Ezekiel 20 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Ezekiel 20 (WEBP)
[1] In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.
[2] Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
[3] “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.” ’
[4] “Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
[5] Tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am Yahweh your God;’
[6] in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
[7] I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’
[8] “ ‘ “But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
[9] But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
[10] So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
[11] I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them.
[12] Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.
[13] “ ‘ “But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
[14] But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
[15] Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
[16] because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.
[17] Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.
[18] I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
[19] I am Yahweh your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.
[20] Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.’
[21] “ ‘ “But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
[22] Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
[23] Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,
[24] because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
[25] Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live.
[26] I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.” ’
[27] “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
[28] For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings.
[29] Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah° to this day.” ’
[30] “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?
[31] When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you!
[32] “ ‘ “That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’
[33] As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.
[34] I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.
[35] I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
[36] Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord Yahweh.
[37] “I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
[38] I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”
[39] “ ‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.
[40] For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
[41] I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
[42] You will know that I am Yahweh when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
[43] There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.
[44] You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh.’ ”
[45] Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
[46] “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.
[47] Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word: The Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.
[48] All flesh will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.” ’ ”
[49] Then I said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’ ”
Ezekiel 20:29 “Bamah” means “High Place”.
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Ezekiel 20 (KJVS)
[1] And it came to pass in the seventh H7637 year H8141, in the fifth H2549 [month], the tenth H6218 [day] of the month H2320, [that] certain H582 of the elders H2205 of Israel H3478 came H935 (8804) to enquire H1875 (8800) of the LORD H3068, and sat H3427 (8799) before H6440 me.
[2] Then came the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto me, saying H559 (8800),
[3] Son H1121 of man H120, speak H1696 (8761) unto the elders H2205 of Israel H3478, and say H559 (8804) unto them, Thus saith H559 (8804) the Lord H136 GOD H3069; Are ye come H935 (8802) to enquire H1875 (8800) of me? [As] I live H2416, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069, I will not be enquired H1875 (8735) of by you.
[4] Wilt thou judge H8199 (8799) them, son H1121 of man H120, wilt thou judge H8199 (8799) [them]? cause them to know H3045 (8685) the abominations H8441 of their fathers H1:
[5] And say H559 (8804) unto them, Thus saith H559 (8804) the Lord H136 GOD H3069; In the day H3117 when I chose H977 (8800) Israel H3478, and lifted up H5375 (8799) mine hand H3027 unto the seed H2233 of the house H1004 of Jacob H3290, and made myself known H3045 (8735) unto them in the land H776 of Egypt H4714, when I lifted H5375 (8799) up mine hand H3027 unto them, saying H559 (8800), I [am] the LORD H3068 your God H430;
[6] In the day H3117 [that] I lifted up H5375 (8804) mine hand H3027 unto them, to bring them forth H3318 (8687) of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 into a land H776 that I had espied H8446 (8804) for them, flowing H2100 (8802) with milk H2461 and honey H1706, which [is] the glory H6643 of all lands H776:
[7] Then said H559 (8799) I unto them, Cast ye away H7993 (8685) every man H376 the abominations H8251 of his eyes H5869, and defile H2930 (8691) not yourselves with the idols H1544 of Egypt H4714: I [am] the LORD H3068 your God H430.
[8] But they rebelled H4784 (8686) against me, and would H14 (8804) not hearken H8085 (8800) unto me: they did not every man H376 cast away H7993 (8689) the abominations H8251 of their eyes H5869, neither did they forsake H5800 (8804) the idols H1544 of Egypt H4714: then I said H559 (8799), I will pour out H8210 (8800) my fury H2534 upon them, to accomplish H3615 (8763) my anger H639 against them in the midst H8432 of the land H776 of Egypt H4714.
[9] But I wrought H6213 (8799) for my name’s H8034 sake, that it should not be polluted H2490 (8736) before H5869 the heathen H1471, among H8432 whom they [were], in whose sight H5869 I made myself known H3045 (8738) unto them, in bringing them forth H3318 (8687) out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714.
[10] Wherefore I caused them to go forth H3318 (8686) out of the land H776 of Egypt H4714, and brought H935 (8686) them into the wilderness H4057.
[11] And I gave H5414 (8799) them my statutes H2708, and shewed H3045 (8689) them my judgments H4941, which [if] a man H120 do H6213 (8799), he shall even live H2425 (8804) in them.
[12] Moreover also I gave H5414 (8804) them my sabbaths H7676, to be a sign H226 between me and them, that they might know H3045 (8800) that I [am] the LORD H3068 that sanctify H6942 (8764) them.
[13] But the house H1004 of Israel H3478 rebelled H4784 (8686) against me in the wilderness H4057: they walked H1980 (8804) not in my statutes H2708, and they despised H3988 (8804) my judgments H4941, which [if] a man H120 do H6213 (8799), he shall even live H2425 (8804) in them; and my sabbaths H7676 they greatly H3966 polluted H2490 (8765): then I said H559 (8799), I would pour out H8210 (8800) my fury H2534 upon them in the wilderness H4057, to consume H3615 (8763) them.
[14] But I wrought H6213 (8799) for my name’s H8034 sake, that it should not be polluted H2490 (8736) before H5869 the heathen H1471, in whose sight H5869 I brought them out H3318 (8689).
[15] Yet also I lifted up H5375 (8804) my hand H3027 unto them in the wilderness H4057, that I would not bring H935 (8687) them into the land H776 which I had given H5414 (8804) [them], flowing H2100 (8802) with milk H2461 and honey H1706, which [is] the glory H6643 of all lands H776;
[16] Because they despised H3988 (8804) my judgments H4941, and walked H1980 (8804) not in my statutes H2708, but polluted H2490 (8765) my sabbaths H7676: for their heart H3820 went H1980 (8802) after H310 their idols H1544.
[17] Nevertheless mine eye H5869 spared H2347 (8799) them from destroying H7843 (8763) them, neither did I make H6213 (8804) an end H3617 of them in the wilderness H4057.
[18] But I said H559 (8799) unto their children H1121 in the wilderness H4057, Walk H3212 (8799) ye not in the statutes H2706 of your fathers H1, neither observe H8104 (8799) their judgments H4941, nor defile H2930 (8691) yourselves with their idols H1544:
[19] I [am] the LORD H3068 your God H430; walk H3212 (8798) in my statutes H2708, and keep H8104 (8798) my judgments H4941, and do H6213 (8798) them;
[20] And hallow H6942 (8761) my sabbaths H7676; and they shall be a sign H226 between me and you, that ye may know H3045 (8800) that I [am] the LORD H3068 your God H430.
[21] Notwithstanding the children H1121 rebelled H4784 (8686) against me: they walked H1980 (8804) not in my statutes H2708, neither kept H8104 (8804) my judgments H4941 to do H6213 (8800) them, which [if] a man H120 do H6213 (8799), he shall even live H2425 (8804) in them; they polluted H2490 (8765) my sabbaths H7676: then I said H559 (8799), I would pour out H8210 (8800) my fury H2534 upon them, to accomplish H3615 (8763) my anger H639 against them in the wilderness H4057.
[22] Nevertheless I withdrew H7725 (8689) mine hand H3027, and wrought H6213 (8799) for my name’s H8034 sake, that it should not be polluted H2490 (8736) in the sight H5869 of the heathen H1471, in whose sight H5869 I brought them forth H3318 (8689).
[23] I lifted up H5375 (8804) mine hand H3027 unto them also in the wilderness H4057, that I would scatter H6327 (8687) them among the heathen H1471, and disperse H2219 (8763) them through the countries H776;
[24] Because they had not executed H6213 (8804) my judgments H4941, but had despised H3988 (8804) my statutes H2708, and had polluted H2490 (8765) my sabbaths H7676, and their eyes H5869 were after H310 their fathers H1’ idols H1544.
[25] Wherefore I gave H5414 (8804) them also statutes H2706 [that were] not good H2896, and judgments H4941 whereby they should not live H2421 (8799);
[26] And I polluted H2930 (8762) them in their own gifts H4979, in that they caused to pass through H5674 (8687) [the fire] all that openeth H6363 the womb H7356, that I might make them desolate H8074 (8686), to the end that they might know H3045 (8799) that I [am] the LORD H3068.
[27] Therefore, son H1121 of man H120, speak H1696 (8761) unto the house H1004 of Israel H3478, and say H559 (8804) unto them, Thus saith H559 (8804) the Lord H136 GOD H3069; Yet in this your fathers H1 have blasphemed H1442 (8765) me, in that they have committed H4603 (8800) a trespass H4604 against me.
[28] [For] when I had brought H935 (8686) them into the land H776, [for] the which I lifted up H5375 (8804) mine hand H3027 to give H5414 (8800) it to them, then they saw H7200 (8799) every high H7311 (8802) hill H1389, and all the thick H5687 trees H6086, and they offered H2076 (8799) there their sacrifices H2077, and there they presented H5414 (8799) the provocation H3708 of their offering H7133: there also they made H7760 (8799) their sweet H5207 savour H7381, and poured out H5258 (8686) there their drink offerings H5262.
[29] Then I said H559 (8799) unto them, What [is] the high place H1116 whereunto ye go H935 (8802)? And the name H8034 thereof is called H7121 (8735) Bamah H1117 unto this day H3117.
[30] Wherefore say H559 (8798) unto the house H1004 of Israel H3478, Thus saith H559 (8804) the Lord H136 GOD H3069; Are ye polluted H2930 (8737) after the manner H1870 of your fathers H1? and commit ye whoredom H2181 (8802) after H310 their abominations H8251?
[31] For when ye offer H5375 (8800) your gifts H4979, when ye make your sons H1121 to pass through H5674 (8687) the fire H784, ye pollute H2930 (8737) yourselves with all your idols H1544, even unto this day H3117: and shall I be enquired H1875 (8735) of by you, O house H1004 of Israel H3478? [As] I live H2416, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069, I will not be enquired H1875 (8735) of by you.
[32] And that which cometh H5927 (8802) into your mind H7307 shall not be at all, that ye say H559 (8802), We will be H1961 (8799) as the heathen H1471, as the families H4940 of the countries H776, to serve H8334 (8763) wood H6086 and stone H68.
[33] [As] I live H2416, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069, surely with a mighty H2389 hand H3027, and with a stretched out H5186 (8803) arm H2220, and with fury H2534 poured out H8210 (8803), will I rule H4427 (8799) over you:
[34] And I will bring you out H3318 (8689) from the people H5971, and will gather H6908 (8765) you out of the countries H776 wherein ye are scattered H6327 (8738), with a mighty H2389 hand H3027, and with a stretched out H5186 (8803) arm H2220, and with fury H2534 poured out H8210 (8803).
[35] And I will bring H935 (8689) you into the wilderness H4057 of the people H5971, and there will I plead H8199 (8738) with you face H6440 to face H6440.
[36] Like as I pleaded H8199 (8738) with your fathers H1 in the wilderness H4057 of the land H776 of Egypt H4714, so will I plead H8199 (8735) with you, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069.
[37] And I will cause you to pass H5674 (8689) under the rod H7626, and I will bring H935 (8689) you into the bond H4562 of the covenant H1285:
[38] And I will purge out H1305 (8804) from among you the rebels H4775 (8802), and them that transgress H6586 (8802) against me: I will bring them forth H3318 (8686) out of the country H776 where they sojourn H4033, and they shall not enter H935 (8799) into the land H127 of Israel H3478: and ye shall know H3045 (8804) that I [am] the LORD H3068.
[39] As for you, O house H1004 of Israel H3478, thus saith H559 (8804) the Lord H136 GOD H3069; Go H3212 (8798) ye, serve H5647 (8798) ye every one H376 his idols H1544, and hereafter H310 [also], if ye will not hearken H8085 (8802) unto me: but pollute H2490 (8762) ye my holy H6944 name H8034 no more with your gifts H4979, and with your idols H1544.
[40] For in mine holy H6944 mountain H2022, in the mountain H2022 of the height H4791 of Israel H3478, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069, there shall all the house H1004 of Israel H3478, all of them in the land H776, serve H5647 (8799) me: there will I accept H7521 (8799) them, and there will I require H1875 (8799) your offerings H8641, and the firstfruits H7225 of your oblations H4864, with all your holy things H6944.
[41] I will accept H7521 (8799) you with your sweet H5207 savour H7381, when I bring you out H3318 (8687) from the people H5971, and gather H6908 (8765) you out of the countries H776 wherein ye have been scattered H6327 (8738); and I will be sanctified H6942 (8738) in you before H5869 the heathen H1471.
[42] And ye shall know H3045 (8804) that I [am] the LORD H3068, when I shall bring H935 (8687) you into the land H127 of Israel H3478, into the country H776 [for] the which I lifted up H5375 (8804) mine hand H3027 to give H5414 (8800) it to your fathers H1.
[43] And there shall ye remember H2142 (8804) your ways H1870, and all your doings H5949, wherein ye have been defiled H2930 (8738); and ye shall lothe H6962 (8738) yourselves in your own sight H6440 for all your evils H7451 that ye have committed H6213 (8804).
[44] And ye shall know H3045 (8804) that I [am] the LORD H3068, when I have wrought H6213 (8800) with you for my name’s H8034 sake, not according to your wicked H7451 ways H1870, nor according to your corrupt H7843 (8737) doings H5949, O ye house H1004 of Israel H3478, saith H5002 (8803) the Lord H136 GOD H3069.
[45] Moreover the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto me, saying H559 (8800),
[46] Son H1121 of man H120, set H7760 (8798) thy face H6440 toward H1870 the south H8486, and drop H5197 (8685) [thy word] toward the south H1864, and prophesy H5012 (8734) against the forest H3293 of the south H5045 field H7704;
[47] And say H559 (8804) to the forest H3293 of the south H5045, Hear H8085 (8798) the word H1697 of the LORD H3068; Thus saith H559 (8804) the Lord H136 GOD H3069; Behold, I will kindle H3341 (8688) a fire H784 in thee, and it shall devour H398 (8804) every green H3892 tree H6086 in thee, and every dry H3002 tree H6086: the flaming H3852 flame H7957 shall not be quenched H3518 (8799), and all faces H6440 from the south H5045 to the north H6828 shall be burned H6866 (8738) therein.
[48] And all flesh H1320 shall see H7200 (8804) that I the LORD H3068 have kindled H1197 (8765) it: it shall not be quenched H3518 (8799).
[49] Then said H559 (8799) I, Ah H162 Lord H136 GOD H3069! they say H559 (8802) of me, Doth he not speak H4911 (8764) parables H4912?
Young’s Literal Translation
Ezekiel 20 (YLT)
[1] And it cometh to pass, in the seventh year, in the fifth month, in the tenth of the month, come in have certain of the elders of Israel to seek Jehovah, and they sit before me;
[2] and there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
[3] ‘Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: To seek Me are ye coming in? I live-I am not sought by you-an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
[4] Dost thou judge them? Dost thou judge, son of man? The abominations of their fathers cause them to know,
[5] and thou hast said unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the day of My fixing on Israel, I lift up My hand, To the seed of the house of Jacob, And am known to them in the land of Egypt, And I lift up My hand to them, Saying, I am Jehovah your God.
[6] In that day I did lift up My hand to them, To bring them forth from the land of Egypt, Unto a land that I spied out for them, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it is to all the lands,
[7] And I say unto them, Let each cast away the detestable things of his eyes, And with the idols of Egypt be not defiled, I am Jehovah your God.
[8] And-they rebel against Me, And have not been willing to hearken to Me, Each, the detestable things of their eyes, They have not cast away, And the idols of Egypt have not forsaken, And I say-to pour out My fury on them, To complete Mine anger against them, In the midst of the land of Egypt.
[9] And I do it for My name’s sake, Not to pollute it before the eyes of the nations, In whose midst they are, Before whose eyes I became known to them, To bring them out from the land of Egypt.
[10] And I bring them out of the land of Egypt, And I bring them in unto the wilderness,
[11] And I give to them My statutes, And my judgments I caused them to know, Which the man who doth-liveth by them.
[12] And also My sabbaths I have given to them, To be for a sign between Me and them, To know that I am Jehovah their sanctifier.
[13] And-rebel against me do the house of Israel in the wilderness, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have despised, Which the man who doth-liveth by them. And My sabbaths they have greatly polluted, And I say to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
[14] And I do it for My name’s sake, Not to pollute it before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them forth.
[15] And also, I, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, Not to bring them in to the land that I had given, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it is to all the lands,
[16] Because against My judgments they did kick, And in My statutes they have not walked, And My sabbaths they have polluted, For after their idols their heart is going.
[17] And Mine eye hath pity on them-against destroying them, And I have not made of them an end in the wilderness.
[18] And I say to their sons in the wilderness: In the statutes of your fathers ye walk not, And their judgments ye do not observe, And with their idols ye are not defiled.
[19] I am Jehovah your God, in My statutes walk, And My judgments observe, and do them,
[20] And My sabbaths sanctify, And they have been for a sign between Me and you, To know that I, Jehovah, am your God.
[21] And-the sons rebel against Me, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have not observed-to do them, Which the man who doth-liveth by them. My sabbaths they have polluted, And I say to pour out My fury upon them, To complete Mine anger against them in the wilderness.
[22] And I have turned back My hand, And I do it for My name’s sake, Not to pollute it before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them out.
[23] I also, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, To scatter them among nations, And to spread them through lands.
[24] Because My judgments they have not done, And My statutes they have despised, And My sabbaths they have polluted, And after idols of their fathers have their eyes been.
[25] And I also, I have given to them statutes not good, And judgments by which they do not live.
[26] And I defile them by their own gifts, By causing to pass away every opener of a womb, So that I make them desolate, So that they know that I am Jehovah.
[27] Therefore, speak unto the house of Israel, son of man, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Still in this have your fathers reviled Me, In their committing against Me a trespass.
[28] And I bring them in unto the land, That I did lift up My hand to give to them, And they see every high hill, and every thick tree, And they sacrifice there their sacrifices, And give there the provocation of their offering, And make there their sweet fragrance, And they pour out there their libations.
[29] And I say unto them: What is the high place whither ye are going in? And its name is called ‘high place’ to this day.
[30] Therefore, say unto the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the way of your fathers are ye defiled? And after their detestable things go a-whoring?
[31] And in the offering of your gifts, In causing your sons to pass through fire, Ye are defiled by all your idols to this day, And I am sought by you, O house of Israel! I live-an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, I am not sought by you.
[32] And that which is going up on your mind, It is not at all-in that ye are saying: We will be as the nations, as the families of the lands, To serve wood and stone.
[33] I live-an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Do not I, with a strong hand, And with a stretched-out arm, And with fury poured out-rule over you?
[34] And I have brought you forth from the peoples, And assembled you from the lands In which ye have been scattered, With a strong hand and with a stretched-out arm, And with fury poured out.
[35] And I have brought you in unto the wilderness of the peoples, And have been judged with you there face to face.
[36] As I was judged with your fathers, In the wilderness of the land of Egypt, So I am judged with you, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
[37] And I have caused you to pass under the rod, And brought you into the bond of the covenant,
[38] And cleared out from you the rebels, And them transgressing against Me, From the land of their sojournings I bring them out, And unto the land of Israel they come not, And ye have known that I am Jehovah.
[39] And ye, O house of Israel, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Each his idols-go-serve ye, And, afterwards, if ye are not hearkening to me, And My holy name ye do not pollute any more by your gifts, and by your idols.
[40] For, in My holy mountain, In the mountain of the height of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, There serve Me do all the house of Israel, All of it, in the land-there I accept them, And there I do seek your heave-offerings, And with the first-fruit of your gifts, With all your holy things.
[41] With sweet fragrance I do accept you, In My bringing you out from the peoples, And I have assembled you from the lands In which ye have been scattered, And I have been sanctified in you Before the eyes of the nations.
[42] And ye have known that I am Jehovah, In My bringing you to the ground of Israel, Unto the land that I did lift up My hand To give it to your fathers,
[43] And ye have remembered there your ways, And all your doings, In which ye have been defiled, And ye have been loathsome in your own faces, For all your evils that ye have done.
[44] And ye have known that I am Jehovah, In My dealing with you for My name’s sake, Not according to your evil ways, And according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.’
[45] And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
[46] Son of man, set thy face the way of Teman, and prophesy unto the south, and prophesy unto the forest of the field-the south;
[47] and thou hast said to the forest of the south: Hear a word of Jehovah: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am kindling in thee a fire, And it hath devoured in thee every moist tree, and every dry tree, Not quenched is the glowing flames, And burnt by it have been all faces from south to north.
[48] And seen have all flesh, that I, Jehovah, have kindled it-it is not quenched.’
[49] And I say, ‘Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?