1
Then came[H935]certain[H582] of the elders[H2205] of Israel[H3478] unto me, and sat[H3427]before[H6440] me.
2
And the word[H1697] of the LORD[H3068] came unto me, saying[H559],
3Son[H1121] of man[H120], these men[H582] have set up[H5927] their idols[H1544] in their heart[H3820], and put[H5414] the stumblingblock[H4383] of their iniquity[H5771]before[H5227] their face[H6440]: should I be enquired[H1875] of at all[H1875] by them?
4
Therefore speak[H1696] unto them, and say[H559] unto them, Thus saith[H559] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069]; Every man[H376] of the house[H1004] of Israel[H3478] that setteth up[H5927] his idols[H1544] in his heart[H3820], and putteth[H7760] the stumblingblock[H4383] of his iniquity[H5771]before[H5227] his face[H6440], and cometh[H935] to the prophet[H5030]; I the LORD[H3068] will answer[H6030] him that cometh[H935] according to the multitude[H7230] of his idols[H1544];
5
That I may take[H8610] the house[H1004] of Israel[H3478] in their own heart[H3820], because they are all estranged[H2114] from me through their idols[H1544].
6
Therefore say[H559] unto the house[H1004] of Israel[H3478], Thus saith[H559] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069]; Repent[H7725], and turn[H7725] yourselves from your idols[H1544]; and turn[H7725]away[H7725] your faces[H6440] from all your abominations[H8441].
7
For every one[H376] of the house[H1004] of Israel[H3478], or of the stranger[H1616] that sojourneth[H1481] in Israel[H3478], which separateth[H5144] himself from me[H310], and setteth up[H5927] his idols[H1544] in his heart[H3820], and putteth[H7760] the stumblingblock[H4383] of his iniquity[H5771]before[H5227] his face[H6440], and cometh[H935] to a prophet[H5030] to enquire[H1875] of him concerning me[H310]; I the LORD[H3068] will answer[H6030] him by myself:
8
And I will set[H5414] my face[H6440] against that man[H376], and will make[H8074] him a sign[H226] and a proverb[H4912], and I will cut him off[H3772] from the midst[H8432] of my people[H5971]; and ye shall know[H3045] that I am the LORD[H3068].
9
And if the prophet[H5030] be deceived[H6601] when he hath spoken[H1696] a thing[H1697], I the LORD[H3068] have deceived[H6601] that prophet[H5030], and I will stretch out[H5186] my hand[H3027] upon him, and will destroy[H8045] him from the midst[H8432] of my people[H5971]Israel[H3478].
10
And they shall bear[H5375] the punishment[H5771] of their iniquity[H5771]: the punishment[H5771] of the prophet[H5030] shall be even as the punishment[H5771] of him that seeketh[H1875] unto him;
11
That the house[H1004] of Israel[H3478] may go no more astray[H8582] from me[H310], neither be polluted[H2930] any more with all their transgressions[H6588]; but that they may be my people[H5971], and I may be their God[H430], saith[H5002] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069].
12
The word[H1697] of the LORD[H3068] came again to me, saying[H559],
13Son[H1121] of man[H120], when the land[H776]sinneth[H2398] against me by trespassing[H4603]grievously[H4604], then will I stretch out[H5186] mine hand[H3027] upon it, and will break[H7665] the staff[H4294] of the bread[H3899] thereof, and will send[H7971]famine[H7458] upon it, and will cut off[H3772]man[H120] and beast[H929] from it:
14
Though these three[H7969]men[H582], Noah[H5146], Daniel[H1840], and Job[H347], were in it[H8432], they should deliver[H5337] but their own souls[H5315] by their righteousness[H6666], saith[H5002] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069].
15If[H3863] I cause noisome[H7451]beasts[H2416] to pass through[H5674] the land[H776], and they spoil[H7921] it, so that it be desolate[H8077], that no man may pass through[H5674]because[H6440] of the beasts[H2416]:
16
Though these three[H7969]men[H582] were in it[H8432], as I live[H2416], saith[H5002] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069], they shall deliver[H5337] neither sons[H1121] nor daughters[H1323]; they only shall be delivered[H5337], but the land[H776] shall be desolate[H8077].
17
Or if I bring[H935] a sword[H2719] upon that land[H776], and say[H559], Sword[H2719], go through[H5674] the land[H776]; so that I cut off[H3772]man[H120] and beast[H929] from it:
18
Though these three[H7969]men[H582] were in it[H8432], as I live[H2416], saith[H5002] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069], they shall deliver[H5337] neither sons[H1121] nor daughters[H1323], but they only shall be delivered[H5337] themselves.
19
Or if I send[H7971] a pestilence[H1698] into that land[H776], and pour out[H8210] my fury[H2534] upon it in blood[H1818], to cut off[H3772] from it man[H120] and beast[H929]:
20
Though Noah[H5146], Daniel[H1840], and Job[H347], were in it[H8432], as I live[H2416], saith[H5002] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069], they shall deliver[H5337] neither son[H1121]nor[H518]daughter[H1323]; they shall but deliver[H5337] their own souls[H5315] by their righteousness[H6666].
21
For thus saith[H559] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069]; How much more when I send[H7971] my four[H702]sore[H7451]judgments[H8201] upon Jerusalem[H3389], the sword[H2719], and the famine[H7458], and the noisome[H7451]beast[H2416], and the pestilence[H1698], to cut off[H3772] from it man[H120] and beast?[H929]
22
Yet, behold, therein shall be left[H3498] a remnant[H6413] that shall be brought[H935]forth[H3318], both sons[H1121] and daughters[H1323]: behold, they shall come forth[H3318] unto you, and ye shall see[H7200] their way[H1870] and their doings[H5949]: and ye shall be comforted[H5162] concerning the evil[H7451] that I have brought[H935] upon Jerusalem[H3389], even concerning all that I have brought[H935] upon it.
23
And they shall comfort[H5162] you, when ye see[H7200] their ways[H1870] and their doings[H5949]: and ye shall know[H3045] that I have not done[H6213] without cause[H2600] all that I have done[H6213] in it, saith[H5002] the Lord[H136]GOD[H3069].