From: "FamilyNet"
Bible Reading for September 16
Ezekiel 19
[1] Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, [2] And
say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished
her whelps among young lions. [3] And she brought up one of her whelps: it
became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. [4]
The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him
with chains unto the land of Egypt. [5] Now when she saw that she had waited,
and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a
young lion. [6] And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young
lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. [7] And he knew their
desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate,
and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. [8] Then the nations set
against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him:
he was taken in their pit. [9] And they put him in ward in chains, and brought
him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should
no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
[10] Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was
fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. [11] And she had
strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was
exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the
multitude of her branches. [12] But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast
down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were
broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
[13] And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
[14] And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her
fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a
lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.
Ezekiel 20
[1] And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day
of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the
LORD, and sat before me.
[2] Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, [3] Son of man, speak unto
the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come
to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by
you. [4] Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to
know the abominations of their fathers: [5] And say unto them, Thus saith the
Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the
seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of
Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
[6] In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of
the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk
and honey, which is the glory of all lands: [7] Then said I unto them, Cast ye
away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with
the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
[8] But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not
every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake
the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them to
accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. [9] But I
wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen,
among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in
bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. [10] Wherefore I caused them to
go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
[11] And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man
do, he shall even live in them. [12] Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to
be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that
sanctify them. [13] But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the
wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments,
which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly
polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness,
to consume them.
[14] But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before
the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. [15] Yet also I lifted up my
hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land
which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all
lands; [16] Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes,
but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. [17]
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an
end of them in the wilderness. [18] But I said unto their children in the
wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their
judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
[19] I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and
do them;
[20] And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that
ye may know that I am the LORD your God. [21] Notwithstanding the children
rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments
to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my
sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my
anger against them in the wilderness. [22] Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand,
and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of
the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
[23] I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would
scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; [24]
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and
had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
[25] Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments
whereby they should not live;
[26] And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass
through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate,
to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. [27] Therefore, son of
man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord
GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed
a trespass against me. [28] For when I had brought them into the land, for the
which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill,
and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there
they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their
sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. [29] Then I said
unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is
called Bamah unto this day. [30] Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus
saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and
commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
[31] For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the
fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall
I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I
will not be inquired of by you. [32] And that which cometh into your mind
shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families
of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
[33] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: [34] And I
will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries
wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm,
and with fury poured out. [35] And I will bring you into the wilderness of the
people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
[36] Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of
Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. [37] And I will cause you
to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
[38] And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress
against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and
they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the
LORD.
[39] As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye
every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but
pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. [40] For
in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord
GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me:
there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the
firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. [41] I will accept
you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather
you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be
sanctified in you before the heathen. [42] And ye shall know that I am the
LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the
which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
[43] And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye
have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all
your evils that ye have committed.
[44] And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my
name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt
doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. [45] Moreover the word of
the LORD came unto me, saying, [46] Son of man, set thy face toward the south,
and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the
south field; [47] And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the
LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it
shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame
shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be
burned therein.
[48] And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be
quenched.
[49] Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Ezekiel 21
[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy
face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy
against the land of Israel, [3] And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the
LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of his
sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
[4] Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked,
therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the
south to the north:
[5] That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out of
his sheath: it shall not return any more. [6] Sigh therefore, thou son of man,
with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes.
[7] And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that
thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall
melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all
knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass,
saith the Lord GOD.
[8] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [9] Son of man, prophesy,
and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also
furbished: [10] It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that
it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as
every tree.
[11] And he hath give it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword
is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.
[12] Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it shall be
upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon
my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh. [13] Because it is a trial, and
what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord
GOD. [14] Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands
together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain:
it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their
privy chambers.
[15] I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their
heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it is
wrapped up for the slaughter.
[16] Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left,
whithersoever thy face is set.
[17] I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest:
I the LORD have said it.
[18] The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, [19] Also, thou son of
man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come:
both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place, choose
it at the head of the way to the city. [20] Appoint a way, that the sword may
come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced. [21]
For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the
two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with
images, he looked in the liver. [22] At his right hand was the divination for
Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up
the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams against the gates, to cast
a mount, and to build a fort.
[23] And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them
that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they
may be taken.
[24] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to
be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your
doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance,
ye shall be taken with the hand. [25] And thou, profane wicked prince of
Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
[26] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this
shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
[27] I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until
he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. [28] And thou, son of man,
prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and
concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for
the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering:
[29] Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to
bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is
come, when their iniquity shall have an end. [30] Shall I cause it to return
into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast created, in
the land of thy nativity. [31] And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee,
I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the
hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
[32] Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of
the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.
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