Ezekiel 20

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to consultYahweh and were sitting with me,	1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month: there came men of the ancients of Israel to inquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.
2 when the word of Yahweh was addressed to me as fol ows,	2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
3 'Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Say, "The Lord Yahweh says this: Have you come toconsult me? As I live, I wil not be consulted by you -- declares the Lord Yahweh."	3 Son of man, speak to the ancients of Israel, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will not answer you, saith the Lord God.
4 'Are you ready to judge them? Are you ready to judge them, son of man? Confront them with theloathsome practices of their ancestors.	4 If thou judgest them, if thou judgest, son of man, declare to them the abominations of their fathers.
5 Say, "The Lord Yahweh says this: On the day when I chose Israel, when I pledged my word to theHouse of Jacob, I made myself known to them in Egypt; I pledged my word to them and said: I am Yahweh yourGod.	5 And say to them: Thus saith the Lord God : In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand for the race of the house of Jacob: and appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and lifted up my hand for them, saying: I am the Lord your God:
6 That day I pledged them my word that I would bring them out of Egypt to a country which I hadreconnoitred for them, a country flowing with milk and honey, and the loveliest of them al .	6 In that day I lifted up my hand for them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which excelleth amongst all lands.
7 And I said to them: Each of you must reject the horrors which attract you; do not pol ute yourselveswith the foul idols of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God.	7 And I said to them: Let every man cast away the scandals of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
8 But they rebel ed against me and would not listen to me. Not one of them rejected the horrors whichattracted them; they did not give up the foul idols of Egypt. I then resolved to vent my fury on them, to sate myanger on them in Egypt.	8 But they provoked me, and would not hearken to me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of his eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: and I said I would pour out my indignation upon them, and accomplish my wrath against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 But respect for my own name kept me from letting it be profaned in the eyes of the nations amongwhom they were living, and before whom I had made myself known to them and promised to bring them out ofEgypt.	9 But I did otherwise for my name's sake, that it might not be violated before the nations, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I made myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
10 So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the desert.	10 Therefore I brought them out from the land of Egypt, and brought them into the desert.
11 I gave them my laws and taught them my judgements, in whose observance people find life.	11 And I gave them my statutes, and I shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them.
12 And I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between me and them, so that they might know that I,Yahweh, am the one who sanctifies them.	12 Moreover I gave them also my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them: and that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
13 The House of Israel, however, rebel ed against me in the desert; they refused to keep my laws, theyscorned my judgements, in whose observance people find life, and they grossly profaned my Sabbaths. I thenresolved to vent my fury on them in the desert and destroy them.	13 But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert: they walked not in my statutes, and they cast away my judgments, which if a man do he shall live in them: and they grievously violated my sabbaths. I said therefore that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, and would consume them.
14 But respect for my own name kept me from letting it be profaned in the eyes of the nations, beforewhom I had brought them out.	14 But I spared them for the sake of my name, lest it should be profaned before the nations, from which I brought them out, in their sight.
15 Even so, I pledged them my word in the desert that I would not lead them to the country which I hadgiven them, a country flowing with milk and honey, and the loveliest of them al ,	15 So I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, not to bring them into the land which I had given them flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands.
16 since they had scorned my judgements, had refused to keep my laws and had profaned mySabbaths, their hearts being attached to foul idols.	16 Because they cast off my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, and violated my sabbaths: for their heart went after idols.
17 In spite of this, I took pity on them; I refrained from destroying them and did not make an end of themin the desert.	17 Yet my eye spared them, so that I destroyed them not: neither did I consume them in the desert.
18 "I said to their children in the desert: Do not follow the laws of your ancestors, do not practise theirjudgements, do not defile yourselves with their foul idols.	18 And I said to their children in the wilderness: Walk not in the statutes of your fathers, and observe not their judgments, nor be ye defiled with their idols:
19 I am Yahweh your God. Keep my laws, respect my judgements and practise them.	19 I am the Lord your God: walk ye in my statutes, and observe my judgments, and do them.
20 Keep my Sabbaths holy; let them be a sign between me and you, so that people may know that I amYahweh your God.	20 And sanctify my sabbaths, that they may be a sign between me and you: and that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
21 Their children, however, rebel ed against me; they refused to keep my laws, they did not respect orpractise my judgements, which must be practised by al who want to live; they profaned my Sabbaths. I thenresolved to vent my fury on them, to sate my anger on them in the desert.	21 But their children provoked me, they walked not in my commandments, nor observed my judgments to do them: which if a man do, he shell live in them: and they violated my sabbaths: and I threatened to pour out my indignation upon them, and to accomplish my wrath in them in the desert.
22 But I restrained my hand; respect for my own name kept me from letting it be profaned in the eyes ofthe nations, before whom I had brought them out.	22 But I turned away my hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it might not be violated before the nations, out of which I brought them forth in their sight.
23 Once again, however, I pledged them my word that I would scatter them throughout the nations anddisperse them in foreign countries,	23 Again I lifted up my hand upon them in the wilderness, to disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries :
24 because they had not fol owed my judgements but had rejected my laws and profaned my Sabbaths,their eyes being fastened on the foul idols of their ancestors.	24 Because they had not done my judgments, and had cast off my statutes, and had violated my sabbaths, and their eyes had been after the idols of their fathers.
25 And for this reason I gave them laws that were not good and judgements by which they could neverlive;	25 Therefore I also gave them statutes that were not good, and judgments, in which they shall not live.
26 and I pol uted them with their own offerings, making them sacrifice every first-born son in order to filthem with revulsion, so that they would know that I am Yahweh."	26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, when they offered all that opened the womb, for their offences: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
27 'For this reason, son of man, speak to the House of Israel. Say to them, "The Lord Yahweh says this:Here is another way by which your ancestors outraged me by their infidelity.	27 Wherefore speak to the house of Israel, O son of man, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Moreover in this also your fathers blasphemed me, when they had despised and contemned me;
28 Once I had brought them into the country which I had pledged my word to give them, they then sawal sorts of high hil s, al kinds of leafy trees, and there they performed their sacrifices and made offerings thatprovoked my anger; there they set out their pleasing smel and poured their libations.	28 And I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my hand to give it them: they saw every high hill, and every shady tree, and there they sacrificed their victims: and there they presented the provocation of their offerings, and there they set their sweet odours, and poured forth their libations.
29 I then said to them: What is this high place where you go? And they gave, and stil give it, the nameof Bamah."	29 And I said to them: What meaneth the high place to which you go? and the name thereof was called High-place even to this day.
30 'So, say to the House of Israel, "The Lord Yahweh says this: If you are pol uting yourselves as yourancestors did by fornicating with their horrors-	30 Wherefore say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Verily, you are defiled in the way of your fathers, and you commit fornication with their abominations.
31 for by offering your gifts and by burning your children as sacrifices, you have been pol utingyourselves with al your foul idols to this very day -- shal I let myself be consulted by you, House of Israel? As Ilive -- declares Lord Yahweh -- I shal not let myself be consulted by you.	31 And you defile yourselves with all your: idols unto this day, in the offering of your gifts, when you make your children pass through the fire: and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not answer you.
32 And what you sometimes imagine wil never be so, when you say: We shal be like the peoples, thetribes of foreign lands, worshipping wood and stone.	32 Neither shall the thought of your mind come to pass, by which you say: We will be as the Gentiles, and as the families of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.
33 As I live I swear it -- declares the Lord Yahweh -- I am the one who will reign over you, with a stronghand and outstretched arm, once my fury is sated.	33 As I live, saith the Lord God, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
34 With a strong hand and outstretched arm, once my fury is sated, I shall bring you back from thepeoples and gather you again from the countries throughout which you have been scattered.	34 And I will bring you out from the people, and I will gather you out of the countries, in which you are scattered, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
35 I shal lead you into the desert of the nations and there I shal judge you face to face.	35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
36 As I judged your ancestors in the desert of Egypt, so wil I judge you -- declares the Lord Yahweh.	36 As I pleaded against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt; even so will I judge you, saith the Lord God.
37 I shal make you pass under the crook, bring you to respect the covenant	37 And I will make you subject to my sceptre, and will bring you into the bands of the covenant.
38 and rid you of the rebels who have revolted against me; I shall bring them out of the country wherethey are staying, but they will not enter the country of Israel, and you wil know that I am Yahweh.	38 And I will pick out from among you the transgressors, and the wicked, and will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord.
39 House of Israel, Lord Yahweh says this: Go on, all of you, worship your foul idols, but later we shal see if you don't listen to me! Then you wil stop profaning my holy name with your offerings and your foul idols.	39 And as for you, O house of Israel: thus saith the Lord God: Walk ye every one after your idols, and serve them. But if in this also you hear me not, but defile my holy name any more with your gifts, and with your idols;
40 For on my holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel -- declares the Lord Yahweh -- is where thewhole House of Israel, everyone in the country, wil worship me. There I shal accept and there expect yourpresents, your choicest offering and al your consecrated gifts.	40 In my holy mountain, in the high mountain of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel serve me; all of them I say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there will I require your firstfruits, and the chief of your tithes with all your sanctifications.
41 I shal welcome you like a pleasing smell when I bring you back from the peoples and gather youfrom the countries throughout which you have been scattered, and through you I shal display my holiness for althe nations to see;	41 I will accept of you for an odour of sweetness, when I shall have brought you out from the people, and shall have gathered you out of the lands into which you are scattered, and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
42 and you wil know that I am Yahweh, when I bring you back to the soil of Israel, to the country which Ipledged my word to give to your ancestors.	42 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have brought you into the land of Israel, into the land for which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers.
43 There you wil remember your past behaviour and al the actions by which you have defiledyourselves, and you wil loathe yourselves for al the wrongs which you have committed.	43 And there you shall remember your ways, and all your wicked doings with which you have been defiled; and you shall be displeased with yourselves in your own sight, for all your wicked deeds which you committed.
44 And you wil know that I am Yahweh, when I treat you as respect for my own name requires, and notas your wicked behaviour and corrupt actions deserve, House of Israel -- declares the Lord Yahweh." '	44 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have done well by you for my own name's sake, and not according to your evil ways, nor according to your wicked deeds, O house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
	45 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying :
	46 Son of man, set thy face against the way of the south, and drop towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field.
	47 And any to the south forest: Hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and will burn in thee every green tree, and every dry tree: the dame of the fire shall not be quenched: and every face shall be burned in it, from the south even to the north.
	48 And all flesh shall see, that I the Lord have kindled it, and it shall not be quenched.
	49 And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God: they say of me: Doth not this man speak by parables?