From Gary... "Can I really change"?

When I was a teen, I looked at the world differently.  I felt that I could do ANYTHING I wanted, all I had to do was want it badly enough.  No obstacle was too high, absolutely NOTHING could stand in the way of what I wanted. Boy, was I deluded!!! Then, during my last couple of years of High School, I spent a total of 18 months on crutches and things looked different to me.  For one thing, my girlfriend, who carried my books between classes, had become my steady and soon my life just wasn't about ME anymore!!!  I had to improve; to be a better person- for her!!!  Years later, we were married and along came three daughters and very quickly we understood that life was no longer about US, but rather THEM!!!  So, I (we) did the best we could and worked hard at being parents!!! But, I was still looking for something, but had no idea of what it might be.  Then, I started reading a Bible, given to me by a co-worker.  Then, I really started to change.  I began to realize that my standards of "GOOD" were not what God had in mind.  Eventually, I became a Christian and in the late seventies, and began looking for a way to serve the Almighty.  The rest is history- but, it began with a question: Can I really change?  And the above picture reminded me of that question and its relation to the following Scripture...

1 Timothy, Chapter 1

8 But we know that the law is good, if a man uses it lawfully,  9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for man slayers,  10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine;  11 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.  12 And I thank him who enabled me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to service;  13 although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  14 The grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  15 The saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.  17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

We all have faults, but its what we strive to do about them that really matters!!!  If you think you are too bad to change your life- look at the list in the picture!!!  Even someone like Paul (who murdered and/or imprisoned Christians) could change.  Really takes away excuses, doesn't it???  I remember my neighbors in Valley Falls laughing at me when I announced that I wanted to serve the God of the Heavens, but that was long ago and far from here. No one is laughing about this now.  Why? Because I am not the same man I was in my twenties- I have changed for the better.  OK, I still have things to work on, but, God will help me with those.  Searching? Looking for a change?  The Bible has the answers all through it.  Next step is up to you... "Can I really change"?

From Gary... Bible Reading and Study December 1

Bible Reading and Study   

December 1

The World English Bible

Dec. 1

Ezekiel 17-20

Eze 17:1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

Eze 17:2 Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

Eze 17:3 and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: A great eagle with great wings and long feathers, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

Eze 17:4 he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs of it, and carried it to a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

Eze 17:5 He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow tree.

Eze 17:6 It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and its roots were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

Eze 17:7 There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

Eze 17:8 It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

Eze 17:9 Say you, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up its roots, and cut off its fruit, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from its roots.

Eze 17:10 Yes, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind touches it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.

Eze 17:11 Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

Eze 17:12 Say now to the rebellious house, Don't you know what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took its king, and its princes, and brought them to him to Babylon:

Eze 17:13 and he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;

Eze 17:14 that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

Eze 17:15 But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape who does such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

Eze 17:16 As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

Eze 17:17 Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many persons.

Eze 17:18 For he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things; he shall not escape.

Eze 17:19 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it on his own head.

Eze 17:20 I will spread my net on him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me.

Eze 17:21 All his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and you shall know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it.

Eze 17:22 Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain:

Eze 17:23 in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shade of its branches shall they dwell.

Eze 17:24 All the trees of the field shall know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, Yahweh, have spoken and have done it.

Eze 18:1 The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying,

Eze 18:2 What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?

Eze 18:3 As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, you shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel.

Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.

Eze 18:5 But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,

Eze 18:6 and has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor's wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity,

Eze 18:7 and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;

Eze 18:8 he who has not given forth on interest, neither has taken any increase, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man,

Eze 18:9 has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord Yahweh.

Eze 18:10 If he fathers a son who is a robber, a shedder of blood, and who does any one of these things,

Eze 18:11 and who does not any of those duties, but even has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his neighbor's wife,

Eze 18:12 has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,

Eze 18:13 has given forth on interest, and has taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him.

Eze 18:14 Now, behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father's sins, which he has done, and fears, and does not such like;

Eze 18:15 who has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor's wife,

Eze 18:16 neither has wronged any, has not taken anything to pledge, neither has taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;

Eze 18:17 who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who has not received interest nor increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

Eze 18:18 As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.

Eze 18:19 Yet say you, Why does not the son bear the iniquity of the father? when the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live.

Eze 18:20 The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.

Eze 18:21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Eze 18:22 None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.

Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

Eze 18:24 But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.

Eze 18:25 Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren't your ways unequal?

Eze 18:26 When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die.

Eze 18:27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

Eze 18:28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Eze 18:29 Yet says the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

Eze 18:30 Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, says the Lord Yahweh. Return you, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Eze 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel?

Eze 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord Yahweh: therefore turn yourselves, and live.

Eze 19:1 Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

Eze 19:2 and say, What was your mother? A lioness: she couched among lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her cubs.

Eze 19:3 She brought up one of her cubs: he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.

Eze 19:4 The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

Eze 19:5 Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her cubs, and made him a young lion.

Eze 19:6 He went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.

Eze 19:7 He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and its fullness, because of the noise of his roaring.

Eze 19:8 Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces; and they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit.

Eze 19:9 They put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.

Eze 19:10 Your mother was like a vine, in your blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.

Eze 19:11 It had strong rods for the scepters of those who bore rule, and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.

Eze 19:12 But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit: its strong rods were broken off and withered; the fire consumed them.

Eze 19:13 Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

Eze 19:14 Fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

Eze 20:1 It happened 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 Yahweh, and sat before me.

Eze 20:2 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

Eze 20:3 Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you.

Eze 20:4 Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;

Eze 20:5 and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am Yahweh your God;

Eze 20:6 in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

Eze 20:7 I said to them, Cast you away every man the abominations of his eyes, and don't defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God.

Eze 20:8 But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to 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 would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

Eze 20:9 But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Eze 20:10 So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

Eze 20:11 I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them.

Eze 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

Eze 20:13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they didn't walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Eze 20:14 But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

Eze 20:15 Moreover also I swore to 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;

Eze 20:16 because they rejected my ordinances, and didn't walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

Eze 20:17 Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn't destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

Eze 20:18 I said to their children in the wilderness, Don't you walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

Eze 20:19 I am Yahweh your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them;

Eze 20:20 and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.

Eze 20:21 But the children rebelled against me; they didn't walk in my statutes, neither kept my ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

Eze 20:22 Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.

Eze 20:23 Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

Eze 20:24 because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

Eze 20:25 Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live;

Eze 20:26 and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.

Eze 20:27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

Eze 20:28 For when I had brought them into the land, which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their pleasant aroma, and they poured out there their drink offerings.

Eze 20:29 Then I said to them, What means the high place whereunto you go? So its name is called Bamah to this day.

Eze 20:30 Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Do you pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play you the prostitute after their abominations?

Eze 20:31 and when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you;

Eze 20:32 and that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that you say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

Eze 20:33 As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:

Eze 20:34 and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;

Eze 20:35 and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

Eze 20:36 Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord Yahweh.

Eze 20:37 I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

Eze 20:38 and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

Eze 20:39 As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Go you, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.

Eze 20:40 For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.

Eze 20:41 As a pleasant aroma will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

Eze 20:42 You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.

Eze 20:43 There you shall remember your ways, and all your doings, in which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

Eze 20:44 You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh.

Eze 20:45 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

Eze 20:46 Son of man, set your face toward the south, and drop your word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;

Eze 20:47 and tell the forest of the South, Hear the word of Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.

Eze 20:48 All flesh shall see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.

Eze 20:49 Then said I, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables?

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text) to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.

Ezekiel

Ezekiel 17 1

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 17 2

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel;

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,

`Son of man, put forth a riddle, and use a simile unto the house of Israel,

Ezekiel 17 3

and say, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had various colors, came to Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar:

and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A great eagle with great wings, long-pinioned, full

of feathers, which was of divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the highest branch

of the cedar.

and thou hast said: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: The great eagle, great-winged,

long-pinioned, Full of feathers, that hath diverse colours, Hath come in unto

Lebanon, And it taketh the foliage of the cedar,

Ezekiel 17 4

he cropped off the topmost of the young twigs of it, and carried it to a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

He cropped off the top of its young shoots, and carried it into a merchants` land; he set it

in a city of traders.

The top of its tender twigs it hath cropped, And it bringeth it in to the land of

Canaan. In a city of merchants it hath placed it.

Ezekiel 17 5

He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters; he set it as a willow-tree.

And he took of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field; he placed it by great

waters, he set it as a willow tree.

And it taketh of the seed of the land, And doth put it in a field of seed, To take by

many waters, In a conspicuous place it hath set it.

Ezekiel 17 6

It grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose branches turned toward him, and the roots of it were under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, so that its branches should turn

toward him, and the roots thereof be under him; and it became a vine, and brought forth

branches, and shot forth sprigs.

And it springeth up, and becometh a spreading vine, humble of stature, To turn

its thin shoots toward itself, And its roots are under it, And it becometh a vine,

and maketh boughs, And sendeth forth beauteous branches.

Ezekiel 17 7

There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

And there was another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and behold, from

the beds of her plantation, this vine did bend her roots unto him, and shot forth her

branches toward him, that he might water it.

And there is another great eagle, Great-winged, and abounding with feathers,

And lo, this vine hath bent its roots toward him, And its thin shoots it hath sent

out toward him, To water it from the furrows of its planting,

Ezekiel 17 8

It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

It was planted in a good field by many waters, that it might bring forth branches and

bear fruit, that it might be a noble vine.

On a good field, by many waters, it is planted, To make branches, and to bear

fruit, To be for an goodly vine.

Ezekiel 17 9

Say you, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots of it, and cut off the fruit of it, that it may wither; that all its fresh springing leaves may wither? and not by a strong arm or much people can it be raised from the roots of it.

Say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up its roots, and cut

off its fruit, that it may wither? All its fresh sprouting leaves shall wither, even without

a great arm and many people to pluck it up by its roots.

Say: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: It prospereth -- its roots doth he not draw out,

And its fruit cut off, and it is withered? [In] all the leaves of its springing it withereth, And not by great strength, and by a numerous people, To lift it up by its roots.

Ezekiel 17 10

Yes, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind touches it? it shall wither in the beds where it grew.

And behold, being planted, shall it prosper? shall it not utterly wither when the east

wind toucheth it? It shall wither in the beds where it grew.

And lo, the planted thing -- doth it prosper? When come against it doth the east

wind, Doth it not utterly wither? On the furrows of its springing it withereth.`

Ezekiel 17 11

Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:

Ezekiel 17 12

Say now to the rebellious house, Don`t you know what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king of it, and the princes of it, and brought them to him to Babylon:

Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things are? Say, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took its king and its princes, and led them with him to Babylon.

`Say, I pray thee, to the rebellious house, Have ye not known what these [are]? Say,

Lo, come hath the king of Babylon to Jerusalem, And he taketh its king, and its

princes, And bringeth them to himself to Babylon.

Ezekiel 17 13

and he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him; he also brought him under an oath, and took away the mighty of the land;

And he took of the king`s seed, and made a covenant with him, and brought him under an

oath, and he took away the mighty of the land;

And he taketh of the seed of the kingdom, And maketh with him a covenant, And

bringeth him in to an oath, And the mighty of the land he hath taken,

Ezekiel 17 14

that the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his

covenant it might stand.

that the kingdom might be abased, that it might not lift itself up, that it might keep his

covenant in order to stand.

That the kingdom may be humble, That it may not lift itself up, To keep his

covenant -- that it may stand.

Ezekiel 17 15

But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape who does such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give

him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things?

shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

And he rebelleth against him, To send his messengers to Egypt, To give to him

horses, and much people, Doth he prosper? doth he escape who is doing these

things? And hath he broken covenant and escaped?

Ezekiel 17 16

As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

[As] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, verily in the place of the king that made him king,

whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him, in the midst of

Babylon, shall he die.

I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Doth he not -- in the place of the king

who is causing him to reign, Whose oath he hath despised, And whose covenant he

hath broken, With him -- in the midst of Babylon -- die?

Ezekiel 17 17

Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company help him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many persons.

Neither shall Pharaoh with a mighty army and a great assemblage do anything for him in

the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts to cut off many persons.

And not with a great force, and with a numerous assembly, Doth Pharaoh

maintain him in battle, By pouring out a mount, and in building a fortification,

To cut off many souls.

Ezekiel 17 18

For he has despised the oath by breaking the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, and yet has done all these things; he shall not escape.

He despised the oath, and broke the covenant; and behold, he had given his hand, yet hath he done all these things: he shall not escape.

And he despised the oath -- to break covenant, And lo, he hath given his hand, And

all these he hath done, he escapeth not.

Ezekiel 17 19

Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: As I live, surely my oath that he has despised, and my covenant that he has broken, I will even bring it on his own head.

Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: [As] I live, verily, mine oath which he hath

despised, and my covenant which he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his

head.

Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: I live -- Mine oath that he hath despised,

And My covenant that he hath broken, Have I not put it on his head?

Ezekiel 17 20

I will spread my net on him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed against me.

And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring

him to Babylon, and will enter into judgment with him there for his unfaithfulness in

which he hath been unfaithful against me.

And I have spread out for him My snare, And he hath been caught in My net, And I

have brought him in to Babylon, And pleaded with him there his trespass, That he

hath trespassed against Me.

Ezekiel 17 21

All his fugitives in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered toward every wind: and you shall know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it.

And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall

be scattered toward every wind; and ye shall know that I Jehovah have spoken.

And all his fugitives, with all his bands, By sword do fall, and those remaining, To

every wind they are spread out, And ye have known that I, Jehovah, have spoken.

Ezekiel 17 22

Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain:

Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the highest branch of the lofty cedar, and

will set it; I will crop off from the top of its young shoots a tender one, and I will plant it

upon a high and eminent mountain:

Thus said the Lord Jehovah: I have taken of the foliage of the high cedar, And I

have set [it], From the top of its tender shoots a tender one I crop, And I -- I have

planted [it] on a mountain high and lofty.

Ezekiel 17 23

in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all birds of every wing; in the shade of the branches of it shall they dwell.

upon the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth

branches, and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar; and under it shall dwell all birds of

every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

In a mountain -- the high place of Israel, I plant it, And it hath borne boughs, and

yielded fruit, And become a goodly cedar, And dwelt under it have all birds of

every wing, In the shade of its thin shoots they dwell.

Ezekiel 17 24

All the trees of the field shall know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, Yahweh, have spoken and have done it.

And all the trees of the field shall know that I Jehovah have brought down the high tree,

have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and made the dry tree to

flourish: I Jehovah have spoken, and will do [it].

And known have all trees of the field That I, Jehovah, have made low the high tree,

I have set on high the low tree, I have dried up the moist tree, And I have caused

the dry tree to flourish, I, Jehovah, have spoken, and have done [it]!`

Ezekiel 18 1

The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

`And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:

Ezekiel 18 2

What do you mean, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children`s teeth are set on edge?

What mean ye, ye who use this proverb of the land of Israel, saying, [The] fathers eat sour grapes, and the children`s teeth are set on edge?

`What -- to you, ye -- using this simile Concerning the ground of Israel, saying:

Fathers do eat unripe fruit, And the sons` teeth are blunted?

Ezekiel 18 3

As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, you shall not have [occasion] any more to use this proverb in Israel.

[As] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, ye shall not have any more to use this proverb in Israel.

I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Ye have no more the use of this simile

in Israel.

Ezekiel 18 4

Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.

Behold, all the souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Lo, all the souls are Mine, As the soul of the father, So also the soul of the son --

they are Mine, The soul that is sinning -- it doth die.

Ezekiel 18 5

But if a man is just, and does that which is lawful and right,

And if a man be righteous, and do judgment and justice:

And a man, when he is righteous, And hath done judgment and righteousness,

Ezekiel 18 6

and has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has defiled his neighbor`s wife, neither has come near to a woman in her impurity,

-- he hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour`s wife, nor come near to a woman in her impurity

separation, On the mountains he hath not eaten, And his eyes he hath not lifted up Unto idols of the house of Israel, And the wife of his neighbour defiled not, And to a

separated woman cometh not near,

Ezekiel 18 7

and has not wronged any, but has restored to the debtor his pledge, has taken nothing by

robbery, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;

and hath not oppressed any; he hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath not exercised robbery, hath given his bread to the hungry, and covered the naked with a garment;

A man -- he doth not oppress, His pledge to the debtor he doth return, Plunder he

doth not take away, His bread to the hungry he doth give, And the naked doth

cover with a garment,

Ezekiel 18 8

he who has not given forth on interest, neither has taken any increase, who has withdrawn his hand from iniquity, has executed true justice between man and man,

he hath not given forth upon usury, nor taken increase; he hath withdrawn his hand from

unrighteousness, hath executed true judgment between man and man,

In usury he doth not give, and increase taketh not, From perversity he turneth

back his hand, True judgment he doth between man and man.

Ezekiel 18 9

has walked in my statutes, and has kept my ordinances, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord Yahweh.

hath walked in my statutes, and kept mine ordinances, to deal faithfully: he is righteous,

he shall certainly live, saith the Lord Jehovah.

In My statutes he doth walk, And My judgments he hath kept -- to deal truly,

Righteous [is] he, he surely liveth, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

Ezekiel 18 10

If he fathers a son who is a robber, a shedder of blood, and who does any one of these things, And if he have begotten a son that is violent, a shedder of blood, and that doeth only one

of any of these [things],

And -- he hath begotten a son, A burglar -- a shedder of blood, And he hath made a

brother of one of these,

Ezekiel 18 11

and who does not any of those [duties], but even has eaten on the mountains, and defiled his neighbor`s wife,

and that doeth not any of those [duties], but also hath eaten upon the mountains, and

defiled his neighbour`s wife,

And he all those hath not done, For even on the mountains he hath eaten, And the

wife of his neighbour he hath defiled,

Ezekiel 18 12

has wronged the poor and needy, has taken by robbery, has not restored the pledge, and has lifted up his eyes to the idols, has committed abomination,

hath oppressed the poor and needy, exercised robbery, hath not restored the pledge, and

hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, committed abomination,

The afflicted and needy he hath oppressed, Plunder he hath taken violently away,

A pledge he doth not return, And unto the idols he hath lifted up his eyes,

Abomination he hath done!

Ezekiel 18 13

has given forth on interest, and has taken increase; shall he then live? he shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be on him.

given forth upon usury, and taken increase; shall he then live? He shall not live: he hath

done all these abominations; he shall certainly die; his blood shall be upon him.

In usury he hath given, and increase taken, And he liveth: he doth not live, All

these abominations he hath done, He doth surely die, his blood is on him.

Ezekiel 18 14

Now, behold, if he fathers a son, who sees all his father`s sins, which he has done, and fears, and does not such like;

But lo, if he have begotten a son that seeth all his father`s sins which he hath done, and

considereth, and doeth not such like:

And -- lo, he hath begotten a son, And he seeth all the sins of his father, That he

hath done, and he feareth, And doth not do like them,

Ezekiel 18 15

who has not eaten on the mountains, neither has lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor`s wife,

-- he hath not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; he hath not defiled his neighbour`s wife,

On the mountains he hath not eaten, And his eyes he hath not lifted up Unto idols

of the house of Israel, The wife of his neighbour he hath not defiled,

Ezekiel 18 16

neither has wronged any, has not taken anything to pledge, neither has taken by robbery, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment;

and hath not oppressed any, nor withholden the pledge, neither hath exercised robbery;

he hath given his bread to the hungry, and covered the naked with a garment;

A man -- he hath not oppressed, A pledge he hath not bound, And plunder he hath

not taken away, His bread to the hungry he hath given, And the naked he covered

with a garment,

Ezekiel 18 17

who has withdrawn his hand from the poor, who has not received interest nor increase, has executed my ordinances, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.

he hath withdrawn his hand from the poor, hath not received usury nor increase, hath

executed my judgments, [and] walked in my statutes: he shall not die for the iniquity of

his father, he shall certainly live.

From the afflicted he hath turned back his hand, Usury and increase he hath not

taken, My judgments he hath done, In My statutes he hath walked, He doth not die

for the iniquity of his father, He doth surely live.

Ezekiel 18 18

As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, robbed his brother, and did that which is not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.

As for his father, because he practised oppression, exercised robbery upon his brother,

and did what was not good among his people, behold, he shall die in his iniquity.

His father -- because he used oppression, Did violently Plunder a brother, And

that which [is] not good did in the midst of his people, And lo, he is dying in his

iniquity.

Ezekiel 18 19

Yet say you, Why does not the son bear the iniquity of the father? when the son has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all my statutes, and has done them, he shall surely live.

And ye say, Why doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? But the son hath done

judgment and justice, hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them; he shall certainly

live.

And ye have said, Wherefore hath not the son, Borne of the iniquity of the father?

And -- the son judgment and righteousness hath done, All My statutes he hath

kept, And he doeth them, he surely liveth.

Ezekiel 18 20

The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father,

neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous

shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

The soul that doth sin -- it doth die. A son doth not bear of the iniquity of the

father, And a father doth not bear of the iniquity of the son, The righteousness of

the righteous is on him, And the wickedness of the wicked is on him.

Ezekiel 18 21

But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

And the wicked, if he turn from all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my

statutes, and do judgment and justice, he shall certainly live, he shall not die.

And the wicked -- when he turneth back From all his sins that he hath done, And

he hath kept all My statutes, And hath done judgment and righteousness, He doth

surely live, he doth not die.

Ezekiel 18 22

None of his transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him: in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.

None of his transgressions which he hath committed shall be remembered against him;

in his righteousness which he hath done shall he live.

All his transgressions that he hath done Are not remembered to him, In his

righteousness that he hath done he liveth.

Ezekiel 18 23

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord Yahweh; and not rather that he should return from his way, and live?

Have I any pleasure at all in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Jehovah; is it not in

his turning from his way, that he may live?

Do I at all desire the death of the wicked? An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Is it

not in his turning back from his way -- And he hath lived?

Ezekiel 18 24

But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of his righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered: in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.

And when the righteous turneth from his righteousness and practiseth what is wrong,

[and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked doeth, shall he live? None

of his righteous acts which he hath done shall be remembered: in his unfaithfulness

which he hath wrought, and in his sin which he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

And in the turning back of the righteous from his righteousness, And he hath

done perversity, According to all the abominations That the wicked hath done, he

doth -- thus he liveth, All his righteousnesses that he hath done are not

remembered, For his trespass that he hath trespassed, And for his sin that he hath

sinned, For them he doth die.

Ezekiel 18 25

Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, house of Israel: Is my way not equal? Aren`t your ways unequal?

And ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear then, house of Israel. Is not my way

equal? are not your ways unequal?

And ye have said, Not pondered is the way of the Lord. Hear, I pray you, O house of

Israel, My way -- is it not pondered? Are not your ways unpondered?

Ezekiel 18 26

When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and dies therein; in his iniquity that he has done shall he die.

When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and practiseth what is wrong,

and dieth for it; in his wrong that he hath done shall he die.

In the turning back of the righteous from his righteousness, And he hath done

perversity, And he is dying by them, for his perversity That he hath done he dieth.

Ezekiel 18 27

Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

And when the wicked turneth from his wickedness which he hath committed, and doeth

judgment and justice, he shall keep his soul alive.

And in the turning back of the wicked From his wickedness that he hath done,

And he doth judgment and righteousness, He his soul doth keep alive.

Ezekiel 18 28

Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he has committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Because he considereth, and turneth from all his transgressions which he hath

committed, he shall certainly live, he shall not die.

And he seeth and turneth back, From all his transgressions that he hath done, He

doth surely live, he doth not die,

Ezekiel 18 29

Yet says the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

But the house of Israel say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? Is it not your ways that are unequal?

And the house of Israel have said, Not pondered is the way of the Lord, My ways --

are they not pondered? O house of Israel -- are not your ways unpondered?

Ezekiel 18 30

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, says the Lord Yahweh. Return you, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord

Jehovah. Return ye, and turn from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your

snare.

Therefore, each according to his ways I judge you, O house of Israel? An

affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Turn ye back, yea, turn yourselves back, From all

your transgressions, And iniquity is not to you for a stumbling-block,

Ezekiel 18 31

Cast away from you all your transgressions, in which you have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, house of Israel?

Cast away from you all your transgressions wherewith ye have transgressed, and make

you a new heart and a new spirit: why then will ye die, house of Israel?

Cast from off you all your transgressions, By which ye have transgressed, And

make to you a new heart, and a new spirit, And why do ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 18 32

For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord Yahweh: why turn yourselves, and live.

For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord Jehovah; therefore

turn ye and live.

For I have no pleasure in the death of the dying, An affirmation of the Lord

Jehovah, And turn ye back and live!

Ezekiel 19 1

Moreover, take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

And thou, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

And thou, lift up a lamentation unto princes of Israel,

Ezekiel 19 2

and say, What was your mother? A lioness: she couched among lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelps.

and say, What was thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her

whelps in the midst of the young lions.

and thou hast said: What [is] thy mother? -- a lioness, Among lions she hath

crouched down, In the midst of young lions she hath multiplied her whelps.

Ezekiel 19 3

She brought up one of her whelps: he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.

And she brought up one of her whelps; it became a young lion, and he learned to catch

the prey; he devoured men.

And she bringeth up one of her whelps, A young lion it hath been, And it learneth

to tear prey, man it hath devoured.

Ezekiel 19 4

The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

And the nations heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with nose-

rings into the land of Egypt.

And hear of it do nations, In their pit it hath been caught, And they bring it in

with chains unto the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 19 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.

And when she saw that she had waited [and] her hope was lost, she took another of her

whelps, [and] made him a young lion.

And she seeth, that stayed -- perished hath her hope, And she taketh one of her

whelps, A young lion she hath made it.

Ezekiel 19 6

He went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.

And he went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and learned to catch

the prey; he devoured men.

And it goeth up and down in the midst of lions, A young lion it hath been, And it

learneth to tear prey, man it hath devoured.

Ezekiel 19 7

He knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fullness of it, because of the noise of his roaring.

And he knew their [desolate] palaces, and he laid waste their cities, so that the land was

desolate, and all it contained, by the noise of his roaring.

And it knoweth his forsaken habitations, And their cities it hath laid waste, And

desolate is the land and its fulness, Because of the voice of his roaring.

Ezekiel 19 8

Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces; and they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit.

Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net

over him; he was taken in their pit.

And set against it do nations Round about from the provinces. And they spread

out for it their net, In their pit it hath been caught.

Ezekiel 19 9

They put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.

And they put him in a cage with nose-rings, and brought him to the king of Babylon;

they brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the

mountains of Israel.

And they put it in prison -- in chains, And they bring it unto the king of Babylon,

They bring it in unto bulwarks, So that its voice is not heard any more On

mountains of Israel.

Ezekiel 19 10

Your mother was like a vine, in your blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.

Thy mother was as a vine, in thy rest, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of

branches by reason of many waters.

Thy mother [is] as a vine in thy blood by waters planted, Fruitful and full of

boughs it hath been, Because of many waters.

Ezekiel 19 11

It had strong rods for the scepters of those who bore rule, and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.

And it had strong rods for sceptres of them that bear rule, and its stature was exalted

between the thick boughs; and it was conspicuous by its height with the multitude of its

branches.

And it hath strong rods for sceptres of rulers, And high is its stature above thick

branches, And it appeareth in its height In the multitude of its thin shoots.

Ezekiel 19 12

But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit: its strong rods were broken off and withered; the fire consumed them.

But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up

its fruit; its strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.

And it is plucked up in fury, To the earth it hath been cast, And the east wind

hath dried up its fruit, Broken and withered hath been the rod of its strength,

Fire hath consumed it.

Ezekiel 19 13

Now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.

And now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground:

And now -- it is planted in a wilderness, In a land dry and thirsty.

Ezekiel 19 14

Fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it has devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a scepter to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

and a fire is gone out of a rod of its branches, [which] hath devoured its fruit; so that it

hath no strong rod to be a sceptre for ruling. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a

lamentation.

And go forth doth fire from a rod of its boughs, Its fruit it hath devoured, And it

hath no rod of strength -- a sceptre to rule, Lamentation it [is] -- and it is for a

lamentation!`

Ezekiel 20 1

It happened 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 Yahweh, and sat before me.

And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth of the month,

[that] certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and they sat before me.

And it cometh to pass, in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], in the tenth of the

month, come in have certain of the elders of Israel to seek Jehovah, and they sit

before me;

Ezekiel 20 2

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

and there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 20 3

Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you.

Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord

Jehovah: Are ye come to inquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be

inquired of by you.

`Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Thus

said the Lord Jehovah: To seek Me are ye coming in? I live -- I am not sought by you

-- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

Ezekiel 20 4

Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;

Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, son of man? Cause them to know the abominations

of their fathers,

Dost thou judge them? Dost thou judge, son of man? The abominations of their

fathers cause them to know,

Ezekiel 20 5

and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am Yahweh your God;

and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted

up my hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up my hand unto them, saying, I [am] Jehovah your God,

and thou hast said unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the day of My fixing

on Israel, I lift up My hand, To the seed of the house of Jacob, And am known to

them in the land of Egypt, And I lift up My hand to them, Saying, I [am] Jehovah

your God.

Ezekiel 20 6

in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

in that day I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a

land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the ornament of

all lands;

In that day I did lift up My hand to them, To bring them forth from the land of

Egypt, Unto a land that I spied out for them, Flowing with milk and honey, A

beauty it [is] to all the lands,

Ezekiel 20 7

I said to them, Cast you away every man the abominations of his eyes, and don`t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God.

and I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] Jehovah your God.

And I say unto them, Let each cast away the detestable things of his eyes, And with

the idols of Egypt be not defiled, I [am] Jehovah your God.

Ezekiel 20 8

But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to 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 would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: none of them cast away the abominations of his eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I thought to pour out my fury upon them, so as to accomplish mine anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

And -- they rebel against Me, And have not been willing to hearken to Me, Each,

the detestable things of their eyes, They have not cast away, And the idols of Egypt

have not forsaken, And I say -- to pour out My fury on them, To complete Mine

anger against them, In the midst of the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20 9

But I worked for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

But I wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the

nations among whom they were, in whose sight I had made myself known unto them in

bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

And I do [it] for My name`s sake, Not to pollute [it] before the eyes of the nations,

In whose midst they [are], Before whose eyes I became known to them, To bring

them out from the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20 10

So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

And I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the

wilderness.

And I bring them out of the land of Egypt, And I bring them in unto the

Ezekiel 20 11

I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them.

And I gave them my statutes, and made known unto them mine ordinances, which if a

man do, he shall live by them.

And I give to them My statutes, And my judgments I caused them to know, Which

the man who doth -- liveth by them.

Ezekiel 20 12

Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

And I also gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might

know that I [am] Jehovah that hallow them.

And also My sabbaths I have given to them, To be for a sign between Me and them,

To know that I [am] Jehovah their sanctifier.

Ezekiel 20 13

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they didn`t walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my

statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them; and

my sabbaths they greatly profaned: and I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the

wilderness, to consume them.

And -- rebel against me do the house of Israel in the wilderness, In My statutes

they have not walked, And My judgments they have despised, Which the man who

doth -- liveth by them. And My sabbaths they have greatly polluted, And I say to

pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Ezekiel 20 14

But I worked for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

But I wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the

nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

And I do [it] for My name`s sake, Not to pollute [it] before the eyes of the nations,

Before whose eyes I brought them forth.

Ezekiel 20 15

Moreover also I swore to 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;

And I also lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them

into the land that I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which is the

ornament of all lands;

And also, I, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, Not to bring them

in to the land that I had given, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it [is] to all

the lands,

Ezekiel 20 16

because they rejected my ordinances, and didn`t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

because they rejected mine ordinances and walked not in my statutes, and profaned my

sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

Because against My judgments they did kick, And in My statutes they have not

walked, And My sabbaths they have polluted, For after their idols their heart is

going.

Ezekiel 20 17

Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn`t destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

But mine eye spared them so as not to destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

And Mine eye hath pity on them -- against destroying them, And I have not made

of them an end in the wilderness.

Ezekiel 20 18

I said to their children in the wilderness, Don`t you walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

And I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk not in the statutes of your fathers,

neither keep their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

And I say to their sons in the wilderness: In the statutes of your fathers ye walk

not, And their judgments ye do not observe, And with their idols ye are not defiled.

Ezekiel 20 19

I am Yahweh your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them;

I [am] Jehovah your God: walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;

I [am] Jehovah your God, in My statutes walk, And My judgments observe, and do

them,

Ezekiel 20 20

and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.

and hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know

that I [am] Jehovah your God.

And My sabbaths sanctify, And they have been for a sign between Me and you, To

know that I, Jehovah, [am] your God.

Ezekiel 20 21

But the children rebelled against me; they didn`t walk in my statutes, neither kept my

ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

And the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept mine

ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live by them; they profaned my

sabbaths: and I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish mine anger

against them in the wilderness.

And -- the sons rebel against Me, In My statutes they have not walked, And My

judgments they have not observed -- to do them, Which the man who doth -- liveth

by them. My sabbaths they have polluted, And I say to pour out My fury upon them,

To complete Mine anger against them in the wilderness.

Ezekiel 20 22

Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and worked for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.

But I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name`s sake, that it should not be profaned

in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

And I have turned back My hand, And I do [it] for My name`s sake, Not to pollute

[it] before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them out.

Ezekiel 20 23

Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

I lifted up my hand also unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among

the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

I also, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, To scatter them among

nations, And to spread them through lands.

Ezekiel 20 24

because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers` idols.

because they performed not mine ordinances, and rejected my statutes, and profaned my

sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers` idols.

Because My judgments they have not done, And My statutes they have despised,

And My sabbaths they have polluted, And after idols of their fathers have their

eyes been.

Ezekiel 20 25

Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live;

And I also gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances whereby they should

not live;

And I also, I have given to them statutes not good, And judgments by which they

do not live.

Ezekiel 20 26

and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.

and I defiled them by their own gifts, in that they devoted all that opened the womb, that

I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] Jehovah.

And I defile them by their own gifts, By causing to pass away every opener of a

womb, So that I make them desolate, So that they know that I [am] Jehovah.

Ezekiel 20 27

Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the

Lord Jehovah: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have

wrought unfaithfulness against me.

Therefore, speak unto the house of Israel, son of man, and thou hast said unto

them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Still in this have your fathers reviled Me, In

their committing against Me a trespass.

Ezekiel 20 28

For when I had brought them into the land, which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings.

When I had brought them into the land which I had lifted up my hand to give unto 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; and there they

placed their sweet savour, and there poured out their drink-offerings.

And I bring them in unto the land, That I did lift up My hand to give to them, And

they see every high hill, and every thick tree, And they sacrifice there their

sacrifices, And give there the provocation of their offering, And make there their

sweet fragrance, And they pour out there their libations.

Ezekiel 20 29

Then I said to them, What means the high place whereunto you go? So the name of it is called Bamah to this day.

And I said unto them, What is the high place whither ye go? And the name thereof is

called Bamah unto this day.

And I say unto them: What [is] the high place whither ye are going in? And its

name is called `high place` to this day.

Ezekiel 20 30

Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Do you pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play you the prostitute after their abominations?

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye defile

yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and do ye commit fornication after their

abominations?

Therefore, say unto the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the way of

your fathers are ye defiled? And after their detestable things go a-whoring?

Ezekiel 20 31

and when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you;

And when ye offer your gifts, making your sons to pass through the fire, ye defile

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 Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.

And in the offering of your gifts, In causing your sons to pass through fire, Ye are

defiled by all your idols to this day, And I am sought by you, O house of Israel! I

live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, I am not sought by you.

Ezekiel 20 32

and that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that you say, We will be as the

nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the

nations, as the families of the countries, in serving wood and stone.

And that which is going up on your mind, It is not at all -- in that ye are saying:

We will be as the nations, as the families of the lands, To serve wood and stone.

Ezekiel 20 33

As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:

[As] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, verily with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched

arm, and with fury poured out, will I reign over you.

I live -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Do not I, with a strong hand, And with

a stretched-out arm, And with fury poured out -- rule over you?

Ezekiel 20 34

and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;

And I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries

wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with

fury poured out;

And I have brought you forth from the peoples, And assembled you from the lands

In which ye have been scattered, With a strong hand and with a stretched-out

arm, And with fury poured out.

Ezekiel 20 35

and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into

judgment with you face to face.

And I have brought you in unto the wilderness of the peoples, And have been

judged with you there face to face.

Ezekiel 20 36

Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord Yahweh.

Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,

so will I enter into judgment with you, saith the Lord Jehovah.

As I was judged with your fathers, In the wilderness of the land of Egypt, So I am

judged with you, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

Ezekiel 20 37

I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the

covenant.

And I have caused you to pass under the rod, And brought you into the bond of the

covenant,

Ezekiel 20 38

and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

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, but they shall not enter into

the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I [am] Jehovah.

And cleared out from you the rebels, And them transgressing against Me, From

the land of their sojournings I bring them out, And unto the land of Israel they

come not, And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah.

Ezekiel 20 39

As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Go you, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name shall you no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Go ye, serve every one his idols

henceforth also, if none of you will hearken unto me; but profane my holy name no more

with your gifts and with your idols.

And ye, O house of Israel, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Each his idols -- go -- serve ye,

And, afterwards, if ye are not hearkening to me, And My holy name ye do not

pollute any more by your gifts, and by your idols.

Ezekiel 20 40

For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.

For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah,

there shall all the house of Israel serve me, the whole of it, in the land; there will I accept

them, and there will I require your heave-offerings and the first-fruits of your offerings,

with all your holy things.

For, in My holy mountain, In the mountain of the height of Israel, An affirmation

of the Lord Jehovah, There serve Me do all the house of Israel, All of it, in the land -

- there I accept them, And there I do seek your heave-offerings, And with the

first-fruit of your gifts, With all your holy things.

Ezekiel 20 41

As a sweet savor will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

As a sweet savour will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you in the sight of the nations.

With sweet fragrance I do accept you, In My bringing you out from the peoples,

And I have assembled you from the lands In which ye have been scattered, And I

have been sanctified in you Before the eyes of the nations.

Ezekiel 20 42

You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.

And ye shall know that I [am] Jehovah, when I have brought you into the land of Israel,

into the country which I lifted up my hand to give to your fathers.

And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah, In My bringing you to the ground of Israel,

Unto the land that I did lift up My hand To give it to your fathers,

Ezekiel 20 43

There shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, in which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been

defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils which ye have

committed.

And ye have remembered there your ways, And all your doings, In which ye have

been defiled, And ye have been loathsome in your own faces, For all your evils that

ye have done.

Ezekiel 20 44

You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name`s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh.

And ye shall know that I [am] Jehovah, when I have wrought with you for my name`s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of

Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah.

And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah, In My dealing with you for My name`s sake,

Not according to your evil ways, And according to your corrupt doings, O house

of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.`

Ezekiel 20 45

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 20 46

Son of man, set your face toward the south, and drop [your word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;

Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [words] against the south, and

prophesy against the forest of the south field;

Son of man, set thy face the way of Teman, and prophesy unto the south, and

prophesy unto the forest of the field -- the south;

Ezekiel 20 47

and tell the forest of the South, Hear the word of Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.

and say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of Jehovah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah:

Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and

every dry tree: the flashing flame shall not be quenched; and all that it meets from the

south to the north shall be burned thereby.

and thou hast said to the forest of the south: Hear a word of Jehovah: Thus said the

Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am kindling in thee a fire, And it hath devoured in thee every

moist tree, and every dry tree, Not quenched is the glowing flames, And burnt by

it have been all faces from south to north.

Ezekiel 20 48

All flesh shall see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.

And all flesh shall see that I Jehovah have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

And seen have all flesh, that I, Jehovah, have kindled it -- it is not quenched.`

Ezekiel 20 49

Then said I, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Isn`t he a speaker of parables?

And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

And I say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?

Study Questions

What is the meaning of the parable of the two eagles and the vine? 17:9-10 with vs.. 1-8

Where will Zedekiah die? 17:16
 

What does the parable of 18:2 mean? (see vs. 4)
 

If a righteous man (vs. 4) has a violent son, will the righteousness of the father save the son? 18:13
 

What is God's decision regarding punishment for sin? 18:20
 

What does God want the sinner to do, and what is God's attitude? 18:30-32
 

Chapter 19 is a _______________? 19:1, 14

Why was God's wrath poured out on Israel? 20:8 with vs.. 1-7
 

How can a man live? 20:11
 

What is the name of the high place? 20:29
 

Where will Israel serve God? 20:40

The World English Bible

Dec. 1

James 4

Jas 4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?

Jas 4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.

Jas 4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

Jas 4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Jas 4:5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?

Jas 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Jas 4:7 Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Jas 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Jas 4:9 Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Jas 4:11 Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Jas 4:12 Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?

Jas 4:13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow let's go into this city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit."

Jas 4:14 Whereas you don't know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Jas 4:15 For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that."

Jas 4:16 But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil.

Jas 4:17 To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.

James

James 4 1

Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don`t they come from your pleasures that war in your members?

Whence [come] wars and whence fightings among you? [Is it] not thence, -- from your

pleasures, which war in your members?

Whence [are] wars and fightings among you? not thence -- out of your passions,

that are as soldiers in your members?

James 4 2

You lust, and don`t have. You kill, covet, and can`t obtain. You fight and make war. Yet you don`t have, because you don`t ask.

Ye lust and have not: ye kill and are full of envy, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war; ye

have not because ye ask not.

ye desire, and ye have not; ye murder, and are zealous, and are not able to attain;

ye fight and war, and ye have not, because of your not asking;

James 4 3

You ask, and don`t receive, because you ask amiss, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.

Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask evilly, that ye may consume [it] in your pleasures.

ye ask, and ye receive not, because evilly ye ask, that in your pleasures ye may

spend [it].

James 4 4

You adulterers and adulteresses, don`t you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever

therefore is minded to be [the] friend of the world is constituted enemy of God.

Adulterers and adulteresses! have ye not known that friendship of the world is

enmity with God? whoever, then, may counsel to be a friend of the world, an

enemy of God he is set.

James 4 5

Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously"?

Think ye that the scripture speaks in vain? Does the Spirit which has taken his abode in

us desire enviously?

Do ye think that emptily the Writing saith, `To envy earnestly desireth the spirit

that did dwell in us,`

James 4 6

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the

humble."

But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God sets himself against [the] proud, but

gives grace to [the] lowly.

and greater grace he doth give, wherefore he saith, `God against proud ones doth

set Himself up, and to lowly ones He doth give grace?`

James 4 7

Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Subject yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

be subject, then, to God; stand up against the devil, and he will flee from you;

James 4 8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse [your] hands, sinners, and purify

[your] hearts, ye double-minded.

draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you; cleanse hands, ye sinners! and

purify hearts, ye two-souled!

James 4 9

Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to gloom.

Be wretched, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your]

joy to heaviness.

be exceeding afflicted, and mourn, and weep, let your laughter to mourning be

turned, and the joy to heaviness;

James 4 10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Humble yourselves before [the] Lord, and he shall exalt you.

be made low before the Lord, and He shall exalt you.

James 4 11

Don`t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

Speak not against one another, brethren. He that speaks against [his] brother, or judges

his brother, speaks against [the] law and judges [the] law. But if thou judgest [the] law,

thou art not doer of [the] law, but judge.

Speak not one against another, brethren; he who is speaking against a brother,

and is judging his brother, doth speak against law, and doth judge law, and if law

thou dost judge, thou art not a doer of law but a judge;

James 4 12

Only one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge another?

One is the lawgiver and judge, who is able to save and to destroy: but who art *thou* who

judgest thy neighbour?

one is the lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; thou -- who art thou that

dost judge the other?

James 4 13

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow let`s go into this city, and spend a year there, and trade, and get gain."

Go to now, ye who say, To-day or to-morrow will we go into such a city and spend a year

there, and traffic and make gain,

Go, now, ye who are saying, `To-day and to-morrow we will go on to such a city, and

will pass there one year, and traffic, and make gain;`

James 4 14

Whereas you don`t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

ye who do not know what will be on the morrow, ([for] what [is] your life? It is even a

vapour, appearing for a little while, and then disappearing,)

who do not know the thing of the morrow; for what is your life? for it is a vapour

that is appearing for a little, and then is vanishing;

James 4 15

For you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will both live, and do this or that."

instead of your saying, If the Lord should [so] will and we should live, we will also do this

or that.

instead of your saying, `If the Lord may will, we shall live, and do this or that;`

James 4 16

But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting is evil.

But now ye glory in your vauntings: all such glorying is evil.

and now ye glory in your pride; all such glorying is evil;

James 4 17

To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn`t do it, to him it is sin.

To him therefore who knows how to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.

to him, then, knowing to do good, and not doing, sin it is to him.

Study Questions

What is hostility towards God? 4:4