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.

"Her sister Oholibah saw this, and destroyed herself with inordinate love, more than she, and exceeded her sister in whoredom:

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,

for the blood is yet in it. Upon a plain dry stone hath she poured it, and not upon the ground, that it might be covered with dust.

And therefore have I letten her pour her blood upon a plain dry stony rock, because it should not be hid, and that I might bring my wrathful indignation and vengeance upon her.

Wherefore, thus sayeth the LORD God: O woe be unto that bloodthirsty city, for whom I will prepare a heap of wood.

Bear thou the bones together, kindle thou the fire, seeth the flesh, let all be well sodden, that the bones may be sucked out.

Moreover, set the pot empty upon the coals, that it may be warm and the metal hot: that the filth and rustiness may be consumed.

Even I the LORD have so devised: Yea, it is come thereto already, that I will do it. I will not go back, I will not spare, I will not be intreated: but according to thy ways and imaginations, thou shalt be punished, sayeth the LORD God.'"

And the people said unto me, "Wilt thou not tell us, what that signifieth, which thou doest?"

'Tell the house of Israel, thus sayeth the LORD God: Behold, I will suspend my sanctuary: even the glory of your power, that pleasure of your eyes, and the thing that ye love: your sons and daughters whom ye have left, shall fall through the sword.

Thus Ezekiel is your show token. For look, as he hath done, so, when this cometh, ye shall do also: that ye may learn to know that I am the LORD God.'"

In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, that thou mayest speak, and be no more dumb: Yea, and thou shalt be their show token, that they may know how that I am the LORD."

Behold, I will deliver thee to the people of the east, that they may have thee in possession: these shall set their castles and houses in thee. They shall eat thy fruit, and drink up thy milk.

As for Rabbah, I will make of it a stall for camels, and of Ammon a sheepfold: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

behold, I will stretch out mine hand over thee also, and deliver thee to be spoiled of the Heathen, and root thee out from among the people, and cause thee to be destroyed out of all lands. Yea, I will make thee be laid waste, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD.

These will I open unto them of the east, that they may fall upon the Ammonites: and will give it them in possession: so that the Ammonites shall no more be had in remembrance among the Heathen.

Even thus will I punish Moab also, that they may know how that I am the LORD.

Moreover, thus sayeth the LORD God: Because that Edom hath avenged and eased himself upon the house of Judah,

Through my people of Israel will I avenge me again upon Edom: they shall handle him, according to my wrath and indignation, so that they shall know my vengeance, sayeth the LORD God.

A great vengeance will I take upon them, and punish them cruelly: that they may know how that I am the LORD, which have avenged me of them.'"

It happened, that in the eleventh year, and the first day of the Month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

"Thou son of man, because that Tyre hath spoken upon Jerusalem, 'Aha, now I trow the ports of the people be broken, and she turned unto me, for I have destroyed my belly full.'

her daughters upon the field shall perish with the sword, that they may know how that I am the LORD.

Thy daughters that are in the land shall he slay with the sword: but against thee, he shall make bulwarks and grave up ditches about thee, and lift up his shield against thee.

Thus will I bring the melody of thy songs, and the voice of thy minstrelsy to an end, so that they shall no more be heard.

"Thus hath the LORD God spoken concerning Tyre: The isles shall be moved at the noise of thy fall, and at the cry of the slain that shall be murdered in thee.

They shall mourn for thee, and say unto thee, 'O thou noble city, that hast been so greatly occupied of old, thou that hast been the strongest upon the sea with thine inhabiters of whom all men stood in fear: How art thou now so utterly destroyed?'

For thus sayeth the LORD God: when I make thee a desolate city, as other cities be, that no man dwell in, and when I bring the deep upon thee, that great waters may cover thee:

Then will I cast thee down unto them, that descend into the pit, unto a people that hath been long dead, and set thee in a land that is beneath, like the old wilderness, with them which go down to their graves, so that no man shall dwell more in thee. And I will make thee to be no more in honor, in the land of the living.

and say unto Tyre, which is a port of the sea that occupieth with much people and many Isles, 'Thus speaketh the LORD God: O Tyre, thou hast said, 'What, I am a noble city.'

The eldest and wisest at Gebal were they, that mended and stopped thy ships. All ships of the sea with their shipment occupied their merchandise in thee.

They of Dedan were thy merchants: and many other Isles that occupied with thee, brought thee wethers, elephant bones and Peacocks for a present.

so that thy wares, thy merchandise, thy riches, thy mariners, thy shipmasters, thy helpers, thy occupiers that brought the things necessary, the men of war that are in thee: Yea, and all thy commons shall perish in the midst of the sea, in the day of thy fall.

All they that dwell in the Isles are abashed at thee, and all their kings are afraid; yea, their faces have changed colour.

The merchants of the nations wonder at thee, in that thou art so clean brought to naught, and comest no more up.'"

"Thou son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Because thou hast a proud heart and hast said, 'I am a God, I have my seat in the midst of the sea like a God,' whereas thou art but a man, and not God, and yet standest in thine own conceit, that thou art God:

Behold, thou thinkest thyself wiser than Daniel, that there is no secrets hid from thee.

They shall cast thee down to the pit, so that thou shalt die in the midst of the sea,

as they that be slain. Let see, if thou wilt say then, before them that slay thee, 'I am God' - whereas thou art but a man and not God, in the hands of them that slayeth thee.

Thou hast been in the pleasure garden of God; thou art decked with all manner of precious stones: with Ruby, Topaz, Crystal, Jacinth, Onyx, Jasper, Sapphire, Smaragdus, Carbuncle, and gold. Thy beauty and the holes that be in thee were set forth in the day of thy creation.

Thy heart was proud in thy fair beauty, and through thy beauty thou hast destroyed thy wisdom. I will cast thee down to the ground, and that in the sight of kings.

Thou hast defiled thy Sanctuary, with the great wickedness of thy unrighteous occupying. I will bring a fire from the midst of thee, to consume thee: and will make thee to ashes, in the sight of all them that look upon thee.

All they that have been acquainted with thee among the Heathen, shall be abashed at thee: seeing thou art so clean brought to naught, and comest no more up.'"

and speak, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God Behold O Sidon, I will upon thee, and get me honour in thee: that it may be known how that I am the LORD, when I punish her, and get me honour in her.

For I will send pestilence and blood shedding into her streets, so that those which be slain with the sword shall lie round about in the midst of her: and they shall know, that I am the LORD.

She shall no more be a pricking thorn, and a hurting brier unto the house of Israel, nor unto them that lie round about her and hate her: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Thus sayeth the LORD God: When I gather the household of Israel together again from the nations among whom they be scattered: then shall I be sanctified in them in the sight of the Gentiles, and they shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob.

They shall dwell safely therein, build houses, and plant vineyards. Yea, safely shall they dwell therein, when I have punished all those that despise them round about: and then shall they know that I am the LORD their God.

Speak, and tell him, 'Thus sayeth the LORD God: Behold, O Pharaoh thou king of Egypt, I will upon thee, thou great dragon that liest in the waters; thou that sayest, 'The water is mine; I have made it myself.'

I will put a hook in thy jaws, and hang all the fish in thy waters upon thy scales; after that I will draw thee out of thy waters, yea, and all the fish of the waters that hang upon thy scales.

I will cast thee out upon the dry land with the fish of thy waters, so that thou shalt lie upon the field. Thou shalt not be gathered nor taken up: but shall be meat for the beasts of the field, and for the fowls of the air:

that all they which dwell in Egypt, may know, that I am the LORD: because thou hast been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.

Yea, the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste, and they shall know that I am the LORD: Because he said, 'The water is mine, I myself have made it.'

so that in forty years there shall no foot of man walk there, neither foot of cattle go there, neither shall it be inhabited.