width of the gate's passage itself was thirteen cubits.
 ezk:40.12  The border before each of the cells on both sides was one cubit; the cells themselves were six cubits on either side, from opening to opening.
 ezk:40.13  He measured the gate from the back wall of one cell to the back wall of the cell on the opposite side: the width was twenty-five cubits.
 ezk:40.14  He measured the vestibule, which was twenty-five cubits. The pilasters adjoining the court on either side were six cubits.
 ezk:40.15  The length of the gate from the front entrance to the front of the vestibule on the inside was fifty cubits.
 ezk:40.16  Within the gateway on both sides there were splayed windows let into the cells (and into their pilasters); likewise, within the vestibule on both sides there were windows. The pilasters were decorated with palms.
 ezk:40.17  Then he brought me to the outer court, where there were chambers and a pavement. The pavement was laid all around the court, and the chambers, which were on the pavement, were thirty in number.
 ezk:40.18  The pavement lay alongside the gates, as wide as the gates were long; this was the lower pavement.
 ezk:40.19  He measured the width of the court from the front of the lower gate to the front of the inner gate; it was one hundred cubits between them. Then he proceeded north,
 ezk:40.20  where, on the outer court, there was a gate facing north, whose length and width he measured.
 ezk:40.21  Its cells, three on either side, its pilasters, and its vestibule had the same measurements as those of the first gate; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
 ezk:40.22  Its windows, the windows of its vestibule, and its palm decorations were of the same proportions as those of the gate facing the east. Seven steps led up to it, and its vestibule was toward the inside.
 ezk:40.23  The inner court had a gate opposite the north gate, just as at the east gate; he measured one hundred cubits from one gate to the other.
 ezk:40.24  Then he led me south, to where there was a southern gate, whose cells, pilasters, and vestibule he measured; they were the same size as the others.
 ezk:40.25  The gate and its vestibule had windows on both sides, like the other windows. It was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
 ezk:40.26  It was ascended by seven steps; its vestibule was toward the inside; and it was decorated with palms here and there on its pilasters.
 ezk:40.27  The inner court also had a southern gate; from gate to gate he measured one hundred cubits.
 ezk:40.28  Then he brought me to the inner court by the south gate, where he measured the south gate. Its dimensions were the same as the others;
 ezk:40.29  its cells, its pilasters, and its vestibule were the same size as the others. The gate and its vestibule had windows on both sides; and it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
 ezk:40.30  [lack!]
 ezk:40.31  But its vestibule was toward the outer court; palms were on its pilasters, and it had a stairway of eight steps.
 ezk:40.32  Then he brought me to the gate facing the east, where he measured the gate, whose dimensions were found to be the same.
 ezk:40.33  Its cells, its pilasters, and its vestibule were the same size as the others; the gate and its vestibule had windows on both sides; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
 ezk:40.34  But its vestibule was toward the outer court; palms were on its pilasters here and there, and it had a stairway of eight steps.
 ezk:40.35  Then he brought me to the north gate, where he measured the dimensions
 ezk:40.36  of its cells, its pilasters, and its vestibule, and found them the same. The gate and its vestibule had windows on both sides; it was fifty cubits long and twenty-five cubits wide.
 ezk:40.37  Its vestibule was toward the outer court; palms were on its pilasters here and there, and it had a stairway of eight steps.
 ezk:40.38  There was a chamber opening off the vestibule of the gate, where the holocausts were rinsed.
 ezk:40.39  In the vestibule of the gate there were two tables on either side, on which were slaughtered the sin offerings and guilt offerings.
 ezk:40.40  Along the wall of the vestibule, but outside, near the entrance of the north gate, were two tables, and on the other side of the vestibule of the gate there were two tables.
 ezk:40.41  There were four tables on either side of the gate (eight tables), on which the sacrifices were slaughtered.
 ezk:40.42  There were four tables for holocausts, made of cut stone, one and a half cubits long, one and a half cubits wide, and one cubit high.
 ezk:40.43  The ledges, a handbreadth wide, were set on the inside all around, and on them were laid the instruments with which the holocausts were slaughtered. On the tables themselves the flesh was laid.
 ezk:40.44  He then led me to the inner court where there were two chambers, one beside the north gate, facing south, and the other beside the south gate, facing north.
 ezk:40.45  He said to me, "This chamber which faces south is for the priests who have charge of the temple,
 ezk:40.46  and the chamber which faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the Zadokites, the only Levites who may come near to minister to the LORD."
 ezk:40.47  Then he measured the court, which was a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits wide, a perfect square. The altar stood in front of the temple.
 ezk:40.48  Then he brought me into the vestibule of the temple and measured the pilasters on each side, which were five cubits. The width of the doorway was fourteen cubits, and the side walls on either side of the door measured three cubits.
 ezk:40.49  The vestibule was twenty cubits wide and twelve cubits deep; ten steps led up to it, and there were columns by the pilasters, one on either side.
   
 ezk:41.1   Then he brought me to the nave and measured the pilasters, which were six cubits thick on either side.
 ezk:41.2   The width of the entrance was ten cubits, and the walls at either side of it measured five cubits each. He measured the length of the nave, which was found to be forty cubits, while its width was twenty.
 ezk:41.3   Then he went in beyond and measured the pilasters flanking that entrance, which were two cubits; the width of the entrance was six cubits, and the walls at either side of it extended seven cubits each.
 ezk:41.4   He measured the space beyond the nave, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide, and said to me, "This is the holy of holies."
 ezk:41.5   Then he measured the wall of the temple, which was six cubits thick; the side chambers, which extended all the way around the temple, had a width of four cubits.
 ezk:41.6   There were thirty side chambers built one above the other in three stories, and there were offsets in the outside wall of the temple that enclosed the side chambers; these served as supports, so that there were no supports in the temple wall proper.
 ezk:41.7   There was a broad circular passageway that led upward to the side chambers, for the temple was enclosed all the way around and all the way upward; therefore the temple had a broad way running upward so that one could pass from the lowest to the middle and the highest story.
 ezk:41.8   About the temple was a raised pavement completely enclosing it--the foundations of the side chambers--a full rod of six cubits in extent.
 ezk:41.9   The width of the outside wall which enclosed the side chambers was five cubits. Between the side chambers of the temple
 ezk:41.10  and the chambers of the court was an open space twenty cubits wide going all around the temple.
 ezk:41.11  The side chambers had entrances to the open space, one entrance on the north and another on the south. The width of the wall surrounding the open space was five cubits.
 ezk:41.12  The building fronting the free area on the west side was seventy cubits front to back; the wall of the building was five cubits thick all around, and it measured ninety cubits from side to side.
 ezk:41.13  He measured the temple, which was one hundred cubits long. The free area, together with the building and its walls, was a hundred cubits in length.
 ezk:41.14  The facade of the temple, along with the free area, on the east side, was one hundred cubits wide.
 ezk:41.15  He measured the building which lay the length of the free area and behind it, and together with its walls on both sides it was one hundred cubits. The inner nave and the outer vestibule
 ezk:41.16  were paneled with precious wood all around, covered from the ground to the windows. There were splayed windows with trellises about them (facing the threshold).
 ezk:41.17  As high as the lintel of the door, even into the interior part of the temple as well as outside, on every wall on every side in both the inner and outer rooms were carved
 ezk:41.18  the figures of cherubim and palmtrees: a palmtree between every two cherubim. Each cherub had two faces:
 ezk:41.19  a man's face looking at a palmtree on one side, and a lion's face looking at a palmtree on the other; thus they were figured on every side throughout the whole temple.
 ezk:41.20  From the ground to the lintel of the door the cherubim and palmtrees were carved on the walls.
 ezk:41.21  The way into the nave was a square doorframe. In front of the holy place was something that looked like
 ezk:41.22  a wooden altar, three cubits in height, two cubits long, and two cubits wide. It had corners, and its base and sides were of wood. He said to me, "This is the table which is before the LORD."
 ezk:41.23  The nave had a double door, and also the holy place had
 ezk:41.24  a double door. Each door had two movable leaves; two leaves were on one doorjamb and two on the other.
 ezk:41.25  Carved upon them (on the doors of the nave) were cherubim and palmtrees, like those carved on the walls. Before the vestibule outside was a wooden lattice.
 ezk:41.26  There were splayed windows (and palmtrees) on both side walls of the vestibule, and the side chambers of the temple. . . .
   
 ezk:42.1   Then he led me north to the outer court, bringing me to some chambers on the north that lay across the free area and which were also across from the building.
 ezk:42.2   Their length was a hundred cubits on the north side, and they were fifty cubits wide.
 ezk:42.3   Across the twenty cubits of the inner court and the pavement of the outer court, there were three parallel rows of them on different levels.
 ezk:42.4   In front of the chambers, to the inside, was a walk ten cubits broad and a wall of one cubit; but the entrances of the chambers were on the north.
 ezk:42.5   The outermost chambers were the lowest, for the system of levels set them at a level lower than the closest chambers and those in between;
 ezk:42.6   for they were in three rows and had no foundations to conform with the foundations of the courts, therefore they were on a lower terrace of the ground than the closest and the middle chambers.
 ezk:42.7   On the far side there was a wall running parallel to the chambers along the outer court; its length before these chambers was fifty cubits,
 ezk:42.8   for the length of the chambers belonging to the outer court was fifty cubits, but along its entire length the wall measured one hundred cubits.
 ezk:42.9   Below these chambers there was the way in from the east, so that one could enter from the outer court
 ezk:42.10  where the wall of the court began. To the south along the side of the free area and the building there were also chambers,
 ezk:42.11  before which was a passage. These looked like the chambers to the north, just as long and just as wide, with the same exits and plan and entrances.
 ezk:42.12  Below the chambers to the south there was an entrance at the beginning of the way which led to the back wall, by which one could enter from the east.
 ezk:42.13  He said to me, "The north and south chambers which border on the free area are the sanctuary chambers; here the priests who draw near to the LORD shall eat the most sacred meals, and here they shall keep the most sacred offerings: cereal offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings; for it is a holy place.
 ezk:42.14  When the priests have once entered, they shall not leave the holy place for the outer court until they have left here the clothing in which they ministered, for it is holy. They shall put on other garments, and then approach the place destined for the people."
 ezk:42.15  When he had finished measuring the inner temple area, he brought me out by way of the gate which faces east and measured all the limits of the court.
 ezk:42.16  He measured the east side: five hundred cubits by his measuring rod. Then he turned
 ezk:42.17  and measured the north side: five hundred cubits by the measuring rod. He turned
 ezk:42.18  to the south and measured five hundred cubits by the measuring rod.
 ezk:42.19  Then he turned to the west and measured five hundred cubits by the measuring rod.
 ezk:42.20  Thus he measured it in the four directions, five hundred cubits long and five hundred cubits wide. It was surrounded by a wall, to separate the sacred from the profane.
   
 ezk:43.1  Then he led me to the gate which faces the east,
 ezk:43.2  and there I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. I heard a sound like the roaring of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.
 ezk:43.3  The vision was like that which I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like that which I had seen by the river Chebar. I fell prone
 ezk:43.4  as the glory of the LORD entered the temple by way of the gate which faces the east,
 ezk:43.5  but spirit lifted me up and brought me to the inner court. And I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the LORD.
 ezk:43.6  Then I heard someone speaking to me from the temple, while the man stood beside me.
 ezk:43.7  The voice said to me: Son of man, this is where my throne shall be, this is where I will set the soles of my feet; here I will dwell among the Israelites forever. Never again shall they and their kings profane my holy name with their harlotries and with the corpses of their kings (their high places).
 ezk:43.8  When they placed their threshold against my threshold and their doorpost next to mine, so that only a wall was between us, they profaned my holy name by their abominable deeds; therefore I consumed them in my wrath.
 ezk:43.9  From now on they shall put far from me their harlotry and the corpses of their kings, and I will dwell in their midst forever.
 ezk:43.10  As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the house of Israel (that they may be ashamed of their sins), both its measurements and its design;
 ezk:43.11  (and if they are ashamed of all that they have done,) make known to them the form and design of the temple, its exits and entrances, all its statutes and laws; write these down for them to see, that they may carefully observe all its laws and statutes.
 ezk:43.12  This is the law of the temple: its whole surrounding area on the mountain top shall be most sacred.
 ezk:43.13  These were the measurements of the altar in cubits of one cubit plus a handbreadth. Its base was one cubit high and one cubit deep, with a rim around its edges of one span. The height of the altar itself was as follows:
 ezk:43.14  from its base at the bottom up to the lower edge it was two cubits high, and this ledge was one cubit deep; from the lower to the upper ledge it was four cubits high, and this ledge also was one cubit deep;
 ezk:43.15  the hearth of the altar was four cubits high, and extending from the top of the hearth were the four horns of the altar.
 ezk:43.16  The hearth was a square: twelve cubits long and twelve cubits wide.
 ezk:43.17  The upper ledge was also a square: fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide. The lower ledge, likewise a square, was sixteen cubits long and sixteen cubits wide, with a half-cubit rim surrounding it. And there was a base of one cubit all around. The steps of the altar face the east.
 ezk:43.18  Then he said to me: Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: These are the statutes for the altar when it is set up for the offering of holocausts upon it and for the sprinkling of blood against it.
 ezk:43.19  Give a young bull as a sin offering to the priests, the Levites who are of the line of Zadok, who draw near me to minister to me, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:43.20  Take some of its blood and put it on the four horns of the altar, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the rim all around. Thus you shall purify it and make atonement for it.
 ezk:43.21  Then take the bull of the sin offering, which is to be burnt in a designated part of the temple, outside the sanctuary.
 ezk:43.22  On the second day present an unblemished he-goat as a sin offering, to purify the altar as was done with the bull.
 ezk:43.23  When you have finished the purification, bring an unblemished young bull and an unblemished ram from the flock,
 ezk:43.24  and present them before the LORD; the priests shall strew salt on them and offer them to the LORD as holocausts.
 ezk:43.25  Daily for seven days you shall offer a he-goat as a sin offering, and a young bull and a ram from the flock, all unblemished, shall be offered
 ezk:43.26  for seven days. Thus atonement shall be made for the altar, and it shall be purified and dedicated.
 ezk:43.27  And when these days are over, from the eighth day on, the priests shall offer your holocausts and peace offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:44.1   Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, facing the east; but it was closed.
 ezk:44.2   He said to me: This gate is to remain closed; it is not to be opened for anyone to enter by it; since the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered by it, it shall remain closed.
 ezk:44.3   Only the prince may sit down in it to eat his meal in the presence of the LORD. He must enter by way of the vestibule of the gate, and leave by the same way.
 ezk:44.4   Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the facade of the temple, and when I looked I saw the glory of the LORD filling the LORD'S temple, and I fell prone.
 ezk:44.5   Then he said to me: Son of man, pay strict attention, look carefully, and listen intently to all that I will tell you about the statutes and laws of the LORD'S temple; be attentive in regard to those who are to be admitted to the temple and all those who are to be excluded from the sanctuary.
 ezk:44.6   Say to that rebellious house, the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough of all these abominations of yours, O house of Israel!
 ezk:44.7   You have admitted foreigners, uncircumcised both in heart and flesh, to my sanctuary to profane it when you offered me food, fat, and blood; thus you have broken my covenant by all your abominations.
 ezk:44.8   Instead of caring for the service of my temple, you have appointed such as these to serve me in my sanctuary in your stead.
 ezk:44.9   Thus says the Lord GOD: No foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and in flesh, shall ever enter my sanctuary; none of the foreigners who live among the Israelites.
 ezk:44.10  But as for the Levites who departed from me when Israel strayed from me to pursue their idols, they shall bear the consequences of their sin.
 ezk:44.11  They shall serve in my sanctuary as gatekeepers and temple servants; they shall slaughter the holocausts and the sacrifices for the people, and they shall stand before the people to minister for them.
 ezk:44.12  Because they used to minister for them before their idols, and became an occasion of sin to the house of Israel, therefore I have sworn an oath against them, says the Lord GOD: they shall bear the consequences of their sin.
 ezk:44.13  They shall no longer draw near me to serve as my priests, nor shall they touch any of my sacred things, or the most sacred things. Thus they shall bear their disgrace because of all their abominable deeds.
 ezk:44.14  But I will set them to the service of the temple, for all its work and for everything that is to be done in it.
 ezk:44.15  As for the levitical priests, however, the Zadokites who cared for my sanctuary when the Israelites strayed from me, they shall draw near me to minister to me, and they shall stand before me to offer me fat and blood, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:44.16  It is they who shall enter my sanctuary, they who shall approach my table to minister to me, and they who shall carry out my service.
 ezk:44.17  Whenever they enter the gates of the inner court, they shall wear linen garments; they shall not put on anything woolen when they minister at the gates of the inner court or within the temple.
 ezk:44.18  They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen drawers on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything that causes sweat.
 ezk:44.19  When they are to go out to the people in the outer court, they shall take off the garments in which they ministered and leave them in the chambers of the sanctuary, putting on other garments; thus they will not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.
 ezk:44.20  They shall not shave their heads nor let their hair hang loose, but they shall keep their hair carefully trimmed.
 ezk:44.21  No priest shall drink wine when he is to enter the inner court.
 ezk:44.22  They shall not take for their wives either widows or divorced women, but only virgins of the race of Israel; however, they may marry women who are the widows of priests.
 ezk:44.23  They shall teach my people to distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and make known to them the difference between the clean and the unclean.
 ezk:44.24  In capital cases they shall stand as judges, judging them according to my decrees. They shall observe my laws and statutes on all my festivals, and keep my sabbaths holy.
 ezk:44.25  They shall not make themselves unclean by coming near any dead person, unless it be their father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or maiden sister; for these they may make themselves unclean.
 ezk:44.26  After a priest has been cleansed, he must wait an additional seven days,
 ezk:44.27  and on the day he enters the inner court to minister in the sanctuary, he shall present his sin offering, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:44.28  They shall have no inheritance, for I am their inheritance; you shall give them no property in Israel, for I am their property.
 ezk:44.29  They shall eat the cereal offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering; whatever is under the ban in Israel shall be theirs.
 ezk:44.30  All the choicest first fruits of every kind, and all the best of your offerings of every kind, shall belong to the priests; likewise the best of your dough you shall give to the priests to bring a blessing down upon your house.
 ezk:44.31  The priests shall not eat anything, whether flesh or fowl, that has died of itself or has been killed by wild beasts.
   
 ezk:45.1   When you apportion the land into inheritances, you shall set apart a sacred tract of land for the LORD, twenty-five thousand cubits long and twenty thousand wide; its whole area shall be sacred.
 ezk:45.2   Of this land a square plot, five hundred by five hundred cubits, surrounded by a free space of fifty cubits, shall be assigned to the sanctuary.
 ezk:45.3   Also from this sector measure off a strip, twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide, within which shall be the sanctuary, the holy of holies.
 ezk:45.4   This shall be the sacred part of the land belonging to the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary, who draw near to minister to the LORD; it shall be a place for their homes and pasture land for their cattle.
 ezk:45.5   Also there shall be a strip twenty-five thousand cubits long and ten thousand wide as property for the Levites, the ministers of the temple, that they may have cities to live in.
 ezk:45.6   As property of the City you shall designate a strip five thousand cubits wide and twenty-five thousand long, parallel to the sacred tract; this shall belong to the whole house of Israel.
 ezk:45.7   The prince shall have a section bordering on both sides of the combined sacred tract and City property, extending westward on the western side and eastward on the eastern side, corresponding in length to one of the tribal portions from the western boundary to the eastern boundary
 ezk:45.8   of the land. This shall be his property in Israel, so that the princes of Israel will no longer oppress my people, but will leave the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.
 ezk:45.9   Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, you princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and do what is right and just! Stop evicting my people! says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:45.10  You shall have honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest liquid measure.
 ezk:45.11  The ephah and the liquid measure shall be of the same size: the liquid measure equal to a tenth of a homer, and the ephah equal to a tenth of a homer; by the homer they shall be determined.
 ezk:45.12  The shekel shall be twenty gerahs. Twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, plus fifteen shekels shall be your mina.
 ezk:45.13  These are the offerings you shall make: one sixth of an ephah from each homer of wheat, and one sixth of an ephah from each homer of barley.
 ezk:45.14  The regulation for oil: for every measure of oil, a tenth of a measure, computed by the kor of ten liquid measures (or a homer, for ten liquid measures make a homer).
 ezk:45.15  One sheep from the flock for every two hundred from the pasturage of Israel, for sacrifice--holocausts and peace offerings and atonement sacrifices, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:45.16  All the people of the land shall be bound to this offering (for the prince in Israel).
 ezk:45.17  It shall be the duty of the prince to provide the holocausts, cereal offerings, and libations on the feasts, new moons, and sabbaths, on all the festivals of the house of Israel. He shall offer the sin offerings, cereal offerings, holocausts, and peace offerings, to make atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.
 ezk:45.18  Thus says the Lord GOD: On the first day of the first month you shall use an unblemished young bull as a sacrifice to purify the sanctuary.
 ezk:45.19  Then the priest shall take some of the blood from the sin offering and put it on the doorposts of the temple, on the four corners of the ledge of the altar, and on the doorposts of the gates of the inner court.
 ezk:45.20  You shall repeat this on the first day of the seventh month for those who have sinned through inadvertence or ignorance; thus you shall make atonement for the temple.
 ezk:45.21  On the fourteenth day of the first month you shall observe the feast of the Passover; for seven days unleavened bread is to be eaten.
 ezk:45.22  On that day the prince shall offer on his own behalf, and on behalf of all the people of the land, a bull as a sin offering.
 ezk:45.23  On each of the seven days of the feast he shall offer as a holocaust to the LORD seven bulls and seven rams without blemish, and as a sin offering he shall offer one male goat each day.
 ezk:45.24  As a cereal offering he shall offer one ephah for each bull and one ephah for each ram; and he shall offer one hin of oil for each ephah.
 ezk:45.25  On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the feast day, and for seven days, he shall perform the same rites, making the same sin offerings, the same holocausts, the same cereal offerings and offerings of oil.
   
 ezk:46.1   whus says the Lord GOD: The gate toward the east of the inner court shall remain closed throughout the six working days, but on the sabbath and on the day of the new moon it shall be open.
 ezk:46.2   The prince shall enter from outside by way of the vestibule of the gate and remain standing at the doorpost of the gate; then while the priests offer his holocausts and peace offerings, he shall worship at the threshold of the gate and then leave; the gate shall not be closed until evening.
 ezk:46.3   The people of the land shall worship before the LORD at the door of this gate on the sabbaths and new moons.
 ezk:46.4   The holocausts which the prince presents to the LORD on the sabbath shall consist of six unblemished lambs and an unblemished ram,
 ezk:46.5   together with a cereal offering of one ephah for the ram, whatever he pleases for the lambs, and a hin of oil for each ephah.
 ezk:46.6   On the day of the new moon he shall provide an unblemished young bull, also six lambs and a ram without blemish,
 ezk:46.7   with a cereal offering of one ephah for the bull and one for the ram, for the lambs as much as he has at hand, and for each ephah a hin of oil.
 ezk:46.8   The prince shall always enter and depart by the vestibule of the gate.
 ezk:46.9   When the people of the land enter the presence of the LORD to worship on the festivals, if they enter by the north gate they shall leave by the south gate, and if they enter by the south gate they shall leave by the north gate; no one shall return by the gate through which he has entered, but he shall leave by the opposite gate.
 ezk:46.10  The prince shall be in their midst when they enter, and he shall also leave with them.
 ezk:46.11  On the feasts and festivals the cereal offering shall be an ephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, but for the lambs as much as one pleases, and a hin of oil with each ephah.
 ezk:46.12  When the prince makes a freewill offering to the LORD, whether holocausts or peace offerings, the eastern gate shall be opened for him, and he shall offer his holocausts or his peace offerings as on the sabbath; then he shall leave, and the gate shall be closed after his departure.
 ezk:46.13  He shall offer as a daily holocaust to the LORD an unblemished yearling lamb; this he shall offer every morning.
 ezk:46.14  With it every morning he shall provide as a cereal offering one sixth of an ephah, with a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine flour. This cereal offering to the LORD is mandatory with the established holocaust.
 ezk:46.15  The lamb, the cereal offering, and the oil are to be offered every morning as an established holocaust.
 ezk:46.16  Thus says the Lord GOD: If the prince makes a gift of part of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; that property is theirs by inheritance.
 ezk:46.17  But if he makes a gift of part of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall belong to the latter only until the year of release, when it shall revert to the prince. Only the inheritance given to his sons is permanent.
 ezk:46.18  The prince shall not seize any part of the inheritance of the people by evicting them from their property. He shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of my people will be driven from their property.
 ezk:46.19  Then he brought me by the entrance which is on the side of the gate to the chambers (of the sanctuary, reserved to the priests) which face the north. There, at their west end, I saw a place,
 ezk:46.20  concerning which he said to me, "Here the priests cook the guilt offerings and the sin offerings, and bake the cereal offerings, so that they do not have to take them into the outer court at the risk of transmitting holiness to the people."
 ezk:46.21  Then he led me into the outer court and had me pass around the four corners of the court, and I saw that in each corner there was another court:
 ezk:46.22  in the four corners of the court, minor courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide, all four of them the same size.
 ezk:46.23  A wall of stones surrounded each of the four, and hearths were built beneath the stones all the way around.
 ezk:46.24  He said to me, "These are the kitchens where the temple ministers cook the sacrifices of the people."
   
 ezk:47.1   Then he brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the facade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar.
 ezk:47.2   He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side.
 ezk:47.3   Then when he had walked off to the east with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water, which was ankle-deep.
 ezk:47.4   He measured off another thousand and once more had me wade through the water, which was now knee-deep. Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade; the water was up to my waist.
 ezk:47.5   Once more he measured off a thousand, but there was now a river through which I could not wade; for the water had risen so high it had become a river that could not be crossed except by swimming.
 ezk:47.6   He asked me, "Have you seen this, son of man?" Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit.
 ezk:47.7   Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides.
 ezk:47.8   He said to me, "This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
 ezk:47.9   Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
 ezk:47.10  Fishermen shall be standing along it from En-gedi to En-eglaim, spreading their nets there. Its kinds of fish shall be like those of the Great Sea, very numerous.
 ezk:47.11  Only its marshes and swamps shall not be made fresh; they shall be left for salt.
 ezk:47.12  Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."
 ezk:47.13  Thus says the Lord GOD: These are the boundaries within which you shall apportion the land among the twelve tribes of Israel (Joseph having two portions).
 ezk:47.14  All of you shall have a like portion in this land which I swore to give to your fathers, that it might fall to you as your inheritance.
 ezk:47.15  This is the boundary of the land on the north side: from the Great Sea in the direction of Hethlon, past Labo of Hamath, to Zedad,
 ezk:47.16  Berothah, and Sibraim, along the frontiers of Hamath and Damascus, to Hazar-enon which is on the border of the Hauran.
 ezk:47.17  Thus the border shall extend from the sea to Hazar-enon, with the frontier of Hamath and Damascus to the north. This is the northern boundary.
 ezk:47.18  The eastern boundary: between the Hauran--toward Damascus--and Gilead on the one side, and the land of Israel on the other side, the Jordan shall form the boundary down to the eastern sea as far as Tamar. This is the eastern boundary.
 ezk:47.19  The southern boundary: from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, thence to the Wadi of Egypt, and on to the Great Sea. This is the southern boundary.
 ezk:47.20  The western boundary: the Great Sea forms the boundary up to a point parallel to Labo of Hamath. This is the western boundary.
 ezk:47.21  You shall distribute this land among yourselves according to the tribes of Israel.
 ezk:47.22  You shall allot it as inheritances for yourselves and for the aliens resident in your midst who have bred children among you. The latter shall be to you like native Israelites; along with you they shall receive inheritances among the tribes of Israel.
 ezk:47.23  In whatever tribe the alien may be resident, there you shall assign him his inheritance, says the Lord GOD.
   
 ezk:48.1   This is the list of the tribes. Dan: at the northern extremity, adjoining Hamath, all along from the approaches to Hethlon through Labo of Hamath to Hazar-enon, on the northerly border with Damascus, with his possession reaching from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.2   Asher: on the frontier of Dan, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.3   Naphtali: on the frontier of Asher, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.4   Manasseh: on the frontier of Naphtali, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.5   Ephraim: on the frontier of Manasseh, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.6   Reuben: on the frontier of Ephraim, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.7   Judah: on the frontier of Reuben, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.8   On the frontier of Judah, from the eastern to the western boundary there shall be the tract which you shall set apart, twenty-five thousand cubits from north to south, and as wide as one of the tribal portions from the eastern to the western boundary. In the center of the tract shall be the sanctuary.
 ezk:48.9   The tract that you set aside for the LORD shall be twenty-five thousand cubits across by twenty thousand north and south.
 ezk:48.10  In this sacred tract the priests shall have twenty-five thousand cubits on the north, ten thousand on the west, ten thousand on the east, and twenty-five thousand on the south; and the sanctuary of the LORD shall be in its center.
 ezk:48.11  The consecrated priests, the Zadokites, who fulfilled my service and did not stray along with the Israelites as the Levites did,
 ezk:48.12  shall have within this tract of land their own most sacred domain, next to the territory of the Levites.
 ezk:48.13  The Levites shall have a territory corresponding to that of the priests, twenty-five thousand cubits by ten thousand. The whole tract shall be twenty-five thousand cubits across and twenty thousand north and south.
 ezk:48.14  They may not sell or exchange or alienate this, the best part of the land, for it is sacred to the LORD.
 ezk:48.15  The remaining five thousand cubits along the twenty-five-thousand-cubit line are profane land, assigned to the City for dwellings and pasture; the City shall be at their center.
 ezk:48.16  These are the dimensions of the City: the north side, forty-five hundred cubits; the south side, forty-five hundred cubits; the east side, forty-five hundred cubits; and the west side, forty-five hundred cubits.
 ezk:48.17  The pasture lands of the City shall extend north two hundred and fifty cubits, south two hundred and fifty cubits, east two hundred and fifty cubits, and west two hundred and fifty cubits.
 ezk:48.18  There shall remain an area along the sacred tract, ten thousand cubits to the east and ten thousand to the west, whose produce shall provide food for the workers of the City.
 ezk:48.19  The workers in the City shall be taken from all the tribes of Israel.
 ezk:48.20  The entire tract shall be twenty-five thousand by twenty-five thousand cubits; as a perfect square you shall set apart the sacred tract together with the City property.
 ezk:48.21  The remainder shall belong to the prince: the land on both sides of the sacred tract and the City property, extending along the twenty-five-thousand-cubit line eastward to the eastern boundary, and westward along the twenty-five-thousand-cubit line to the western boundary, a territory parallel with the tribal portions for the prince. The sacred tract and the sanctuary of the temple shall be in the middle.
 ezk:48.22  Thus, except for the property of the Levites and the City property, which lie in the midst of the prince's property, the territory between the portions of Judah and of Benjamin shall belong to the prince.
 ezk:48.23  These are the remaining tribes. Benjamin: from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.24  Simeon: on the frontier of Benjamin, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.25  Issachar: on the frontier of Simeon, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.26  Zebulun: on the frontier of Issachar, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.27  Gad: on the frontier of Zebulun, from the eastern to the western boundary.
 ezk:48.28  Along the frontier of Gad shall be the southern boundary, which shall extend from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, and from there to the Wadi of Egypt, and on to the Great Sea.
 ezk:48.29  Such is the land which you shall apportion as inheritances among the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, says the Lord GOD.
 ezk:48.30  These are the exits of the City, the gates of which are named after the tribes of Israel. On the north side, measuring forty-five hundred cubits,
 ezk:48.31  there shall be three gates: the gate of Reuben, the gate of Judah, and the gate of Levi.
 ezk:48.32  On the east side, measuring forty-five hundred cubits, there shall be three gates: the gate of Joseph, the gate of Benjamin, and the gate of Dan.
 ezk:48.33  On the south side, measuring forty-five hundred cubits, there shall be three gates: the gate of Simeon, the gate of Issachar, and the gate of Zebulun.
 ezk:48.34  On the west side, measuring forty-five hundred cubits, there shall be three gates: the gate of Gad, the gate of Asher, and the gate of Naphtali.
 ezk:48.35  The perimeter of the City is eighteen thousand cubits. The name of the City shall henceforth be "The LORD is here." [end of Ezekiel]

