1 And it happened in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that men from the elders of Israel came to seek the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge}, and they sat before me {lefanai: in my presence}.
2 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Message Giver} came to me, saying {lemor: introducing direct speech}.
3 Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Supreme Judge}: Is it to inquire of Me that you have come? As I live {chai: oath formula}, I will not be inquired of by you, declares the Lord GOD.”
4 Will you judge {hatispot: render verdict} them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations {toavot: detestable practices} of their fathers; make them aware.
5 And you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Revealer}: On the day I chose Israel and lifted up my hand {yad: oath gesture} to the seed of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I lifted up my hand to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God.’”
6 On that day I {YHWH, Sovereign Oath-Taker} lifted My hand to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had sought out for them, a land flowing {zavat: abundant provision} with milk and honey, which is the beauty of all the lands.
7 And I said to them, “Each of you, cast away the abominations {shikkutzei: detestable things} of your eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God {YHWH Elohim, Exclusive Sovereign}.”
8 But they rebelled against Me {YHWH, Righteous Judge} and were unwilling to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes {shikkutzei eineihem: detestable sights}, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said that I would pour out My wrath upon them to bring My anger to completion in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 But I {YHWH, Name Preserver} acted for the sake of My name {shemi: reputation and revealed character}, so as not to be profaned before the eyes of the nations among whom they were and in whose sight I made Myself known by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10 And I brought them out {otzi’em: deliverance action} from the land of Egypt and I brought them to the wilderness {midbar: desolate region}.
11 And I {YHWH, Law Giver} gave them my statutes {chukkotai: prescribed decrees} and made known to them my judgments, which, if a person does them, he shall live by them.
12 And also, I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, so that they would know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Sanctifier} who sanctifies {mekaddesham: sets apart as holy}.
13 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me {YHWH, Covenant Judge} in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes {chukotai: binding decrees}, and they despised My judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them; and they greatly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My wrath upon them in the wilderness to consume them.
14 But I acted for the sake of My name {shemi: personal reputation} so that it would not be profaned before the eyes of the nations to whom I brought them out {hotzeitim: led forth publicly}.
15 And also I {YHWH, Oath-Swearer} lifted My hand to them in the wilderness so that I would not bring them into the land that I gave, a land flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory {tzevi: beauty} of all lands.
16 Because they despised my {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} judgments and did not walk in my statutes, but they profaned my Sabbaths {shabbototai: sacred rest days}; for their heart went after their idols {gilluleihem: objects of worship}.
17 But I {YHWH, Compassionate Preserver} had compassion—my eye spared them—from destroying them, and I did not make them perish in the wilderness {midbar: desolate region}.
18 And I {YHWH, Sovereign Legislator} said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not walk in the statutes {chukei: prescribed laws} of your fathers, and do not keep their ordinances, and do not defile yourselves with their idols.”
19 I am the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikhem, Covenant Lord}; walk in My statutes {chukkot: lasting ordinances}, keep My judgments and do them.
20 Sanctify my Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign {ot: distinguishing mark} between Me and you, so that you may know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Revealer} your God {Elohim, Divine Authority}.
21 But the children rebelled against Me {YHWH, Righteous Judge}; they did not walk in My statutes, and they did not keep My judgments to perform them—those which, if a person does, he will live by them {chai: experience true life}; they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My wrath upon them to bring My anger to an end in the wilderness.
22 But I {YHWH, Reputation Guardian} withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name {shemi: reputation and character}, in order that it would not be profaned before the eyes of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.
23 Also I {YHWH, Oath-Giver} swore to them in the wilderness {midbar: arid wasteland}, to scatter them among the nations and to disperse them in the lands.
24 Because they did not carry out my {YHWH, Righteous Sovereign} judgments and despised my statutes {chukkotai: fixed ordinances}, profaned my Sabbaths, and set their eyes on the idols of their fathers.
25 And I {YHWH, Sovereign Lawgiver} gave them statutes {chukim: legally binding decrees} that were not good and ordinances by which they would not live.
26 And I defiled them through their gifts when they caused to pass every opener of the womb, so that I might devastate {yeshimu: judicial devastation} them, and in order that they might know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}.
27 Therefore, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}: In this your fathers reviled Me, acting treacherously {bemaalam: betrayal} against Me."
28 And I brought them to the land which I lifted up my hand {nasati yadi: swore an oath} to give to them; and they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and there they sacrificed their sacrifices and presented the provocation {ka’as: act of defiance} of their offering. There they placed the fragrance of their soothing aromas and poured out their drink offerings.
29 And I said to them, "What is Bamah {bamah: raised shrine} to which you are coming {habaim: entering continually}?" So its name has been called Bamah up to this day.
30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH: Sovereign Judge}—Is it in the way of your fathers that you defile yourselves and after their abominations {shikkuzeihem: detestable idolatrous practices} you commit harlotry?”
31 And when you present your gifts {mattenot: ritual offerings} and cause your sons to pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 And the thought that has arisen in your minds {ruachakhem: inner intention} will not come to pass—that which you are saying: “We will be {nihyeh: self-determined future} like the nations, like the clans of the lands, to serve wood and stone.”
33 As I live, declares the Lord GOD {YHWH Adonai, Sovereign Judge}, surely with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with fury {chemah: burning anger} poured out, I will reign over you.
34 And I {YHWH, Restorer} will bring you out from the peoples and gather {qibatzti: assemble together} you from the lands in which you have been scattered, by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by fury {chemah: intense anger} poured out.
35 I {YHWH, Supreme Judge} will bring you into the wilderness {midbar: sparse uninhabited region} of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36 Just as I judged your fathers in the wilderness {midbar: desolate region} of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Supreme Judge}.
37 And I {YHWH, Disciplining Arbiter} will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant {berit: binding agreement}.
38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels and the transgressors against Me {bi: in opposition to}. I will bring them out of the land of their sojournings, but they shall not enter the land of Israel; and you will know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Judge}.
39 But as for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD {YHWH Adonai, Sovereign Master}: Go, serve each one his idols—now and hereafter—if you will not listen to Me; but you shall no longer profane My holy name {shem: reputation and identity} with your gifts or with your idols.
40 For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Supreme Ruler}, there all the house of Israel, every one of them, shall serve Me in the land; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and firstfruits, with all your holy things {kodesh: things set apart}.
41 I {YHWH, Restoring Sovereign} will accept you as a pleasing fragrance {bere’ach: sacrificial aroma} when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you have been scattered, and I will be sanctified in you before the eyes of the nations.
42 And you will know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Fulfiller} when I bring you into the land of Israel, to the land that I lifted up My hand {yad: oath gesture} to give it to your fathers.
43 And there you will remember your ways and all your deeds{alilotekhem: deliberate deeds} by which you became defiled, and you will loathe yourselves{venikkotem: self-loathing} in your own sight for all your evils which you have done.
44 And you will know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Self-Revealing Redeemer} when I deal with you for the sake of my name {shmi: covenant honor}, not according to your evil ways or your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}.
45 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Speaker} came to me, saying {lemor: direct-speech marker}.
46 Son of man {ben adam: prophetic title}, set your face toward the way of the south, and utter a word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the Negev {negev: southern desert region}.
47 And you shall say to the forest of the Negev, “Hear the word of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Judge}; thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Master}: Behold, I am kindling a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree {etz: living wood} and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be scorched by it.”
48 And all flesh {basar: all humanity} shall see that I, the LORD {YHWH, Divine Judge}, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.
49 And I said, Ah, Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Master}! They say of me, “Is he not a teller of parables {meshalim: symbolic sayings}?”