審判以色列的首領
1那時，靈將我舉起，帶我到耶和華殿的東門，我見那裡有二十五個人，當中有百姓的首領押朔的兒子雅撒尼亞和比拿雅的兒子毗拉提。 2耶和華對我說：「人子啊，這些人在這城裡專給人出毒計，設惡謀。 3他們說，『建造房屋的時候不是到了嗎？我們的城像鐵鍋一樣堅固，我們像在鍋裡的肉一樣得到保護。』 4人子啊，你要說預言，說預言斥責他們。」
5耶和華的靈降在我身上，並吩咐我說：「耶和華這樣說，『以色列人啊，我知道你們口中在說什麼，心裡在想什麼。 6你們在城中殺人無數，大街小巷遍地屍體。 7所以，主耶和華說，你們在城中殺死的人就是肉，這城就是鍋，但我必把你們從鍋中拉出來。 8你們懼怕刀劍，我必使刀劍臨到你們。這是主耶和華說的。 9我必把你們從城中趕出去，交給外族人。我必懲罰你們， 10使你們死於刀下。我要審判整個以色列，這樣你們就知道我是耶和華。 11這城必不是你們的鍋，你們也必不是其中的肉，我必在全以色列施行審判。 12這樣你們就知道我是耶和華。因為你們沒有遵行我的律例，沒有順從我的典章，卻效法你們四鄰外族的規矩。』」
13我正在說預言的時候，比拿雅的兒子毗拉提就死了。我便俯伏在地大喊：「唉，主耶和華啊，你要滅絕以色列的餘民嗎？」
14耶和華對我說： 15「人子啊，留在耶路撒冷的居民會這樣談論你、你的親人和一切被擄的以色列人，說，『他們遠離了耶和華，這地方已經給了我們。』 16因此，你要說，『主耶和華這樣說，我雖然把以色列人趕到遠方各國，分散在列邦，卻要在他們所去的國家暫作他們的聖所。』
17「你要說，『主耶和華這樣說，我必從各國召集你們，從你們被驅散到的列邦中聚集你們，將以色列再賜給你們。』 18他們回來後，必除掉一切醜惡可憎的事。 19我必賜給他們一顆專一的心，將新靈放在他們裡面，除去他們的石心，賜給他們肉心， 20使他們恪守我的律例，謹遵我的典章。他們將做我的子民，我將做他們的上帝。 21至於那些心裡戀慕醜惡可憎之物的人，我必按他們所行的報應他們。這是主耶和華說的。」
22於是，基路伯天使展開翅膀，輪子跟在他們旁邊，在他們上面有以色列上帝的榮耀。 23耶和華的榮耀從城中升起，停在城東的山上。 24靈將我舉起，在異象中把我帶到迦勒底被擄的人那裡，我所見的異象從我面前上升消失了。 25我把耶和華讓我看到的一切都告訴了那些被擄的人。
The Lord’s Judgment of Jerusalem Is Certain
1Then the Spirit of the Lord lifted me up. He brought me to the east gate of the Lord’s house. There were 25 men at the entrance of the gate. I saw Jaazaniah and Pelatiah among them. They were leaders of the people. Jaazaniah is the son of Azzur. Pelatiah is the son of Benaiah. 2The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these men are making evil plans. They are giving bad advice to the city. 3They say, ‘Haven’t our houses just been built again? The city is like a pot used for cooking. And we are the meat in it.’ 4So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”
5Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me. He told me to tell them, “The Lord says, ‘You leaders in Israel, that is what you are saying. But I know what you are thinking. 6You have killed many people in this city. In fact, you have filled its streets with dead bodies.’
7“So the Lord and King says, ‘The bodies you have thrown there are the meat. And the city is the cooking pot. But I will drive you out of it. 8You are afraid of the swords of war. But I will bring them against you,’ announces the Lord and King. 9‘I will drive you out of the city. I will hand you over to outsiders. And I will punish you. 10You will be killed by swords. I will judge you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 11This city will not be a pot for you. And you will not be the meat in it. I will judge you at the borders of Israel. 12Then you will know that I am the Lord. You have not obeyed my rules. You have not kept my laws. Instead, you have lived by the standards of the nations around you.’ ”
13Pelatiah, the son of Benaiah, died as I was prophesying. Then I fell with my face toward the ground. I cried out in a loud voice. I said, “Lord and King, will you destroy all the Israelites who are still left alive?”
The Lord Will Bring His People Back Home
14A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 15“Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have spoken about you. They have spoken about the others the Babylonians have taken away. They have also spoken about all the other people of Israel. The people of Jerusalem have said, ‘Those people are far away from the Lord. This land was given to us. And it belongs to us.’
16“So tell them, ‘The Lord and King says, “I sent some of my people far away among the nations. I scattered them among the countries. But for a little while I have been their temple in the countries where they have gone.” ’
17“Tell them, ‘The Lord and King says, “I will gather you from the nations. I will bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered. I will give you back the land of Israel.” ’
18“They will return to it. They will remove all its statues of evil gods. I hate those gods. 19I will give my people hearts that are completely committed to me. I will give them a new spirit that is faithful to me. I will remove their stubborn hearts from them. And I will give them hearts that obey me. 20Then they will follow my rules. They will be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people. And I will be their God. 21But some people have hearts that are committed to worshiping the statues of their evil gods. I hate those gods. Anything that happens to those people will be their own fault,” announces the Lord and King.
22Then the cherubim spread their wings. The wheels were beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23The glory of the Lord went up from the city. It stopped above the Mount of Olives east of the city. 24The Spirit of God lifted me up. He took me to those who had been brought to Babylon as prisoners. These are the things that happened in the visions the Spirit gave me.
Then the visions I had seen were gone. 25I told my people everything the Lord had shown me.
