Ezekiel 20

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
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 happened that, in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, men from the elders of Israel arrived, so that they might 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 elders of Israel, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Have you arrived in order to inquire of me? As I live, I will not answer you, says 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 you judge them, if you judge, O son of man, reveal 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 you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: In the day when I chose Israel, and I lifted up my hand on behalf of the stock of the house of Jacob, and I appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and I lifted up my hand on their behalf, 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 their sake, so that I would lead them away from the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which was singular among 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 each one cast away the offenses of his eyes, and do not choose to defile 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 they were not willing to listen to me. Each one of them did not cast away the abominations of his eyes, nor did they leave behind the idols of Egypt. And so, I said that I would pour out my indignation upon them, and fulfill 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 acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be violated in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I appeared to them, so that I might lead them away from the land of Egypt.
10 So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the desert.	10 Therefore, I cast them out of the land of Egypt, and I led them away 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 precepts, and I revealed to them my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by 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 also gave to them my Sabbaths, so that these would be a sign between me and them, and so that they would know that I am the Lord, who sanctifies 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 did not walk in my precepts, and they cast aside my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they grievously violated my Sabbaths. Therefore, I said that I would pour out my fury upon them in the desert, and that I 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 acted for the sake of my name, lest it be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast 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 And so I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, so as not to lead them into the land that I had given to them, flowing with milk and honey, the foremost 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 For they cast aside my judgments, and they did not walk in my precepts, and they 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 was lenient concerning them, so that I did not utterly destroy them, nor 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 Then I said to their sons in the wilderness: ‘Do not choose to advance by the precepts of your fathers, nor should you observe their judgments. And do not be defiled by 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 in my precepts, and observe my judgments, and accomplish 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, so that these may be a sign between me and you, and so 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 sons provoked me. They did not walk in my precepts. And they did not observe my judgments, so as to do them; for if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they violated my Sabbaths. And so, I threatened that I would pour out my fury upon them, and that I would fulfill my wrath among 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 aside my hand, and I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast them out, before their eyes.
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 against them, in the wilderness, so that I would disperse them among the nations, and scatter them among the lands.
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 For they had not accomplished my judgments, and they had rejected my precepts, and they 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 precepts that were not good, and judgments by 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 defiled them by their own gifts, when they offered everything that opened the womb, because of their offenses. 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 For this reason, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God. Yet also in this did your fathers blaspheme me, after they had spurned and despised 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 though I had led them into the land, about which I lifted up my hand, so that I might give it to them: They saw every lofty hill and every leafy tree, and there they immolated their victims, and there they presented the provocation of their oblations, and there they stationed their sweet fragrances, and poured out 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 is exalted about the place to which you go?’ And yet its name is called ‘Exalted,’ 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 Because of this, say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Certainly, you are defiled by the way of your fathers, and you have fornicated after their stumbling blocks.
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 are being defiled by all of your idols, even to this day, by the oblation of your gifts, when you lead your sons through the fire. And should I respond to you, O house of Israel? As I live, says 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 And the plan of your mind will not occur, saying: ‘We will be like the Gentiles, and like the families of the earth, so that we worship what is wood and stone.’
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, says the Lord God, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured forth.
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 lead you away from the peoples. And I will gather you from the lands into which you were dispersed. I will reign over you with a powerful hand, and with an outstretched 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 lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment 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 Just as I contended in judgment against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so also will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord God.
37 I shal make you pass under the crook, bring you to respect the covenant	37 And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will lead you into the bonds 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 select, from among you, the transgressors and the impious. And I will lead them away from the land of their sojourn, but 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, house of Israel: thus says the Lord God: Walk, each one of you, after your idols and serve them. But if in this also you will not listen to me, and you continue to defile my holy name 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 on my holy mountain, on the exalted mountain of Israel, says the Lord God, there all the house of Israel shall serve me; all of them, I say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there I will require your first-fruits, and the foremost 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 receive from you a fragrance of sweetness, when I will have led you away from the peoples, and gathered you from the lands into which you were dispersed. And I will be sanctified in you before the eyes 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 will have led you into the land of Israel, into the land about which I lifted up my hand, so that I would 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 wickedness, by which you have been defiled. And you will be displeased with yourselves in your own sight, over all your evil deeds which you did.
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 will have acted well toward you for the sake of my name, and not according to your evil ways, nor according to your very great wickedness, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.”
	45 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
	46 “Son of man, set your face against the way of the south, and pour in drops toward Africa, and prophesy against the forest of the field of the meridian.
	47 And you shall say to the meridian forest: Listen to the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and I will burn up within you every green tree and every dry tree. The flame of the kindling will not be extinguished. And every face will be burned up within it, from the south, even to the north.
	48 And all flesh will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, and that it will not be extinguished.”
	49 And I said: “Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God! They are saying about me: ‘Does this man not speak except through parables?’ ”