1Also, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, “You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD.
2Thus says the Sovereign LORD: ‘Because the enemy has said of you, “Aha, even the ancient high places are now ours”,
3Therefore, prophesy and say, “Thus says the Sovereign LORD: “Because they have ravaged and devoured you on every side, that you might be a possession of the rest of the nations, and you are the object of malicious talk, and slander of the people,
4Therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD God, Thus says the LORD God to the mountains, to the hills, the rivers, the valleys, the desolate wastes, and the cities that are abandoned, which were preyed upon and derided by the remaining nations that are all around;
5Therefore, thus says the LORD God: “Surely in the fire of My jealousy have I spoken against the remaining nations, and against all Edom, who have presumed to take possession of My land with glee and despiteful minds, to treat it as their prey.
6Prophesy, therefore, concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and to the valleys, “Thus says the LORD God: ‘Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and in My fury, because you have suffered the scorn of the nations;
7Therefore, thus says the LORD God: “I swear with uplifted hand, the surrounding nations shall bear their shame.
8But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot out your branches, and yield your fruit for My people Israel; for they will soon return home.
9For, behold, I am concerned for you, and I will look upon you with favor, and you shall be tilled and sown;
10And I will increase the people of Israel that make their home upon you; and the ruined cities shall be rebuilt and inhabited;
11And I will increase both man and beast upon you; and they shall thrive and multiply; and I will settle people upon you as before, and they will prosper more than before; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
12Yea, I will cause men to live upon you, even My people, Israel; and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall never more be bereaved of them.
13Thus says the Sovereign LORD: “Because some say to you, ‘You are a land that devours men, and have bereaved your people of children’,
14Therefore, you shall devour men no more, nor bereave your people of children any more”, says the LORD God.
15“Nor will I cause men to hear the taunt of the nations any more, nor shall you bear the scorn of the people any more, nor shall you cause your nation to fall any more”, says the LORD God.
16Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
17“Son of man, when the people of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their deeds; their behavior was as unclean to Me as a woman’s menstrual cloth.
18Therefore, I poured My fury upon them, for the innocent blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols with which they had polluted it;
19And I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries; I judged them according to their evil ways and their doings.
20And wherever they went in those nations where I scattered them, they profaned My holy name, when those nations said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, and had to leave His land’.
21But I had concern for My holy name, which they had profaned among the nations, where they went.
22Therefore, say to the people of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “I do not do this for your sakes, O people of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.
23And I will sanctify My great name, which was profaned among those nations by your conduct among them; and those nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the LORD God, when I shall be proven holy and sovereign by your mended and sanctified behavior before their eyes.
24For I will gather you from among those nations, and out of all countries, and will bring you back into your own land.
25Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness, and all your detestable idols.
26And I will take away your stony heart and I will give you a new heart and a new spirit.
27And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to honor and obey My statutes, and keep and abide by My ordinances.
28And then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
29I will also redeem you from all your filthiness; and I will call for the increase of your grain, bring no famine upon you.
30And I will multiply the yield of your fruit trees, and of your field crops, that you shall be safe from any famine among the nations.
31Then shall you remember your own evil ways and former sinful doings, and shall be contrite, and loathing yourselves for your past iniquities and abominations.
32 But be it known to you that I am not doing you this kindness because you deserve it, says the LORD God. You have every reason to be ashamed and confounded for pursuing your own ways, O people of Israel.”
33Thus says the LORD God: “In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities, I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt.
34And the desolate land shall be cultivated, whereas it has lain desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
35And they shall say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the rubble of desolate and ruined cities has become fortified, and is occupied.
36Then the nations that remain around you shall know that I, the LORD, rebuilt those ruined places, and planted that which was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.
37Thus says the Sovereign LORD, “I will yet for this be receptive to the prayers and supplications of the people of Israel, and do this for them; I will increase their numbers like a flourishing flock of sheep.
38As numerous as the holy flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts, so shall the rebuilt waste cities be filled with flocks of people; and they shall know that I am the LORD.” Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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