Month: February 2020

Two Adulterous Sisters

1 The word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.

3 They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.

4 The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

5 “Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors

6 clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen.

7 She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.

8 She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.

9 “Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.

10 They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women, and punishment was inflicted on her.

11 “Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.

12 She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men.

13 I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way.

14 “But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall, figures of Chaldeansportrayed in red,

15 with belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea.

16 As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

17 Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.

18 When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.

19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt.

20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.

21 So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.

22 “Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the SovereignLordsays: I will stir up your lovers against you, those you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side—

23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, all of them governors and commanders, chariot officers and men of high rank, all mounted on horses.

24 They will come against you with weapons,chariots and wagons and with a throng of people; they will take up positions against you on every side with large and small shields and with helmets. I will turn you over to them for punishment, and they will punish you according to their standards.

25 I will direct my jealous anger against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears, and those of you who are left will fall by the sword. They will take away your sons and daughters, and those of you who are left will be consumed by fire.

26 They will also strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry.

27 So I will put a stop to the lewdness and prostitution you began in Egypt. You will not look on these things with longing or remember Egypt anymore.

28 “For this is what the SovereignLordsays: I am about to deliver you into the hands of those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust.

29 They will deal with you in hatred and take away everything you have worked for. They will leave you stark naked, and the shame of your prostitution will be exposed. Your lewdness and promiscuity

30 have brought this on you, because you lusted after the nations and defiled yourself with their idols.

31 You have gone the way of your sister; so I will put her cup into your hand.

32 “This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“You will drink your sister’s cup,

a cup large and deep;

it will bring scorn and derision,

for it holds so much.

33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,

the cup of ruin and desolation,

the cup of your sister Samaria.

34 You will drink it and drain it dry

and chew on its pieces—

and you will tear your breasts.

I have spoken, declares the SovereignLord.

35 “Therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: Since you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”

36 TheLordsaid to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable practices,

37 for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them.

38 They have also done this to me: At that same time they defiled my sanctuary and desecrated my Sabbaths.

39 On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated it. That is what they did in my house.

40 “They even sent messengers for men who came from far away, and when they arrived you bathed yourself for them, applied eye makeup and put on your jewelry.

41 You sat on an elegant couch, with a table spread before it on which you had placed the incense and olive oil that belonged to me.

42 “The noise of a carefree crowd was around her; drunkards were brought from the desert along with men from the rabble, and they put bracelets on the wrists of the woman and her sister and beautiful crowns on their heads.

43 Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is.’

44 And they slept with her. As men sleep with a prostitute, so they slept with those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah.

45 But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood, because they are adulterous and blood is on their hands.

46 “This is what the SovereignLordsays: Bring a mob against them and give them over to terror and plunder.

47 The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.

48 “So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you.

49 You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the SovereignLord.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/23-9846e93fa4e689471c3f2af63c167f6d.mp3?version_id=111—

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

1 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.

3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on

and pour water into it.

4 Put into it the pieces of meat,

all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.

Fill it with the best of these bones;

5 take the pick of the flock.

Pile wood beneath it for the bones;

bring it to a boil

and cook the bones in it.

6 “ ‘For this is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed,

to the pot now encrusted,

whose deposit will not go away!

Take the meat out piece by piece

in whatever order it comes.

7 “ ‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:

She poured it on the bare rock;

she did not pour it on the ground,

where the dust would cover it.

8 To stir up wrath and take revenge

I put her blood on the bare rock,

so that it would not be covered.

9 “ ‘Therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!

I, too, will pile the wood high.

10 So heap on the wood

and kindle the fire.

Cook the meat well,

mixing in the spices;

and let the bones be charred.

11 Then set the empty pot on the coals

till it becomes hot and its copper glows,

so that its impurities may be melted

and its deposit burned away.

12 It has frustrated all efforts;

its heavy deposit has not been removed,

not even by fire.

13 “ ‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.

14 “ ‘I theLordhave spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the SovereignLord.’ ”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of theLordcame to me:

16 “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.

17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of theLordcame to me:

21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.

22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.

23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because ofyour sins and groan among yourselves.

24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the SovereignLord.’

25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well—

26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news.

27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am theLord.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/24-2881bd9667a9fb9077feb2c26371e677.mp3?version_id=111—

A Prophecy Against Ammon

1 The word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.

3 Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the SovereignLord. This is what the SovereignLordsays: Because you said “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was desecrated and over the land of Israel when it was laid waste and over the people of Judah when they went into exile,

4 therefore I am going to give you to the people of the East as a possession. They will set up their camps and pitch their tents among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.

5 I will turn Rabbah into a pasture for camels and Ammon into a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am theLord.

6 For this is what the SovereignLordsays: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, rejoicing with all the malice of your heart against the land of Israel,

7 therefore I will stretch out my hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I will wipe you out from among the nations and exterminate you from the countries. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am theLord.’ ”

A Prophecy Against Moab

8 “This is what the SovereignLordsays: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, Judah has become like all the other nations,”

9 therefore I will expose the flank of Moab, beginning at its frontier towns—Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon and Kiriathaim—the glory of that land.

10 I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations;

11 and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am theLord.’ ”

A Prophecy Against Edom

12 “This is what the SovereignLordsays: ‘Because Edom took revenge on Judah and became very guilty by doing so,

13 therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.

14 I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the SovereignLord.’ ”

A Prophecy Against Philistia

15 “This is what the SovereignLordsays: ‘Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah,

16 therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will wipe out the Kerethites and destroy those remaining along the coast.

17 I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am theLord, when I take vengeance on them.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/25-7b2ce0465603c2d5be308ccb8128cc4b.mp3?version_id=111—

A Prophecy Against Tyre

1 In the eleventh month of the twelfthyear, on the first day of the month, the word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken, and its doors have swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will prosper,’

3 therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: I am against you, Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves.

4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock.

5 Out in the sea she will become a place to spread fishnets, for I have spoken, declares the SovereignLord. She will become plunder for the nations,

6 and her settlements on the mainland will be ravaged by the sword. Then they will know that I am theLord.

7 “For this is what the SovereignLordsays: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army.

8 He will ravage your settlements on the mainland with the sword; he will set up siege works against you, build a ramp up to your walls and raise his shields against you.

9 He will direct the blows of his battering rams against your walls and demolish your towers with his weapons.

10 His horses will be so many that they will cover you with dust. Your walls will tremble at the noise of the warhorses, wagons and chariots when he enters your gates as men enter a city whose walls have been broken through.

11 The hooves of his horses will trample all your streets; he will kill your people with the sword, and your strong pillars will fall to the ground.

12 They will plunder your wealth and loot your merchandise; they will break down your walls and demolish your fine houses and throw your stones, timber and rubble into the sea.

13 I will put an end to your noisy songs, and the music of your harps will be heard no more.

14 I will make you a bare rock, and you will become a place to spread fishnets. You will never be rebuilt, for I theLordhave spoken, declares the SovereignLord.

15 “This is what the SovereignLordsays to Tyre: Will not the coastlands tremble at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan and the slaughter takes place in you?

16 Then all the princes of the coast will step down from their thrones and lay aside their robes and take off their embroidered garments. Clothed with terror, they will sit on the ground, trembling every moment, appalled at you.

17 Then they will take up a lament concerning you and say to you:

“ ‘How you are destroyed, city of renown,

peopled by men of the sea!

You were a power on the seas,

you and your citizens;

you put your terror

on all who lived there.

18 Now the coastlands tremble

on the day of your fall;

the islands in the sea

are terrified at your collapse.’

19 “This is what the SovereignLordsays: When I make you a desolate city, like cities no longer inhabited, and when I bring the ocean depths over you and its vast waters cover you,

20 then I will bring you down with those who go down to the pit, to the people of long ago. I will make you dwell in the earth below, as in ancient ruins, with those who go down to the pit, and you will not return or take your placein the land of the living.

21 I will bring you to a horrible end and you will be no more. You will be sought, but you will never again be found, declares the SovereignLord.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/26-5fea990010fc07496fd03cabb3ffdc6a.mp3?version_id=111—

A Lament Over Tyre

1 The word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Tyre.

3 Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘You say, Tyre,

“I am perfect in beauty.”

4 Your domain was on the high seas;

your builders brought your beauty to perfection.

5 They made all your timbers

of juniper from Senir;

they took a cedar from Lebanon

to make a mast for you.

6 Of oaks from Bashan

they made your oars;

of cypress woodfrom the coasts of Cyprus

they made your deck, adorned with ivory.

7 Fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail

and served as your banner;

your awnings were of blue and purple

from the coasts of Elishah.

8 Men of Sidon and Arvad were your oarsmen;

your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.

9 Veteran craftsmen of Byblos were on board

as shipwrights to caulk your seams.

All the ships of the sea and their sailors

came alongside to trade for your wares.

10 “ ‘Men of Persia, Lydia and Put

served as soldiers in your army.

They hung their shields and helmets on your walls,

bringing you splendor.

11 Men of Arvad and Helek

guarded your walls on every side;

men of Gammad

were in your towers.

They hung their shields around your walls;

they brought your beauty to perfection.

12 “ ‘Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of goods; they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13 “ ‘Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.

14 “ ‘Men of Beth Togarmah exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15 “ ‘The men of Rhodestraded with you, and many coastlands were your customers; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony.

16 “ ‘Aramdid business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise.

17 “ ‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith and confections,honey, olive oil and balm for your wares.

18 “ ‘Damascus did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods. They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar

19 and casks of wine from Izal in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia and calamus.

20 “ ‘Dedan traded in saddle blankets with you.

21 “ ‘Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22 “ ‘The merchants of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices and precious stones, and gold.

23 “ ‘Harran, Kanneh and Eden and merchants of Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad traded with you.

24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25 “ ‘The ships of Tarshish serve

as carriers for your wares.

You are filled with heavy cargo

as you sail the sea.

26 Your oarsmen take you

out to the high seas.

But the east wind will break you to pieces

far out at sea.

27 Your wealth, merchandise and wares,

your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,

your merchants and all your soldiers,

and everyone else on board

will sink into the heart of the sea

on the day of your shipwreck.

28 The shorelands will quake

when your sailors cry out.

29 All who handle the oars

will abandon their ships;

the mariners and all the sailors

will stand on the shore.

30 They will raise their voice

and cry bitterly over you;

they will sprinkle dust on their heads

and roll in ashes.

31 They will shave their heads because of you

and will put on sackcloth.

They will weep over you with anguish of soul

and with bitter mourning.

32 As they wail and mourn over you,

they will take up a lament concerning you:

“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,

surrounded by the sea?”

33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,

you satisfied many nations;

with your great wealth and your wares

you enriched the kings of the earth.

34 Now you are shattered by the sea

in the depths of the waters;

your wares and all your company

have gone down with you.

35 All who live in the coastlands

are appalled at you;

their kings shudder with horror

and their faces are distorted with fear.

36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;

you have come to a horrible end

and will be no more.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/27-69ec17271e47b0d7d1acbdd48605bb51.mp3?version_id=111—

A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre

1 The word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘In the pride of your heart

you say, “I am a god;

I sit on the throne of a god

in the heart of the seas.”

But you are a mere mortal and not a god,

though you think you are as wise as a god.

3 Are you wiser than Daniel?

Is no secret hidden from you?

4 By your wisdom and understanding

you have gained wealth for yourself

and amassed gold and silver

in your treasuries.

5 By your great skill in trading

you have increased your wealth,

and because of your wealth

your heart has grown proud.

6 “ ‘Therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘Because you think you are wise,

as wise as a god,

7 I am going to bring foreigners against you,

the most ruthless of nations;

they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom

and pierce your shining splendor.

8 They will bring you down to the pit,

and you will die a violent death

in the heart of the seas.

9 Will you then say, “I am a god,”

in the presence of those who kill you?

You will be but a mortal, not a god,

in the hands of those who slay you.

10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised

at the hands of foreigners.

I have spoken, declares the SovereignLord.’ ”

11 The word of theLordcame to me:

12 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘You were the seal of perfection,

full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden,

the garden of God;

every precious stone adorned you:

carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,

topaz, onyx and jasper,

lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.

Your settings and mountingswere made of gold;

on the day you were created they were prepared.

14 You were anointed as a guardian cherub,

for so I ordained you.

You were on the holy mount of God;

you walked among the fiery stones.

15 You were blameless in your ways

from the day you were created

till wickedness was found in you.

16 Through your widespread trade

you were filled with violence,

and you sinned.

So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,

and I expelled you, guardian cherub,

from among the fiery stones.

17 Your heart became proud

on account of your beauty,

and you corrupted your wisdom

because of your splendor.

So I threw you to the earth;

I made a spectacle of you before kings.

18 By your many sins and dishonest trade

you have desecrated your sanctuaries.

So I made a fire come out from you,

and it consumed you,

and I reduced you to ashes on the ground

in the sight of all who were watching.

19 All the nations who knew you

are appalled at you;

you have come to a horrible end

and will be no more.’ ”

A Prophecy Against Sidon

20 The word of theLordcame to me:

21 “Son of man, set your face against Sidon; prophesy against her

22 and say: ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘I am against you, Sidon,

and among you I will display my glory.

You will know that I am theLord,

when I inflict punishment on you

and within you am proved to be holy.

23 I will send a plague upon you

and make blood flow in your streets.

The slain will fall within you,

with the sword against you on every side.

Then you will know that I am theLord.

24 “ ‘No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbors who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the SovereignLord.

25 “ ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.

26 They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am theLordtheir God.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/28-cd5344e6a4267ae1adc9785771561650.mp3?version_id=111—

A Prophecy Against Egypt

Judgment on Pharaoh

1 In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day, the word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt and prophesy against him and against all Egypt.

3 Speak to him and say: ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,

you great monster lying among your streams.

You say, “The Nile belongs to me;

I made it for myself.”

4 But I will put hooks in your jaws

and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales.

I will pull you out from among your streams,

with all the fish sticking to your scales.

5 I will leave you in the desert,

you and all the fish of your streams.

You will fall on the open field

and not be gathered or picked up.

I will give you as food

to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.

6 Then all who live in Egypt will know that I am theLord.

“ ‘You have been a staff of reed for the people of Israel.

7 When they grasped you with their hands, you splintered and you tore open their shoulders; when they leaned on you, you broke and their backs were wrenched.

8 “ ‘Therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: I will bring a sword against you and kill both man and beast.

9 Egypt will become a desolate wasteland. Then they will know that I am theLord.

“ ‘Because you said, “The Nile is mine; I made it,”

10 therefore I am against you and against your streams, and I will make the land of Egypt a ruin and a desolate waste from Migdol to Aswan, as far as the border of Cush.

11 The foot of neither man nor beast will pass through it; no one will live there for forty years.

12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate among devastated lands, and her cities will lie desolate forty years among ruined cities. And I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.

13 “ ‘Yet this is what the SovereignLordsays: At the end of forty years I will gather the Egyptians from the nations where they were scattered.

14 I will bring them back from captivity and return them to Upper Egypt, the land of their ancestry. There they will be a lowly kingdom.

15 It will be the lowliest of kingdoms and will never again exalt itself above the other nations. I will make it so weak that it will never again rule over the nations.

16 Egypt will no longer be a source of confidence for the people of Israel but will be a reminder of their sin in turning to her for help. Then they will know that I am the SovereignLord.’ ”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Reward

17 In the twenty-seventh year, in the first month on the first day, the word of theLordcame to me:

18 “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon drove his army in a hard campaign against Tyre; every head was rubbed bare and every shoulder made raw. Yet he and his army got no reward from the campaign he led against Tyre.

19 Therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: I am going to give Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will carry off its wealth. He will loot and plunder the land as pay for his army.

20 I have given him Egypt as a reward for his efforts because he and his army did it for me, declares the SovereignLord.

21 “On that day I will make a horngrow for the Israelites, and I will open your mouth among them. Then they will know that I am theLord.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/29-ed4f06654d10278decdb371ce79fbec2.mp3?version_id=111—

A Lament Over Egypt

1 The word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘Wail and say,

“Alas for that day!”

3 For the day is near,

the day of theLordis near—

a day of clouds,

a time of doom for the nations.

4 A sword will come against Egypt,

and anguish will come upon Cush.

When the slain fall in Egypt,

her wealth will be carried away

and her foundations torn down.

5 Cush and Libya, Lydia and all Arabia, Kub and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.

6 “ ‘This is what theLordsays:

“ ‘The allies of Egypt will fall

and her proud strength will fail.

From Migdol to Aswan

they will fall by the sword within her,

declares the SovereignLord.

7 “ ‘They will be desolate

among desolate lands,

and their cities will lie

among ruined cities.

8 Then they will know that I am theLord,

when I set fire to Egypt

and all her helpers are crushed.

9 “ ‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come.

10 “ ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt

by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

11 He and his army—the most ruthless of nations—

will be brought in to destroy the land.

They will draw their swords against Egypt

and fill the land with the slain.

12 I will dry up the waters of the Nile

and sell the land to an evil nation;

by the hand of foreigners

I will lay waste the land and everything in it.

I theLordhave spoken.

13 “ ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘I will destroy the idols

and put an end to the images in Memphis.

No longer will there be a prince in Egypt,

and I will spread fear throughout the land.

14 I will lay waste Upper Egypt,

set fire to Zoan

and inflict punishment on Thebes.

15 I will pour out my wrath on Pelusium,

the stronghold of Egypt,

and wipe out the hordes of Thebes.

16 I will set fire to Egypt;

Pelusium will writhe in agony.

Thebes will be taken by storm;

Memphis will be in constant distress.

17 The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis

will fall by the sword,

and the cities themselves will go into captivity.

18 Dark will be the day at Tahpanhes

when I break the yoke of Egypt;

there her proud strength will come to an end.

She will be covered with clouds,

and her villages will go into captivity.

19 So I will inflict punishment on Egypt,

and they will know that I am theLord.’ ”

Pharaoh’s Arms Are Broken

20 In the eleventh year, in the first month on the seventh day, the word of theLordcame to me:

21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt. It has not been bound up to be healed or put in a splint so that it may become strong enough to hold a sword.

22 Therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt. I will break both his arms, the good arm as well as the broken one, and make the sword fall from his hand.

23 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries.

24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put my sword in his hand, but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he will groan before him like a mortally wounded man.

25 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh will fall limp. Then they will know that I am theLord, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he brandishes it against Egypt.

26 I will disperse the Egyptians among the nations and scatter them through the countries. Then they will know that I am theLord.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/30-50e4209cf765ec6e41fc81337800cdae.mp3?version_id=111—

Pharaoh as a Felled Cedar of Lebanon

1 In the eleventh year, in the third month on the first day, the word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his hordes:

“ ‘Who can be compared with you in majesty?

3 Consider Assyria, once a cedar in Lebanon,

with beautiful branches overshadowing the forest;

it towered on high,

its top above the thick foliage.

4 The waters nourished it,

deep springs made it grow tall;

their streams flowed

all around its base

and sent their channels

to all the trees of the field.

5 So it towered higher

than all the trees of the field;

its boughs increased

and its branches grew long,

spreading because of abundant waters.

6 All the birds of the sky

nested in its boughs,

all the animals of the wild

gave birth under its branches;

all the great nations

lived in its shade.

7 It was majestic in beauty,

with its spreading boughs,

for its roots went down

to abundant waters.

8 The cedars in the garden of God

could not rival it,

nor could the junipers

equal its boughs,

nor could the plane trees

compare with its branches—

no tree in the garden of God

could match its beauty.

9 I made it beautiful

with abundant branches,

the envy of all the trees of Eden

in the garden of God.

10 “ ‘Therefore this is what the SovereignLordsays: Because the great cedar towered over the thick foliage, and because it was proud of its height,

11 I gave it into the hands of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with according to its wickedness. I cast it aside,

12 and the most ruthless of foreign nations cut it down and left it. Its boughs fell on the mountains and in all the valleys; its branches lay broken in all the ravines of the land. All the nations of the earth came out from under its shade and left it.

13 All the birds settled on the fallen tree, and all the wild animals lived among its branches.

14 Therefore no other trees by the waters are ever to tower proudly on high, lifting their tops above the thick foliage. No other trees so well-watered are ever to reach such a height; they are all destined for death, for the earth below, among mortals who go down to the realm of the dead.

15 “ ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays: On the day it was brought down to the realm of the dead I covered the deep springs with mourning for it; I held back its streams, and its abundant waters were restrained. Because of it I clothed Lebanon with gloom, and all the trees of the field withered away.

16 I made the nations tremble at the sound of its fall when I brought it down to the realm of the dead to be with those who go down to the pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.

17 They too, like the great cedar, had gone down to the realm of the dead, to those killed by the sword, along with the armed men who lived in its shade among the nations.

18 “ ‘Which of the trees of Eden can be compared with you in splendor and majesty? Yet you, too, will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the earth below; you will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

“ ‘This is Pharaoh and all his hordes, declares the SovereignLord.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/31-b0779e528e37f6d60849066ca27e760b.mp3?version_id=111—

A Lament Over Pharaoh

1 In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of theLordcame to me:

2 “Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him:

“ ‘You are like a lion among the nations;

you are like a monster in the seas

thrashing about in your streams,

churning the water with your feet

and muddying the streams.

3 “ ‘This is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘With a great throng of people

I will cast my net over you,

and they will haul you up in my net.

4 I will throw you on the land

and hurl you on the open field.

I will let all the birds of the sky settle on you

and all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you.

5 I will spread your flesh on the mountains

and fill the valleys with your remains.

6 I will drench the land with your flowing blood

all the way to the mountains,

and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.

7 When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens

and darken their stars;

I will cover the sun with a cloud,

and the moon will not give its light.

8 All the shining lights in the heavens

I will darken over you;

I will bring darkness over your land,

declares the SovereignLord.

9 I will trouble the hearts of many peoples

when I bring about your destruction among the nations,

amonglands you have not known.

10 I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you,

and their kings will shudder with horror because of you

when I brandish my sword before them.

On the day of your downfall

each of them will tremble

every moment for his life.

11 “ ‘For this is what the SovereignLordsays:

“ ‘The sword of the king of Babylon

will come against you.

12 I will cause your hordes to fall

by the swords of mighty men—

the most ruthless of all nations.

They will shatter the pride of Egypt,

and all her hordes will be overthrown.

13 I will destroy all her cattle

from beside abundant waters

no longer to be stirred by the foot of man

or muddied by the hooves of cattle.

14 Then I will let her waters settle

and make her streams flow like oil,

declares the SovereignLord.

15 When I make Egypt desolate

and strip the land of everything in it,

when I strike down all who live there,

then they will know that I am theLord.’

16 “This is the lament they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the SovereignLord.”

Egypt’s Descent Into the Realm of the Dead

17 In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, the word of theLordcame to me:

18 “Son of man, wail for the hordes of Egypt and consign to the earth below both her and the daughters of mighty nations, along with those who go down to the pit.

19 Say to them, ‘Are you more favored than others? Go down and be laid among the uncircumcised.’

20 They will fall among those killed by the sword. The sword is drawn; let her be dragged off with all her hordes.

21 From within the realm of the dead the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.’

22 “Assyria is there with her whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the sword.

23 Their graves are in the depths of the pit and her army lies around her grave. All who had spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by the sword.

24 “Elam is there, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword. All who had spread terror in the land of the living went down uncircumcised to the earth below. They bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

25 A bed is made for her among the slain, with all her hordes around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword. Because their terror had spread in the land of the living, they bear their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among the slain.

26 “Meshek and Tubal are there, with all their hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword because they spread their terror in the land of the living.

27 But they do not lie with the fallen warriors of old,who went down to the realm of the dead with their weapons of war—their swords placed under their heads and their shieldsresting on their bones—though these warriors also had terrorized the land of the living.

28 “You too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will lie among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.

29 “Edom is there, her kings and all her princes; despite their power, they are laid with those killed by the sword. They lie with the uncircumcised, with those who go down to the pit.

30 “All the princes of the north and all the Sidonians are there; they went down with the slain in disgrace despite the terror caused by their power. They lie uncircumcised with those killed by the sword and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.

31 “Pharaoh—he and all his army—will see them and he will be consoled for all his hordes that were killed by the sword, declares the SovereignLord.

32 Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the SovereignLord.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/EZK/32-37bc64663b6203499120c669c79c7bf9.mp3?version_id=111—