1 Then men from the elders {ziknei: respected seniors} of Israel came to me and sat before me {lefanai: in my presence}.
2 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Speaker} came to me, saying {leʾemor: to declare a message}.
3 Son of man, these men have placed their idols {giluleihem: false gods} upon their heart, and the stumblingblock of their iniquity they have set before their faces. Should I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} indeed be inquired of at all by them?
4 Therefore, speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}: Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart {libbo: inner self and will}, and places the stumbling block of his iniquity {avono: moral guilt and rebellion} before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Ruler} will answer him according to the multitude of his idols.’
5 So that I may seize the house of Israel in their heart, for they have all become estranged from Me {YHWH, Judge} by their idols {gilulim: detestable images}.
6 Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}: Return and turn back from your idols {gillulim: detestable objects}, and from all your abominations {to’evah: repugnant practices} turn your faces away.’
7 For any man of the house of Israel or any sojourner dwelling in Israel who separates himself from following Me and brings up his idols {gilulav: detestable things} into his heart {libbo: inner being} and places the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face and comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I, the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, will answer him Myself.
8 And I will set my face {panim: determined opposition} against that man, and I will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}.
9 And if the prophet is enticed and speaks a word, I the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Judge} have enticed that prophet. I will stretch out my hand upon him and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel {yisrael: God Struggler}.
10 And they will bear their iniquity; as the iniquity of the inquirer {doresh: legal petitioner}, so shall it be as the iniquity of the prophet {navi: divine spokesperson}.
11 So that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor defile themselves again with all their transgressions {pishehem: acts of rebellion}; and they will be My people, and I will be their God {Elohim, Covenant Restorer}—declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Redeemer}.
12 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Message Giver} came to me, saying {leimor: introducing direct speech},
13 Son of man, if a land sins against Me {YHWH, Covenant Judge} by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it and break its staff of bread {lechem: basic sustenance}, and send famine into it, and cut off from it both man and beast.
14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in its midst, they would deliver only their own soul by their righteousness {tzidkatam: covenant faithfulness}, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Supreme Judge}.
15 If I cause an evil beast to pass through the land and it bereaves it {shiklatah: leaves childless}, and it becomes desolate with no one passing through because of the beast {ḥayyah: wild animal}.
16 Even if these three men were in its midst, as I live, declares the Lord God {Adonai YHWH, Supreme Judge}, they would not deliver sons or daughters; they alone would be delivered, but the land would become desolate {shemamah: utter ruin}.
17 Or if I {YHWH, Executor of Judgment} bring a sword upon that land and say, “Sword, pass through the land,” and I cut off from it both human and beast {behemah: domestic animal}.
18 Even if these three men were in its midst, as I live—declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Master}—they would not deliver sons or daughters; only they themselves would be delivered {levaddam: on their own}.
19 Or if I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} send a pestilence {dever: divine plague} to that land and pour out my wrath upon it with blood to cut off from it man and beast.
20 Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live, declares the LORD GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Master}, they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they, by their righteousness {tsidqatam: just conduct}, would deliver only their own lives.
21 For thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Upholder of Justice}: How much more when I send My four severe judgments—sword, famine, wild beast, and pestilence—to cut off from Jerusalem man {adam: humankind} and animal.
22 And behold, a remnant will be left in it—those who are brought out, sons and daughters. Behold, they will go out to you, and you will see their way and their deeds; and you will be comforted concerning the disaster {ha-ra’ah: calamity, judgment} that I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} have brought upon Jerusalem, all that I have brought upon it.
23 And they will comfort {venichamu: bring consolation} you when you see their way and their deeds, and you will know that I have not done all that I have done in it without cause, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Master}.