1
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
r{mael y;lea h'wh.y -r;b.d yih.y;w
2
Son of man,speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the landtakeaman of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
6
But if the watchmansee the swordcome, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the swordcome, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman'shand.
8
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surelydie; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
10
Therefore, O thou son of man,speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
11
Say unto them, As I live,saith the LordGOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wickedturn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evilways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
12
Therefore, thou son of man,say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
13
When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surelylive; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commitiniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
15
If the wickedrestore the pledge, give again that he had robbed,walk in the statutes of life, without committinginiquity; he shall surelylive, he shall not die.
21
And it came to pass in the twelfth*year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalemcame unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
22
Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening,afore he that was escapedcame; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
23
Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
r{mael y;lea ]h'wh.y -r;b.d yih.y;w
24
Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israelspeak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
25
Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the LordGOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shedblood: and shall ye possess the land?
27
Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the LordGOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the openfield will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
28
For I will lay the landmostdesolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
30
Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talkingagainst thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speakone to another, every one to his brother,saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
31
And they come unto thee as the peoplecometh, and they sitbefore thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heartgoethafter their covetousness.
32
And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovelysong of one that hath a pleasantvoice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.