1 The|strong="H0559" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
2 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0376", speak|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H5414" people|strong="H5971". Say|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", ‘Whenever|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" bring|strong="H0935" enemy soldiers|strong="H0376" to|strong="H0413" fight against|strong="H5921" a|strong="H3947" country|strong="H0776", the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971" choose|strong="H3947" someone|strong="H0376" to|strong="H0413" be|strong="H0376" a|strong="H3947" watchman|strong="H6822".
3 If|strong="H7200" this|strong="H0935" guard sees|strong="H7200" enemy soldiers|strong="H5971" coming|strong="H0935", he|strong="H0853" blows|strong="H8628" the|strong="H0853" trumpet|strong="H7782" and|strong="H0935" warns the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971".
4 If|strong="H1961" people|strong="H3808" hear|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0853" warning but|strong="H3808" ignore it|strong="H1961", the|strong="H0853" enemy will|strong="H1961" capture|strong="H3947" them|strong="H0853" and|strong="H0935" take|strong="H3947" them|strong="H0853" away|strong="H3947" as|strong="H1961" prisoners. They|strong="H3808" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" responsible|strong="H1818" for|strong="H3808" their|strong="H3947" own|strong="H1961" death|strong="H1818".
5 They|strong="H3808" heard|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0853" trumpet|strong="H7782", but|strong="H3808" they|strong="H3808" ignored the|strong="H0853" warning. So|strong="H1961" they|strong="H3808" are|strong="H3808" responsible|strong="H1818" for|strong="H5315" their|strong="H8085" own|strong="H1961" deaths. If|strong="H1961" they|strong="H3808" had|strong="H1961" paid|strong="H8085" attention|strong="H8085" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" warning, they|strong="H3808" could have|strong="H1961" saved|strong="H4422" their|strong="H8085" own|strong="H1961" lives|strong="H5315".
6 “‘But|strong="H3588" what|strong="H3588" if|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" guard sees|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" enemy soldiers|strong="H5971" coming|strong="H0935", but|strong="H3588" does|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" blow|strong="H8628" the|strong="H0853" trumpet|strong="H7782"? Since|strong="H3588" he|strong="H1931" doesn’t|strong="H3808" warn|strong="H2094" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H5971", the|strong="H0853" enemy will|strong="H2719" capture|strong="H3947" them|strong="H1992" and|strong="H0935" take|strong="H3947" them|strong="H1992" away|strong="H3947" as|strong="H0935" prisoners. They|strong="H1992" will|strong="H2719" be|strong="H3808" taken|strong="H3947" away|strong="H3947" because|strong="H3588" they|strong="H1992" sinned, but|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" guard will|strong="H2719" also|strong="H0853" be|strong="H3808" responsible|strong="H1818" for|strong="H3588" their|strong="H1992" deaths.’
7 “Now|strong="H5414", son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", I|strong="H5414" am choosing you|strong="H0859" to|strong="H3478" be|strong="H1121" a|strong="H5414" watchman|strong="H6822" for|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478". If|strong="H1121" you|strong="H0859" hear|strong="H8085" a|strong="H5414" message|strong="H1697" from|strong="H4480" my|strong="H5414" mouth|strong="H6310", you|strong="H0859" must|strong="H0853" warn|strong="H2094" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0120" for|strong="H1004" me|strong="H5414".
8 I|strong="H0559" might|strong="H1818" say|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" you|strong="H3808", ‘These|strong="H1931" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H3808" will|strong="H7563" die|strong="H4191".’ Then|strong="H1696" you|strong="H3808" must|strong="H4191" go warn|strong="H2094" them|strong="H3027" for|strong="H3027" me|strong="H1696". If|strong="H1931" you|strong="H3808" don’t|strong="H3808" warn|strong="H2094" them|strong="H3027" and|strong="H3027" tell|strong="H0559" them|strong="H3027" to|strong="H0559" change their|strong="H1245" lives, those|strong="H1931" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H3808" will|strong="H7563" die|strong="H4191" because|strong="H0559" they|strong="H3808" sinned. But|strong="H3808" I|strong="H0559" will|strong="H7563" make|strong="H3027" you|strong="H3808" responsible|strong="H1818" for|strong="H3027" their|strong="H1245" deaths.
9 But|strong="H3588" if|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0859" do|strong="H1870" warn|strong="H2094" the|strong="H3588" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H5315" to|strong="H4191" change|strong="H7725" their|strong="H3588" lives|strong="H5315" and|strong="H7725" stop|strong="H3808" sinning, and|strong="H7725" if|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" refuse|strong="H7725" to|strong="H4191" stop|strong="H3808", they|strong="H3588" will|strong="H7563" die|strong="H4191" because|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" sinned. But|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0859" saved|strong="H5337" your|strong="H7725" life|strong="H5315".
10 “So|strong="H3651", son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", speak|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1121" Israel|strong="H3478" for|strong="H3588" me|strong="H0413". They|strong="H3588" might|strong="H1121" say|strong="H0559", ‘We|strong="H0587" have|strong="H1121" sinned|strong="H2403" and|strong="H1121" broken the|strong="H0559" law. Our|strong="H5921" sins|strong="H2403" are|strong="H3478" too|strong="H5921" heavy to|strong="H0413" bear. We|strong="H0587" rot|strong="H4743" away|strong="H4743" because|strong="H3588" of|strong="H1121" them|strong="H0413". What|strong="H0349" can|strong="H0349" we|strong="H0587" do to|strong="H0413" live|strong="H2421"?’
11 “You|strong="H3588" must|strong="H4191" say|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" them|strong="H0413", ‘The|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" says|strong="H0559": By|strong="H0413" my|strong="H7725" life|strong="H2416", I|strong="H0589" swear|strong="H3588" that|strong="H3588" I|strong="H0589" don’t enjoy seeing|strong="H3588" people|strong="H7563" die|strong="H4191"—not|strong="H0518" even|strong="H3588" evil|strong="H7451" people|strong="H7563"! I|strong="H0589" don’t want|strong="H2654" them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" die|strong="H4191". I|strong="H0589" want|strong="H2654" them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". I|strong="H0589" want|strong="H2654" them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" change|strong="H7725" their|strong="H3588" lives|strong="H2416" so|strong="H7725" that|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" can|strong="H4100" really|strong="H0559" live|strong="H2421". So|strong="H7725" come|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413"! Stop doing|strong="H1870" bad|strong="H7451" things|strong="H3478"! Why|strong="H4100" must|strong="H4191" you|strong="H3588" die|strong="H4191", family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478"?’
12 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", tell|strong="H0559" your|strong="H7725" people|strong="H5971": ‘The|strong="H0559" good things|strong="H3808" people|strong="H5971" did|strong="H3808" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" past will|strong="H6662" not|strong="H3808" save|strong="H5337" them|strong="H0413" if|strong="H1121" they|strong="H3117" become|strong="H7725" bad and|strong="H1121" begin to|strong="H0413" sin|strong="H2398". In|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" same way|strong="H3201" the|strong="H0559" bad things|strong="H3808" people|strong="H5971" did|strong="H3808" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" past will|strong="H6662" not|strong="H3808" destroy them|strong="H0413" if|strong="H1121" they|strong="H3117" turn|strong="H7725" from|strong="H7725" their|strong="H7725" evil|strong="H7563". So|strong="H3808" remember, the|strong="H0559" good things|strong="H3808" people|strong="H5971" did|strong="H3808" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" past will|strong="H6662" not|strong="H3808" save|strong="H5337" them|strong="H0413" if|strong="H1121" they|strong="H3117" begin to|strong="H0413" sin|strong="H2398".’
13 “Maybe I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" tell|strong="H0559" good people|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2421". But|strong="H3808" maybe those|strong="H3605" good people|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" begin to|strong="H0559" think|strong="H0559" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" good things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" past will|strong="H0834" save them|strong="H5921". So|strong="H6213" they|strong="H0834" might|strong="H0834" begin to|strong="H0559" do|strong="H6213" bad things|strong="H3605", but|strong="H3808" I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" remember|strong="H2142" the|strong="H3605" good things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" past! No|strong="H3808", they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" die|strong="H4191" because|strong="H5921" of|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" bad things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" begin to|strong="H0559" do|strong="H6213".
14 “Or|strong="H4191" maybe I|strong="H0559" will|strong="H7563" tell|strong="H0559" some evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H7563" that|strong="H0559" they|strong="H0559" will|strong="H7563" die|strong="H4191". But|strong="H7563" they|strong="H0559" might change|strong="H7725" their|strong="H7725" lives, stop sinning|strong="H2403", and|strong="H7725" begin to|strong="H0559" live right|strong="H4941". They|strong="H0559" might become|strong="H7725" good and|strong="H7725" fair.
15 They|strong="H3808" might give|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" the|strong="H7725" things|strong="H3808" they|strong="H3808" took|strong="H7725" when|strong="H2421" they|strong="H3808" loaned money. They|strong="H3808" might pay|strong="H7999" for|strong="H4191" the|strong="H7725" things|strong="H3808" they|strong="H3808" stole. They|strong="H3808" might begin to|strong="H1980" follow|strong="H1980" the|strong="H7725" laws that|strong="H3808" give|strong="H7725" life|strong="H2416" and|strong="H1980" stop|strong="H3808" doing|strong="H6213" bad things|strong="H3808". Then|strong="H1980" they|strong="H3808" will|strong="H7563" surely|strong="H4191" live|strong="H2421". They|strong="H3808" will|strong="H7563" not|strong="H3808" die|strong="H4191".
16 I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" remember|strong="H2142" the|strong="H3605" bad things|strong="H3605" they|strong="H0834" did|strong="H6213" in|strong="H3808" the|strong="H3605" past, because|strong="H0834" now they|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2421" right|strong="H4941" and|strong="H4941" are|strong="H0834" fair. So|strong="H6213" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" live|strong="H2421"!
17 “But|strong="H3808" your|strong="H3808" people|strong="H5971" say|strong="H0559", ‘That’s not|strong="H3808" fair! The|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" cannot|strong="H3808" be|strong="H3808" like|strong="H3808" that|strong="H0559"!’
18 If good people stop doing|strong="H6213" good and|strong="H7725" begin to|strong="H4191" sin|strong="H5766", they|strong="H6213" will|strong="H6662" die|strong="H4191" because of|strong="H4191" their|strong="H7725" sins.
19 And|strong="H7725" if|strong="H1931" evil|strong="H7563" people|strong="H7563" stop doing|strong="H6213" wrong and|strong="H7725" start living right|strong="H4941" and|strong="H7725" being fair, they|strong="H5921" will|strong="H7563" live|strong="H2421".
20 You|strong="H3808" still|strong="H0559" say|strong="H0559" that|strong="H0559" I|strong="H0559" am not|strong="H3808" fair, but|strong="H3808" I|strong="H0559" am telling|strong="H0559" you|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" truth. Family|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" Israel|strong="H3478", everyone|strong="H0376" will|strong="H3478" be|strong="H3808" judged|strong="H8199" for|strong="H1004" what|strong="H1870" they|strong="H3808" do|strong="H1870"!”
21 On|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" fifth|strong="H2568" day|strong="H2320" of|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0559" tenth|strong="H6224" month|strong="H2320" in|strong="H8141" the|strong="H0559" twelfth year|strong="H8141" of|strong="H8141" exile|strong="H1546", a|strong="H1961" person|strong="H0935" who|strong="H3389" had|strong="H1961" escaped from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0559" battle in|strong="H8141" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" and|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559", “The|strong="H0559" city|strong="H5892" has|strong="H1961" been|strong="H1961" taken|strong="H5221"!”
22 The|strong="H0853" evening|strong="H6153" before|strong="H6440" that|strong="H3068" person|strong="H3027" came|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413", the|strong="H0853" power|strong="H3027" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H0935" on|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". The|strong="H0853" Lord|strong="H3068" opened|strong="H6605" my|strong="H3068" mouth|strong="H6310". So|strong="H1961" when|strong="H1961" that|strong="H3068" person|strong="H3027" came|strong="H0935", I|strong="H5704" could speak|strong="H6310" again|strong="H5750".
23 Then|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0559" word|strong="H1697" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". He|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559",
24 “Son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0120", there|strong="H1961" are|strong="H0428" Israelites|strong="H3478" who|strong="H1121" live|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" ruined|strong="H2723" cities in|strong="H3427" Israel|strong="H3478". They|strong="H5921" are|strong="H0428" saying|strong="H0559", ‘Abraham|strong="H0085" was|strong="H1961" only|strong="H0259" one|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0120", and|strong="H1121" God|strong="H0559" gave|strong="H5414" him|strong="H5414" all|strong="H0259" this|strong="H0428" land|strong="H0776". Now|strong="H1961", we|strong="H0587" are|strong="H0428" many|strong="H7227" people|strong="H0120", so|strong="H1961" surely|strong="H5414" this|strong="H0428" land|strong="H0776" belongs|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0559" us|strong="H5414"! It|strong="H5414" is|strong="H0776" our|strong="H5414" land|strong="H0776"!’
25 “You|strong="H5921" must|strong="H5375" tell|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413" that|strong="H3651" this|strong="H3651" is|strong="H0776" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" says|strong="H0559": ‘You|strong="H5921" eat|strong="H0398" meat with|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" blood|strong="H1818" still|strong="H0559" in|strong="H5921" it|strong="H5921". You|strong="H5921" look|strong="H5869" to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H5921" idols|strong="H1544" for|strong="H5921" help. You|strong="H5921" murder people|strong="H1818", so|strong="H3651" why|strong="H3651" should|strong="H0559" I|strong="H3541" give|strong="H0398" you|strong="H5921" this|strong="H3651" land|strong="H0776"?
26 You|strong="H5921" depend on|strong="H5921" your|strong="H5921" own|strong="H0376" sword|strong="H2719". Each|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0776" you|strong="H5921" does|strong="H6213" terrible things|strong="H8441". Each|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0776" you|strong="H5921" commits|strong="H6213" sexual sins with|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" neighbor’s|strong="H7453" wife|strong="H0802", so|strong="H6213" you|strong="H5921" cannot have|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776"!’
27 “‘You|strong="H0834" must|strong="H4191" tell|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413" that|strong="H0834" this|strong="H3541" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" Lord|strong="H0136" GOD|strong="H0136" says|strong="H0559": “By|strong="H5921" my|strong="H5414" life|strong="H2416", I|strong="H0589" promise|strong="H0559" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0559" people|strong="H0834" living|strong="H2416" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" ruined|strong="H2723" cities will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H4191" killed|strong="H4191" with|strong="H0413" a|strong="H5414" sword|strong="H2719"! If|strong="H0518" any|strong="H6440" people|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" out|strong="H6440" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" country|strong="H7704", I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H0834" let|strong="H5414" animals|strong="H2416" kill|strong="H4191" and|strong="H0398" eat|strong="H0398" them|strong="H0413". If|strong="H0518" people|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" hiding in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" fortresses and|strong="H0398" the|strong="H0559" caves|strong="H4631", they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" die|strong="H4191" from|strong="H5921" disease.
28 I|strong="H5414" will|strong="H0776" make|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" empty and|strong="H3478" a|strong="H5414" waste|strong="H4923". That|strong="H3478" country|strong="H2022" will|strong="H0776" lose all the|strong="H0853" things|strong="H3478" it|strong="H5414" was|strong="H0369" proud|strong="H1347" of|strong="H0776". The|strong="H0853" mountains|strong="H2022" of|strong="H0776" Israel|strong="H3478" will|strong="H0776" become|strong="H8074" empty. No|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0369" will|strong="H0776" pass|strong="H5674" through|strong="H5674" that|strong="H3478" place|strong="H5414".
29 The|strong="H3605" people|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" done|strong="H6213" many terrible things|strong="H3605", so|strong="H6213" I|strong="H0589" will|strong="H3068" make|strong="H5414" that|strong="H0834" place|strong="H5414" an|strong="H5414" empty wasteland|strong="H8077". Then|strong="H0853" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068".”
30 “‘And|strong="H1121" now|strong="H4994" about|strong="H1697" you|strong="H0859", son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" man|strong="H0376". Your|strong="H3068" people|strong="H5971" lean against|strong="H0854" the|strong="H0853" walls|strong="H7023" and|strong="H1121" stand|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" their|strong="H3068" doorways|strong="H6607" talking|strong="H1696" about|strong="H1697" you|strong="H0859". They|strong="H0376" tell|strong="H0559" each|strong="H0376" other|strong="H0259", “Come|strong="H0935" on|strong="H0935", let’s|strong="H4994" go|strong="H3318" hear|strong="H8085" what|strong="H4100" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559".”
31 So|strong="H1980" they|strong="H1992" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3588" as|strong="H1697" if|strong="H3588" they|strong="H1992" were|strong="H1992" my|strong="H8085" people|strong="H5971". They|strong="H1992" sit|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H1697" you|strong="H3588" as|strong="H1697" if|strong="H3588" they|strong="H1992" were|strong="H1992" my|strong="H8085" people|strong="H5971". They|strong="H1992" hear|strong="H8085" your|strong="H8085" words|strong="H1697", but|strong="H3588" they|strong="H1992" will|strong="H1697" not|strong="H3808" do|strong="H6213" the|strong="H0853" things|strong="H1697" you|strong="H3588" say|strong="H6310". They|strong="H1992" only want to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H1697" feels good. They|strong="H1992" only want to|strong="H0413" cheat people|strong="H5971" and|strong="H1980" make|strong="H6213" more|strong="H3808" money.
32 “‘You|strong="H6213" are|strong="H1697" nothing|strong="H0369" to|strong="H0369" these people|strong="H8085" but|strong="H0369" a|strong="H8085" singer singing|strong="H7892" love songs|strong="H7892". You|strong="H6213" have|strong="H0369" a|strong="H8085" good|strong="H2895" voice|strong="H6963". You|strong="H6213" play|strong="H5059" your|strong="H8085" instrument well|strong="H2895". They|strong="H0369" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0369" your|strong="H8085" words|strong="H1697", but|strong="H0369" they|strong="H0369" will|strong="H0369" not|strong="H0369" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H1697" you|strong="H6213" say|strong="H6963".
33 But|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3588" things|strong="H1961" you|strong="H3588" sing about|strong="H1961" really will|strong="H1961" happen|strong="H1961", and|strong="H0935" then|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3588" people|strong="H3045" will|strong="H1961" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" there|strong="H2009" was|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" prophet|strong="H5030" living among|strong="H8432" them|strong="H0935".’”