Ezekiel 31-33; Psalms 40 - Prayer Tents

Egypt Compared to Fallen Assyria

31On June 21, during the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord:H259H6240H8141H7992H259H2320H1697H3068H559 2“Son of man, give this message to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all his hordes. “To whom would you compare your greatness?H1121H120H559H6547H4428H4714H1995H1819H1433 3You are like mighty Assyria, which was once like a cedar of Lebanon, with beautiful branches that cast deep forest shade and with its top high among the clouds.H804H730H3844H3303H6057H6751H2793H1362H6967H6788H5688 4Deep springs watered it and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant. The water flowed around it like a river, streaming to all the trees nearby.H4325H1431H8415H7311H5104H1980H5439H4302H7971H8585H6086H7704 5This great tree towered high, higher than all the other trees around it. It prospered and grew long thick branches because of all the water at its roots.H6967H1361H6086H7704H5634H7235H6288H748H7227H4325H7971 6The birds nested in its branches, and in its shade all the wild animals gave birth. All the great nations of the world lived in its shadow.H5775H8064H7077H5589H6288H2416H7704H3205H6738H3427H7227H1471 7It was strong and beautiful, with wide-spreading branches, for its roots went deep into abundant water.H3302H1433H753H1808H8328H7227H4325 8No other cedar in the garden of God could rival it. No cypress had branches to equal it; no plane tree had boughs to compare. No tree in the garden of God came close to it in beauty.H730H1588H430H6004H1265H1819H5589H6196H6288H6086H1588H430H1819H3308 9Because I made this tree so beautiful, and gave it such magnificent foliage, it was the envy of all the other trees of Eden, the garden of God.H6213H3303H7230H1808H6086H5731H1588H430H7065 10“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because Egypt became proud and arrogant, and because it set itself so high above the others, with its top reaching to the clouds,H559H136H3069H1361H6967H5414H6788H5688H3824H7311H1363 11I will hand it over to a mighty nation that will destroy it as its wickedness deserves. I have already discarded it.H5414H3027H410H1471H6213H6213H1644H7562 12A foreign army—the terror of the nations—has cut it down and left it fallen on the ground. Its branches are scattered across the mountains and valleys and ravines of the land. All those who lived in its shadow have gone away and left it lying there.H2114H6184H1471H3772H5203H2022H1516H1808H5307H6288H7665H650H776H5971H776H3381H6738H5203 13“The birds roost on its fallen trunk, and the wild animals lie among its branches.H4658H5775H8064H7931H2416H7704H6288 14Let the tree of no other nation proudly exult in its own prosperity, though it be higher than the clouds and it be watered from the depths. For all are doomed to die, to go down to the depths of the earth. They will land in the pit along with everyone else on earth.H6086H4325H1361H6967H5414H6788H5688H352H5975H1363H8354H4325H5414H4194H8482H776H8432H1121H120H3381H953 15“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When Assyria went down to the grave, I made the deep springs mourn. I stopped its rivers and dried up its abundant water. I clothed Lebanon in black and caused the trees of the field to wilt.H559H136H3069H3117H3381H7585H56H3680H8415H4513H5104H7227H4325H3607H3844H6937H6086H7704H5969 16I made the nations shake with fear at the sound of its fall, for I sent it down to the grave with all the others who descend to the pit. And all the other proud trees of Eden, the most beautiful and the best of Lebanon, the ones whose roots went deep into the water, took comfort to find it there with them in the depths of the earth.H1471H7493H6963H4658H3381H7585H3381H953H6086H5731H4005H2896H3844H8354H4325H5162H8482H776 17Its allies, too, were all destroyed and had passed away. They had gone down to the grave—all those nations that had lived in its shade.H3381H7585H2491H2719H2220H3427H6738H8432H1471 18“O Egypt, to which of the trees of Eden will you compare your strength and glory? You, too, will be brought down to the depths with all these other nations. You will lie there among the outcasts who have died by the sword. This will be the fate of Pharaoh and all his hordes. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”H1819H3519H1433H6086H5731H3381H6086H5731H8482H776H7901H8432H6189H2491H2719H6547H1995H5002H136H3069

A Warning for Pharaoh

32On March 3, during the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord:H8147H6240H8141H2320H259H2320H1697H3068H559 2“Son of man, mourn for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and give him this message. “You think of yourself as a strong young lion among the nations, but you are really just a sea monster, heaving around in your own rivers, stirring up mud with your feet.H1121H120H5375H7015H6547H4428H4714H559H1819H3715H1471H8577H8565H3220H1518H5104H1804H4325H7272H7515H5104 3Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says. I will send many people to catch you in my net and haul you out of the water.H559H136H3069H6566H7568H6951H7227H5971H5927H2764 4I will leave you stranded on the land to die. All the birds of the heavens will land on you, and the wild animals of the whole earth will gorge themselves on you.H5203H776H2904H6440H7704H5775H8064H7931H7646H2416H776 5I will scatter your flesh on the hills and fill the valleys with your bones.H5414H1320H2022H4390H1516H7419 6I will drench the earth with your gushing blood all the way to the mountains, filling the ravines to the brim.H8248H1818H776H6824H2022H650H4390 7When I blot you out, I will veil the heavens and darken the stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give you its light.H3518H3680H8064H6937H3556H6937H3680H8121H6051H3394H215H216 8I will darken the bright stars overhead and cover your land in darkness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!H3974H216H8064H6937H5414H2822H776H5002H136H3069 9“I will disturb many hearts when I bring news of your downfall to distant nations you have never seen.H3707H3820H7227H5971H935H7667H1471H776H3045 10Yes, I will shock many lands, and their kings will be terrified at your fate. They will shudder in fear for their lives as I brandish my sword before them on the day of your fall.H7227H5971H8074H4428H8178H8175H5774H2719H6440H2729H7281H376H5315H3117H4658 11For this is what the Sovereign Lord says. “The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you.H559H136H3069H2719H4428H894H935 12I will destroy your hordes with the swords of mighty warriors—the terror of the nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt, and all its hordes will be destroyed.H2719H1368H1995H5307H6184H1471H7703H1347H4714H1995H8045 13I will destroy all your flocks and herds that graze beside the streams. Never again will people or animals muddy those waters with their feet.H6H929H5921H7227H4325H7272H120H1804H6541H929H1804 14Then I will let the waters of Egypt become calm again, and they will flow as smoothly as olive oil, says the Sovereign Lord.H4325H8257H5104H3212H8081H5002H136H3069 15And when I destroy Egypt and strip you of everything you own and strike down all your people, then you will know that I am the Lord.H5414H776H4714H8077H776H8074H4393H5221H3427H3045H3068 16Yes, this is the funeral song they will sing for Egypt. Let all the nations mourn. Let them mourn for Egypt and its hordes. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”H7015H6969H1323H1471H6969H6969H4714H1995H5002H136H3069

Egypt Falls into the Pit

17On March 17, during the twelfth year, another message came to me from the Lord:H8147H6240H8141H2568H6240H2320H1697H3068H559 18“Son of man, weep for the hordes of Egypt and for the other mighty nations. For I will send them down to the world below in company with those who descend to the pit.H1121H120H5091H1995H4714H3381H1323H117H1471H8482H776H3381H953 19Say to them, ‘O Egypt, are you lovelier than the other nations? No! So go down to the pit and lie there among the outcasts.’H5276H3381H7901H6189 20The Egyptians will fall with the many who have died by the sword, for the sword is drawn against them. Egypt and its hordes will be dragged away to their judgment.H5307H8432H2491H2719H5414H2719H4900H1995 21Down in the grave mighty leaders will mockingly welcome Egypt and its allies, saying, ‘They have come down; they lie among the outcasts, hordes slaughtered by the sword.’H410H1368H1696H8432H7585H5826H3381H7901H6189H2491H2719 22“Assyria lies there surrounded by the graves of its army, those who were slaughtered by the sword.H804H6951H6913H5439H2491H5307H2719 23Their graves are in the depths of the pit, and they are surrounded by their allies. They struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere, but now they have been slaughtered by the sword.H6913H5414H3411H953H6951H5439H6900H2491H5307H2719H5414H2851H776H2416 24“Elam lies there surrounded by the graves of all its hordes, those who were slaughtered by the sword. They struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere, but now they have descended as outcasts to the world below. Now they lie in the pit and share the shame of those who have gone before them.H5867H1995H5439H6900H2491H5307H2719H3381H6189H8482H776H5414H2851H776H2416H5375H3639H3381H953 25They have a resting place among the slaughtered, surrounded by the graves of all their hordes. Yes, they terrorized the nations while they lived, but now they lie in shame with others in the pit, all of them outcasts, slaughtered by the sword.H5414H4904H8432H2491H1995H6913H5439H6189H2491H2719H2851H5414H776H2416H5375H3639H3381H953H5414H8432H2491 26“Meshech and Tubal are there, surrounded by the graves of all their hordes. They once struck terror in the hearts of people everywhere. But now they are outcasts, all slaughtered by the sword.H4902H8422H1995H6913H5439H6189H2490H2719H5414H2851H776H2416 27They are not buried in honor like their fallen heroes, who went down to the grave with their weapons—their shields covering their bodies and their swords beneath their heads. Their guilt rests upon them because they brought terror to everyone while they were still alive.H7901H1368H5307H6189H3381H7585H3627H4421H5414H2719H7218H5771H6106H2851H1368H776H2416 28“You too, Egypt, will lie crushed and broken among the outcasts, all slaughtered by the sword.H7665H8432H6189H7901H2491H2719 29“Edom is there with its kings and princes. Mighty as they were, they also lie among those slaughtered by the sword, with the outcasts who have gone down to the pit.H123H4428H5387H1369H5414H2491H2719H7901H6189H3381H953 30“All the princes of the north and the Sidonians are there with others who have died. Once a terror, they have been put to shame. They lie there as outcasts with others who were slaughtered by the sword. They share the shame of all who have descended to the pit.H5257H6828H6722H3381H2491H2851H954H1369H7901H6189H2491H2719H5375H3639H3381H953 31“When Pharaoh and his entire army arrive, he will take comfort that he is not alone in having his hordes killed, says the Sovereign Lord.H6547H7200H5162H1995H6547H2428H2491H2719H5002H136H3069 32Although I have caused his terror to fall upon all the living, Pharaoh and his hordes will lie there among the outcasts who were slaughtered by the sword. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”H5414H2851H776H2416H7901H8432H6189H2491H2719H6547H1995H5002H136H3069

Ezekiel as Israel’s Watchman

33Once again a message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H559 2“Son of man, give your people this message: ‘When I bring an army against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman.H1121H120H1696H1121H5971H559H935H2719H776H5971H776H3947H259H376H7097H5414H6822 3When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people.H7200H2719H935H776H8628H7782H2094H5971 4Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die.H8085H8085H6963H7782H2094H2719H935H3947H1818H7218 5They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives.H8085H6963H7782H2094H1818H2094H4422H5315 6But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.’H6822H7200H2719H935H8628H7782H5971H2094H2719H935H3947H5315H3947H5771H1818H1875H6822H3027 7“Now, son of man, I am making you a watchman for the people of Israel. Therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me.H1121H120H5414H6822H1004H3478H8085H1697H6310H2094 8If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to tell them to change their ways, then they will die in their sins, and I will hold you responsible for their deaths.H559H7563H7563H4191H4191H1696H2094H7563H1870H7563H4191H5771H1818H1245H3027 9But if you warn them to repent and they don’t repent, they will die in their sins, but you will have saved yourself.H2094H7563H1870H7725H7725H1870H4191H5771H5337H5315

The Watchman’s Message

10“Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: You are saying, ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we are wasting away! How can we survive?’H1121H120H559H1004H3478H559H559H6588H2403H4743H2421 11As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?H559H2416H5002H136H3069H2654H4194H7563H7563H7725H1870H2421H7725H7725H7451H1870H4191H1004H3478 12“Son of man, give your people this message: The righteous behavior of righteous people will not save them if they turn to sin, nor will the wicked behavior of wicked people destroy them if they repent and turn from their sins.H1121H120H559H1121H5971H6666H6662H5337H3117H6588H7564H7563H3782H3117H7725H7562H6662H3201H2421H3117H2398 13When I tell righteous people that they will live, but then they sin, expecting their past righteousness to save them, then none of their righteous acts will be remembered. I will destroy them for their sins.H559H6662H2421H2421H982H6666H6213H5766H6666H2142H5766H6213H4191 14And suppose I tell some wicked people that they will surely die, but then they turn from their sins and do what is just and right.H559H7563H4191H4191H7725H2403H6213H4941H6666 15For instance, they might give back a debtor’s security, return what they have stolen, and obey my life-giving laws, no longer doing what is evil. If they do this, then they will surely live and not die.H7563H7725H2258H7999H1500H1980H2708H2416H6213H5766H2421H2421H4191 16None of their past sins will be brought up again, for they have done what is just and right, and they will surely live.H2403H2398H2142H6213H4941H6666H2421H2421 17“Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right.H1121H5971H559H1870H136H8505H1870H8505 18For again I say, when righteous people turn away from their righteous behavior and turn to evil, they will die.H6662H7725H6666H6213H5766H4191 19But if wicked people turn from their wickedness and do what is just and right, they will live.H7563H7725H7564H6213H4941H6666H2421 20O people of Israel, you are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right.’ But I judge each of you according to your deeds.”H559H1870H136H8505H1004H3478H8199H376H1870

Explanation of Jerusalem’s Fall

21On January 8, during the twelfth year of our captivity, a survivor from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has fallen!”H8147H6240H8141H1546H6224H2568H2320H6412H3389H935H559H5892H5221 22The previous evening the Lord had taken hold of me and given me back my voice. So I was able to speak when this man arrived the next morning.H3027H3068H6153H6440H6412H935H6605H6310H935H1242H6310H6605H481 23Then this message came to me from the Lord:H1697H3068H559 24“Son of man, the scattered remnants of Judah living among the ruined cities keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he gained possession of the entire land. We are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’H1121H120H3427H2723H127H3478H559H559H85H259H3423H776H7227H776H5414H4181 25So tell these people, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You eat meat with blood in it, you worship idols, and you murder the innocent. Do you really think the land should be yours?H559H559H136H3069H398H1818H5375H5869H1544H8210H1818H3423H776 26Murderers! Idolaters! Adulterers! Should the land belong to you?’H5975H2719H6213H8441H2930H376H7453H802H3423H776 27“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, those living in the ruins will die by the sword. And I will send wild animals to eat those living in the open fields. Those hiding in the forts and caves will die of disease.H559H559H136H3069H2416H2723H5307H2719H6440H7704H5414H2416H398H4679H4631H4191H1698 28I will completely destroy the land and demolish her pride. Her arrogant power will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so desolate that no one will even travel through them.H5414H776H4923H8077H1347H5797H7673H2022H3478H8074H5674 29When I have completely destroyed the land because of their detestable sins, then they will know that I am the Lord.’H3045H3068H5414H776H4923H8077H8441H6213 30“Son of man, your people talk about you in their houses and whisper about you at the doors. They say to each other, ‘Come on, let’s go hear the prophet tell us what the Lord is saying!’H1121H120H1121H5971H1696H681H7023H6607H1004H1696H2297H259H376H251H559H935H8085H1697H3318H3068 31So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.H935H5971H3996H3427H6440H5971H8085H1697H6213H6310H6213H5690H3820H1980H310H1215 32You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!H5690H7892H3303H6963H2895H5059H8085H1697H6213 33But when all these terrible things happen to them—as they certainly will—then they will know a prophet has been among them.”H935H935H3045H5030H8432

40[For the choir director: A psalm of David.] I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.H5329H4210H1732H6960H6960H3068H5186H8085H7775 2He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.H5927H7588H953H3121H2916H6965H7272H5553H3559H838 3He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.H5414H2319H7892H6310H8416H430H7227H7200H3372H982H3068 4Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.H835H1397H7760H3068H4009H6437H7295H7750H3577 5O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.H7227H3068H430H6381H6213H4284H6186H5046H1696H6105H5608 6You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.H2077H4503H2654H241H3738H5930H2401H7592 7Then I said, "Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures.H559H935H4039H5612H3789 8I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart."H2654H6213H7522H430H8451H8432H4578 9I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O LORD, well know.H1319H6664H7227H6951H3607H8193H3068H3045 10I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.H3680H6666H8432H3820H559H530H8668H3582H2617H571H7227H6951 11LORD, don't hold back your tender mercies from me. Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.H3607H7356H3068H2617H571H8548H5341 12For troubles surround me—too many to count! My sins pile up so high I can't see my way out. They outnumber the hairs on my head. I have lost all courage.H4557H7451H661H5771H5381H3201H7200H6105H8185H7218H3820H5800 13Please, LORD, rescue me! Come quickly, LORD, and help me.H7521H3068H5337H3068H2363H5833 14May those who try to destroy me be humiliated and put to shame. May those who take delight in my trouble be turned back in disgrace.H954H2659H3162H1245H5315H5595H5472H268H3637H2655H7451 15Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, "Aha! We've got him now!"H8074H6118H1322H559H1889H1889 16But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, "The LORD is great!"H1245H7797H8055H157H8668H559H8548H3068H1431 17As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.H6041H34H136H2803H5833H6403H309H430