Ezekiel 19

• 1. "Sing this funeral song for the princes of Israel:
• 2. `What is your mother? A lioness among lions! She lay down among the young lions and reared her cubs.
• 3. She raised one of her cubs to become a strong young lion. He learned to catch and devour prey, and he became a man-eater.
• 4. Then the nations heard about him, and he was trapped in their pit. They led him away in chains to the land of Egypt.
• 5. `When the mother lion saw that all her hopes for him were gone, she took another of her cubs and taught him to be a strong lion.
• 6. He prowled among the other lions and became a leader among them. He learned to catch and devour prey, and he, too, became a man-eater.
• 7. He demolished fortresses in nearby nations and destroyed their towns and cities. Their farms were desolated, and their crops were destroyed. Everyone in the land trembled in fear when they heard him roar.
• 8. Then the armies of the nations attacked him, surrounding him from every direction. They spread out their nets for him and captured him in their pit.
• 9. With hooks, they dragged him into a cage and brought him before the king of Babylon. They held him in captivity, so his voice could never again be heard on the mountains of Israel.
• 10. `Your mother was like a vine planted by the water's edge. It had lush, green foliage because of the abundant water.
• 11. Its branches became very strong, strong enough to be a ruler's scepter. It soon became very tall, towering above all the others. It stood out because of its height and because of its many lush branches.
• 12. But the vine was uprooted in fury and thrown down to the ground. The desert wind dried up its fruit and tore off its branches. Its stem was destroyed by fire.
• 13. Now the vine is growing in the wilderness, where the ground is hard and dry.
• 14. A fire has come from its branches and devoured its fruit. None of the remaining limbs is strong enough to be a ruler's scepter.' This is a funeral song, and it is now time for the funeral."

Ezekiel 20

• 1. On August 14, during the seventh year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, some of the leaders of Israel came to request a message from the LORD. They sat down in front of me to wait for his reply.
• 2. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 3. "Son of man, give the leaders of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: How dare you come to ask for my help? As surely as I live, I will tell you nothing. This is the word of the Sovereign LORD!
• 4. "Son of man, bring judgment against them and condemn them. Make them realize how loathsome the actions of their ancestors really were.
• 5. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: When I chose Israel and revealed myself to her in Egypt, I swore that I, the LORD, would be her God.
• 6. I promised that I would bring her and her descendants out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them--a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere.
• 7. Then I said to them, `Each of you, get rid of your idols. Do not defile yourselves with the Egyptian gods, for I am the LORD your God.'
• 8. "But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of their idols or forsake the gods of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt.
• 9. But I didn't do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name. That way the surrounding nations wouldn't be able to laugh at Israel's God, who had promised to deliver his people.
• 10. So I brought my people out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
• 11. There I gave them my laws so they could live by keeping them. Yes, all those who keep them will live!
• 12. And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I, the LORD, had set them apart to be holy, making them my special people.
• 13. "But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my laws there in the wilderness. They wouldn't obey my instructions even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So I threatened to pour out my fury on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the desert.
• 14. But again I held back in order to protect the honor of my name. That way the nations who saw me lead my people out of Egypt wouldn't be able to claim I destroyed them because I couldn't take care of them.
• 15. But I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on earth.
• 16. I told them this because they had rejected my laws, ignored my will for them, and violated my Sabbath days. Their hearts were given to their idols.
• 17. Nevertheless, I pitied them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness.
• 18. "Then I warned their children and told them not to follow in their parents' footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols.
• 19. `I am the LORD your God,' I told them. `Follow my laws, pay attention to my instructions,
• 20. and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the LORD your God.'
• 21. "But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my laws and follow my instructions, even though obeying them would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilderness.
• 22. Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my name among the nations who had seen my power in bringing them out of Egypt.
• 23. But I took a solemn oath against them while they were in the wilderness. I vowed I would scatter them among all the nations
• 24. because they did not obey my laws. They scorned my instructions by violating my Sabbath days and longing for the idols of their ancestors.
• 25. I gave them over to worthless customs and laws that would not lead to life.
• 26. I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts I had given them, and I allowed them to give their firstborn children as offerings to their gods--so I might devastate them and show them that I alone am the LORD.
• 27. "Therefore, son of man, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Your ancestors continued to blaspheme and betray me,
• 28. for when I brought them into the land I had promised them, they offered sacrifices and incense on every high hill and under every green tree they saw! They roused my fury as they offered up sacrifices to their gods. They brought their perfumes and incense and poured out their drink offerings to them!
• 29. I said to them, `What is this high place where you are going?' (This idol shrine has been called Bamah--`high place'--ever since.)
• 30. "Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Do you plan to pollute yourselves just as your ancestors did? Do you intend to keep prostituting yourselves by worshiping detestable idols?
• 31. For when you offer gifts to them and give your little children to be burned as sacrifices, you continue to pollute yourselves to this day. Should I listen to you or help you, O people of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will not give you a message even though you have come to me requesting one.
• 32. "You say, `We want to be like the nations all around us, who serve idols of wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen.
• 33. As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will rule you with an iron fist in great anger and with awesome power.
• 34. With might and fury I will bring you out from the lands where you are scattered.
• 35. I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will judge you face to face.
• 36. I will judge you there just as I did your ancestors in the wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt, says the Sovereign LORD.
• 37. I will count you carefully and hold you to the terms of the covenant.
• 38. I will purge you of all those who rebel and sin against me. I will bring them out of the countries where they are in exile, but they will never enter the land of Israel. And when that happens, you will know that I am the LORD.
• 39. "As for you, O people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: If you insist, go right ahead and worship your idols, but then don't turn around and bring gifts to me. Such desecration of my holy name must stop!
• 40. For on my holy mountain, says the Sovereign LORD, the people of Israel will someday worship me, and I will accept them. There I will require that you bring me all your offerings and choice gifts and sacrifices.
• 41. When I bring you home from exile, you will be as pleasing to me as an offering of perfumed incense. And I will display my holiness in you as all the nations watch.
• 42. Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised your ancestors, you will know that I am the LORD.
• 43. You will look back at all your sins and hate yourselves because of the evil you have done.
• 44. You will know that I am the LORD, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness, says the Sovereign LORD."
• 45. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 46. "Son of man, look toward the south and speak out against it; prophesy against the fields of the Negev.
• 47. Give the southern wilderness this message from the Sovereign LORD: Hear the word of the LORD! I will set you on fire, O forest, and every tree will be burned--green and dry trees alike. The terrible flames will not be quenched; they will scorch everything from south to north.
• 48. And all the world will see that I, the LORD, have set this fire. It will not be put out."
• 49. Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, they are saying of me, `He only talks in riddles!'"

Ezekiel 21

• 1. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 2. "Son of man, look toward Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries.
• 3. Give her this message from the LORD: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people--the righteous and the wicked alike.
• 4. Yes, I will not spare even the righteous! I will make a clean sweep throughout the land from south to north.
• 5. All the world will know that I am the LORD. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.
• 6. "Son of man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish and a broken heart.
• 7. When they ask you why, tell them, `I groan because of the terrifying news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will tremble and become as weak as water. And the Sovereign LORD says: It is coming! It's on its way!'"
• 8. Then the LORD said to me,
• 9. "Son of man, give the people this message from the LORD: A sword is being sharpened and polished.
• 10. It is being prepared for terrible slaughter; it will flash like lightning! Now will you laugh? Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power!
• 11. Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished; it is being prepared for the executioner!
• 12. "Son of man, cry out and wail; pound your thighs in anguish, for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders--everyone will die!
• 13. It will put them all to the test! So now the Sovereign LORD asks: What chance do they have?
• 14. "Son of man, prophesy to them and clap your hands vigorously. Then take the sword and brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre they will face!
• 15. Let their hearts melt with terror, for the sword glitters at every gate. It flashes like lightning; it is polished for slaughter!
• 16. O sword, slash to the right, and slash to the left, wherever you will, wherever you want.
• 17. I, too, will clap my hands, and I will satisfy my fury. I, the LORD, have spoken!"
• 18. Then this message came to me from the LORD:
• 19. "Son of man, make a map and trace two routes on it for the sword of Babylon's king to follow. Put a signpost on the road that comes out of Babylon where the road forks into two--
• 20. one road going to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah, and the other to Judah and fortified Jerusalem.
• 21. The king of Babylon now stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah. He will call his magicians to use divination. They will cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver. They will inspect the livers of their animal sacrifices.
• 22. Then they will decide to turn toward Jerusalem! With battering rams they will go against the gates, shouting for the kill. They will put up siege towers and build ramps against the walls to reach the top.
• 23. The people of Jerusalem will think it is a mistake, because of their treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion. Then he will attack and capture them.
• 24. "Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Again and again your guilt cries out against you, for you are not ashamed of your sin. You don't even try to hide it! Wherever you go, whatever you do, all your actions are filled with sin. So now the time of your punishment has come!
• 25. "O you corrupt and wicked prince of Israel, your final day of reckoning is here!
• 26. Take off your jeweled crown, says the Sovereign LORD. The old order changes--now the lowly are exalted, and the mighty are brought low.
• 27. Destruction! Destruction! I will surely destroy the kingdom. And it will not be restored until the one appears who has the right to judge it. Then I will hand it over to him.
• 28. "And now, son of man, prophesy concerning the Ammonites and their mockery. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: My sword is drawn for your slaughter; it is sharpened to destroy, flashing like lightning!
• 29. Your magicians and false prophets have given false visions and told lies about the sword. And now it will fall with even greater force on the wicked for whom the day of final reckoning has come.
• 30. Should I return my sword to its sheath before I deal with you? No, I will destroy you in your own country, the land of your birth.
• 31. I will pour out my fury on you and blow on you with the fire of my anger. I will hand you over to cruel men who are skilled in destruction.
• 32. You are fuel for the fire, and your blood will be spilled in your own land. You will be utterly wiped out, your memory lost to history. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

New Living Translation: 285 of 324 days.