14 Some of the leaders of Israel came to talk to me. They sat down in front of me. 2 Then the Lord gave this message to me: 3 ‘Son of man, these men like to worship idols. They allow those idols to cause them to do wicked things. So I should not allow them to ask me anything. 4 You must speak to them. Say, “This is what the Almighty Lord says: One of these men who like to worships idols may want to ask me something. Those men allow their idols to cause them to do wicked things. So if one of them goes to a prophet to find out something, I will give him an answer! I will give him the answer that he deserves because of his many idols! 5 Israel's people have turned away from me because of their idols. So I will give them an answer that will bring them back to worship me.”
6 Say to Israel's people, “This is what the Almighty Lord says: Turn back to me and stop worshipping idols. Stop doing the disgusting things that you have been doing.”
7 An Israelite or a foreigner who lives in Israel may not want to serve me. He may choose to worship idols and do wicked things. If anyone like that goes to a prophet to find out something from me, I will answer him. Yes, I myself, the Lord , will answer him! 8 I will be that person's enemy. I will punish him to make him an example to others. Other people will see that he is not good. I will not allow him to belong to my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord .
9 I will also punish the prophet himself if he gives a false message. I, the Lord , have deceived him to show that he is a fool. And I will punish him. I will remove him from among my people, Israel's people. 10 I will punish both the prophet and the person who asked him for a message. They will both have the same punishment. 11 I will do that to bring back Israel's people to serve me. They will not continue to make themselves unclean because of all their sins. They will be my people and I will be their God. That is what the Almighty Lord says.’
12 The Lord gave this message to me: 13 ‘Son of man, the people of a whole nation may choose not to obey me. Then I would punish them because of their sins. I might stop the people getting any food to eat. Then there would be a famine that kills both people and animals. 14 If that happens, I would only save the righteous people who lived there. If men like Noah, Daniel and Job lived there, I would save them. But nobody else would escape. That is what the Almighty Lord says.
15 Or I might send wild animals to kill the people of that nation. Nobody would travel through that place. The wild animals would make it too dangerous to travel there. 16 I promise you this, as surely as I live: if those three righteous men lived there, they would only save themselves. They could not even save the lives of their own children. The whole land would become an empty place. That is what the Almighty Lord says.
17 Or I might bring an enemy to attack that nation. I would say, “Soldiers with swords should destroy the whole land.” I would cause them to kill both people and animals. 18 I promise you this, as surely as I live: if those three righteous men lived there, they would only save themselves. They could not even save the lives of their own children. That is what the Almighty Lord says.
19 Or I might punish that nation with a terrible disease. Because I am very angry with those people, I would cause people and animals to die in that place. 20 I promise you this, as surely as I live: if Noah, Daniel and Job lived there, they would only save themselves because they are righteous people. They could not save the lives even of their own children. That is what the Almighty Lord says.
21 This is what the Almighty Lord says: It will be terrible for Jerusalem's people when I punish them in all these four ways. I will send enemy soldiers with swords. I will send famine. I will send wild animals. And I will send disease. That will cause both people and animals to die. 22 But some people will still be alive. Some sons and daughters will come out from the city. They will come to you here in Babylon. You will see the way that those people have lived. You will see the things that they have done. Then you will not be upset that I have punished Jerusalem in all these ways. 23 Yes, when you see what they are like, you will no longer be upset. You will know that I have punished the people of Jerusalem as they deserved. That is what the Almighty Lord says.’
14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me. They sat down to talk with me. 2 The word of the Lord came to me. He said, 3 “Son of man, [ a ] these men came to talk to you. But they still have their filthy idols. They kept the things that made them sin. They still worship those statues, so why do they come to me for advice? Should I answer their questions? 4 But I will give them an answer. You must tell them this: ‘This is what the Lord God says: If any Israelites come to a prophet and ask me for advice, I myself will answer their questions. I, the Lord , will answer them even if they still have their filthy idols, even if they kept the things that made them sin, and even if they still worship those statues. I will speak to them in spite of all their filthy idols. 5 This is because I want to touch their hearts. I want to show them that I love them, even though they left me for their filthy idols.’
6 “So tell the family of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Come back to me and leave your filthy idols. Turn away from those terrible, false gods. 7 If any Israelites or foreigners who live in Israel come to me for advice, I will give them an answer. I, the Lord , will answer them even if they still have their filthy idols, even if they kept the things that made them sin, and even if they worship those statues. This is the answer I will give them: 8 I will turn against them and destroy them. They will be an example to others. People will laugh at them. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord ! 9 And if a prophet is foolish enough to give his own answer, I, the Lord , will show him how foolish he is! I will use my power against him. I will destroy him and remove him from among my people, Israel. 10 So both the one who came for advice and the prophet who gave an answer will get the same punishment. 11 Why? So that those prophets will stop leading my people away from me, and my people will stop being filthy with sin. Then they will be my special people, and I will be their God.’” This is what the Lord God said.
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, 13 “Son of man, I will punish any nation that leaves me and sins against me. I will stop their food supply. I might cause a famine and remove the people and animals from that country. 14 I would punish that country even if Noah, Daniel, and Job [ b ] lived there. They could save their own lives by their goodness, but they could not save the whole country .” This is what the Lord God said.
15 “Or I might send wild animals through that country to kill all the people. Then no one would travel through that country because of the wild animals. 16 If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people—not even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed.” This is what the Lord God said.
17 “Or I might send an enemy army to fight against that country. The soldiers would destroy that country—I would remove all the people and animals from that country. 18 If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people—not even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed.” This is what the Lord God said.
19 “Or I might send a disease against that country. I will pour my anger down on the people. I will remove all the people and animals from that country. 20 If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives because they are good men. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people—not even their own sons and daughters!” This is what the Lord God said.
21 Then the Lord God said, “So think how bad it will be for Jerusalem. I will send all four of those punishments against that city! I will send enemy soldiers, hunger, disease, and wild animals against that city. I will remove all the people and animals from that country. 22 Some of the people will escape from that country. They will bring their sons and daughters and come to you for help. Then you will see how bad those people really are, and you will feel better about all the troubles that I am bringing to Jerusalem. 23 You will see how they live and all the bad things they do. Then you will know that I had a good reason for punishing them.” This is what the Lord God said.
14 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God ; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God ; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself:
8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord .
9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God .
12 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,
13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God .
15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God , they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God , they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God , they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
21 For thus saith the Lord God ; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
22 Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God .
14 Then some ( A ) elders of Israel came to me and ( B ) sat down before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, these men have ( C ) set up their idols in their hearts and have ( D ) put in front of their faces the stumbling block of their wrongdoing. Should I let Myself be ( E ) consulted by them at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord [ a ] God says: “Anyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will let Myself answer him in [ b ] the matter in view of the ( F ) multitude of his idols, 5 in order to take hold of [ c ] ( G ) the hearts of the house of Israel who have [ d ] ( H ) turned away from Me due to all their idols.”’
6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “ ( I ) Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your ( J ) abominations. 7 For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the ( K ) strangers who reside in Israel, who deserts Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet to request something of Me for himself, ( L ) I the Lord will let Myself answer him Myself. 8 I will ( M ) set My face against that person and make him a ( N ) sign and [ e ] a proverb, and I will eliminate him from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord .
9 “But if the prophet is persuaded so that he speaks a word, it is I, the Lord , who have persuaded that prophet; and I will stretch out My hand against him and ( O ) eliminate him from among My people Israel. 10 And they will bear the punishment for their wrongdoing; as the wrongdoing of the inquirer is, so the wrongdoing of the prophet will be, 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer ( P ) stray from Me and no longer ( Q ) defile themselves with all their offenses. So they will be ( R ) My people, and I shall be their God,”’ declares the Lord God .”
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 13 “Son of man, if a country sins against Me by ( S ) being unfaithful, and I stretch out My hand against it, [ f ] destroy its ( T ) supply of bread, send famine against it, and eliminate from it both human and animal life , 14 even ( U ) though these three men, ( V ) Noah, ( W ) Daniel, and ( X ) Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only save ( Y ) themselves,” declares the Lord God . 15 “If I were to cause ( Z ) vicious animals to pass through the land and they [ g ] depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the animals, 16 though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God , “they could not save either their sons or their daughters. ( AA ) They alone would be saved, but the country would be desolate. 17 Or if I were to ( AB ) bring a sword on that country and say, ‘A sword is to pass through the country,’ and I ( AC ) eliminated human and animal life from it, 18 even though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God , “they could not save either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be saved. 19 Or if I were to send a ( AD ) plague against that country and pour out My wrath on it in blood to eliminate man and animal from it, 20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God , “they could not save either their son or their daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.”
21 For this is what the Lord God says: “How much more when ( AE ) I send My four [ h ] severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, vicious animals, and plague to eliminate human and animal life from it! 22 Yet, behold, [ i ] survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come out to you, and you will ( AF ) see their conduct and actions; then you will be ( AG ) comforted for the disaster which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it. 23 Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done ( AH ) without reason whatever I did [ j ] to it,” declares the Lord God .
14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. ( A ) 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts ( B ) and put wicked stumbling blocks ( C ) before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? ( D ) 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. 5 I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted ( E ) me for their idols.’ ( F )
6 “Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! ( G ) Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices! ( H )
7 “‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner ( I ) residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block ( J ) before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire ( K ) of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. 8 I will set my face against ( L ) them and make them an example ( M ) and a byword. ( N ) I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord . ( O )
9 “‘And if the prophet ( P ) is enticed ( Q ) to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel. ( R ) 10 They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. 11 Then the people of Israel will no longer stray ( S ) from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, ( T ) and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord . ( U ) ’”
12 The word of the Lord came to me: 13 “Son of man, if a country sins ( V ) against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply ( W ) and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, ( X ) 14 even if these three men—Noah, ( Y ) Daniel [ a ] ( Z ) and Job ( AA ) —were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, ( AB ) declares the Sovereign Lord .
15 “Or if I send wild beasts ( AC ) through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts, ( AD ) 16 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord , even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate. ( AE )
17 “Or if I bring a sword ( AF ) against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its people and their animals, ( AG ) 18 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord , even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.
19 “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath ( AH ) on it through bloodshed, ( AI ) killing its people and their animals, ( AJ ) 20 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord , even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness. ( AK )
21 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments ( AL ) —sword ( AM ) and famine ( AN ) and wild beasts and plague ( AO ) —to kill its men and their animals! ( AP ) 22 Yet there will be some survivors ( AQ ) —sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. ( AR ) They will come to you, and when you see their conduct ( AS ) and their actions, you will be consoled ( AT ) regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. 23 You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord . ( AU ) ”
