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EZEKIEL 1 7
page 740
the poor and needy suffered outside her door.
50 She was proud and committed detestable sins,
so I wiped her out, as you have seen.*
51 “Even Samaria did not commit half your
sins. You have done far more detestable things
than your sisters ever did. They seem righteous
compared to you. 52 Shame on you! Your sins are
so terrible that you make your sisters seem righteous, even virtuous.
53 “But someday I will restore the fortunes
of Sodom and Samaria, and I will restore you,
too. 54 Then you will be truly ashamed of everything you have done, for your sins make them
feel good in comparison. 55 Yes, your sisters,
Sodom and Samaria, and all their people will
be restored, and at that time you also will be
restored. 56 In your proud days you held Sodom
in contempt. 57 But now your greater wickedness
has been exposed to all the world, and you are
the one who is scorned—by Edom* and all her
neighbors and by Philistia. 58 This is your punishment for all your lewdness and detestable
sins, says the Lord.
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5
6
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— promises —
from God
“But if wicked people
turn away from all their
sins and begin to obey my
decrees and do what is just
and right, they will surely
live and not die.”
E Z E K I E L 18:2 1
59 “Now this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
I will give you what you deserve, for you have
taken your solemn vows lightly by breaking
your covenant. 60 Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you when you were young,
and I will establish an everlasting covenant with
you. 61 Then you will remember with shame all
the evil you have done. I will make your sisters,
Samaria and Sodom, to be your daughters, even
though they are not part of our covenant. 62 And
I will reaffirm my covenant with you, and you
will know that I am the Lord. 63 You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silent
shame when I forgive you of all that you have
done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
A Story of Two Eagles
Then this message came to me from the
Lord: 2 “Son of man, give this riddle, and
tell this story to the people of Israel. 3 Give them
this message from the Sovereign Lord:
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“A great eagle with broad wings and
long feathers,
covered with many-colored plumage,
came to Lebanon.
He seized the top of a cedar tree
and plucked off its highest branch.
He carried it away to a city filled with
merchants.
He planted it in a city of traders.
He also took a seedling from the land
and planted it in fertile soil.
He placed it beside a broad river,
where it could grow like a willow tree.
It took root there
and grew into a low, spreading vine.
Its branches turned up toward the eagle,
and its roots grew down into the ground.
It produced strong branches
and put out shoots.
But then another great eagle came
with broad wings and full plumage.
So the vine now sent its roots and branches
toward him for water,
even though it was already planted in
good soil
and had plenty of water
so it could grow into a splendid vine
and produce rich leaves and luscious
fruit.
“So now the Sovereign Lord asks:
Will this vine grow and prosper?
No! I will pull it up, roots and all!
I will cut off its fruit
and let its leaves wither and die.
I will pull it up easily
without a strong arm or a large army.
But when the vine is transplanted,
will it thrive?
No, it will wither away
when the east wind blows against it.
It will die in the same good soil
where it had grown so well.”
The Riddle Explained
11 Then this message came to me from the Lord:
12 “Say to these rebels of Israel: Don’t you understand the meaning of this riddle of the eagles?
The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took
away her king and princes, and brought them
to Babylon. 13 He made a treaty with a member
of the royal family and forced him to take an
oath of loyalty. He also exiled Israel’s most influential leaders, 14 so Israel would not become
strong again and revolt. Only by keeping her
treaty with Babylon could Israel survive.
15 “Nevertheless, this man of Israel’s royal
family rebelled against Babylon, sending ambassadors to Egypt to request a great army and
16:50 As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Greek version;
Masoretic Text reads as I have seen. 16:57 As in many Hebrew
manuscripts and Syriac version; Masoretic Text reads Aram.