That thou mayest think upon it, be ashamed, and excuse thine own confusion no more: when I have forgiven thee all that thou hast done, sayeth the LORD God.'"

Nevertheless it was planted upon a good ground beside great waters: so that by reason it should have brought out branches and fruit, and have been a goodly vine.'

"Speak to that froward household, 'Know ye not, what these things do signify?' Tell them, 'Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king and his princes, and led them to Babylon.

that the land might be held in subjection, and not to rebel, but keep the covenant, and fulfill it.

But he fell from him, and sent his Ambassadors into Egypt that he might have horses and much people. Should that prosper? Should he be kept safe, that doth such things? Or should he escape, that breaketh his covenant?

As truly as I live, sayeth the LORD God, he shall die at Babylon: in the place where the king dwelleth, that made him king, whose oath he hath despised, and whose covenant he hath broken.

Therefore thus sayeth the LORD God: As truly as I live, I will bring mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, upon his own head.

I will cast my net about him, and catch him in my yarn. To Babylon will I carry him: there will I punish him, because of the great offense that he made me.

As for those that flee from him out of the host, they shall be slain with the sword. The residue shall be scattered toward all the winds: and ye shall know, that I the LORD have spoken it.

"'Thus sayeth the LORD God: I will also take a branch from a high Cedar tree, and will set it, and take the uppermost twig, that yet is but tender, and plant it upon a high hill:

Namely, upon the high hill of Zion will I plant it: that it may bring forth twigs, and give fruit, and be a great Cedar tree: so that all manner of fowls may bide in it, and make their nests under the shadow of his branches.

And all the trees of the field shall know, that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, and set the low tree up: that I have dried up the green tree, and made the dry tree to flourish: Even I the LORD that spake it, have also brought it to pass.'"

"What mean ye by this common proverb, that ye use in the land of Israel, saying, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge'?

Behold, all souls are mine. Like as the father is mine, so is the son mine also. The soul that sinneth, shall die.

If a man be godly, and do the thing that is equal and right,

"If he now get a son, that is a murderer, a shedder of blood: if he do one of these things

Now if this man get a son also, that seeth all his father's sins, which he hath done, and feareth, neither doth such like:

The soul that sinneth, she shall die. The son shall not bear part of the father's wickedness. The righteousness of the right shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.

None of the sins that he hath done shall be reckoned unto him: In the righteousness that he hath done, he shall live.

For I desire not the death of a sinner, saith the Lord Jehovah, but rather that he should turn from his way, and live.

And so if a righteous turn from his righteousness and do wickedness, and shall do like unto all the abominations which a wicked doth, shall he live? No, none of those righteousness that he did shall be remembered. But in the wickedness which he wrought, and in the sin which he did, in them shall he die.

Cast away from you all your ungodliness that ye have done: make you new hearts and a new spirit. Wherefore will ye die, O ye house of Israel?

Seeing I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, sayeth the LORD God; Turn you then, and ye shall live."

and say, "Wherefore lay thy mother, that lioness, among the lions, and nourished her young ones among the lion's whelps?

Now when the dame saw, that all her hope and comfort was away, she took another of her whelps, and made a lion of him.

he destroyed their palaces, and made their cities waste. Insomuch that the whole land and every thing therein were utterly desolate through the very voice of his roaring.

So they bound him with chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: which put him in prison, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.

her stalks were so strong that men might have made staves thereof for officers, she grew so high in her stalks. So when men saw that she exceeded the height and multitude of her branches,

And there is a fire gone out of her stalks, which hath burnt up her branches and her fruit: so that she hath no more strong stalks, to be staves for officers. This is a piteous and miserable thing."

In the seventh year, the tenth day of the fifth Month, it happened that certain of the elders of Israel came unto me, for to ask counsel at the LORD, and sat them down by me.

even in the day that I lift up mine hand over them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt, into a land that I have provided for them, which floweth with milk and honey, and it is a pleasant land among all others:

Then said I unto them, 'Cast away every man the abominations that he hath before him, and defile not yourselves with the Idols of Egypt, for I am the LORD your God.'

But I would not do it, for my name's sake: that it should not be unhallowed before the Heathen, among whom they dwelt, and among whom I showed myself unto them, that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt.

I gave them also my holy days, to be a token betwixt me and them, and thereby to know that I am the LORD which halloweth them.

But I swore unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land, which I gave them: a land that floweth with milk and honey, and is a pleasure of all lands.

And that because they refused my laws, and walked not in my commandments, but had unhallowed my Sabbaths - for their heart was gone after their Idols.

Nevertheless, mine eye spared them, so that I would not utterly slay them, and consume them in the wilderness.

hallow my Sabbaths: for they are a token betwixt me and you, that ye may know how that I am the LORD.'

Notwithstanding, their sons rebelled against me also: they walked not in my statutes, they kept not my laws to fulfill them, which he that doth shall live in them; neither hallowed they my Sabbath days. Then I made me again to pour out my indignation over them, and to satisfy my wrath upon them in the wilderness.

I lift up mine hand over them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Heathen, and straw them among the nations:

Wherefore I gave them also commandments that were not good, and laws through the which they should not live,

and I unhallowed them in their own gifts when I appointed for myself all their firstborn, to make them desolate: that they might know, how that I am the LORD.'

For after I had brought them into the land that I promised to give them, when they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees: they made there offerings, and provoked me with their oblations, making sweet savours there, and poured out their drink offerings.

Then I ask them, 'What is that hill altar that you go to it?' And therefore is it called Bamah unto this day.

And as for the thing that ye go about, it shall not come to pass, whereas ye say, 'We will be as the Heathen, and do as other people in the land: wood and stone will we worship.'

The forsakers also and the transgressors will I take from among you, and bring them out of the land of your habitations: As for the land of Israel, they shall not come in it: that they may know how that I am the LORD.

But upon my holy hill, even upon the high hill of Israel shall all the house of Israel and all that is in the land worship me: and in the same place will I favour them, and there will I require your heave offerings, and the firstlings of your oblations, with all your holy things.

I will accept your sweet savour, when I bring you from the nations, and gather you together out of the lands, wherein ye be scattered: that I may be hallowed in you before the Heathen.

And that ye may know, that I am the LORD, which have brought you into the land of Israel. Yea, into the same land that I swore to give unto your forefathers.

There shall ye call to remembrance your own ways and all your imaginations, wherein ye have been defiled: and ye shall be displeased with your own selves, for all your wickedness, that ye have done.

And ye shall know that I am the LORD: when I entreat you after my name, not after your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt works: O ye house of Israel, sayeth the LORD.'"

and say to the wood toward the south, 'Hear the word of the LORD, thus sayeth the LORD God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, that shall consume thee green trees with the dry. No man shall be able to quench his flame, but all that looketh from the south to the north shall be burnt therein.

And all flesh shall see, that I the LORD have kindled it, so that no man may quench it.'"

Then said I, "O LORD, they will say of me, 'Tush, they are but fables that he telleth.'"

Seeing then that I will root out of thee both the righteous and wicked, therefore shall my sword go out of his sheath against all flesh from the north to the south:

that all flesh may know how that I the LORD have drawn my sword out of the sheath, and it shall not be put in again.

Mourn therefore, O thou son of man, that thy loins crack withal; yea mourn bitterly for them.

And if they say, 'Wherefore mournest thou?' Then tell them, 'For the tidings that cometh, at the which all hearts shall melt, all hands shall be letten down, all stomachs shall faint, and all knees shall wax feeble.' Behold, it cometh, and shall be fulfilled, sayeth the LORD God.'"

Sharpened is it for the slaughter, and scoured that it may be bright. O, the destroying staff of my son shall bring down all wood.

He hath put his sword to the dighting, that good hold may be taken of it. This sword is sharpened and dight, that it may be given into the hand of the manslayer.'

And what a trial shall this be, when even my scepter shall be reproved? That shall not be, sayeth the LORD God.

Prophesy, thou son of man, and smite thine hands together: make the sword two edged, yea make it three edged, that manslayer's sword, that sword of the great slaughter, which shall smite them even in their privy chambers:

"Thou son of man, make thee two streets, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come. Both these streets shall go out of one land. He shall set him up a place; at the head of the street shall he choose him out a corner.

Make thee a street, that the sword may come toward Rabbah of the Ammonites, and to the strong city of Jerusalem.

But the soothsaying shall point to the right side upon Jerusalem, that he may set men of war, to smite it with a great noise, to cry out Alarum, to set battle rams against the gates, to grave up ditches, and to make bulwarks.

Nevertheless, as for the soothsaying, they shall hold it but for vanity; even as though a jest were told them. Yea and they themselves remember their wickedness, so that by right they must be taken and won.

Therefore sayeth the LORD God: Forsomuch as ye yourselves show your offense, and have opened your wickedness, so that in all your works men may see your sins: Yea in so much, I say, that ye yourselves have made mention thereof, ye shall be taken by violence.

O thou shameful wicked guide of Israel whose day is come, even the time that wickedness shall have an end:

Punish, punish, yea, punish them will I, and destroy them. And that shall not be fulfilled till he come, to whom the judgment belongeth, and to whom I have given it.

"And thou, O son of man, prophesy and speak, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God to the children of Ammon, and to their blasphemy,' speak thou, 'The sword, the sword is drawn forth already to the slaughter, and scoured that it glistereth

because thou hast looked thee out vanities, and prophesied lies, that it may come upon thy neck like as upon the other ungodly which be slain: whose day came, when their wickedness was full.

Thou shalt feed the fire and thy blood shall be shed in the land, that thou mayest be put out of remembrance. Even I the LORD have spoken it.'"

and tell them, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: O thou city, that sheddest blood in the midst of thee, that thy time may come also: and makest thee Idols to defile thee withal.

Thou hast made thyself guilty in the blood that thou hast shed, and defiled thee in the Idols, which thou hast made. Thou hast caused thy days to draw nigh, and made the time of thy years to come. Therefore will I make thee to be confounded among the heathen, and to be despised in all the lands.

Whether they be nigh or far from thee, they shall laugh thee to scorn; thou that hast gotten thee so foul a name, and art full of mischief.

Murderers are there in thee, that shed blood, and eat upon the hills, and in thee they use unhappiness.

Behold, I have smitten my hands upon thy covetousness, that thou hast used, and upon the blood which hath been shed in thee.

Is thy heart able to endure it, or may thy hands defend themselves, in the time that I shall bring upon thee? Even I the LORD that speak it, will bring it also to pass.

Yea, and I will have thee in possession in the sight of the Heathen, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD.'"

"Thou son of man, the house of Israel is turned to dross. All they that should be brass, tin, iron and lead, are in the fire become dross.

I will bring you together, and kindle the fire of my cruel displeasure under you, that ye may be melted therein.

Like as the silver is melted in the fire, so shall ye also be melted therein: that ye may know, how that I the LORD have poured my wrath upon you."

thy Prophets that are in thee are sworn together to devour souls, like as a roaring Lion that liveth by his prey. They receive riches and good, and make many widows in thee.

And I sought in the land for a man, that would make up the hedge, and set himself in the gap before me in the lands behalf, that I should not utterly destroy it: but I could find none.

"Thou son of man, there were two women, that had one mother.

The eldest of them was called Oholah and her youngest sister Oholibah. These two were mine, and bare sons and daughters. Their names were, Samaria, and that was Oholah: and Jerusalem, that was Oholibah.

which had to do with her: even the princes and lords, that were decked in costly array: fair young men, lusty riders of horses.

Neither ceased she from the fornication, that she used with the Egyptians: for in her youth they lay with her, they bruised the breasts of her maidenhead, and poured their whoredom upon her.

she loved the Assyrians, which also lay with her: namely, the princes and great lords, that were clothed with all manner of gorgeous apparel, all lusty horsemen and fair young persons.

Then I saw, that they both were defiled alike.

I will put my jealousy upon thee, so that they shall deal cruelly with thee. They shall cut off thy nose and thine ears, and the remnant shall fall through the sword. They shall carry away thy sons and daughters, and the residue shall be burnt in the fire.

Thus will I make an end of thy filthiness and whoredom, which thou hast brought out from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt turn thine eyes no more after them, and cast thy mind no more upon Egypt.

namely, that they have broken their wedlock, and stained their hands with blood: yea even with their idols have they committed adultery, and offered them their own children to be devoured, whom they have born unto me.

Yea, and this have they done unto me also: they have defiled my Sanctuary in that same day, and have unhallowed my Sabbath.

Then was there great cheer with her: and the men that were sent from far countries over the desert, unto these they gave bracelets upon their hands, and set glorious crowns upon their heads.

O ye all that love virtue and righteousness, judge them! Punish them as adulterers and murderers ought to be judged and punished. For they are breakers of wedlock, and the blood is in their hands.

Thus will I destroy all such filthiness out of the land, that all women may learn not to do after your uncleanness.

And so they shall lay your filthiness upon your own selves, and ye shall be punished for the sins that ye have committed with your Idols: and ye shall know that I am the LORD."

Show that obstinate household a parable, and speak unto them, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Get thee a pot, set it on, and pour water into it:

With that, said the LORD God on this manner: Woe be unto the bloody city of the pot, where upon the rustiness hangeth, and is not yet scoured away. Take out the pieces that are in it, one after another: there need no lots be cast therefore,