# verses

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The one basket <i>had</i> very good figs, like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket <i>had</i> very bad figs, which could not be eaten, from being so bad.


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Then said the Lord unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs: the good figs, are very good; and the bad ones, are very bad, which cannot be eaten, from being so bad.


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Thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel, Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge the exiles of Judah, whom I have sent away from this place into the land of the Chaldeans, for good.


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And I will set my eye upon them for good, and I will cause them to return again to this land; and I will build them up, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.


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And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be unto me for a people, and I will be unto them for God! for they will return unto me with all their heart.


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And like the bad figs, which cannot be eaten, from being so bad, surely thus hath said the Lord, So I will render Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and those that dwell in the land of Egypt;


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And I will make them a horror because of <i>their</i> mishaps unto all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and a proverb, a byword and a curse, in all the places whither I will drive them.


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And I will send out against them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, till they be destroyed from off the land that I had given unto them and to their fathers.


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The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah, which is the first year of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon;


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Which Jeremiah the prophet spoke concerning all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,


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From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon the king of Judah, even until this day, that is now three and twenty years, the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.


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And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, making <i>them</i> rise early and sending <i>them</i>; but ye have not hearkened, and have not inclined your ear to hear.


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They said, O do turn away every one from his evil way, and from the wrongfulness of your doings; and ye shall remain in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers, for from eternity to eternity;


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And go not after other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will not injure you.


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Yet have ye not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord: in order that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your own hands to your own injury.


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Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and to Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them over this land, and over its inhabitants, and over all these nations round about, and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a derision, and perpetual ruins.


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And I will banish from them the voice of gladness, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the mill, and the light of the lamp.


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And this whole land shall become a ruin and an <i>object of</i> astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.


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And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will visit on the king of Babylon, and on that nation, saith the Lord, their iniquity, and on the land of the Chaldeans, and will change it into perpetual desolations.


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And I will bring over that land all my words which I have spoken concerning it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied concerning all the nations.


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For when many nations and great kings shall have made them also serve: I will then recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their own hands.


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For thus hath said the Lord the God of Israel unto me, Take the cup of the wine of this fury out of my hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send thee to drink it.


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And I took the cup out of the hand of the Lord, and caused to drink all the nations, unto whom the Lord had sent me:


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Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and its kings, and its princes, to make them a ruin, an astonishment, a derision, and a curse; as it is this day;


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And all the confederated nations, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Gazzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;


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And all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;


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And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the confederated nations that dwell in the wilderness;


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And all the kings of the north, that are far and that are near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth; and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.


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And thou shalt say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Drink ye, and become drunken, and vomit, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword, which I am sending among you.


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And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup of thy hand to drink, that thou shalt say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Ye must certainly drink;


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For lo, on the city which is called by my name, I begin to inflict evil, and ye will remain utterly unpunished? Ye shall not remain unpunished; for a sword am I calling up over all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.


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But thou, do thou prophesy concerning them all these words, and say unto them, The Lord will cry aloud from on high, and from his holy habitation will he send forth his voice; he will cry out very loudly over his habitation; the vintners call, as they that tread out the grapes, will he lift up against all the inhabitants of the earth.


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A tumultuous noise cometh even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he holdeth judgment over all flesh: the wicked,these he giveth up to the sword, saith the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil goeth forth from nation to nation, and a great stormwind waketh up from the farthest ends of the earth.


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And the slain of the Lord shall be on that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, nor gathered up, nor buried; they shall be as dung upon the surface of the ground.


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Wail, ye shepherds, and cry; and roll yourselves about <i>in the dust</i>, ye leaders of the flocks; for full are your days for you to be slaughtered, and I will scatter you; and you shall fall like a costly vessel.


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And lost shall be the place of refuge for the shepherds, and the escape for the leaders of the flocks to escape.


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There is the voice of the cry of anguish of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leaders of the flocks; for the Lord hath devastated their pasture.


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And in silent desolation lie the pasturelands of peace, because of the fierceness of the anger of the Lord.


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He hath forsaken his covert, like the young lion; for their land is become desolate, because of the fierceness of the wasting <i>sword</i>, and because of the fierceness of his anger.


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In the beginning of the reign of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah came this word from the Lord, saying,


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Thus hath said the Lord, Place thyself in the court of the house of the Lord, and speak against all of the cities of Judah, who come to prostrate themselves in the house of the Lord, all the words that I have commanded thee to speak unto them: omit not a word <i>thereof</i>;


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Perhaps it be that they will hearken, and return every man from his evil way, that I may bethink me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them, because of the wrongfulness of their doings.


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And thou shalt say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord, if ye will not hearken unto me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,


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To hearken unto the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send unto you, yea, making them rise up early, and sending them, while ye have not hearkened:


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Then will I render this house like Shiloh, and this city will I render a curse unto all the nations of the earth.


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And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord:


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And it came to pass, when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded <i>him</i> to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized on him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.


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Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, Like Shiloh shall this house be, and this city shall be ruined, <i>left</i> without an inhabitant? And all the people assembled themselves against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.


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But when the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the kings house unto the house of the Lord, and sat down at the entrance of the new gate of the Lords house.


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Then said the priests and the prophets unto the princes and unto all the people, as followeth, This man deserveth the punishment of death; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your own ears.


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Then said Jeremiah unto all the princes and unto all the people, as followeth, The Lord hath sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.


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But now amend your ways and your doings, and hearken to the voice of the Lord your God: and the Lord will bethink him of the evil that he hath spoken against you.


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But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye will surely place <i>the guilt of</i> innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon its inhabitants; for in truth hath the Lord sent me unto you to speak in your ears all these words.


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Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets, This man is not deserving the punishment of death; for in the name of the Lord our God hath he spoken unto us.


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And then rose up certain men of the elders of the land, and said to all the assembly of the people, as followeth,


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Michah the Morashthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah the king of Judah. and said to all the people of Judah, as followeth, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Zion shall be ploughed up like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the house, woody highplaces.


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Did Hezekiah the king of Judah and all Judah attempt to put him to death? behold, he did fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord bethought him of the evil which he had spoken against them. And shall we bring a great wickedness on our souls?


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And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriyah the son of Shemayahu of Kiryathyearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land in accordance with all the words of Jeremiah;


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And when king Jehoyakim, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriyahu heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and arrived in Egypt;


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But king Jehoyakim sent some men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and some men with him into Egypt:


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And they fetched Uriyahu out of Egypt, and brought him unto king Jehoyakim, who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body upon the graves of the common people.


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But the hand of Achikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so as not to give him up into the hand of the people to put him to death.


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In the beginning of the reign of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,


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And send such to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the children of Ammon, and to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Zidon, by means of the messengers who come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah the king of Judah;


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And thou shalt charge them unto their masters, saying, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Thus shall ye say unto your masters,


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It is I who have made the earth, the men, and the beasts that are upon the face of the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and I have given it unto the one who seemeth proper in my eyes.


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And now it is I who have given all these countries into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and also the beasts of the field have I given him to serve him.


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And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his sons son, until the time of his land is also come in its turn: when many nations and great kings shall make it serve.


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And it shall come to pass, that the nation and the kingdom which will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put its neck in the yoke of the king of Babylon,even that nation will I punish with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, saith the Lord, until I have made an end of them by his hand.


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But do ye not hearken to your prophets, and to your diviners, and to your dreamers, and to your enchanters, and to your sorcerers, who speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon;


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For falsehood do they prophesy unto you, in order to remove you far from your land; and that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish.


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But the nation that will bring its neck into the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him,that one will I then let remain quietly in its own land, saith the Lord: and it shall till it, and dwell therein.


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And unto Zedekiah the king of Judah did I speak in accordance with all these words, saying, Bring your neck into the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, that ye may live.


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Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?


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And do ye not hearken unto the words of the prophets that say unto you, as followeth, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon; for a falsehood do they prophesy unto you.


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For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy in my name falsely: in order that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.


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And unto the priests and unto all this people did I speak, saying, Thus hath said the Lord, Do not hearken to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the house of the Lord shall be brought again from Babylon now speedily; for a falsehood do they prophesy unto you.


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Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, that ye may live: wherefore should this city become a ruin?


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And if they be prophets, and if the word of the Lord be with them, let them now make intercession with the Lord of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, may not be carried to Babylon.


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For thus hath said the Lord of hosts of the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that are left in this city,


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Which Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon did not take away, when he carried away into exile Jechonyah the son of Jehoyakim the king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;


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<i>Yea</i> for thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem,


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Unto Babylon shall they be carried, and there shall they remain until the day that I think of them, saith the Lord, when I will bring them up, and restore them to this place.


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And it came to pass in the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, that there said unto me Chananyah the son of Azzur the prophet, who was from Gibon, in the house of the Lord, before the eyes of the priests, and of all the people, as followeth,


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon;


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Within yet two years time will I cause to be brought back unto this place all the vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon hath taken away from this place, and which he hath carried to Babylon:


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And Jechonyah the son of Jehoyakim the king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah that are gone to Babylon, will I cause to return to this place, saith the Lord; for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.


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Then said Jeremiah the prophet unto Chananyah the prophet before the eyes of the priests, and before the eyes of all the people that stood in the house of the Lord,


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Yea, then said Jeremiah the prophet, Amen, may the Lord do so: may the Lord fulfill thy words which thou hast prophesied, to cause the vessels of the Lords house, and all that have been carried into exile, to be brought back from Babylon unto this place.


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Nevertheless hear thou now this word which I speak before thy ears, and before the ears of all the people:


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The prophets that have been before me and before thee from olden times prophesied both concerning many countries, and against great kingdoms, respecting war, and respecting evil, and respecting pestilence.


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The prophet who prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet doth come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, <i>as the one</i> whom the Lord hath sent in truth.


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Then took Chananyah the prophet the yokebar from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, and broke it.


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And Chananyah said before the eyes of all the people, as followeth, Thus hath said the Lord, Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon within two years time from the neck of all the nations. And Jeremiah the prophet went his way.


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Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, after Chananyah the prophet had broken the yokebar from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, saying,


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Go and say unto Chananyah as followeth, Thus hath said the Lord, Yokebars of wood hast thou broken; but thou shalt make in their stead yokebars of iron.


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For thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, A yoke of iron have I placed upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon; and they shall work for him: and also the beasts of the field have I given him.


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Then said Jeremiah the prophet unto Chananyah the prophet, Hear now, Chananyah, The Lord did not send thee; but thou hast caused this people to trust on a falsehood.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will send thee away from off the face of the earth: this year shalt thou die, because thou hast spoken rebellion against the Lord.


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And these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders of the exiles, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon;


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(After king Jechonyah and the queenmother, and the courtofficers, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the locksmiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)


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By the hand of Elassah the son of Shaphan, and Gemaryah the son of Chilkiyah, <i>whom Zedekiah the king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon,</i> saying,


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all the exiles, whom I have caused to be carried into exile from Jerusalem unto Babylon,


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Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may multiply there, and not be diminished.


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And seek the welfare of the city whither I have banished you, and pray in its behalf unto the Lord; for in its welfare shall ye fare well.


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For thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Let not your prophets, that are in the midst of you, and your diviners, deceive you, and do not hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamt;


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For thus hath said the Lord, Because only after the accomplishment of seventy years for Babylon, will I visit you, and fulfill respecting you my good word, in causing you to return to this place.


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For I alone know the thoughts that I entertain respecting you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a <i>happy</i> future and hope.


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And I will be found of you, saith the Lord; and I will bring back your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will cause you to return unto the place whence I have banished you.


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But thus hath said the Lord concerning the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and concerning all the people that dwell in this city, your brethren that are not gone forth with you into exile;


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will send out against them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence; and I will render them like the detestable figs, that cannot be eaten, from being so bad.


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And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will make them a horror unto all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse, and an astonishment, and a derision, and a disgrace, among all the nations whither I have driven them;


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For the reason that they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord, since I sent unto them my servants the prophets, causing them to rise up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the Lord.


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But yehear ye the word of the Lord, all ye exiles whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Achab the son of Kolayah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maasseyah, who prophesy unto you in my name falsehood, Behold, I will give them up into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon: and he shall smite them before your eyes.


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And a curse shall be derived from them for all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, "May the Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Achab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;"


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Because they have done scandalous deeds in Israel, and have committed adultery with the wives of their neighbors, and have spoken in my name falsehood, which I had not commanded them; whereas I am the one that know, and am the witness, saith the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent in thy name letters unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephanyah the son of Maasseyah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,


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The Lord hath appointed thee priest in the place of Jehoyada the priest, that ye should be superintendents in the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad, and that prophesieth, that thou shouldst put him in the stocks, and in prison:


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For the reason that he hath sent unto us to Babylon saying, It will last a long time: build ye houses, and dwell therein; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit thereof.


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Send to all the exiles, saying, Thus hath said the Lord concerning Shemayah the Nechlamite, Whereas Shemayah hath prophesied unto you, while I have not sent him, and he hath caused you to rely on a falsehood:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will inflict punishment on Shemayah the Nechlamite, and on his seed; he shall not have a man to dwell in the midst of this people; and he shall not behold the good that I am doing for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath spoken revolt against the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord the God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.


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For, behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will bring back again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord; and I will cause them to return to the land that I have given to their fathers, and they shall possess it.


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Ask ye now, and see whether a male doth give birth to a child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in giving birth? and why are all faces turned pale?


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Alas, for that day is great, there is none like it; and a time of distress it is unto Jacob; yet out of it shall he be saved.


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And it shall come to pass on that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and thy bands will I burst asunder; and strangers shall not make him serve any more;


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And thoudo not fear, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; and be not dismayed, O Israel; for, behold, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity: and Jacob shall return, and shall be at rest, and be secure, with none to terrify him.


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For with thee am I, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all the nations whither I have scattered thee, yet of thee will I not make a full end; but I will correct thee in moderation, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.


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There is no one to plead thy cause, to bind up <i>thy wound</i>: useful remedies there are none for thee.


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All thy lovers have forgotten thee; thee they seek not; for with the blow of an enemy have I smitten thee, with cruel chastisement, for the multitude of thy iniquity, because thy sins were so numerous.


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Why wilt thou cry out because of thy breach? for thy pain which is incurable? because of the multitude of thy iniquity, because thy sins were so numerous, have I done these things unto thee.


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Nevertheless all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thy adversaries, all of them, shall go into captivity; and they that plunder thee shall be <i>given up</i> to plunder, and all that prey upon thee will I give up for a prey.


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For I will place a healing plaster on thy bruise, and of thy wounds will I cure thee, saith the Lord; because they called thee "an Outcast." "This is Zion, whom no one seeketh after."


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Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will bring back again the captivity of the tents of Jacob, and on his dwellingplaces will I have mercy; and the city shall be rebuilt upon her own heap of ruins, and the palace shall be inhabited after its <i>ancient</i> manner.


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And there shall proceed out of them thanksgiving, and the voice of those that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be diminished; I will also make them numerous, and they shall not be made few in number.


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And their children shall be as aforetimes, and their congregation shall be firmly established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.


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And their leader shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me; for who is this that will venture of his own heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.


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Behold, the stormwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, an abiding stormwind: upon the head of the wicked shall it fall.


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The fierceness of the anger of the Lord will not turn back, until he have done, and until he have fulfilled the purposes of his heart: in the latter days shall ye understand this.


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<n>(30:25)</n> At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God for all the families of Israel, and they shall be unto me for a people.


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<n>(31:1)</n> Thus hath said the Lord, The people of those that are escaped of the sword found grace in the wilderness,even Israel, when it went to find rest.


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<n>(31:2)</n> "From afar is the Lord appeared unto me," <i>saying,</i> Yea, with an everlasting love have I loved thee; therefore have I guided thee with lovingkindness.


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<n>(31:3)</n> Yet again will I build thee up, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: yet again shalt thou adorn thy timbrels, and go forth in the dances of those that make merry.


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<n>(31:4)</n> Yet again shalt thou plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall redeem the fruit.


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<n>(31:5)</n> For there cometh a day, that the watchers call out upon the mountain of Ephraim, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God.


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<n>(31:6)</n> For thus hath said the Lord, Sing for Jacob with joy, and shout at the head of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, The Lord hath helped thy people, the remnant of Israel.


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<n>(31:7)</n> Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and I will gather them from the farthest ends of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she that travaileth with child together: a great assembly shall they return hither.


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<n>(31:8)</n> With weeping shall they come, and with supplications will I bring them in: I will lead them by brooks of water in a straight way, whereon they shall not stumble; for I am become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.


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<n>(31:9)</n> Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and tell it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattereth Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd his flock.


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<n>(31:10)</n> For the Lord hath ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him out of the hand of one stronger than he.


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<n>(31:11)</n> And they shall come and sing on the height of Zion, and shall come together as a stream to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flocks and of the herds, and their soul shall be as a wellwatered garden; and they shall not farther experience grief any more.


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<n>(31:12)</n> Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and youth and old men together: and I will change their mourning into gladness, and I will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.


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<n>(31:13)</n> And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord.


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<n>(31:14)</n> Thus hath said the Lord, A voice is heard in Ramah, groaning, weeping, and bitter lamentation; Rachel is weeping for her children: she refuseth to be comforted for her children because they are not <i>here</i>.


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<n>(31:15)</n> Thus hath said the Lord, Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thy eyes from tears; for there is a reward for thy work, saith the Lord, and they shall return from the land of the enemy.


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<n>(31:16)</n> And there is hope for <i>thee in</i> thy future, saith the Lord, and thy children shall return to their own borders.


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<n>(31:17)</n> I have indeed heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, "Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untamed calf; cause me to return, and I will return; for thou art the Lord my God.


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<n>(31:18)</n> Surely after my returning, I repent; and after I am made conscious <i>by punishment</i>, I smite upon my thigh: I am ashamed, yea, I am confounded, because I bear the disgrace of my youth."


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<n>(31:19)</n> Is not Ephraim a dear son unto me? or a child that I dandle? for whenever I speak of him, I do earnestly remember him again: therefore are my inward parts moved for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.


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<n>(31:20)</n> Set thyself up waymarks, place thyself pillars; direct thy heart toward the highway, the way which thou didst go: return, O virgin of Israel, return to these thy cities.


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<n>(31:21)</n> How long wilt thou roam about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing on the earth, The woman will go about <i>seeking for</i> the husband.


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<n>(31:22)</n> Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they say this word in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I will bring back again their captivity,May the Lord bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O holy mountain.


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<n>(31:23)</n> And there shall dwell therein Judah, and in all his cities together, husbandmen, and they that move about with the flocks.


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<n>(31:26)</n> Behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man; and with the seed of cattle.


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<n>(31:27)</n> And it shall come to pass, that just as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to overthrow, and to destroy, and to do harm: so will I watch over them, to build up, and to plant, saith the Lord.


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<n>(31:28)</n> In those days shall they not say any more, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the childrens teeth are set on edge;


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<n>(31:29)</n> But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grapeshis teeth shall be set on edge.


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<n>(31:30)</n> Behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will make with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, a new covenant;


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<n>(31:31)</n> Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day that I took hold of them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they have broken, although I was become their husband, saith the Lord;


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<n>(31:32)</n> But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord, I place my law in their inward parts, and upon their heart will I write it; and I will be unto them for a God, and they shall be unto me for a people.


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<n>(31:33)</n> And they shall not teach any more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they all shall know me, from the least of them even unto their greatest, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I not remember any more.


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<n>(31:34)</n> Thus hath said the Lord, who bestoweth the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea that its waves roarThe Lord of hosts is his name:


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<n>(31:35)</n> If these ordinances ever depart from before me, saith the Lord, then also shall the seed of Israel cease from being a nation before me during all time.


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<n>(31:36)</n> Thus hath said the Lord, If the heavens can be measured above, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath: then also will I reject all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the Lord.


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<n>(31:37)</n> Behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when the city shall be built up to the Lord from the tower of Chananel unto the cornergate.


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<n>(31:38)</n> And the measuringline shall yet again go forth opposite it over the hill Gareb, and shall take a turn to Goath.


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<n>(31:39)</n> And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all fields as far as the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horsegate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord: it shall not be plucked up, nor overthrown any more to eternity.


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The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah the king of Judah, which is the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.


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And at that time the king of Babylons army was besieging Jerusalem; and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the house of the king of Judah;


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Because Zedekiah the king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore art thou prophesying, saying, Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will give up this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it.


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And Zedekiah the king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, because he shall surely be given up into the hand of the king of Babylon, and his mouth shall speak to his mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;


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And to Babylon shall he lead Zedekiah, and there shall he remain until I think of him, saith the Lord: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.


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Behold, Chanamel the son of Shallum thy uncle is coming unto thee, saying, Buy for thyself my field that is in Anathoth; for unto thee belongeth the right of redemption to buy it.


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And there came to me Chanamel my uncles son according to the word of the Lord into the court of the prison, and he said unto me, Buy, I pray thee, my field, that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for to thee belongeth the right of inheritance, and to thee belongeth the redemption, buy it for thyself: then did I know that it was the word of the Lord.


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And I bought the field from Chanamel my uncles son, that is in Anathoth; and I weighed out unto him the money, seven shekels, and ten pieces of silver.


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And I wrote it in a deed, and sealed it, and had it certified by witnesses, and weighed the money in balances.


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And I took the deed of the purchase, both that which was sealed, according to the law and custom, and that which was open;


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And I gave the deed of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriyah, the son of Machseyah, before the eyes of Chanamel my kinsman, and before the eyes of the witnesses that had signed the deed of the purchase, before the eyes of all the Jews that were sitting in the court of the prison.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Take these deeds, this deed of the purchase, both the sealed, and this open deed, and place them in an earthen vessel, in order that they may last many days.


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For thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall there be bought houses and fields and vineyards in this land.


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And I prayed to the Lord after I had delivered the deed of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriyah, saying,


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Ah Lord Eternal! behold, it is thou that hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thy outstretched arm; nothing is too wonderful for thee;


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Thou exercisest kindness unto the thousandth <i>generation</i>, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers unto the bosom of their children after them; <i>thou art</i> the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts is his name;


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Great in counsel, and mighty in execution: <i>thou</i> whose eyes are open over all the ways of the sons of man, to give unto every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings;


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Who hast displayed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, up to this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and thou hast made thyself a name, as it is at this day;


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And thou didst bring forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror;


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And thou gavest them this land, which thou hadst sworn to their fathers to give unto them, a land flowing with milk and honey;


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And they came in, and took possession of it; but they hearkened not to thy voice, and in thy law they did not walk; all that thou hadst commanded them to do they did not do: and thou hast therefore caused all this evil to befall them.


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Behold the mounds reach unto the city to capture it; and the city is given up into the hand of the Chaldeans, who fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.


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And yet thou hast said unto me, O Lord Eternal, Buy for thyself the field for money, and have it certified by witnesses: while the city is given up into the hand of the Chaldeans.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will give up this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it:


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And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set this city on fire, and burn it, with the houses upon the roofs of which they have offered incense unto Baal, and have poured out drinkofferings unto other gods, in order to provoke me to anger;


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For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have been doing only what is evil in my eyes from their youth; for the children of Israel have been only provoking me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the Lord.


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For to excite my anger and my fury hath been unto me this city from the day that they built it, even until this day; so that I will remove it from before my presence:


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Because of all the wickedness of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem;


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And they turned unto me the back, and not the face: though <i>my prophets</i> taught them, rising up early and teaching; yet they hearkened not to receive instruction.


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And they built the highplaces of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through <i>the fire</i> unto Molech; which I had not commanded them, and which had not come into my mind, to practise this abomination, in order to mislead Judah to sin.


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But now, therefore, thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, it is given up into the hand of the king of Babylon through the sword, and through the famine, and through the pestilence:


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Behold, I will gather them out of all the countries, whither I have driven them in my anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them back again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell in safety;


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And I will give them one heart, and one manner, to fear me at all times, that it may be well with them, and with their children after them;


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And I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good on my part; and my fear will I place in their heart, so that they may not depart from me.


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And I will be glad over them to do them good; and I will plant them in this land in truth, with all my heart and with all my soul.


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For thus hath said the Lord, Just as I have brought upon this people all this great evil, so will I bring upon them all the good that I speak concerning them.


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And the field shall yet be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast, it is given up into the hand of the Chaldeans.


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Men shall buy fields for money, and write it in deeds, and seal it, and certify it by witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the environs of Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountain, and in the cities of the lowlands, and in the cities of the south; for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the Lord.


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And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,


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Thus hath said the Lord who doth this, the Lord that formeth it, to establish it: the Eternal is his name;


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Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and I will tell thee great and unheard of things, which thou knowest not.


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For thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by means of the mounds, and by means of the sword;


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As they come to fight with the Chaldeans, but only to fill those with the corpses of the men whom I slay in my anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hidden my face from this city:


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Behold, I will bring it healing and cure, and I will cure them, and I will display unto them the abundance of peace and truth.


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And I will cause to return the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel, and I will build them up, as at the first.


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And I will cleanse them from all their guiltiness, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned toward me, and whereby they have transgressed against me.


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And it shall be to me for a name of gladness, a praise and an honor with all the nations of the earth, who will hear all the good that I am doing unto them: and they shall dread and tremble because of all the good and because of all the happiness that I prepare unto it.


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Thus hath said the Lord, Yet again shall there be heard in this place, of which ye say, "It is ruined, without man and without beast" <i>even</i> in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,


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The voice of gladness, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of those that say, "Give thanks unto the Lord of hosts; for the Lord is good; because to eternity endureth his kindness:" of those that bring thanksgivingoffering unto the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Yet again shall there be in this place, which is ruined, without man and even without beast, and in all its cities, a habitation of shepherds who cause their flocks to lie down.


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In the cities of the mountain, in the cities of the lowlands, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the environs of Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks yet pass again under the hands of him that counteth them, saith the Lord.


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Behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will fulfill that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and respecting the house of Judah.


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In those days, and at that time, will I cause to grow up unto David the sprout of righteousness: and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.


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In those days shall Judah be helped, and Jerusalem shall dwell in safety: and this is what she shall be called, The Lord is our righteousness.


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For thus hath said the Lord, There shall never be wanting unto David a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;


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And unto the priests the Levites there shall not be wanting a man before me, to offer burntofferings, and to burn meatofferings, and to prepare sacrifices at all times.


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Thus hath said the Lord, If ye can break my covenant with the day, and my covenant with the night, and so, that there be not day and night in their season:


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Then also shall my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and <i>that</i> with the Levites the priests, my ministers.


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As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, and the sand of the sea not be measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.


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Hast thou not observed what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the Lord hath made choice of, even these hath he rejected: and they <i>thus</i> have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.


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Thus hath said the Lord, If my covenant be not with day and night, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth:


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Then also will I reject the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so as not to take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.


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The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, when Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the country ruled by his power, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all its cities, saying,


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Thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel, Go and speak to Zedekiah the king of Judah, and say to him, Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will give up this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, that he may burn it with fire:


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And thou thyself shalt not escape out of his hand; but thou shalt surely be caught, and be delivered into his hand; and thy eyes shall see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth shall speak with thy mouth, and to Babylon shalt thou go.


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Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah, Thus hath said the Lord respecting thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:


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In peace shalt thou die; and as burnings were made for thy fathers, the former kings who were before thee, so shall they make burnings for thee; and "Ah lord" shall they lament for thee; for I have spoken the word, saith the Lord.


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When the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah; for these had been left of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.


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The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim among themselves freedom;


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That every man should dismiss his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, free; so that no man among them should exact labor of a Jew, his brother.


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And all the princes had hearkened, with all the people, who had entered into the covenant, that every one should dismiss his manservant, and every one his maidservant, free, that no one should exact labor of them any more: and they had obeyed, and dismissed them.


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But they had turned afterward, and they had brought back the menservants and the maidservants whom they had dismissed as free, and had subjected them to become menservants and maidservants.


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Thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel,I myself made a covenant with your fathers on the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,


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At the end of seven years shall ye dismiss every man his brother the Hebrew, who may have been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, then shalt thou dismiss him from thee; but your fathers hearkened not unto me, and inclined not their ear.


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And ye had turned this day, and done what is right in my eyes, to proclaim freedom every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house over which my name is called;


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But ye have turned again, and profaned my name, and ye have brought back every man his manservant, and every man his womanservant, whom ye had dismissed as free at their pleasure, and have subjected them to be unto you for menservants and for womenservants.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord, Ye indeed have not hearkened unto me, to proclaim freedom, every one to his brother, and every one to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim a freedom over you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you a horror unto all the kingdoms of the earth.


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And I will give up the men that have transgressed my covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they had made before me, at the calf which they cut in twain, and between the parts whereof they passed,


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The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the courtservants, and the priests, and all the people of the land, who have passed between the parts of the calf;


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<i>Yea</i> I will give them up into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life; and their dead bodies shall become food unto the fowls of the heavens, and to the beasts of the earth.


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And Zedekiah the king of Judah and his princes will I give up into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life, and into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, that are <i>now</i> gone away from you.


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Behold, I will command, speaketh the Lord, and I will bring them back to this city; and they shall fight against it, and capture it, and burn it with fire: and the cities of Judah will I make a desert without an inhabitant.


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The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, <i>in</i> the days of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah, saying,


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Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak with them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and offer them wine to drink.


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Then I took Yaazanyah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Chabazzinyah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites;


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And I brought them into the house of the Lord, into the chamber of the sons of Chanan, the son of Yigdalyahu, the man of God, which was alongside of the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseyahu the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door:


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And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites goblets full of wine, and cups; and I said unto them, Drink wine.


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But they said, We will not drink wine; for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father hath laid a charge on us, saying, Ye shall not drink wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever;


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Nor shall ye build any house, nor sow seed, nor plant a vineyard, nor have <i>any such</i>; but in tents shall ye dwell all your days, in order that ye may live many days on the face of the land where ye may sojourn.


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And we have hearkened unto the voice of Jehonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, not to drink any wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters;


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But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done in accordance with all that Jonadab our father commanded us.


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But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go into Jerusalem because of the army of the Chaldeans, and because of the army of the Syrians; and so we dwell at Jerusalem.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Go and say to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the Lord.


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Fulfilled are the words of Jehonadab the son of Rechab, that he hath commanded his sons not to drink wine: and they have not drunk any even unto this day; because they have obeyed the commandment of their father; but I, I have spoken unto you, early in the day and speaking; but ye have not hearkened unto me.


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And I have sent unto you all my servants the prophets, making them rise up early and sending them, saying, Do but return every man from his evil way, and amend your deeds, and go not after other gods to serve them: and so shall ye remain in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers; but ye have not inclined your ear, and have not hearkened unto me.


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Because the sons of Jehonadab the son of Rechab have fulfilled the commandment of their father, which he hath commanded them; but as this people have not hearkened unto me:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have spoken concerning them; because I spoke unto them, but they would not hear; and I called unto them, but they would not answer.


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And unto the house of the Rechabites said Jeremiah, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Whereas ye have hearkened to the charge of Jonadab your father, and have kept all his commandments, and have done in accordance with all that he hath commanded you:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, There shall not be wanting unto Jehonadab the son of Rechab a man to stand before me at all times.


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And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,


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Take thee a rollbook, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day that I spoke unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even until this day.


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Peradventure it be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them: in order that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.


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Then did Jeremiah call Baruch the son of Neriyah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had spoken unto him, upon a rollbook.


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And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I am not able to enter into the house of the Lord:


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Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the Lord before the ears of the people in the house of the Lord on the fastday; and also before the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities shalt thou read them.


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Perhaps it may be that they will humbly present their supplication before the Lord, and will return every one from his evil way; for great are the anger and the fury that the Lord hath decreed against this people.


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And Baruch the son of Neriyah did in accordance with all that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him, to read in the book the words of the Lord in the house of the Lord.


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And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord for all the people in Jerusalem, and for all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.


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And Baruch read in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemaryahu the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entrance of the new gate of the Lords house, before the ears of all the people.


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And when Michayhu the son of Gemaryahu, the son of Shaphan, had heard all the words of the Lord out of the book:


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He went down into the kings house, into the scribes chamber; and, lo, all the princes were sitting there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delayahu the son of Shemayahu, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemaryahu the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Chananyahu, and all the princes.


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And Michayhu told unto them all the words which he had heard, when Baruch read in the book before the ears of the people.


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Thereupon sent all the princes Jehudi the son of Nethanyahu, the son of Shelemyahu, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, The roll wherein thou hast read before the ears of the people,this take in thy hand, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriyahu took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.


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And they said unto him, Sit down, we pray thee, and read it before our ears. So Baruch read it before their ears.


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Now it came to pass, when they heard all the words, they looked terrified at each other, and they said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.


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And they asked Baruch, saying, Do tell us, How didst thou write down all these words from his mouth?


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Then said Baruch unto them, With his mouth did he utter clearly all these words unto me, and I wrote them in the book with ink.


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Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thyself, thou with Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye are.


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And they went in to the king into the court, but the roll they had put in safe keeping in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and they told before the ears of the king all the words.


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But the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll; and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it before the ears of the king, and before the ears of all the princes who stood around the king.


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Now the king was sitting in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and a pan of coals was burning before him.


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And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four pages, that he cut it with the writers knife, and cast it into the fire that was in the coalpan, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the coalpan.


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Yet they were not terrified, nor did they rend their garments, either the king, or any of his servants that had heard all these words.


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And although Elnathan and Delayahu and Gemaryahu had also made intercession with the king that he might not burn the roll, he would not listen to them.


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And the king commanded Yerachmeel the son of the king, and Serayahu the son of Azriel, and Shelemyahu the son of Abdeel, to seize on Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but the Lord hid them.


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Then came the word of the Lord to Jeremiah, after the king had burnt the roll, and the words which Baruch had written down from the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,


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Take thee again another roll, and write on it all the former words that have been on the first roll, which Jehoyakim the king of Judah hath burnt.


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And concerning Jehoyakim the king of Judah shalt thou say, Thus hath said the Lord, Thou hast indeed burnt this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease therefrom man and beast!


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord concerning Jehoyakim the king of Judah, He shall have no one to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat in the day, and to the cold in the night.


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And I will visit on him and on his seed and on his servants their iniquity; and I will bring over them, and over the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and against the men of Judah, all the evil that I have spoken against them, while they did not hearken.


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And Jeremiah took another roll, and gave it to Baruch the son of Neriyahu the scribe; who wrote thereon from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoyakim the king of Judah had burnt in the fire: and there were yet added unto them many words like them.


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And Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king in the place of Conyahu the son of Jehoyakim, whom Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon made king in the land of Judah.


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But neither he, nor his servants, nor the people of the land, did hearken unto the words of the Lord, which he had spoken by means of Jeremiah the prophet.


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And king Zedekiah sent Jehuchal the son of Shelemyah and Zephanyahu the son of Maasseyah the priest unto Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Pray now in our behalf unto the Lord our God.


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But the army of Pharaoh was come forth out of Egypt: and when the Chaldeans that besieged Jerusalem heard the report of them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.


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Thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel, Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that hath sent you unto me to inquire of me, Behold, Pharaohs army, which is come forth to help you, returneth into its own land to Egypt.


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But the Chaldeans will come again, and fight against this city, and capture it, and burn it with fire.


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Thus hath said the Lord, Deceive not yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans will certainly go away from us; for they will not go away.


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For if even ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained among them <i>only such</i> men as are pierced through: yet should they rise up, every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.


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And it came to pass, when the army of the Chaldeans had withdrawn from Jerusalem because of the army of Pharaoh,


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That Jeremiah went forth out of Jerusalem to go into the land of Benjamin, to make his escape thence in the midst of the people.


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But as he was in the gate of Benjamin, there was there a captain of the guardsmen, whose name was Yiriyah, the son of Shelemyah, the son of Chananyah; and he seized hold of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou runnest away to the Chaldeans.


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But Jeremiah said, It is false; I am not running away to the Chaldeans. But he listened not to him; and Yiriyah seized hold of Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.


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Thereupon were the princes wroth with Jeremiah, and struck him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for that had they made into a prisonhouse.


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When Jeremiah had been placed in the dungeon, within the traders shops, where Jeremiah remained many days:


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King Zedekiah sent, and had him taken out, and the king asked him in his house in secret, and said, "Is there any word from the Lord?" And Jeremiah said, "There is:" and he said, Into the hand of the king of Babylon shalt thou be given up.


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And Jeremiah said unto king Zedekiah, What have I sinned against thee, and against thy servants, and against this people, that ye have put me into the prisonhouse?


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And where are now your prophets who have prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon will not come against you, and against this land?


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Yet now, do but hear, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let me offer my humble supplication, I pray thee, before thee, that thou wilt not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.


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Then commanded king Zedekiah that they should put Jeremiah in ward in the court of the prison, and that they should give him a loaf of bread for every day out of the bakers street, until all the bread was spent out of the city. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.


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And Shephatyah the son of Matthan, and Gedalyahu the son of Pashchur, and Juchal the son of Shelemyahu, and Pashchur the son of Malkiyah, heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking unto all the people, saying,


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Thus hath said the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; and he shall have his life as a booty, and shall live.


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Thus hath said the Lord, This city shall surely be given up into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it.


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Thereupon said the princes unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death; for the cause that he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that are yet left in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words unto them; for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but their hurt.


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Then said king Zedekiah, Behold, he is in your hand; for the king is not able to do any thing against you.


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Then did they take Jeremiah, and cast him into the pit of Malkiyahu the son of the king, that was in the court of the prison: and they let Jeremiah down with cords; but in the pit there was no water, but mire; so that Jeremiah sunk into the mire.


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Now when Ebedmelech the Cushi, a eunuch who was in the kings house, heard that they had placed Jeremiah into the pit; while the king was sitting in the gate of Benjamin:


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My lord, O king, these men have done wrong in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the pit; and he would have had to die <i>as it is</i> in the place where he was for hunger; for there is no more bread in the city.


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The king then commanded Ebedmelech the Cushi, saying, Take with thee from here thirty men, and bring up Jeremiah the prophet out of the pit, before he die.


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So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence castoff clothes and old rags, and let them down into the pit to Jeremiah by cords.


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And Ebedmelech the Cushi said unto Jeremiah, Put, I pray, these castoff clothes and old rags under thy armpits beneath the cords. And Jeremiah did so.


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So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and brought him up out of the pit: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.


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Then sent king Zedekiah, and took Jeremiah the prophet unto him into the third entry that was in the house of the Lord; and the king said unto Jeremiah, I will ask thee something: conceal nothing from me.


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Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, If I should tell it unto thee, behold, thou wilt surely put me to death; and if I should give thee counsel, thou wilt not hearken unto me.


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So king Zedekiah swore unto Jeremiah secretly, saying, As the Lord liveth, who hath made for us this soul, I will not put thee to death, nor will I give thee up into the hand of these men that seek thy life.


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Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus hath said the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, If thou wilt indeed go forth unto the princes of the king of Babylon, then shall thy soul live, and this city shall not be burnt with fire; and thou shalt live, thou with thy household;


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But if thou wilt not go forth to the princes of the king of Babylon, then shall this city be given up into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou thyself shalt not escape out of their hand.


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Then said king Zedekiah unto Jeremiah, I am in dread of the Jews that have run away to the Chaldeans, lest these deliver me into their hand, and they might illuse me.


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But Jeremiah said, They will not give <i>thee</i> up. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, in that which I speak unto thee; so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.


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And behold, all the women that are left in the house of the king of Judah shall be led forth to the princes of the king of Babylon; and these women shall say, "They have enticed, and have overpersuaded theethy men that should have sought thy welfare; thy feet are <i>now</i> sunk in the mire, and they have withdrawn themselves backward."


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And all thy wives and thy children shall they bring out to the Chaldeans; and thou thyself shalt not escape out of their hand; for by the hand of the king of Babylon shalt thou be caught; and this city wilt thou cause to be burnt with fire.


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And if the princes should hear that I have spoken with thee, and they come unto thee, and say unto thee, tell us, we pray thee, what thou hast spoken unto the king, conceal it not from us, and we will not put thee to death; also what the king hath spoken unto thee:


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Then shalt thou say unto them, I presented my humble supplication before the king, that he would not send me back to the house of Jonathan, to die there.


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And all the princes came unto Jeremiah, and asked him: and he told them in accordance with all these words that the king had commanded. And they turned away silent from him; for the matter had not been made public.


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And Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken. And it came to pass when Jerusalem was captured,


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In the ninth year of Zedekiah the king of Judah, in the tenth month, that Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.


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<i>And</i> in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, was the city broken in.


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And then came all the princes of the king of Babylon, and sat down in the middle gate; <i>namely,</i> Neregalsharezer, Samgarnebu, Sarsechim, the chief of the eunuchs, Neregalsharezer, the chief of the magi, with all the residue of the princes of the king of Babylon.


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And it came to pass when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, that they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the kings garden, by the gate between the two walls: and he went out by the way of the plain.


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But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and they took him, and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Chamath: and he called him to account.


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And the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes; also all the nobles of Judah did the king of Babylon slaughter.


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And the eyes of Zedekiah did he blind; and he bound him with brazen fetters, to carry him to Babylon.


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And the house of the king, and the houses of the people did the Chaldeans burn with fire, and the walls of Jerusalem did they pull down.


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And the rest of the people that remained in the city, and those who had run away that had run away to him, with the rest of the people that remained, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry off into exile to Babylon.


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But of the poorest of the people, who had nothing, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard leave some in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and arable fields at the same time.


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And Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah through means of Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,


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Take him, and direct thy eyes to him, and do him not the least harm; but as he may speak unto thee, even so do thou with him.


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Then sent Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, and Nebushazban, the chief of the eunuchs, and Neregalsharezer, the chief of the magi, and all the chiefs of the king of Babylon,


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Even they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and they committed him unto Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shaphan, to carry him home: and he remained in the midst of the people.


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But unto Jeremiah was come the word of the Lord while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying,


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Go and say to Ebedmelech the Cushi as followeth, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will bring my words <i>to fulfillment</i> against this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished before thee on that day.


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But I will deliver thee on that day, saith the Lord; and thou shalt not be given up into the hand of the men of whom thou hast dread.


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For I will surely let thee escape, and thou shalt not fall by the sword; but thy life shall be unto thee as a booty; because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord.


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The word that came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had dismissed him from Ramah, when he had taken him as he was bound in chains in the midst of all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah, who were carried away into exile unto Babylon.


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Then took the captain of the guard Jeremiah, and said unto him, The Lord thy God had spoken this evil over this place;


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Now the Lord hath brought it <i>to fulfillment</i>, and hath done according as he had spoken; because ye had sinned against the Lord, and had not hearkened to his voice; and therefore is this thing come upon you.


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And now, behold, I have freed thee this day from the chains which were upon thy hand. If it seem good in thy eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will direct my eye unto thee; but if it seem ill in thy eyes to come with me to Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee; whither it seemeth good and proper in thy eyes to go, thither go.


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And as he did not yet turn about, <i>he said,</i> Go then back to Gedalyah the son of Achikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people; or wheresoever it seemeth proper in thy eyes to go, go. And the captain of the guard gave him an allowance and a present, and then dismissed him.


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So did Jeremiah come unto Gedalyah the son of Achikam to Mizpah; and he dwelt with him in the midst of the people that had been left in the land.


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Now when all the captains of the armies who were in the field, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedalyahu the son of Achikam governor over the land, and that he had entrusted unto him men, and women, and children, and these of the poorest of the land, of those that had not been carried away into exile to Babylon:


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Then came they to Gedalyah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethanyahu, and Jochanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareach, and Serayah the son of Tanchumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Yezanyahu the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.


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And Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shaphan swore unto them and unto their men, saying, Have no fear to serve the Chaldeans: remain in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.


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As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans, who will come unto us; but ye, gather ye together wine, and summerfruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities of which ye have taken possession.


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And so likewise all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant unto Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shaphan;


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And then did all the Jews return out of all places whither they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedalyahu, unto Mizpah, and gathered together wine and summerfruits in very great abundance.


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And Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies that were in the field, came to Gedalyahu to Mizpah,


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And they said unto him, Dost thou at all know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethanyah to deprive thee of life? But Gedalyahu the son of Achikam believed them not.


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And Jochanan the son of Kareach said to Gedalyahu secretly in Mizpah, as followeth, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethanyah, and no man shall know of it: wherefore should he deprive thee of life, whereby all the Jews who are gathered unto thee would be scattered, and the remnant of Judah be lost?


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But Gedalyahu the son of Achikam said unto Jochanan the son of Kareach, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest a falsehood concerning Ishmael.


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Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethanyah the son of Elishama, of the royal seed, and the chiefs of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedalyahu the son of Achikam to Mizpah; and they ate there bread together in Mizpah.


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Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethanyah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and put to death him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the land.


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And all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedalyahu, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, even the men of war, did Ishmael slay.


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That there came certain men from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men <i>in all</i>, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with meatofferings and frankincense in their hand, to bring the same to the house of the Lord.


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And Ishmael the son of Nethanyah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, going along and weeping: and it came to pass as he met them, that he said unto them, Come to Gedalyahu the son of Achikam.


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And it happened, as they entered into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethanyah slaughtered them, <i>and cast them</i> into the midst of the cistern, he, and the men that were with him.


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But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not; for we have some things hidden in the field, <i>such as</i> wheat, and barley, and oil, and honey. So he forbore, and slew them not in the midst of their brethren.


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And the cistern wherein Ishmael cast all the corpses of the men, whom he had slain in company with Gedalyahu, is the same which king Assa had made on account of Basha the king of Israel: this did Ishmael the son of Nethanyah fill with slain persons.


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Then did Ishmael carry away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, the kings daughters, and all the people that were remaining in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had entrusted to Gedalyahu the son of Achikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethanyah carried them away captive, and went off to pass over to the children of Ammon.


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But when Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethanyah had done:


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Then did they take all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethanyah, and found him by the great water<i>pool</i> that is near Gibon.


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And it came to pass, when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies that were with him, that they were rejoiced.


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And all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned about and returned, and went unto Jochanan the son of Kareach.


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But Ishmael the son of Nethanyah escaped with eight men from the presence of Jochanan, and he went to the children of Ammon.


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Then took Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethanyah, from Mizpah, after he had slain Gedalyah the son of Achikam, the adult males, the men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibon;


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Because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them; because Ishmael the son of Nethanyah had slain Gedalyahu the son of Achikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor over the land.


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Then came near all the captains of the armies, and Jochanan the son of Kareach, and Yezanyah the son of Hoshayah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest,


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And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our humble supplication be accepted before thee, and pray in our behalf unto the Lord thy God, in behalf of all this remnant; <i>for we are left but a few of many, as thy own eyes do see us:</i>


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Then said Jeremiah the prophet unto them, I have heard you: behold, I will pray unto the Lord your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the Lord will answer you, I will tell unto you; I will withhold not a word from you.


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But they said to Jeremiah, May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not act entirely according to all the word with which the Lord thy God may send thee to us:


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Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; in order that it may be well with us, when we hearken to the voice of the Lord our God.


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Then called he Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies who were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,


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And he said unto them, Thus hath said the Lord, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your humble supplication before him:


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If ye will indeed remain in this land, then will I build you up, and I will not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I have bethought me of the evil that I have done unto you.


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Be ye not afraid because of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid: have no fear of him, saith the Lord; for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you out of his hand.


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And I will give unto you mercy, that he may have mercy upon you, and let you return to your own land.


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But if ye say, We will not remain in this land, so as not to hearken to the voice of the Lord your God,


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Saying, No; but into the land of Egypt will we go, that we may not see war, nor hear the sound of the cornet, and that we may not have hunger for bread; and there will we dwell;


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And now therefore hear the word of the Lord, ye remnant of Judah, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, If ye will indeed set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go thither to sojourn there:


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Then shall the sword, of which ye are afraid, there overtake you in the land of Egypt; and the famine, whereof ye are in dread, shall there cleave close unto you in Egypt; and there shall ye die.


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So shall be all the men that have set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there,they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; and they shall have none that remaineth or escapeth from the evil that I am bringing over them.


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For thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, As my anger and my fury were poured forth over the inhabitants of Jerusalem: so shall my fury be poured forth over you, when ye enter into Egypt; and ye shall become an oath, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a disgrace; and ye shall never see this place again.


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The Lord hath spoken concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah, "Ye shall not go into Egypt:" ye must know for certain that I have warned you this day.


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For ye have dissembled in regard to what your intentions are; for ye sent me unto the Lord your God, saying, Pray in our behalf unto the Lord our God: and in accordance with all that the Lord our God may say, so tell unto us, and we will do it.


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And I have told it to you this day; but ye have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord your God, and this in all with which he hath sent me unto you.


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But now know for certain that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go to sojourn there.


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And it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto the whole people all the words of the Lord their God, with which the Lord their God had sent him to them, <i>namely,</i> all these words,


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That then spoke Azaryah the son of Hoshayah, and Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the presumptuous men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the Lord our God hath not sent thee to say, Ye shall not go into Egypt to sojourn there;


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But Baruch the son of Neriyah setteth thee on against us, in order to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they may put us to death, or carry us away as exiles to Babylon.


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So Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies, and all the people, hearkened not to the voice of the Lord, to remain in the land of Judah.


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But Jochanan the son of Kareach, and all the captains of the armies, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all the nations, whither they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Judah;


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The men, and the women, and the children, and the kings daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedalyahu the son of Achikam the son of Shaphan; and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriyah;


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And they entered into the land of Egypt; for they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord; and they came as far as Thachpanches.


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Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in the mortar in the brickkiln which is at the entrance of Pharaohs house in Thachpanches, before the eyes of the Jewish men;


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And thou shalt say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will send for and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne above these stones that I have hidden; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.


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And he shall come and smite the land of Egypt: such as are destined for death shall be given to death; and such as are destined for captivity, to captivity; and such as are destined for the sword, to the sword.


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And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them, and carry them away captive: and he shall wrap around him the land of Egypt, as a shepherd wrappeth his garment around him; and he shall go forth from there in peace.


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And he shall break the statues of Bethshemesh, which is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.


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The word that came to Jeremiah for all the Jews who dwell in the land of Egypt, who dwell at Migdol, and at Thachpanches, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying,


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, You yourselves have seen all the evil that I have brought over Jerusalem, and over all the cities of Judah; and, behold, they are ruins this day, and no man is dwelling in them;


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Because of their wickedness which they had committed to provoke me to anger, by going to burn incense, to serve other gods, whom they did not know, either they, you, or your fathers.


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And I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, making them rise early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not commit this abominable thing which I hate.


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But they hearkened not, and inclined not their ear to turn away from their wickedness, so as not to burn incense unto other gods.


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Whereupon my fury and my anger were poured forth, and were enkindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: and they are become ruins, a desert, as at this day.


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And now thus hath said the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel, Wherefore do ye commit so great an evil against your souls, so as to cut off unto you man and woman, child and suckling, out of the midst of Judah, so as not to leave you any remainder,


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By provoking me unto wrath with the works of your hands, in burning incense unto other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are come to sojourn there, in order to cut yourselves off, and in order that ye might become a curse and a disgrace among all the nations of the earth?


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Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they had committed in the land of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem?


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They are not humbled even up to this day, and they are not afraid, and they walk not in my law, nor in my statutes, that I have set before you and before your fathers.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.


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And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all come to their end, and in the land of Egypt shall they fall: by the sword <i>and</i> by the famine shall they come to their end; from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine shall they die; and they shall become an oath, an astonishment, and a curse, and a disgrace.


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And I will inflict punishment on those that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have inflicted punishment on Jerusalem, through the sword, through the famine, and through the pestilence:


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So that there shall be no one that escapeth or remaineth of the remnant of Judah, who are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, that they should return into the land of Judah, to which they direct <i>the desire of</i> their soul to return thither to dwell there; for they shall not return, but such as shall escape.


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Then did all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, and all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answer Jeremiah, saying,


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Respecting the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.


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For to a surety we will do all the word that is gone forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drinkofferings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: when we had plenty of food, and fared well, and saw no evil.


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But since the time we have left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drinkofferings unto her, have we had a lack of every thing; and we have come to our end through the sword and through the famine.


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And when we burnt incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drinkofferings unto her,was this without <i>the consent of</i> our husbands, that we did make cakes for her to make her image, and pour out drinkofferings unto her?


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Then said Jeremiah unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people who had answered him <i>with that</i> word, saying,


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Behold, it was the incense that ye burnt in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, which the Lord remembered, and which came into his mind;


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So that the Lord could no longer endure it, because of the evil of your doings, because of the abominations which ye had committed: therefore is your land become a ruin, and an <i>object of</i> astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day.


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Because that ye had burnt incense, and because ye had sinned against the Lord, and had not hearkened to the voice of the Lord, and had not walked in his law, in his statutes, and in his testimonies: therefore did this evil befall you, as it is this day.


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And Jeremiah said <i>farther</i> to all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt,


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouth, and fulfilled with your hands, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drinkofferings unto her: ye will fully accomplish your vows, and fully perform your vows.


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Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt, Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the Lord, that my name shall no more be called by the mouth of any man of Judah, saying, "As the Lord Eternal liveth," in all the land of Egypt.


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Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall come to their end through the sword and through the famine, until they be destroyed.


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Yet some that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, but few in number; and all the remnant of Judah, that are come into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand firm, mine, or theirs.


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And this shall be unto you the sign, saith the Lord, that I will inflict punishment on you in this place, in order that ye may know that my words shall surely stand firm against you for evil:


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Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will give Pharaohchophra the king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those that seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah the king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, his enemy, and who had sought his life.


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The word which Jeremiah the prophet spoke unto Baruch the son of Neriyah, when he wrote these words in a book out of the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah, saying,


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Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to my pain; I am wearied in my sighing, and rest have I not found;


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Thus shalt thou say unto him, Thus hath the Lord said, Behold, what I have built will I pull down, and what I have planted I will pluck up; and so it is with this whole land.


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And wouldst thou indeed seek great things for thyself? seek them not; for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord; but I will give thy life unto thee as a booty in all the places whither thou mayest go.


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Concerning Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho the king of Egypt, which was <i>posted</i> by the river Euphrates in Karkemish, which Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoyakim the son of Josiah the king of Judah.


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Harness the horses, and mount, ye horsemen, and stand forth with helmets: sharpen the spears, and put on the coats of mail.


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Wherefore have I seen them dismayed, moving backward? while their mighty ones are beaten down, and seek safety in flight, and look not back? There is terror round about, saith the Lord.


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The swift cannot flee away, nor can the mighty man escape: toward the north by the shore of the river Euphrates do they stumble and fall.


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Egypt cometh up like a stream, and like the rivers are the waters upheaved; and he saith, I will go up, I will cover the land; I will destroy the city and those that dwell therein.


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Come up, ye horses; and rush along wildly, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth: Cush and Put, that grasp the shield, and the Ludim, that grasp and bend the bow.


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And this same day is for the Lord, the Eternal of hosts, a day of vengeance, to be avenged on his adversaries; that the sword may devour, and may be satiated and made drunken with their blood; for there is a sacrifice for the Lord the Eternal of hosts in the north country by the river Euphrates.


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Go up into Gilad, and fetch balm, O virgin, daughter of Egypt: in vain usest thou many remedies; there is no recovery for thee.


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Nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry of anguish hath filled the earth; for the mighty man over the mighty have they stumbled, together are both of them fallen.


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The word which the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet, concerning the coming of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, to smite the land of Egypt.


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Announce ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Thachpanches: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thyself; for the sword devoureth round about thee.


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He caused many to stumble; yea, one also fell over the other; and they said, Arise, and let us return to our own people, and to the land of our birth, from before the wasting sword.


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They called out there, Pharaoh is king of Egypt, it was but vaunting, he hath let the time appointed pass by.


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As I live, saith the King, the Lord of hosts is his name, Surely as Thabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel is by the sea, so shall he come.


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Appurtenances of exile make for thyself, O thou inhabitress, daughter of Egypt; for Noph shall be made a waste and be left desolate without an inhabitant.


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Also her hired troops in the midst of her are like fatted calves; for they also are turned round, are fled away together, they do not stand; because the day of their calamity is come upon them, the time of their punishment.


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Her cry shall come like <i>the hissing of</i> a serpent; for with an army shall they march, and with axes do they come against her, like hewers of wood.


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They cut down her forest, saith the Lord, though it cannot be searched out; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and there is no number to them.


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Ashamed hath been made the daughter of Egypt: she hath been given up into the hand of the people of the north.


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The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, hath said, Behold, I will send visitation on Ahmon of No, and on Pharaoh, and on Egypt, and on her gods, and on her kings; even on Pharaoh, and on those that trust on him;


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And I will give them up into the hand of those that seek their life, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward shall she be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the Lord.


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But thou,fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel; for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity: and Jacob shall return, and he shall be at rest and at ease, with none to make him afraid.


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Thou,fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord; for I am with thee: and although I make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee, yet of thee will I not make a full end; and I will correct thee in measure; yet wholly will I not leave thee unpunished.


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The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before the time that Pharaoh smote Gazzah.


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Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, waters are coming up out of the north, and they shall become an overflowing stream, and shall overflow the land, and what filleth it; the city, and those that dwell therein: and the men shall cry aloud, and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.


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Because of the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his studhorses, because of the rushing sound of his chariots, the rumbling of his wheels, fathers do not turn round to their children from their feebleness of hands;


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Because of the day that cometh to devastate all the Philistines, to cut off from Tyre and Zidon every helper that remaineth; for the Lord devastateth the Philistines, the remnant of the isle of Caphthor.


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Baldness is come upon Gazzah; ruined is Ashkelon with the remnant of their valley: how long yet wilt thou cut thyself?


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Woe! thou sword of the Lord, how long yet wilt thou not be quiet? withdraw thyself into thy scabbard, take thee rest, and be still.


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Yet how canst thou be quiet? When the Lord hath given it a charge, against Ashkelon, and against the seacoastthither hath he destined it.


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Against Moab. Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Woe unto Nebo! for it is wasted; made ashamed, captured is Kiryathayim; made ashamed is Misgab and dismayed.


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There is no more praise of Moab: in Cheshbon have they devised evil against it, "Come, and let us cut it off from being a nation." Also thou Madmen shalt be ruined; after thee shall pursue the sword.


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For the ascent of Luchith is ascended with weeping and tears; for on the descent of Choronayim the enemies have heard the cry of destruction.


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For, because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou also shalt be conquered: and Kemosh shall go forth into exile, <i>with</i> his priests and his princes together.


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And the water shall come over every city, and no city shall escape: and lost shall be the valley, and destroyed shall be the plain, as the Lord hath said.


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Give wings unto Moab, that she may flee and get away; since her cities shall become desolate, without any to dwell therein.


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Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negligently, and cursed be he that withholdeth his sword from blood.


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Moab was ever at ease from his youth, and he was resting on his lees, and was not emptied from vessel to vessel, and had not gone into exile: therefore had his taste remained in him, and his scent was not changed.


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Therefore, behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will send unto him tappers, that shall tap him, and they shall empty his vessels, and dash in pieces their bottles.


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And Moab shall be ashamed of Kemosh, as the house of Israel were made ashamed because of Bethel their confidence.


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Moab is wasted, and into his cities hath <i>the enemy</i> ascended, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, the Lord of hosts is his name.


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All ye that are about him bemoan him; and all ye that know his name: say, How is the strong staff broken, the beautiful stick!


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Come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst, thou inhabitress, daughter of Dibon; for the waster of Moab cometh up against thee, he destroyeth thy strongholds.


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Stand by the way, and look out, O inhabitress of Aroer: ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, say, What hath been done?


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Moab hath been made ashamed; for it is broken down; wail, and cry aloud: tell ye it by the Arnon, that Moab is wasted,


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And punishment is come over the land of the plain, over Cholon, and over Yahzah, and over Mephaath,


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And over Keriyoth, and over Bozrah, and over all the cities of the land of Moab, that are far and that are near.


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Make him drunken; for he magnified himself against the Lord: and Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall become <i>an object</i> of derision.


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For was not Israel a derision unto thee? or was he found among thieves? that whenever thou spokest of him, thou hadst to shake <i>thy head</i>?


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Leave the cities, and dwell on rocks, O ye that dwell in Moab; and be ye like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the mouth of rocky clefts.


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We have heard the pride of Moab, who is so exceedingly proud, his haughtiness, and his pride, and his arrogance, and the overbearingness of his heart.


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I will know, saith the Lord, his wrath, and how causeless it is: his liars have done what is not right.


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Therefore will I wail for Moab, and for all Moab will I cry out; for the men of Kircheres shall people moan.


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With the weeping of Yazer will I weep for thee, O vine of Sibmah; thy tendrils <i>once</i> passed over the sea, they reached as far as to the sea of Yazer: over thy summerfruits and over thy vintage the waster is fallen.


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And banished are joy and gladness from Carmel, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused the wine to cease from the winepresses; none shall tread the press with the vintners call; battle crynor vintners call.


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From the loud cry of Cheshbon as far as Elaleh, even unto Yahaz, have they sent forth their voice, from Zoar even unto Choronayim, to the third Eglath; for the waters also of Nimrim shall become desolate.


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Moreover will I cause to cease unto Moab, saith the Lord, him that offereth on the highplaces, and him that burneth incense to his gods.


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Therefore shall my heart groan for Moab like flutes, and my heart shall groan like flutes for the men of Kircheres; for the cause that the remnant of the riches he had gotten are lost.


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For every head is bald, and every beard is shorn: upon all the hands are cuttings, and upon the loins is sackcloth.


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Upon all the roofs of Moab, and in her streets, there is everywhere lamentation; for I have broken Moab like a vessel which hath no value, saith the Lord.


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Oh, how is it broken down! wail! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! and Moab shall be a derision and a dismay to all those around him.


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For thus hath said the Lord, Behold, as the eagle shall he fly, and he shall spread out his wings over Moab.


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Captured are the fortresses, and the strongholds are conquered: and the heart of the mighty men of Moab shall be on that day as the heart of a woman in her pangs.


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And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people; because it hath magnified himself against the Lord.


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He that fleeth from the terror shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be caught in the snare; for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.


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Under the shadow of Cheshbon stand still, deprived of strength, those that flee; but a fire cometh forth out of Cheshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sichon, and it devoureth the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the children of vaunting.


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Woe unto thee, O Moab! lost is the people of Kemosh; for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters into captivity.


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Yet will I bring back again the captivity of Moab in the end of days, saith the Lord. Thus far is the punishment of Moab.


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Against the children of Ammon, Thus hath said the Lord, Hath Israel no sons? or hath he no heir? why then doth Malcolm possess Gad, and why do his people dwell in his cities?


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Therefore, behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the children of Ammon; and it shall become a desolate heap, and its villages shall be burnt with fire: then shall Israel drive out those that drove them out, saith the Lord.


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Wail, O Cheshbon, for Ai is wasted; cry aloud, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth; lament, and roam about among the sheepfolds; for Malcolm shall go into exile, <i>with</i> his priest and his princes together.


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Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys? thy valley floweth <i>with blood</i>, O backsliding daughter, that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who can come unto me?


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Behold, I will bring terror upon thee, saith the Lord the Eternal of hosts, from all those that are around thee: and ye shall be driven out every man in his own way; and none shall gather up the fugitive.


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Concerning Edom, thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Is there no more wisdom in Theman? is counsel vanished from the prudent? is their wisdom become corrupt?


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They flee, turn round, seek their abode in deep places, the inhabitants of Dedan; for the calamity of Esau do I bring upon him, the time when I visit him with punishment.


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If grapegatherers had come to thee, would they not have left some gleanings? if thieves by night, they would destroy only till they had satisfied themselves;


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But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret haunts, so that he will not be able to hide himself: his seed is wasted, and his brethren, and his neighbors, and he is no more.


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For thus hath said the Lord, Behold, they whose right it was not to drink the cup have been compelled to drink it, and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink it.


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For by myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, that Bozrah shall become an astonishment, a disgrace, a ruin, and a curse; and all its cities shall become perpetual ruins.


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A report have I heard from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, <i>saying,</i> Gather yourselves together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.


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Thy hastiness hath deceived thee, the presumption of thy heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldst make thy nest as high as the eagle, thence would I bring thee down, saith the Lord.


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And Edom shall become <i>an object of</i> astonishment: every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all its wounds.


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Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors, saith the Lord, so shall no man dwell there, nor shall a son of man sojourn therein.


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Behold, like a lion will he come up from the overflow of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will hasten him, <i>and</i> make him suddenly prevail against her; and him who is chosen will I array against her; for who is like me? and who will challenge me to battle? and who is that shepherd that can stand before me?


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Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord, that he hath resolved against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath devised against the inhabitants of Theman: Surely the least of the flocks shall drag them away; surely he will devastate over them their habitation.


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At the noise of their fall the earth quaketh: <i>there is</i> an outcry,at the Red Sea their voice is heard.


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Behold, like the eagle shall he come up and fly along, and spread out his wings over Bozrah: and the heart of the mighty men of Edom shall be on that day as the heart of a woman in her pangs.


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Concerning Damascus. Chamath and Arpad are made ashamed; for evil tidings have they heard, they are fainthearted: on the sea there is care, it is not able to be quiet.


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Damascus is become feeble, she turneth about to flee, and trembling hath taken hold on her: pangs and throes have seized her, as a woman in travail.


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Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall perish on that day, saith the Lord of hosts.


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Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Chazor, which Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon smote, thus hath said the Lord, Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and devastate the men of the east.


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Their tents and their flocks shall they take away; their curtains, and all their vessels and their camels shall they take to themselves: and they shall call out over them, Terror is on every side.


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Flee, fly away far off, seek your abode in deep places, O ye inhabitants of Chazor, saith the Lord; for Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a device against you.


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Arise, get you up unto the nation that is at ease, that dwelleth in security, saith the Lord, which hath neither gates nor bars, which dwelleth alone.


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And their camels shall become a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter unto all winds those that have the hair cut round; and from all sides will I bring their calamity, saith the Lord.


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And Chazor shall become a dwelling for monsters, a desolation for ever: there shall no man dwell there, nor shall a son of man sojourn therein.


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The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the king of Judah, saying,


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their strength.


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And I will bring over Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the heavens, and I will scatter them toward all these winds: and there shall not be any nation whither shall not come the outcasts of Elam.


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For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those that seek their life: and I will bring over them evil, the fierceness of my anger, saith the Lord: and I will send out after them the sword, till I have made an end of them.


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But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring back again the captivity of Elam, saith the Lord.


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The word that the Lord spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by means of Jeremiah the prophet.


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Announce ye among the nations, and publish, and lift up a standard; publish, conceal not; say, Babylon is captured, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is broken in pieces; put to shame are her idols; broken in pieces are her images.


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For there is come up against her a nation out of the north, which will change her land into a desert, so that there shall not be any one dwelling therein: both man and beast are fled away, they are departed.


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In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, shall the children of Israel come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping shall they go, and the Lord their God shall they seek.


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After Zion shall they ask, with their faces on the way thitherward, <i>saying,</i> Come: and they will join themselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.


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Lost sheep were my people; their shepherds had caused them to go astray, they had let them roam wildly on the mountains: from mountain to hill did they go, they forgot their restingplace.


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All that found them devoured them; and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of righteousness, and the hope of their fathers, the Lord.


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Fly away out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be ye as the hegoats before the flocks.


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For, lo, I will awaken and cause to come up against Babylon an assemblage of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in battlearray against her; from there shall she be captured: their arrows are as those of a skilful mighty one, none of which ever returneth in vain.


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Though ye rejoice, though ye be glad, O ye plunderers of my heritage, though ye be grown fat as the heifer at grass, and neigh as studhorses:


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Your mother is made greatly ashamed; she that bore you is put to the blush; behold, the end of nations shall be wilderness, dry land, and desert.


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Because of the wrath of the Lord shall it not be inhabited, and it shall be wholly desolate: every one that passeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss over all her wounds.


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Put yourselves in battlearray against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare not the arrows: for against the Lord hath she sinned.


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Shout against her round about; she hath stretched out her hand: fallen are her foundations, thrown down are her walls; for it is the vengeance of the Lord; take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, so do unto her.


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Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest; because of the wasting sword shall they turn about every one to his people, and every one to his own land shall they flee.


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A scattered lamb is Israel; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria devoured him; and this last one broke his bones, <i>even</i> Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Behold, I will inflict punishment on the king of Babylon and on his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.


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And I will bring Israel back again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan: and upon the mountain of Ephraim and Gilad shall his soul be satisfied.


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In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, shall the iniquity of Israel be sought for, and it shall not be there; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon those whom I will leave remaining.


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Against the land of twofold rebellioneven against it go thou up, and against the inhabitants of the country of punishment: lay in ruins and utterly destroy their offspring, saith the Lord, and do in accordance with all that I have commanded thee.


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How is cut asunder and broken the hammer of all the earth! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!


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I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also captured, O Babylon, while thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hadst entered into a contest against the Lord.


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The Lord hath opened his treasury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for it is a work for the Lord, the Eternal of hosts, in the land of the Chaldeans.


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Come against her from the end of the earth, open her garners; tread her down as sheaves of corn, and destroy her utterly: let there not be left of her a remnant even.


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Destroy all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: Woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.


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There is the voice of those that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to tell in Zion the vengeance of the Lord our God, the vengeance for his temple.


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Call together the archers against Babylon; all ye that bend the bow, encamp against her round about; let there be no escape for her: recompense her according to her work; in accordance with all that she hath done, do unto her; for against the Lord hath she acted presumptuously, against the Holy One of Israel.


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therefore shall her young men fall in her streets, and all her men of war shall perish on that day, saith the Lord.


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Behold, I am against thee, O presumptuous one! saith the Lord, the Eternal of hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee <i>with punishment</i>.


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And the presumptuous shall stumble and fall, with none to raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all his environs.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together: and all that took them captive hold them fast; they refuse to dismiss them.


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Their Redeemer is strong; The Lord of hosts is his name: he will surely contend in their cause, in order that he may give rest to the land, and make the inhabitants of Babylon tremble.


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The sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and against the inhabitants of Babylon, and against her princes, and against her wise men.


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The sword is against the lying soothsayers, and they shall be made foolish: the sword is against her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed.


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The sword is against their horses, and against their chariots, and against all the confederates that are in the midst of her, and they shall become as women: the sword is against her treasures, and they shall be plundered.


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The drought is against her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is the land of graven images, and with their horrid idols do they play the madman.


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Therefore shall martens dwell <i>there</i> with jackals, and the ostriches shall dwell therein: and it shall be not inhabited any more for ever; and it shall not be dwelt in from generation to generation.


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Like the overthrow by God of Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors, saith the Lord, so shall no man dwell there, nor shall any son of man sojourn therein.


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Behold, a people cometh from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be awakened from the farthest ends of the earth.


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Bow and lance do they firmly grasp; they are cruel, and show not any mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and upon horses do they ride, placed in array, like one man, for the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.


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The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands are grown feeble: anguish hath taken fast hold of him, pangs as of a woman in travail.


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Behold, like a lion shall he come up from the overflow of the Jordan unto the strong habitation; for I will hasten them <i>and</i> make them suddenly prevail over her, and him who is chosen will I array against her; for who like me? and who will challenge me to battle? and who is that shepherd that can stand before me?


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Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, that he hath resolved against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall drag them away; surely he will devastate over them their habitation.


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At the noise of the conquest of Babylon the earth quaketh, and the outcry is heard among the nations.


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Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will awaken against Babylon, and against those that dwell in the midst of my opponents, a destroying wind;


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And I will send out unto Babylon fanners, and they shall fan her, and shall empty out her land; for they shall be against her round about on the day of trouble.


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Let the archer come against any one that bendeth his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his armor: and spare ye not her young men: destroy ye utterly all her host.


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And the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are pierced through, in her streets.


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For not widowed are Israel and Judah of their God, of the Lord of hosts; for the land of those was filled with guiltiness against the Holy One of Israel.


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Flee ye out of the midst of Babylon, and save ye every man his life: perish not for her iniquity; for this is a time of vengeance unto the Lord; a recompense is he paying out unto her.


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A golden cup hath Babylon been in the hand of the Lord, that made drunken all the earth: of her wine have nations drunk; therefore are the nations rendered mad.


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Suddenly is Babylon fallen and broken: wail ye for her; fetch balm for her wound, perhaps she may be healed.


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"We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one unto his own country; for her punishment reacheth unto the heavens, and it is lifted up even to the skies."


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The Lord hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us relate in Zion the work of the Lord our God.


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Make bright the arrows; fill the quivers: the Lord hath awakened the spirit of the kings of Media; for against Babylon is his intention, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance for his temple.


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Against the walls of Babylon lift up the standard, strengthen the watch, set up the watchmen, make ready the ambushes; for the Lord hath both intended and done what he had spoken against the inhabitants of Babylon.


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O thou that dwellest upon many waters, great in treasures, thy end is come, the full measure of thy selfish robbery.


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Sworn hath the Lord of hosts by himself, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with locusts: and they shall lift up the battlecry against thee.


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Not like these is the portion of Jacob; for He is the former of all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name.


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Thou art a hammer unto me, weapons of war; and I strike down with thee nations, and I destroy with thee kingdoms;


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And I strike down with thee the horse and his rider; and I strike down with thee the chariot and its rider;


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And I strike down with thee man and woman; and I strike down with thee the aged and the lad; and I strike down with thee the young man and the virgin:


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And I strike down with thee the shepherd and his flock; and I strike down with thee the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and I strike down with thee governors and rulers.


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But <i>now</i> will I repay unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion before your eyes, saith the Lord.


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Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand over thee, and I will roll thee down from the rocks, and will render thee a burnt mountain.


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And they shall not take from thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but everlasting ruins shalt thou be, saith the Lord.


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Lift ye up a standard in the land, blow ye the cornet among the nations, make ready against her nations, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint against her a commander; cause the horses to come up like the hairy locusts.


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Make ready against her the nations with the kings of Media, its governors, and all its rulers, and all the land of their dominion.


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And the earth quaketh and trembleth; for every one of the purposes of the Lord is fulfilled against Babylon, to change the land of Babylon into a desolate country without an inhabitant.


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The mighty men of Babylon have ceased to fight, they sit still in <i>their</i> strongholds; their might is vanished; they are become as women: they have burnt her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.


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One runner shall run to meet another runner, and one messenger to meet another messenger, to tell unto the king of Babylon that his city is captured at all ends,


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And that the passages have been seized, and that they have burnt the reeds with fire, and that the men of war are affrighted.


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For thus hath said the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, the daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, at the time they thresh therein; but yet a little while more, when the time of harvest shall come for her.


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"Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon devoured me, he crushed me, he set me down as an empty vessel, he swallowed me up like a huge serpent, he filled his belly with my delicacies: he drove me out.


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the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon," will the inhabitress of Zion say; and "My blood be upon the inhabitants of Chaldea," will Jerusalem say.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will contend in thy cause, and execute vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and cause her springs to fail.


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And Babylon shall become ruinous heaps, a dwellingplace for monsters, an astonishment, and a derision, without an inhabitant.


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When they are heated will I prepare their drinkingfeasts, and I will make them drunken, in order that they may be joyful, and <i>then</i> sleep a perpetual sleep, and not awake again, saith the Lord.


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How is Sheshach captured! and how is conquered the praise of the whole earth! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!


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Her cities are become desolate places, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein not any man shall dwell, and through which no son of man shall pass along.


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And I will inflict punishment on Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth what he hath swallowed up out of his mouth; and nations shall not assemble together like a stream unto him any more; yea, the wall of Babylon also is fallen.


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Go ye out of the midst of her, my people, and save ye every man his life from the fierceness of the anger of the Lord.


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And so that your heart may not faint, and ye fear at the report that is heard in the land: when the report cometh in one year, and after that in another year cometh another report, and when violence <i>be done</i> in the land, <i>by</i> ruler against ruler.


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Therefore, behold, days are coming, when I will inflict punishment on the graven images of Babylon, and her whole land shall be put to shame, and all her slain shall fail in the midst of her.


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And then shall the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, sing because of Babylon; for from the north shall come unto her the destroyers, saith the Lord.


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Also Babylon is destined to fall, O ye slain ones of Israel, also at Babylon fall the slain of all the land.


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<i>But</i> ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember afar off the Lord, and let Jerusalem rise up in your heart.


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"We had been made ashamed, because we had heard reproach: confusion had covered our faces; because strangers were come into the sanctuaries of the Lords house."


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Therefore, behold, days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will inflict punishment on her graven images: and through all her land shall groan the deadly wounded.


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Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength; yet from me should destroyers come unto her, saith the Lord.


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Because the Lord wasteth Babylon, and destroyeth out of her the loud noise; but their waves roar like great waters, the noise of their voice is sent forth;


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Because the destroyer is come over her, over Babylon, and her mighty men are caught, every one of their bows is broken; for the God of recompenses, the Lord, will surely requite.


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And I will make drunken her princes, and her wise men, her governors, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not awake again, saith the King, The Lord of hosts is his name.


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Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Every one of the broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly overthrown, and her high gates shall be burnt with fire; so that nations shall have labored in vain, and the people for the fire, and so shall they have wearied themselves.


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The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Serayah the son of Neriyah, the son of Machseyah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah unto Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Serayah was chief chamberlain.


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And Jeremiah wrote down all the evil that should come upon Babylon in one book, namely, all these words that are written concerning Babylon.


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And thou shalt say, O Lord, thou thyself hast spoken concerning this place, to cut it off, so that there shall not be in it an inhabitant, either man or beast; but that it shall become a desolate place for ever.


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And it shall be, when thou hast finished reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and throw it into the midst of the Euphrates;


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And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise again from the evil that I will bring upon her: and her people shall be wearied. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.


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One and twenty years was Zedekiah old when he became king, and eleven years did he reign in Jerusalem. And his mothers name was Chamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.


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For through the anger of the Lord it came to pass against Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out of his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.


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And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and they encamped against it, and built against it works of attack round about.


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And in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, when the famine was severe in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land:


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The city was broken in, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was near the kings garden; <i>while the Chaldeans were round about the city;</i>and they went by the way of the plain.


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But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and all his army was scattered from him.


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And they caught the king, and they brought him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Chamath: and he called him to account.


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And the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: and also all the princes of Judah did he slaughter in Riblah.


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And the eyes of Zedekiah did he blind; and the king of Babylon bound him with brazen fetters, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in the wardhouse till the day of his death.


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And in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, <i>who</i> served the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem.


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And he burnt the house of the Lord, and the kings house: and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, did he burn with fire:


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And all the walls of Jerusalem round about did all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, pull down.


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And certain of the poorest of the people, and the residue of the people that had been left in the city, and the deserters, that had run away to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away into exile.


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But certain of the poorest of the land did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard leave for vinedressers and for husbandmen.


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Also the pillars of copper that were in the house of the Lord, and the bases, and the copper sea that was in the house of the Lord, did the Chaldeans break, and they carried off all their copper to Babylon.


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And the pots, and the shovels, and the knives, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of copper wherewith they used to perform the service, did they take away.


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And the basins, and the censers, and the bowls, and the pots, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the purifyingtubes: of what was of gold the gold, and of what was of silver the silver, did the captain of the guard take away.


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The two pillars, the one sea, and the twelve copper oxen that served instead of the bases, which king Solomon had made for the house of the Lord: the copper of all these vessels could not be weighed.


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And as regardeth the pillars, eighteen cubits was the height of each one pillar; and a thread of twelve cubits would compass it; and its thickness was four fingers: it was hollow.


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And a capital was upon it of copper; and the height of the one capital was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the capital round about, all of copper. And the like was the case with the second pillar and the pomegranates.


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And the pomegranates were ninety and six on every side: all the pomegranates upon the network were one hundred round about.


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And the captain of the guard took Serayah the chief priest, and Zephanyah the priest second in rank, and the three doorkeepers;


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And out of the city he took a certain courtofficer, who had the supervision of the men of war: and seven men of those that had free access to the kings presence, who were found in the city; and the scribe of the chief of the army, who ordered to the army the people of the land; and sixty men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city;


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And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and led them away unto the king of Babylon to Riblah.


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And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Chamath. Thus Judah was carried away into exile out of his own country.


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This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away into exile: in the seventh year, three thousand and twenty and three Jews;


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In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away into exile of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons; all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.


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And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the exile of Jehoyachin the king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the five and twentieth day of the month that Evilmerodach the king of Babylon in the <i>first</i> year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoyachin the king of Judah, and brought him forth out of the prisonhouse;


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And he spoke kindly with him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,


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And he changed his prisongarments: and he ate bread before him continually all the days of his life.


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And his allowance was a continual allowance given him by the king, the necessary ration for the day on its day, until the day of his death, all the days of his life.


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Oh how doth she sit solitarythe city that was full of people is become like a widow! she that was so great among the nations, the princess among the provinces, is become tributary!


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She weepeth sorely in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; she hath none to comfort her among all her lovers; all her friends have dealt treacherously toward her, they are become her enemies.


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Exiled is Judah because of affliction, and because of the greatness of servitude she dwelleth indeed among the nations, she findeth no rest: all her pursuers have overtaken her between the narrow passes.


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The ways to Zion are in mourning, because none come to the solemn feasts; all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh; her virgins moan, and she suffereth herself from bitter grief.


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Her adversaries are become chiefs, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath caused her to grieve because of the multitude of her transgressions: her babes are gone into captivity before the adversary.


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And there is gone forth from the daughter of Zion all her splendor: her princes are become like harts that have found no pasture, and they flee without strength before the pursuer.


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Jerusalem remembereth in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her magnificent things which have been in the days of old: when her people fell into the hand of the adversary, with none to help her, the adversaries looked at her, they laughed at the cessation <i>of her glory</i>.


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A grievous sin did Jerusalem commit, therefore is she become a wanderer: all that honored her hold her in contempt, because they have seen her nakedness; she also sigheth, and turneth <i>ashamed</i> backward.


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<i>With</i> her uncleanness on her skirts, she thought not of her latter end: therefore is she come down wonderfully, without one to comfort her. Behold, O Lord, my affliction; for the enemy hath become great <i>above me</i>.


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His hand hath the adversary spread out over all her magnificent things; for she hath seen nations entering into her sanctuary, of whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.


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all her people sigh, they are seeking bread; they have given their precious things for food to refresh their soul: see, O Lord, and look, how I have been brought low.


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"I adjure you, all that pass this way, behold, and see if there be any pain like unto my pain, which hath been inflicted on me, wherewith the Lord hath aggrieved me on the day of his fierce anger.


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From on high hath he sent a fire into my bones, and breaketh <i>them</i> one by one: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath caused me to return backward; he hath made me desolate, sick all the day.


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Bound fast is the yoke of my transgressions by his hand, they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to stumble: the Lord hath given me up into the hands of <i>those against whom</i> I am not able to rise up.


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The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me; he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: a winepress hath the Lord trodden over the virgin, the daughter of Judah.


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For these things do I weep; my eye, my eye runneth down with water; because far from me is the comforter that should refresh my soul: my children are in misery, because the enemy hath prevailed."


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Zion spreadeth forth her hands, without one to comfort her; the Lord hath given a charge concerning Jacob to all his adversaries round about him: Jerusalem is become as an unclean woman among them.


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"Righteous is the Lord; for against his orders have I rebelled: oh do hear, all ye people, and see my pain! my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.


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I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and my elders perished in the city; for they sought food for themselves to refresh their soul.


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See, O Lord! how I am in distress; my bowels are heated; my heart is turned round within me; because I have grievously rebelled: abroad bereaveth the sword, at home, like the pestilence.


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They hear how greatly I sigh, <i>yet</i> there is none to comfort me; all my enemies have heard of my misfortune, they are glad that thou hast done it: oh that thou wouldst bring the day which thou hast proclaimed <i>against me</i>, that they may become like me.


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Let all their wickedness come before thee, and do unto them as thou hast done unto me because of all my transgressions; for many are my sighs, and my heart is sick."


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Oh how hath the Lord covered in his anger the daughter of Zion with a cloud; he hath cast down from heaven unto the earth the ornament of Israel; and he hath not remembered his footstool on the day of his anger!


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The Lord hath destroyed and hath not pitied all the habitation of Jacob: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strongholds of the daughter of Judah: he hath thrown them down to the ground; he hath defiled the kingdom and its princes.


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He hath hewn away in his fierce anger the whole horn of Israel; he hath drawn back his right hand before the enemy; and he burnt against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.


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He bent his bow like an enemy; he held out his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye: in the tent of the daughter of Zion did he pour out like fire his fury.


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The Lord became like an enemy; he destroyed Israel, he destroyed all her palaces, he ruined her strongholds, and he increased in the midst of the daughter of Judah groaning and wailing.


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And he violently wasted, as if it were a garden, his tabernacle; he destroyed his place of assembly: <i>yea,</i> the Lord hath caused to be forgotten in Zion the solemn feast and the day of rest, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger both king and priest.


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The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath made void his sanctuary, he hath surrendered into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces: they have made their voice to resound in the house of the Lord, as on a day of a solemn feast.


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The Lord hath resolved to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion; he stretched out the measuringline, he withdrew not his hand from destroying: and he caused the rampart and the wall to mourn; together they languish.


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Sunk into the ground are her gates, he hath ruined and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the nations without any law; her prophets also obtain no more any vision from the Lord.


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The elders of the daughter of Zion sit upon the ground, they keep silence: they have thrown dust upon their head; they have girt themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem have brought down low their head to the ground.


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My eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are heated, my liver is poured upon the earth because of the breach of the daughter of my people; because babes and sucklings faint away in the streets of the town.


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To their mothers they say, Where is corn and wine? when they faint away like the deadly wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul is poured out on the bosom of their mother.


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What shall I take to witness for thee? what shall I compare unto thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I find equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for great like the sea is thy breach; who can bring healing to thee?


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Thy prophets foresaw for thee vain and deceptive things; and they did not lay open thy iniquity, to cause thy backsliders to return: but they foresaw for thee prophecies of falsehood and seduction.


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All that pass by <i>this</i> way clap their hands on account of thee; they hiss and shake their head over the daughter of Jerusalem: <i>saying,</i> Is this the city that men called The perfection of beauty. The joy for all the earth?


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All thy enemies open wide their mouth against thee; they hiss and gnash their teeth; they say, We have swallowed her up: ah, truly this is the day that we hoped for; we have found, we have seen it.


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The Lord hath done what he had resolved; he hath accomplished his word which he had ordained already in the days of old; he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied; and he hath caused to rejoice over thee thy enemy, he hath raised on high the horn of thy adversaries.


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Their heart crieth unto the Lord, O thou wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a stream day and night; allow thyself no rest; let not the apple of thy eye be still.


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Arise, complain aloud in the night, in the beginning of the watches; pour out like water thy heart before the face of the Lord: lift up toward him thy hands because of the life of thy babes, that faint away for hunger at the corner of all the streets.


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See, O Lord, and behold! to whom hast thou ever done the like? Shall women, then, eat their own fruit, the babes they have tenderly nursed? or shall there be slain in the sanctuary of the Lord the priest and the prophet?


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There lie down on the ground in the streets the lad and the ancient: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword: thou hast slain on the day of thy anger; thou hast slaughtered, thou hast not pitied.


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Thou hast called, as it were on a festive day, my evil neighbors from round about; and there was not on the day of the Lords anger one that escaped or remained: those that I had tenderly nursed and reared up my enemy brought to their end.


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But though he have caused grief, yet will he have mercy according to the abundance of his kindnesses.


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Thou hast covered <i>us</i> with thy anger, and made pursuit after us: thou hast slain, thou hast not pitied.


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Oh how is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! how are the stones of the sanctuary poured out at the corners of every street.


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The precious sons of Zion, valued equal to pure gold, how are they now esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!


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Even wild beasts offer the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.


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The tongue of the suckling cleaveth to its palate by reason of thirst: babes ask for bread, there is not one to break it for them.


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Those that used to eat dainty food are desolate in the streets: they that were reared up on scarlet now embrace dunghills.


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For greater is the iniquity of the daughter of my people than the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as it were in a moment, and no human hands were laid on her.


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Her crowned princes were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more brilliant in body than pearls, more than the sapphire, their countenance:


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Darker than black is now their visage; they are not to be recognized in the streets: their skin is shriveled fast upon their bones; it is dry, it is become like wood.


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Happier are those slain by the sword than those slain by hunger; for those poured forth their blood, being pierced through, <i>these perished</i> without the fruits of the field.


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The hands of merciful women cooked their own children: they became food unto them in the downfall of the daughter of my people.


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The Lord hath let loose all his fury: he hath poured out the fierceness of his anger: and he hath kindled a fire in Zion, which hath devoured her foundations.


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The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not believe that an adversary or an enemy could ever enter within the gates of Jerusalem.


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<i>But it hath happened</i> because of the sins of her prophets, the iniquities of her priests, that had shed in the midst of her the blood of the righteous.


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They wandered about blindly in the streets, they became defiled with blood; so that men were not able to touch their garments.


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Depart, ye unclean, they called out unto them: depart, depart, touch not. So they flee away and also wander about: men say among the nations, They shall no more sojourn there.


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The anger of the Lord hath divided them; he will no more look at them: the faces of the priests they respected not, and the elders they spared not.


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Even now our eyes anxiously wait for our valueless help: in our waiting have we waited for a nation that cannot help.


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They hunt our steps, that we cannot walk in our streets: our end is near, our days are full: for our end is come.


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Swifter were our pursuers than the eagles of heaven: upon the mountains did they hotly follow us: in the wilderness did they lie in wait for us.


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The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the Lord, was caught in their pits, he, of whom we said, Under his shadow shall we live among the nations.


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Be glad and rejoice, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz: also unto thee shall the cup pass; thou wilt be drunken, and make thyself naked.


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Brought to an end is thy iniquity, O daughter of Zion; He will no more carry thee away into exile: He visiteth thy iniquity, O daughter of Edom; He layeth open thy sins.


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And it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was in the midst of the exiles by the river Kebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw divine visions.


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Came the word of the Lord expressly unto Ezekiel the son of Buzi, the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Kebar; and there came upon him there the inspiration of the Lord.


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And I saw, and behold, a stormwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a flaming fire, and a brightness was on it round about; and out of the midst of it was like the glitter of amber, out of the midst of the fire.


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And out of the midst thereof <i>I saw</i> the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man.


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And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calfs foot: and they sparkled like the glitter of burnished copper.


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And hands of man <i>were visible</i> from beneath their wings on their four sides: and their faces and their wings <i>were alike</i> on all these four.


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Their wings were joined one to the other: they turned not about in their going; they went every one in the direction of one of their faces.


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And the likeness of their faces was the face of a man; and the face of a lion, on the right side for all four of them; and the face of an ox on the left side for all four of them; and the face of an eagle for all four of them.


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Thus were their faces: and their wings were spread out upward; every one had two joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.


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And they went every one in the direction of one of his faces: whither the spirit was directed to go, they went; they turned not about in their going.


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As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like coals of fire, burning as with the appearance of torches; this <i>fire</i> it was which passed along between the living creatures: and a brightness was about the fire, and out of the fire went forth lightning.


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And I looked on the living creatures, and, behold, there was one wheel upon the earth close by the living creatures, by their four front faces.


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The appearance of the wheels and their work was like the color of a chrysolite; and all four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as though it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.


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As for their circumferences, they were so high that they excited fear: and their felloes were full of eyes round about on all these four.


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And when the living creatures went, the wheels went near to them: and when the living creatures lifted themselves up from the earth, the wheels lifted themselves up.


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Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went; <i>for</i> thither was <i>their</i> spirit to go: and the wheels lifted themselves up at the same time with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.


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When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those lifted themselves up from the earth, the wheels lifted themselves up at the same time with them; for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.


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And the likeness of a vault was over the head of the living creatures, <i>shining</i> like the glitter of the purest crystal, stretched forth over their heads above.


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And under the vault their wings were straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered them, and every one had two, which covered them,<i>namely,</i> their bodies.


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And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, when they went, the sound of <i>their</i> speech, as the noise of an army: when they stood still, they let down their wings.


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And there was a voice from the vault that was over their head: when they stood still, they let down their wings.


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And above the vault that was over their head was like the appearance of a sapphirestone, the likeness of a throne: and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.


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And I saw as if it were the glitter of amber, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his loins upward; and from the appearance of his loins downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about.


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Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about: this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that spoke.


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And a spirit entered into me as he spoke unto me, and it placed me upon my feet, and I heard him that spoke unto me.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to rebellious tribes that have rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even until this very day.


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And the children are impudent of face, and obdurate of heart: I send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal.


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And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, <i>for they are a rebellious family,</i> shall yet know that a prophet hath been among them.


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And thou, son of man,thou shalt not be afraid of them, and of their words thou shalt have no fear, though they be briers and thorns with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: of their words be not afraid, and at their presence be not dismayed; for they are a rebellious family.


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And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are rebellious.


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But thou, son of man, hear what I am speaking unto thee, Be not thou rebellious like this rebellious family: open thy mouth, and eat what I give unto thee.


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And then I looked, and behold, a hand was stretched out toward me; and, lo, a rollbook was therein;


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And he spread it out before me; and it was written within and without: and there were written therein lamentations, and dirges, and woe.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, eat what thou findest: eat this roll, and go, speak unto the house of Israel.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, feed thy belly, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I am giving unto thee. And I ate it; and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.


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For not to a people of an obscure speech and of a difficult tongue art thou sent, but to the house of Israel;


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Not to many people of an obscure speech and of a difficult tongue, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would truly have hearkened unto thee.


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But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me; for all the house of Israel have a bold forehead, and a hard heart.


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Behold, I have made thy face strong against their face, and thy forehead strong against their forehead.


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As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: thou shalt not fear them, nor shalt thou be dismayed at their presence, though they be a rebellious family.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I will speak unto thee receive in thy heart, and hear <i>them</i> with thy ears.


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And go, get thee to those in exile, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal: whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.


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Then a spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, <i>saying,</i> Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place.


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<i>I heard</i> also the sound of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the sound of the wheels at the same time with them, and the sound of a great rushing.


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So a spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I walked in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit, and the inspiration of the Lord was strong upon me.


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Then came I to the exiles at Telabib, who dwelt by the river Kebar, and I remained where they dwelt, and I remained there in a state of confusion among them seven days.


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Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: and thou shalt hear the word out of my mouth, and give them warning from me.


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When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou dost not give him warning, and speakest not to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life: the same wicked man shall die through his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand.


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But thou,if thou hast warned the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way: he shall indeed die in his iniquity; but thou hast surely delivered thy soul.


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Again, When a righteous man do turn from his righteousness, and do what is wrong: then will I lay a stumblingblock before him, <i>so that</i> he shall die; yet if thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his acts of righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require from thy hand.


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But if thou hast truly warned him,the righteous, that the righteous should not sin, and he doth not sin: he shall surely live, because he attended to the warning, and thou hast surely delivered thy own soul.


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And the inspiration of the Lord came there over me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the valley, and there will I speak with thee.


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And I arose, and went forth into the valley; and, behold, there was the glory of the Lord standing, like that glory which I had seen by the river Kebar: and I fell down on my face.


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Then entered a spirit into me, and placed me upright on my feet, and spoke with me, and said unto me, Go, shut thyself up within thy house.


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But thou, O son of man, behold, they put ropes upon thee, and bind thee with them, that thou canst not go out among them:


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And I will let thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth, that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not become to them a man who reproveth; for they are a rebellious family.


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But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forebear; for they are a rebellious family.


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But thou, O son of man, take thyself a tile, and lay it before thee, and engrave upon it a city, <i>namely,</i> Jerusalem:


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And place around it a siege, and build works of attack against it, and cast up a mound against it; and arrange around it encampments, and place against it battering rams round about.


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Moreover take thou unto thyself an iron pan, and set it up as a wall of iron between thee and the city: and direct thy face against it, that it may be placed in a state of siege, and lay siege against it. This shall be a sign for the house of Israel.


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And as for thyself, lie upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: <i>after</i> the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it shalt thou bear their iniquity.


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But as for myself, I lay upon thee the years of their iniquity, after the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.


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And when thou hast made an end of them, thou shalt lie on thy right side, the second time, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: a day each for a year, a day for a year do I lay it on thee.


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And toward the siege of Jerusalem shalt thou direct thy face with thy arm uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.


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And, behold, I will lay ropes upon thee, that thou mayest not turn thyself from one side to the other, till thou hast made an end of the days of thy siege.


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But thou take unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and spelt, and put them in one vessel, and make thyself bread thereof, <i>after</i> the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days, shalt thou eat it.


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And thy food which thou shalt eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels for every day: from one time to the other time shalt thou eat it.


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And water shalt thou drink by measure, the sixth part of a hin: from one time to the other time shalt thou drink <i>it</i>.


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And in form of a barleycake shalt thou eat it, and this shalt thou bake with balls of human excrement before their eyes.


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And the Lord said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their bread unclean among the nations whither I will drive them.


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Then said I, Ah Lord Eternal! behold, my soul hath not been defiled; and that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces, have I never eaten from my youth up even until now; and never is flesh of abomination come into my mouth.


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Then said he unto me, Lo, I have given thee cows dung instead of human excrement; and thou shalt prepare thy bread thereupon.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem; and they shall eat bread by weight, and with anxious care; and they shall drink water by measure, and in confusion;


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In order that they may want bread and water, and be confounded one with the other, and pine away for their iniquity.


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And thou, son of man, take unto thyself a sharp sword, a barbers razor shalt thou take for it unto thyself, and cause it to pass over thy head and over thy beard: then take unto thee balances for weighing, and divide the hair.


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One third part shalt thou burn with fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are completed; and thou shalt take another third part, and smite <i>it</i> round about it with the sword; and the other third part shalt thou scatter to the wind: and I will draw out a sword after the same.


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And from these again shalt thou take some, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire: therefrom shall a fire go forth unto all the house of Israel.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, This is Jerusalem, which I had set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.


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But she rebelled against my ordinances more wickedly than the nations, and against my statutes, more than the countries that are round about her; for my ordinances they have despised, and as for my statutes, they have not walked in them.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because ye have given yourselves up to evil more than the nations that are round about you, have not walked in my statutes, and have not executed my ordinances, and not even acted according to the ordinances of the nations that are round about you:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I, also I am against thee, and I will execute judgments in the midst of thee before the eyes of the nations.


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And I will do in thee that which I have never done, and the like of which I will never do any more, because of all thy abominations.


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Therefore fathers shall devour their children in the midst of thee, and children shall devour their fathers: and I will execute judgments on thee, and I will scatter all thy remnant unto all the winds.


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Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord Eternal, Surely, because thou hast made unclean my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thy abominations: therefore will I also diminish <i>thee</i>; and my eye shall not show pity, and I also will not spare.


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A third part of thee shall die through the pestilence, and come through famine to their end in the midst of thee; and another third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and the other third part will I scatter unto all the winds, and a sword will I draw out after them.


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Thus shall my anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will satisfy myself: and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I have let out all my fury on them.


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Yea, I will render thee a ruin, and a disgrace among the nations that are round about thee, before the eyes of every one that passeth by.


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And she shall be a disgrace and a taunt, a warning and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I execute judgments on thee in anger and in fury and in furious chastisements,I the Lord have spoken it,


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When I send out among them the dreadful arrows of famine, which <i>ever</i> were the cause of destruction, which I will send out to destroy you; and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break unto you the staff of bread:


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So will I let loose over you famine and wild beasts, and they shall make thee childless; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and the sword will I bring over thee. I the Lord have spoken it.


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And thou shalt say, O mountains of Israel, hear ye the word of the Lord Eternal! Thus hath said the Lord Eternal to the mountains, and to the hills, to the brooks, and to the valleys, Behold, I, even I, will bring over you the sword, and I will destroy your highplaces.


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And your altars shall be made desolate, and your sunimages shall be broken: and I will cause your slain ones to fall before your idols.


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And I will lay the carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.


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In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid in ruins, and the highplaces shall be made desolate; in order that your altars may be laid in ruins and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and annihilated, and your sunimages may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out.


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Yet will I leave <i>some</i>; that ye shall have some that escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered in the <i>various</i> countries.


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And those of you that escape shall remember me among the nations among whom they shall have been carried captive, when I shall have broken their licentious heart, which had departed from me, even with their eyes, which were gone astray after their idols: and they shall loathe themselves on account of the evil deeds which they have committed with all their abominations.


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And they shall know that I am the Lord: not for naught have I spoken that I would do unto them this evil.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Strike thy hands together, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the dreadful abominations of the house of Israel! who will have to fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.


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He that is afar off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I let out all my fury on them.


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And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain ones shall lie in the midst of their idols round about their altars, on every high hill, upon all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thickbranched oak,places where they presented sweet savor to all their idols.


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And I will stretch out my hand over them, and I will render the land desolate and waste, more than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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And thou, son of man, thus hath said the Lord Eternal concerning the land of Israel, There is an end! the end is coming over the four corners of the land.


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Now cometh the end over thee, and I will let loose my anger against thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and I will lay upon thee all thy abominations.


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And my eye shall not show pity upon thee, and I will not spare thee; for thy own ways will I lay upon thee, and thy abominations shall come in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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An end is coming, there is coming the end: it waketh up against thee; behold, <i>the evil</i> cometh.


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The evil decree is come against thee, O thou inhabitant of the land: the time is come, near is the day of tumult, and not the joyful call on the mountains.


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Now will I in a short time pour out my fury over thee, and I will let out all my anger against thee, and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and I will lay upon thee all thy abominations.


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And my eye shall not show pity, and I will not spare: according to thy ways will I lay <i>evil</i> on thee, and thy abominations shall come in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth.


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Behold the day, behold, it is coming; the evil decree is gone forth; the staff hath blossomed, presumption hath budded;


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The violence is grown up into the staff of wickedness: nothing is left of them, and nothing of their multitude, and nothing of theirs; and there shall be no lamenting for them.


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The time is coming, the day occurreth; let the buyer not rejoice, and let the seller not mourn; for wrath is against all her multitude.


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For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, although their soul were yet alive; for the vision is against all her multitude; no one shall return; but the soul of every one is fastened to his iniquity, they do not strengthen themselves <i>to repent</i>.


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They have blown the cornet, every one maketh himself ready; but no one goeth to the battle; for my wrath is against all her multitude.


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The sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine are within: he that is in the field shall die by the sword; and he that is in the city, him shall famine and pestilence devour.


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But they that escape of them shall escape, and they shall be on the mountains like the doves of the valleys, all of which are moaning, every one in his iniquity.


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And people gird themselves with sackcloth, and shuddering covereth them: and upon all faces there is shame, and upon all their heads there is baldness.


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Their silver shall they cast into the streets, and their gold shall be as though it were unclean: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the Lord; they shall not satisfy their souls, and not fill their bowels; because it was the stumblingblock for their iniquity.


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And as for the beauty of his ornament, which he had instituted for <i>their</i> pride: even therein did they make the images of their abominations, their detestable things; therefore have I rendered it unclean for them.


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And I will give it up into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil: and they shall pollute it.


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And I will turn away my face from them, and they shall pollute my place where I dwelt in secret; and therein shall barbarians enter and pollute it.


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Therefore will I bring the worst of nations, and they shall take possession of their houses: I will also cause the pride of the mighty to cease; and their holy places shall be polluted.


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Mishap shall come upon mishap, and report shall be spread upon report: and then will they seek a vision from the prophet; but the law shall be lost from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.


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The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with distress, and the hands of the people of the land shall be powerless: after their way will I do unto them, and according to their own manners will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, that I was sitting in my house, and the elders of Judah were sitting before me; and there fell upon me there the inspiration of the Lord Eternal.


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And I saw, and, behold, there was a likeness similar to the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his loins downward, it was fire; and from his loins upward, it was similar to the appearance of a bright light, like the glitter of amber.


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And he stretched forth the form of a hand, and took me by the locks of my head; and a spirit bore me between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to wrath.


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And, behold, there was the glory of the God of Israel, like the appearance which I had seen in the valley.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, do but lift up thy eyes in the direction toward the north. So I lifted up my eyes in the direction toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar <i>there was</i> this image of jealousy at the entrance.


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Then said he unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they are doing? great abominations are they that the house of Israel commit here, to make me go far away from my sanctuary; but thou shalt yet see still other great abominations.


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Then said he unto me, Son of man, do break <i>an opening</i> in the wall: and I broke <i>an opening</i> in the wall, and, behold, there was a door.


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So I went in and saw; and behold there was every form of creeping things, and cattle, abominations, and all the idols of the house of Israel, engraven upon the wall all round about.


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And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and Yaazanyahu the son of Shaphan standing in the midst of them, were standing before them, and every man had his censer in his hand; and a thick curling cloud of incense was ascending upward.


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Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, every man in his imagechambers? for they say, The Lord seeth us not: the Lord hath forsaken the earth.


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And he brought me to the entrance of the gate of the Lords house which was on the north side: and, behold, there sat the women weeping for Thammuz.


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Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Thou shalt yet again see still other greater abominations than these.


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And he brought me into the inner court of the Lords house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward to the sun.


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Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and they constantly repeat to provoke me to anger; and, lo, they stretch forth the branch to their nose.


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Therefore I also will deal in fury; my eye shall not look with pity, and I will not spare: and though they call before my ears with a loud voice, will I still not hear them.


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And he called before my ears with a loud voice, saying, Let those come near that have charge to punish the city, and every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.


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And, behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which is turned toward the north, and every man with his weapon of destruction in his hand; and one man in the midst of them was clothed in linen, with a writers materials by his side: and they went in, and placed themselves beside the copper altar.


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And the glory of the God of Israel ascended up from the cherub, whereupon it had been, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writers materials by his side.


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And the Lord said unto him, Pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and inscribe a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and who complain because of all the abominations which are done in the midst of it.


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And to the others he said before my ears, Pass ye through the city after him, and smite: let your eye not look with pity, and do not spare;


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The aged, youth, and virgin, and little children, and women shall ye slay and destroy; but come not near any man upon whom the mark is; and at my sanctuary shall ye begin. Then they began with the ancient men who were before the house.


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And he said unto them, Make unclean the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go forth. And they went forth, and they smote in the city.


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And it came to pass, while they were smiting them, and I alone was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried out, and said, Ah Lord Eternal! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel when thou pourest out thy fury over Jerusalem?


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Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and of Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodguiltiness, and the city full of injustice; for they have said, The Lord hath forsaken the land, and the Lord seeth not.


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And as for me also, my eye shall not look with pity, and I will not spare; but I will bring their course upon their own head.


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And, behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the writing materials by his side, brought back word, saying, I have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.


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Then I saw, and, behold, on the vault that was above the head of the cherubim, there appeared over them something like a sapphire stone, something similar in appearance to the likeness of a throne.


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And he said unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, under the cherub, and fill thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and throw <i>them</i> over the city. And he went in before my eyes.


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Now the cherubim were standing on the right side of the house, when the man went in: and the cloud filled the inner court.


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Then the glory of the Lord rose upward from the cherub, toward the threshold of the house: and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lords glory.


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And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.


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And it came to pass, when he commanded the man clothed in linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim, that he went in, and stood beside the wheel.


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And the one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and lifted it up, and placed it into the hands of the one clothed in linen; who took it, and went out.


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And I saw, and, behold, there were four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by the one cherub, and another wheel by the other cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was like the glitter of a chrysolite stone.


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And as for their appearances, the whole four had one likeness, as if a wheel were in the midst of another wheel.


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In their going, they went toward their four sides, they turned not round in their going; but to the place whither the head was turned they followed it, they turned not round in their going.


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And their whole body, and their back, and their hands, and their wings, as also the wheels, were full of eyes round about, <i>even</i> the wheels that belonged to all four of them.


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And every one had four faces: the one face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third face was the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.


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And when the cherubim went forward, the wheels went close by them; and when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels also did not turn away from beside them.


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When those halted, these halted; and when those lifted themselves up, these lifted themselves up with them; for the spirit of the living creature was in them.


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And the glory of the Lord went forth from off the threshold of the house, and halted over the cherubim.


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And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went forth, and the wheels at the same time with them, and halted at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord: and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.


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This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river Kebar; and I understood that they were cherubim.


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Every one had four faces apiece, and every one had four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.


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And the likeness of their faces was the same as the faces which I had seen by the river Kebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one in the direction of his face.


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And a spirit bore me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the house of the Lord, which looketh eastward: and behold, there were at the entrance of the gate five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Yaazanyah the son of Azzur, and Pelatyahu the son of Benayahu, princes of the people.


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Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise wickedness, and give evil counsel in this city;


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Who say, <i>The evil</i> is not near; so let us build houses: this <i>city</i> is the pot, and we are the flesh.


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And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak, Thus hath said the Lord, Thus have ye said, O house of Israel; and whatever cometh into your mind, do I know full well.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Those slain by you whom ye have struck down in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this place is the pot; but you are to be removed out of the midst of it.


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And I will remove you out of the midst of it, and I will give you up into the hand of strangers, and will execute punishments among you.


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By the sword shall ye fall; on the boundary of Israel will I judge you: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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This place shall not be unto you as a pot, so that you should be as flesh in the midst of it; but on the boundary of Israel will I judge you.


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And ye shall know that I am the Lord: because in my statutes have ye not walked, and my ordinances have ye not executed; but ye have done after the ordinances of the nations that are round about you.


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And it came to pass, as I was prophesying, that Pelatyahu the son of Benayah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord Eternal! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?


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Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and the whole house of Israel altogether, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Remain you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given for a possession.


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Therefore say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Although I have removed them far away among the nations, and although I have scattered them among the countries: yet will I be to them as a minor sanctuary in the countries whither they are come.


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Therefore say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will both gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries whether ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.


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And they shall come thither, and they shall remove all its detestable things, and all its abominations out of it.


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And I will give them one single heart, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will remove the heart of stone out of their body, and I will give unto them a heart of flesh:


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In order that they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them; and they shall be unto me for a people, and I will indeed be unto them for a God.


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But as for those whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, their way do I bring upon their own head, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Then did the cherubim lift up their wings, and the wheels at the same time with them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.


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And the glory of the Lord ascended from the midst of the city, and halted upon the mount which is on the east side of the city.


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But a spirit bore me up, and brought me into Chaldea, to those in exile, in the appearance through the spirit of God: and then ascended away from me the appearance which I had seen.


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Son of man, in the midst of a rebellious family art thou dwelling, who have eyes to see, and see not; who have ears to hear, and hear not; for they are a rebellious family.


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But thou, O son of man, prepare for thyself vessels for going into exile, and wander away by day before their eyes; and thou shalt wander away from thy place to another place before their eyes: perhaps they may become aware that they are a rebellious family.


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Then shalt thou carry forth thy vessels, like vessels of exile, by day before their eyes: and thou shalt go forth at evening before their eyes, as they do that go forth into exile.


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Before their <i>eyes</i> shalt thou bear them upon thy shoulders, in the dark shalt thou carry them forth: thy face shalt thou cover, that thou mayest not see the ground; for as a token have I set thee unto the house of Israel.


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And I did so as I had been commanded; my vessels I carried forth by day, like vessels of exile, and in the evening I broke a hole for myself through the wall with my hand: in the dark I brought them forth, and I bore them upon my shoulder before their eyes.


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Say thou unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, For the prince in Jerusalem is the doom, and for all the house of Israel, <i>and those</i> that are in the midst of them.


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Say, I am your token; just as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: into exile, into captivity, shall they wander.


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And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth; through the wall shall they break a hole to carry <i>things</i> through it: his face shall he cover up, that he may not see the ground with his eyes.


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And I will spread out my net over him, and he shall be caught in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon into the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, and there shall he die.


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And all that are round about him, those who assist him, and all the wings of his armies will I disperse toward every wind; and the sword will I draw out after them.


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And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.


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But I will leave of them men few in number from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence: in order that they may relate all their abominations among the nations whither they shall have come; and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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Son of man, thy bread shalt thou eat with quaking, and thy water shalt thou drink with trembling and with anxious care.


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And thou shalt say unto the people of the land, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, <i>and</i> concerning the land of Israel, Their bread shall they eat with anxious care, and their water shall they drink with confusion, for the cause that her land will be desolate, deprived of its plenteousness because of the violence of all those that dwell therein.


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And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid in ruins, and the land shall be made desolate: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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Son of man, what sort of proverb is that which ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are lasting long, and lost is every vision?


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Therefore say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will cause this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but speak unto them, The days are coming nigh, and the word of every vision.


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For I am the Lord,I do speak, and whatever word I do speak shall be done; it shall not be delayed any more; for in your days, O rebellious family, will I speak the word, and I will execute it, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, behold, the house of Israel say, The vision that he foreseeth is for distant days, and for times that are far off doth he prophesy.


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Therefore say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, There shall not be delayed any more one of all my words; but whatever word I do speak shall be done, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto those that prophesy out of their own heart, Hear ye the word of the Lord:


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Woe unto the scandalous prophets, that follow their own spirit, without having seen any thing!


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Ye did not go up into the breaches, nor did ye make a fence around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord.


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They saw falsehood and lying divination, they who say, "The Lord saith," when the Lord had not sent them; and yet they made others hope for the fulfillment of the word.


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Had ye not seen a false vision, and had ye not said a lying divination? and ye say, "The Lord saith," when I have not spoken.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Whereas ye have spoken falsehood, and have seen lies: therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And my hand shall be against the prophets that see falsehood, and that divine lies; in the secret council of my people shall they not be, and in the register of the house of Israel shall they not be written, and into the land of Israel shall they not come: and ye shall know that I am the Lord Eternal.


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Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, "Peace," when there was no peace: and <i>my people</i> build a protecting wall, and lo, they plaster it with unadhesive mortar.


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Say unto those who plaster it with unadhesive mortar, that it shall fall: there cometh an overflowing rainshower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormwind shall rend it.


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And, lo, the wall is fallen down; will it not now be said unto you, Where is the plastering wherewith ye have plastered?


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will even rend it with stormwinds in my fury; and an overflowing rainshower shall come in my anger, with great hailstones in my fury to destroy it.


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And I will pull down the wall that ye have plastered with unadhesive mortar, and I will cast it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be laid open; and it shall fall, and ye shall be destroyed in the midst of it: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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Thus will I let out all my wrath upon the wall, and upon those that have plastered it with unadhesive mortar; and I will say unto you, Gone is the wall, and gone are they that plastered it;


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<i>Namely,</i> the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see for her a vision of peace, when there is no peace, saith the Lord Eternal.


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But, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, who prophesy out of their own heart: and prophesy against them,


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And say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Woe to the women that sew bolsters together for the armpits of all, and make cushions for the head of every stature, to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, that ye may keep your own soul alive?


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And ye profane me among my people for handfuls of barley and for bits of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to keep alive the souls that should not live, by your lying to my people that listen to lies!


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I am against your bolsters, whereon ye hunt the souls that they may flutter <i>in your net</i>, and I will tear them away from your arms; and I will let the souls go free, even the souls that ye hunt that they may flutter <i>in your net.</i>


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And I will tear away your cushions, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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Because ye grieve the heart of the righteous with falsehood, when I have not given him pain; and strengthen the hands of the wicked, so that he should not return from his wicked way, through which he might live.


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Therefore shall ye see no more falsehood, and tell no more divinations; and I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and the stumblingblock of their iniquity have they placed before their faces: shall I in any wise let myself be inquired of by them?


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Therefore speak with them and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Whatever man it be of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and layeth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet: I the Lord will answer him, although he cometh with the multitude of his idols;


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In order that I may grasp the house of Israel by their heart, those who are separated from me through all their idols.


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Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Return, and cause <i>your heart</i> to turn away from your idols: and from all your abominations turn away your faces.


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For whatever man it be of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, that separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and layeth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and then cometh to the prophet to inquire through him of me: I the Lord will answer him through my word;


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And I will set my face against that man, and will make him an astonishment for a sign and for proverbs, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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And when the prophet suffereth himself to be deceived, and he speaketh a word: I the Lord have suffered that prophet to be deceived: and I will stretch out my hand against him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.


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And they shall bear their guilt: as the guilt of the inquirer is, so shall the guilt of the prophet be;


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In order that the house of Israel may go no more astray by not following me, and not pollute themselves any more with all their transgressions; but that they may become unto me a people, and I may be unto them a God, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, if a land should sin against me by trespassing grievously, and I stretch out my hand against it, and break unto it the staff of bread, and send out famine against it, and cut off from it man and beast;


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And if there be these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, in the midst of it: these through their righteousness should save but their own soul; saith the Lord Eternal.


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If I cause wild beasts to pass through the land, and they depopulate it, and it becometh desolate, without any one to pass through because of the beasts:


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These three men <i>if they were</i> in it, as I live, saith the Lord Eternal, should not save either sons or daughters: they only should be saved, but the land should be made desolate.


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Or, if I should bring a sword over that land, and say, The sword shall pass through the land, and I cut off from it man and beast;


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And if these three men should be in it: as I live, saith the Lord Eternal, they should not save either sons or daughters, but they alone should be saved.


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Or, if I should send out the pestilence against that land, and pour out my fury over it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast;


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And if Noah, Daniel, and Job, should be in the midst of it: as I live, saith the Lord Eternal, they should not save either son or daughter; they through their righteousness should save their own soul.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Although I send my four dreadful means of punishment over Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the wild beasts, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast:


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Still, behold, there are left therein some that escape who shall be carried forth, both sons and daughters; behold, they are coming forth unto you, and ye will see their way and their doings; and then will ye be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, yea, concerning all that I have brought upon it;


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And they will comfort you, when ye see their way and their doings; and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have executed in it, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, What shall become of the wood of the vine more than of any other wood, of the branch which was standing among the trees of the forest?


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Can wood be taken therefrom to employ it for any work? or will men take from it a pin to hang thereon any vessel?


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Behold, if it be given up to the fire to be consumed,<i>and</i> the fire have consumed both its ends, and the middle of it be scorched; will it be fit for any work?


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Behold, when it was yet entire, it could not be employed for any work: how much more <i>must this be</i> when the fire hath consumed it, and it is scorched,and shall it yet be employed for any work?


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given up to the fire to be consumed: so do I give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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And I will set my face against them: from the fire have they gone forth, yet the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them.


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And I will render the land a desert; because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And thou shalt say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal unto Jerusalem, Thy origin and thy birth are out of the land of Canaan: thy father was an Emorite, and thy mother a Hittite.


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And as for thy birth, on the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, nor wast thou washed in water to he cleansed; and thou wast not rubbed with salt, nor wrapt in swaddling clothes.


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No eye looked with pity on thee, to do any of these things unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out on the open field, with a loathing of thy body, on the day that thou wast born.


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But I passed then by thee, and I saw thee stained with thy own blood, and I said unto thee, In thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee, In thy blood, live.


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Myriads, like the vegetation of the field, did I make of thee, and thou didst increase and become great, and thou attainedst the highest attractions: with thy breasts developed, and thy hair full grown; but thou wast still naked and bare.


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But I passed then by thee, and saw thee, and, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread the skirt of my garment over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I swore unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord Eternal, and thou becamest mine.


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Then did I bathe thee with water, yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee; and I anointed thee with oil.


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I clothed thee also with broidered work, and made thee shoes of badgers skin, and I placed on thy head a turban of fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.


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And I decked thee with ornaments, and I placed bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain around thy neck.


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Thus wast thou ornamented with gold and silver; and thy garments were of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; fine flour, and honey, and oil didst thou eat: and thou wast exceedingly beautiful, and thou didst succeed to acquire dominion.


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And thy fame went forth among the nations because of thy beauty; for it was perfect through my glorious ornament, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord Eternal.


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But thou didst trust in thy beauty, and play the harlot because of thy fame, and lavish thy lewd caresses on every one that passed byon him they were bestowed.


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And thou didst take from thy garments, and deck thee highplaces with divers colors, and play the harlot thereupon: never should the like come to pass, and never should it be so.


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And thou didst take thy elegant ornaments of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and make for thyself male images, and play the harlot with them;


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And thou didst take thy broidered garments, and cover them: and my oil and my incense didst thou place before them.


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And my bread which I had given thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, which I had let thee eat, even this didst thou set before them for a sweet savour: yes, so was it, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And thou didst take thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hadst born unto me, and didst slaughter these unto them to be devoured; <i>but</i> were thy acts of lewdness not yet enough?


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And in all thy abominations and thy acts of lewdness thou didst not remember the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, when thou wast stained with thy blood.


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On the corner of every road didst thou build thy elevations, and make thy beauty abominable, and spread out thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiply thy acts of lewdness.


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And thou didst play the harlot with the Egyptians, thy neighbors, with large limbs, and multiply thy acts of lewdness, to provoke me to anger.


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And, behold, I stretched out my hand over thee, and diminished thy stated portion; and I gave thee up unto the will of those that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, who were made to blush for thy incestuous course.


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Then didst thou play the harlot with the sons of Asshur, because thou wast unsatiable: yea, thou didst play the harlot with them, and wast even then not satisfied.


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And thou didst multiply thy lewdness with the traders land as far as Chaldea; and even with this wast thou not satisfied.


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How very corrupt is thy heart, saith the Lord Eternal, seeing thou didst all these things, deeds of an abandoned lewd woman;


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Seeing that thou didst build thy eminences at the corner of every road, and make thy elevations in every street; and wast not like a harlot, as thou scornedst the wages.


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Unto all harlots they give presents; but thou hast given thy presents to all thy lovers, and hast bribed them, that they might come unto thee from every side in thy acts of lewdness.


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And the reverse was the case with thee from <i>other</i> women in thy acts of lewdness, that men did not follow thee to seek thy lewd caresses; and because thou gavest the wages, and no wages were given thee: so was it the reverse with thee.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Whereas thy wealth was squandered, and thy nakedness was uncovered through thy lewd acts with thy lovers, and with all thy abominable idols, and for the blood of thy children, whom thou didst give unto them:


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Therefore, behold, I will gather all thy lovers, whom thou hast given pleasure, and all whom thou hast loved, together with all whom thou hast hated,yea, I will gather them all round about thee, and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.


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And I will judge thee, as adulteresses and women that shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of fury and jealousy.


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And I will also give thee up into their hand, and they shall pull down thy eminences, and shall break down thy elevations; and they shall strip thee of thy clothes, and they shall take thy elegant ornaments, and leave thee naked and bare.


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And they shall bring up against thee an assembly, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords;


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And they shall burn thy houses with fire, and execute punishments on thee before the eyes of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from being a harlot, and also the wages <i>of sin</i> shalt thou not give any more.


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And then will I assuage my fury on thee, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.


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Because that thou didst not remember the days of thy youth, but didst irritate me with all these things: behold, therefore I also will bring thy course upon thy head, saith the Lord Eternal, and thou shalt no more commit incest with all thy <i>other</i> abominations.


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Behold, every one that speaketh in proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As the mother is, so is her daughter.


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Thou art thy mothers daughter, loathing her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, who have loathed their husbands and their children: your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Emorite.


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And thy elder sister is Samaria, she with her daughters, that dwelleth at thy left hand, and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom with her daughters.


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Yet not even in their ways didst thou walk, nor act according to their abominations: as though this were quite too little, and thou wast more corrupt than they in all thy ways.


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As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, Sodom thy sister, she with her daughters, hath not done as thou hast done, thou with thy daughters.


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Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: Pride, abundance of food, and prosperous security were hers and her daughters; but the hand of the poor and needy did she not strengthen.


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And they became haughty, and committed abominations before me: therefore did I remove them when I saw their course.


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And Samaria hath not committed even the half of thy sins; but thou didst multiply thy abominations more than they; and thou hast justified thy sisters through all thy abominations which thou hast done.


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Bear then thou also thy own confusion, which thou didst adjudge unto each of thy sisters; through thy sins, which thou hast committed more abominably than they, are they made more righteous than thou: therefore thou alsobe ashamed, and bear thy confusion, since thou hast justified thy sisters.


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And I will bring back again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of the captives in the midst of them:


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In order that thou mayest bear thy confusion, and mayest be confounded because of all that thou hast done, when thou art a comfort unto them.


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And thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former state, and thou and thy daughters shall return to your former state.


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Before yet thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all those round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, who taunted thee on all sides?


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, thou who hast despised the oath by breaking the covenant.


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Nevertheless will I indeed remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.


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And thou shalt then remember thy ways, and be confounded, when thou receivest thy sisters, both those that are older than thou and younger than thou: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, though not because thou wast faithful to the covenant.


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In order that thou mayest remember, and feel ashamed, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy confusion, when I forgive thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, The great eagle with large wings, long winged, full of feathers, who is rich in many colors, came unto the Lebanon, and took the highest branch of the cedar:


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The topmost of its young twigs did he crop off, and carry it into the traders land; and he set it in a city of merchants.


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And he took some of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful field: he placed it by great waters, he transplanted it among the willowtrees.


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And it grew, and became a trailing vine of low stature, the tendrils of which should turn toward him, and the roots of which should be under him: so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and sent out shoots.


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There was also another great eagle with large wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did bend its roots famishing toward him, and shot forth its tendrils toward him, that he might water it, from the beds where it was planted;


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<i>Although</i> it was planted in a good field by great waters, that it might produce boughs, and that it might bear fruit, that it might become an elegant vine.


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Say now, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Shall it prosper? Behold the other will pull up its roots, and its fruit will he cut away, that it may dry up; every one of its growing leaves shall dry up; and not with great power and numerous people <i>will he have to come</i> to tear it away from its roots.


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Yea, behold, although it is planted, shall it prosper? Lo, as soon as the east wind toucheth it, shall it be utterly dried up: in the beds where it groweth shall it dry up.


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Do now say to the rebellious family, Know ye not what these things mean? Say, Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took away its king and its princes, and he brought them unto himself to Babylon;


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And he took one of the royal seed, and made a covenant with him, and bound him with an oath; but the mighty of the land did he take away;


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That the kingdom should be debased, so as not to lift itself up; that it should keep his covenant that it might continue to exist.


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But he rebelled against him by sending his messengers into Egypt, that they might give him horses and numerous people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doth such things? yea, he hath broken the covenant, and shall he escape?


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As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, surely in the residence of the king that hath made him king, whose oath he hath despised, and whose covenant he hath broken, even near him in the midst of Babylon shall he die.


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And not with a mighty army and a large assembly shall Pharaoh labor for him in the war, when <i>the other</i> casteth up mounds, and buildeth works of attack, to cut off many souls.


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Yea, he that hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, shall not escape.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, As I live, surely my oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken,even this will I bring upon his own head.


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And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be caught in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will hold judgment with him there for his trespass which he hath committed against me.


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And all his fugitives with all the wings of his army shall fall by the sword, and those that remain shall be dispersed toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, But I myself will take <i>a part</i> of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will preserve it; from the topmost of its young twigs will I crop off a tender one, and I myself will plant it firmly upon a high and eminent mountain:


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On the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it firmly; and it shall produce boughs, and bear fruit, and become an elegant cedar; and there shall dwell under it all fowls, every thing that hath wing; in the shadow of its light branches shall they dwell.


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And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have made low the high tree, have made high the lowly tree, that I have dried up the green tree, and have caused to flourish the dry tree: I the Lord have spoken and have done it.


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What mean ye, that ye use this proverb in the country of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge?


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Behold, all the souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the sonmine are they: the soul which sinneth that alone shall die.


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Upon the mountains he eateth not, and his eyes he lifteth not up to the idols of the house of Israel, and the wife of his neighbor he defileth not, and unto a woman in her separation he cometh not near;


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And he overreacheth no man, he restoreth his pledge for a debt, a robbery he doth not commit, his bread he giveth to the hungry, and the naked he covereth with a garment;


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Upon interest he giveth not forth, and increase he doth not take, from wrong he withdraweth his hand, true judgment he executeth between man and man;


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In my statutes he walketh steadfastly, and my ordinances he keepeth to deal truly: he is righteous, he shall surely live, saith the Lord Eternal.


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If he <i>now</i> beget a dissolute son that sheddeth blood and doth to <i>his</i> brother any one of thee things;


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And he is one that doth not any of these <i>duties</i>; but eateth even upon the mountains, and defileth the wife of his neighbor;


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The poor and needy he overreacheth, he is guilty of robberies, the pledge he restoreth not, and to the idols he lifteth up his eyes, abominations he committeth:


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Upon interest he giveth forth, and increase he taketh: and he should live? he shall not live; all these abominations hath he done, he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.


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And behold, if he beget a son, who seeth all the sins of his father which he hath done, and he considereth, and doth not the like of them;


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Upon the mountains he eateth not, and his eyes he lifteth not up to the idols of the house of Israel, the wife of his neighbor he defileth not;


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And he overreacheth no man, a pledge he withholdeth not, and of a robbery he is never guilty, his bread he giveth to the hungry, and the naked he covereth with a garment;


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From the poor he withdraweth his hand, interest and increase he taketh not: my ordinances he executeth; in my statutes he walketh:he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.


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His father, because he unjustly withheld <i>wages</i>, was guilty of robbery on his brother, and did that which is not good in the midst of his people,and lo, he died through his iniquity.


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Yet say ye, Why doth not the son bear part of the iniquity of the father? when the son hath executed justice and righteousness, all my statutes hath he kept, and hath done them: he shall surely live.


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The soul that sinneth, she alone shall die; the son shall not help to bear the iniquity of the father and the father shall not help to 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.


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And the wicked, when he turneth away from all his sins that he hath committed, and keepeth all my statutes, and executeth justice and righteousness, shall surely live, he shall not die.


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All his transgressions which he hath committed shall not be remembered unto him: through his righteousness which he hath done shall he live.


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Have I then the least pleasure in the death of the wicked? saith the Lord Eternal: and not in his turning away from his ways, that he may live?


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But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth wrong, and doth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? all his righteousness that he hath done shall not he remembered: through his trespass which he hath committed, and through his sin that he hath done,through them shall he die.


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Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equitable: hear now, O house of Israel, Is not my way equitable? is it not your ways which are not equitable?


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When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and doth wrong, and dieth therefore: through his wrong which he hath done must he die.


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Again, when the wicked turneth away from his wickedness which he hath committed, and executeth justice and righteousness: he shall indeed preserve his soul alive.


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Because he hath considered, and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed: he shall surely live, he shall not die.


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Yet say the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equitable: are not my ways equitable, O house of Israel? is it not your ways which are not equitable?


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Therefore will I judge you, every one according to his ways, O house of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal: return ye, and cause others to return from all your transgressions, that iniquity may not become your stumblingblock.


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Cast away from yourselves all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?


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For I have no pleasure in the death of him that deserveth to die, saith the Lord Eternal: therefore convert yourselves, and live.


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And say, What a noble lioness was thy mother! among lions did she lie down, in the midst of young lions did she raise her whelps!


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And she brought up one of her whelps: he became a young lion, and he learned to tear in pieces the prey; <i>even</i> men he devoured.


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And when nations heard of him, he was caught in their pit, and they brought him with noserings unto the land of Egypt.


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Now when she saw that she had long waited, <i>that</i> her hope was lost, she took another one of her whelps, and made him a young lion.


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And he went up and down in the midst of lions, he became a young lion; and he learned to tear in pieces the prey; even men he devoured.


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And he broke down their palaces, and their cities laid he in ruins: and then was terrified the land, with all that filled it, because of the noise of his roaring.


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


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And they put him in a cage with noserings <i>in his nose</i>, and they brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into strongholds, in order that his voice should no more be heard on the mountains of Israel.


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Thy mother was like a vine, if I compare thee to aught, planted by the waters: fruitful and full of boughs was she by reason of many waters.


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And she had strong branches <i>fit</i> for the sceptres of rulers, and her stature grew up high between the thickbranched <i>trees</i>, and she was seen through her height by means of the multitude of her tendrils.


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But she was plucked up in fury, to the ground was she cast down, and the east wind dried up her fruit: and torn off and dried up were her strong branches, a fire consumed them.


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And fire is gone out of a branch of her boughs, and hath devoured her fruit, so that there is no more on her a strong branch for a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and it is become a lamentation.


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And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain men of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and they sat down before me.


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Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Is it to inquire of me that ye are coming? as I live, I will not let myself be inquired of by you, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Wilt thou take them to task, wilt thou take them to task, son of man? then cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;


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And say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, On the day when I made choice of Israel, I lifted up my hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and I made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt: and I lifted up my hand unto them, saying, I am the Lord your God.


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On the same day I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them forth from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is an ornament among all the countries.


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And I said unto them, Cast ye away every one of the abominations of his eyes, and on the idols of Egypt shall ye not defile yourselves: I am the Lord your God.


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But they rebelled against me, and they would not hearken unto me; they did not cast away every one the abominations of their eyes, and the idols of Egypt did they not forsake: and I thought then to pour out my fury over them, to let out all my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.


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But I acted for the sake of my name, so as not to profane it before the eyes of the nations, in the midst of whom they were; because I had made myself known unto them before their eyes, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt.


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And I gave them my statutes, and my ordinances made I known to them, which a man is to do, that he may live through them.


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And also my sabbaths gave I unto them, to be as a sign between me and between them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctify them.


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But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; in my statutes they walked not, and my ordinances they despised, which a man is to do, that he may live through them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned: and I then thought to pour out my fury over them in the wilderness, to make an end of them.


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But I acted for the sake of my name, so as not to profane it before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them forth.


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Yet did I also lift up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given <i>them</i>, flowing with milk and honey, which is an ornament among all the countries.


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Because my ordinances they had despised, and in my statutes they had not walked, and my sabbaths they had profaned; for after their idols did their heart go.


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Nevertheless my eye looked pityingly on them, so as not to destroy them, and I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.


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And I said unto their children in the wilderness, In the statutes of your fathers shall ye not walk, and their ordinances shall ye not keep, and on their idols shall ye not defile yourselves.


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And my sabbaths must ye sanctify; and they shall be as a sign between me and between you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.


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Nevertheless the children rebelled against me; in my statutes did they not walk, and my ordinances they kept not to do them, which a man is to do, that he may live through them; my sabbaths they profaned: and I then thought to pour out my fury over them, to let out all my anger against them in the wilderness.


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But I withdrew my hand, and acted for the sake of my name, so as not to profane it before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them forth.


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I also lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;


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Because my ordinances they had not executed, and my statutes they had despised, and my sabbaths they had profaned, and after the idols of their fathers their eyes were directed.


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And I let them be defiled through their gifts, in that they caused to pass <i>through the fire</i> all that openeth the womb, in order that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.


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Therefore, speak unto the house of Israel, O son of man, and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Yet in this too did your fathers blaspheme me, by their committing a trespass against me:


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When I had brought them into the land, for which I had lifted up my hand to give it to them, they saw every high hill, and all the thickbranched trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and presented there their provoking offerings, and they brought there their sweet savor, and poured out there their drinkofferings.


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Then said I unto them, What is this highplace whereunto ye go? And its name was called "The height" until this day.


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Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Ha! do you pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers; and after their abominations do ye go astray?


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And when ye offer up your gifts, when ye make your sons pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even until this day: and I should allow myself to be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, I will not let myself be inquired of by you.


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And that which cometh up into your mind shall not at all come to pass, <i>namely,</i> that ye say, We will be like the nations, like the families of the <i>other</i> countries, to serve wood and stone.


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As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, surely, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:


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And I will bring you out from the people, and I will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with <i>my</i> fury poured out.


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And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and I will hold judgment over you there, face to face.


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As I held judgment over your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I hold judgment over you, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And I will separate from you those that have rebelled, and those that have transgressed against me: out of the country where they sojourn will I cause them to go forth, but into the land of Israel shall not one <i>of them</i> enter; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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As for you, O house of Israel, thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter <i>also</i>, if ye will not hearken unto me; but my holy name do not profane any more with your gifts, and with your idols.


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For on my holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal, there shall serve me all the house of Israel, altogether, in the land: there will I accept them in favor, and there will I require your heaveofferings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.


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With your sweet savor will I accept you in favor, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered: and I will be sanctified through you before the eyes of the nations.


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And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I have lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers.


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And ye shall remember there your ways, and all your doings, whereby ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves, because of all your evil deeds that ye have committed.


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And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for the sake of my name, not in accordance with your wicked ways, and in accordance with your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal.


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<n>(21:2)</n> Son of man, set thy face in the direction toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.


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<n>(21:3)</n> And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour in thee every green tree, and every dry tree: the glowing flame shall not be quenched, and there shall be burnt therein all faces from the south to the north.


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<n>(21:7)</n> Son of man, direct thy face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,


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<n>(21:8)</n> And say to the land of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord, Behold, I will be against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath; and I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.


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<n>(21:9)</n> But because I shall have cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked: therefore shall my sword go forth out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north;


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<n>(21:10)</n> That all flesh may know that I the Lord have drawn forth my sword out of its sheath; it shall not return any more.


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<n>(21:11)</n> But thou, son of man, do thou sigh: as though with broken loins, and with bitterness <i>of grief</i> shalt thou sigh before their eyes.


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<n>(21:12)</n> And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt say, For the report, because it cometh, when every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be made feeble, and every spirit shall become faint, and all knees shall be changed into water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord Eternal.


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<n>(21:14)</n> Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus hath said the Lord, Say, The sword, the sword is sharpened, and also polished;


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<n>(21:15)</n> In order to make a thorough slaughter is it sharpened; in order that it may glitter is it polished: how can we now rejoice, <i>when</i> the rod which reacheth my son excelleth in hardness every tree?


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<n>(21:16)</n> And he hath given it to be polished, to make it fit to grasp it in the hand: it is the sword which is sharpened, and it is polished, to place it into the hand of the slayer.


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<n>(21:17)</n> Cry aloud and wail, O son of man; for it cometh against my people, it cometh against all the princes of Israel; brought together for the sword are they with my people: therefore strike <i>thy hand</i> upon thy thigh.


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<n>(21:18)</n> For a purification taketh place: and what if the irresistible rod will also come? <i>my son</i> would not be able to exist, saith the Lord Eternal.


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<n>(21:19)</n> But thou, son of man, prophesy, and strike thy hands together, and let "The sword" be repeated the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great that are slain, which lieth in wait for them everywhere.


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<n>(21:20)</n> In order to make timid the heart, and to multiply the stumblingblocks, do I bring the howling of the sword against all their gates: ah! it is made bright, it is made thinedged for the slaughter.


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<n>(21:21)</n> Gather up thy strength, go to the right hand, direct thyself, go to the left, whithersoever thy edge is turned.


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<n>(21:22)</n> And I also,I will strike my hands together, and I will cause my fury to be assuaged: I the Lord have spoken it.


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<n>(21:24)</n> But thou, O son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come; out of one land shall both of them come forth: and select a place; at the head of the way to a city do thou select it.


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<n>(21:25)</n> A way shalt thou appoint, that the sword may come against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and <i>the other</i> against Judah <i>dwelling</i> in Jerusalem the fortified.


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<n>(21:26)</n> For the king of Babylon hath halted at the parting of the way, at the commencement of the two ways, to use divination: he shaketh the arrows, he consulteth with images, he looketh at the liver.


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<n>(21:27)</n> At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to erect batteringrams, to open the mouth with the <i>cry for</i> murder, to lift up the voice with shouting, to place batteringrams against the gates, to cast up a mound, and to build works of attack.


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<n>(21:28)</n> And it will appear unto them as a false divination in their eyes, to those that had sworn oaths; but he will bring to remembrance their iniquity, that they may be caught.


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<n>(21:29)</n> Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because ye have brought your iniquity to remembrance, as your transgressions are discovered, so that your sins do appear in all your doings: because ye are thus brought to remembrance, ye shall be caught by <i>his</i> hand.


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<n>(21:30)</n> And thou, deathdeserving wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day is come, at the time of the iniquity of the end,


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<n>(21:31)</n> Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Remove the mitre, and take off the crown: this shall not be always so; exalt him that is low, and make him low that is high.


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<n>(21:32)</n> Overthrown, overthrown, overthrown will I render it: also this shall not belong <i>to any one</i>, until he come whose right it is, and I will give it him.


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<n>(21:33)</n> And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach: even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn; for the slaughter is it polished, to destroy, that it may continue to glitter;


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<n>(21:34)</n> While they foresee unto thee falsehood, while they divine unto thee lies, to lay thee by the necks of the slain wicked, whose day is come, at the time of the iniquity of the end.


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<n>(21:35)</n> Put back <i>the sword</i> into its sheath! in the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy origin, will I judge thee.


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<n>(21:36)</n> And I will pour out over thee my indignation, with the fire of my wrath will I blow against thee, and I will give thee up into the hand of brutish men, skilful in destroying.


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<n>(21:37)</n> To the fire shalt thou be given to be devoured; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land: thou shalt not be remembered <i>any more</i>; for I the Lord have spoken it.


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And thou, son of man, wilt thou take to task, wilt thou take to task the city of blood? and wilt thou make her know all her abominations?


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Then say thou, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, O city that sheddeth blood in her midst, that her time <i>of sorrow</i> may come, and that hath made idols for herself to become unclean:


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Through thy blood which thou hast shed, are thou become guilty; and through thy idols which thou hast made art thou become unclean; and thou hast caused thy days <i>of destruction</i> to draw near, and thou art come even unto thy years; therefore do I make thee a disgrace unto the nations, and a mocking to all the countries.


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Those who are near, and those who are far from thee, shall mock thee, O thou unclean in name, and great in confusion!


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Behold, the princes of Israel were each <i>ready</i> with his arm within thee, in order to shed blood.


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Father and mother they esteemed lightly within thee, toward the stranger they acted with extortion in the midst of thee, the fatherless and the widow they oppressed within thee.


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Talebearers <i>also</i> were within thee, in order to shed blood; and upon the mountains did they eat within thee; incest did they commit in the midst of thee.


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Their fathers nakedness they uncovered within thee; her that was unclean in her separation did they violate within thee.


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And one with his neighbors wife did commit abomination; and another did defile his daughterinlaw with incest; and another did violate his sister, the daughter of his father, within thee.


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Bribes they took within thee, in order to shed blood; interest and increase didst thou take, and thou didst acquire gain off thy neighbors by extortion: and me thou didst forget, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And behold, I have struck my hands together at thy wrongful gain which thou hast acquired, and at thy bloodguilt which hath been in the midst of thee.


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Will thy courage endure, or will thy hands remain strong, on the days that I will deal with thee? I the Lord have spoken, and will do it.


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And I will scatter thee among the nations, and disperse thee in the countries, and I will entirely remove thy uncleanness out of thee.


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And thou shalt be degraded through thyself before the eyes of nations, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.


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Son of man, the house of Israel are become to me dross: they all are copper, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; the dross of silver are they become.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because ye are all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.


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As silver, and copper, and iron, and lead, and tin are gathered into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it: so will I gather you in my anger and in my fury and I will lay you down there, and melt you.


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Yea, I will assemble you in a heap, and blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst of it.


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As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst of it: and ye shall know that I am the Lord who have poured out my fury over you.


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Son of man, say unto her, Thou art a land that is not cleansed; <i>and</i> which is not rained upon on the day of indignation.


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The banded troop of her prophets in the midst of her is like a roaring lion that teareth in pieces the prey: souls do they devour; wealth and precious things do they take away; the number of her widows do they increase in the midst of her.


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Her priests violate my law, and profane my holy things: between the holy and profane do they make no distinction, and the difference between the unclean and the clean do they not make known, and from <i>the violation of</i> my sabbaths do they turn away their eyes, so that I am profaned among them.


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Her princes in her midst are like wolves that tear in pieces the prey, to shed blood, to destroy souls, in order to obtain selfish gain.


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And her prophets plastered for them with unadhesive mortar, foreseeing falsehood, and divining unto them lies, saying, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal; when the Lord had not spoken.


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The people of the land are guilty of extortion, and practise robbery, and the poor and the needy they defraud: and they extort from the stranger with injustice.


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And I seek now among them for a man, that could erect a fence, and stand in the breach before me in behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it; but I find none.


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And I therefore pour out over them my indignation; with the fire of my wrath do I make an end of them: their own way do I bring upon their head, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And they played the harlot in Egypt; in their youth they played the harlot: there were their breasts pressed, and there they suffered their virgin bosoms to be touched.


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And their names were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister; but they became mine, and they bore sons and daughters: and their names are, Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem, Aholibah.


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And Aholah played the harlot while she was mine; and she longed for her lovers, for the Assyrians that were near <i>her</i>,


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Clothed <i>as they were</i> in blue, governors, and rulers, attractive youths all of them, horsemen riding upon horses.


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Thus she played the harlot with them, all of them the chosen ones of the sons of Asshur: and with all for whom she longed,with all their idols did she defile herself.


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But also her lewdness from Egypt forsook she not; for they had lain with her in her youth, and they had touched her virgin bosom, and had lavished their lewd caresses on her.


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Therefore did I give her up into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the sons of Asshur, after whom she longed.


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These were they that laid open her nakedness; her sons and her daughters did they take away, and her they slew with the sword: and she became infamous among women, when they inflicted the decreed punishments on her.


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And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her longing than she, and in her lewd acts more than her sisters lewdness.


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For the sons of Asshur did she long, the governors and rulers that were near, clothed as they were most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, attractive youths all of them.


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But she added still more to her acts of lewdness; for when she saw men engraved upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with color,


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Bound with girdles on their loins, with hanging down colored turbans on their heads, in appearance like commanders, all of them, in the likeness of the sons of Babylon of the Chaldeans, the land of their birth:


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Then did she long for them as soon as she saw them with her eyes, and she sent messengers unto them to Chaldea.


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And the sons of Babylon came to her unto the couch of love, and they defiled her with their lewd caresses; and <i>yet</i> when she had been defiled with them, she tore her soul away from them.


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And when she had laid open her lewdness, and had uncovered her nakedness: then my soul tore itself away from her, as my soul had torn itself away from her sister.


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Yet she multiplied her deeds of lewdness, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, when she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.


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And she longed for her paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose lustfulness is like the lustfulness of horses.


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And thou calledst to mind the incest of thy youth, when thy bosom was touched by the Egyptians for the sake of thy youthful breasts.


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Therefore, O Aholibah, thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will wake up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy soul hath torn itself away, and I will bring them against thee from every side;


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The sons of Babylon, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa and Koa, and all the sons of Asshur with them, attractive youths, governors and rulers all of them, commanders and chiefs, riding upon horses all of them.


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And they shall come over thee with weapons, chariots, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, buckler and shield and helmet shall they set up against thee round about: and I will give up before them the right to judge, and they shall judge thee according to their ordinances.


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And I will set my zealousness against thee, and they shall deal with thee in fury; thy nose and thy ears shall they cut off; and what is left of thee shall fall by the sword: thy sons and thy daughters shall they take away; and what is left of thee shall be devoured by the fire.


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Thus will I make thy incest to cease from thee, and thy lewdness brought from the land of Egypt: and thou shalt not lift up thy eyes unto them, and Egypt shalt thou not remember any more.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will give thee up into the hand of those whom thou hatest, into the hand of those from whom thy soul hath torn itself away;


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And they shall deal with thee in hate, and shall take away all <i>things acquired by</i> thy labor, and they shall leave thee naked and bare: and thus shall be uncovered the nakedness of thy lewdness, and thy incest and thy lewd deeds.


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I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone with vile lust after the nations, because thou hast defiled thyself with their idols.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, The cup of thy sister shalt thou drink, the deep and wide one: thou shalt become to be laughed to scorn and to be held in derision, more than thou canst bear.


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With drunkenness and sorrow shalt thou be filled, <i>out of</i> the cup of astonishment and confusion, the cup of thy sister Samaria.


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Thou shalt even drink it and drain it out, and thou shalt break in pieces its fragments, and tear thy own breasts; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back: therefore bear thou also thy incest and thy acts of lewdness.


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The Lord said moreover unto me, Son of man, wilt thou call Aholah and Aholibah to account? then tell them of their abominations;


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That they have committed adultery, and there is blood on their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and also their sons whom they had born unto me have they caused to pass for them through <i>the fire</i>, to devour them.


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Moreover this have they done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day, and my sabbaths have they profaned.


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And when they had slain their children to their idols, then came they into my sanctuary on the same day to profane it: and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of my house.


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And farthermore yet, because they sent for men who were to come from afar, unto whom messengers were sent; and, lo, they came, for whom thou didst bathe thyself, paint thy eyes, and deck thyself with ornaments;


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And thou didst sit upon a stately bed, with a table spread before it, and my incense and my oil didst thou set upon it.


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And the shout of a peaceful joyous multitude was <i>heard</i> within her; and with the men of the masses of the common people were brought Sabeans from the wilderness; and these women placed bracelets on their hands, and crowns of glory upon their heads.


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Then thought I of her that was worn out in adulteries, Will they now <i>still</i> commit lewdness with her, when she <i>is thus</i>?


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But men went in unto her, as they go in unto a faithless wife: thus went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the incestuous women.


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Righteous men, howeverthese shall judge them as adulteresses are judged, and as women that shed blood are judged; because adulteresses are they, and blood is on their hands.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will bring up against them an assemblage of men, and I will give them up to illusage and plunder.


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And the assemblage shall stone them with stones, and cut them down with their swords: their sons and their daughters shall they slay, and their houses shall they burn with fire.


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Thus will I cause incest to cease out of the land, that all women may be warned by example, and not do after your incestuous course.


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And they shall lay your incest upon you, and the sins of your idols shall ye bear: and ye shall know that I am the Lord Eternal.


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And the word of the Lord came unto me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, saying,


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Son of man, write thee down the name of this day, of this same day: the king of Babylon hath advanced against Jerusalem on this same day.


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And speak concerning the rebellious family a parable, and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Set on the pot, set it on, and also pour water into it;


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Gather the proper pieces into it, every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it up with the choice bones.


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Take the choice of the flock, and make also a fire for the bones under it: cause it to seethe well, that even the bones therein may be fully boiled through.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Woe to the city of bloodguiltiness, to the pot the scum of which is yet in it, and the scum of which is not gone out of it! one of its pieces after the other take out from it: no lot is cast for it.


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For her blood was in the midst of her; on the naked rock did she place it: she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it over with dust.


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To cause my fury to arise to take vengeance, do I place her blood upon the naked rock, so that it shall not be covered up.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Woe to the city of bloodguiltiness! I also will myself build up a large burning pile,


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Heaping on the wood, kindling the fire, thoroughly boiling the flesh, and stirring the mixture, that the bones may be scorched.


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Then will I set it empty upon its coals, in order that it may become hot, and its copper be made to glow, and its uncleanness may be molten in it, that its scum may be consumed.


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With fraud hath she wearied <i>the poor</i>; therefore shall not go forth from her the greatness of her scum: through fire shall her scum <i>be removed</i>.


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In thy uncleanness is <i>thy</i> incest; because I endeavored to cleanse thee, and thou wouldst not be clean, thou shalt not be cleansed from thy uncleanness any more, until I have assuaged my fury on thee.


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I the Lord have spoken it; it cometh to pass, and I will do it; I will not recall my decree, and I will not have pity, nor will I repent: according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall men judge thee, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, behold, I will take away from thee the desire of thy eyes by a sudden death; but thou shalt neither mourn nor weep, nor shalt thou shed a tear.


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Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the deceased, thy bonnet bind around thy head, and thy shoes put on thy feet, and cover not thyself to thy upper lip, and eat not the bread of <i>other</i> men.


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And when I had spoken unto the people in the morning, my wife died at evening: and I did in the morning as I had been commanded.


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And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things mean for us, that thou doest so?


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Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the darling of your soul: and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.


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And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover yourselves to your upper lip, and the bread of other men shall ye not eat.


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And your bonnets shall be around your heads, and your shoes shall be on your feet: ye shall not mourn nor shall ye weep; but ye shall pine away in your iniquities, and groan, looking one at the other.


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Thus shall Ezekiel be unto you for a token; in accordance with all that he hath done shall ye do: when this cometh, then shall ye know that I am the Lord Eternal.


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Also, thou son of man, behold, on the day when I take from them their stronghold, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and the coveted object of their soul, their sons and their daughters,


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On that day shall thy mouth be opened through him that hath escaped, and thou shalt speak, and thou shalt not be silenced any more: and thou shalt be a token unto them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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And say unto the sons of Ammon, Hear ye the word of the Lord Eternal, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because thou hast said, Aha, concerning my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and concerning the land of Israel, when it was made desolate; and concerning the house of Judah, when they went into exile:


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Therefore, behold, I will give thee up to the children of the east for a possession, and they shall set up their towers in thee, and place in thee their dwellings; they shall indeed eat thy fruit, and they shall surely drink thy milk.


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And I will change Rabbah into a pasture for camels, and <i>the land of</i> the sons of Ammon into a restingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Whereas thou didst clap thy hands, and stamp with thy feet, and rejoice with all thy derision in the soul over the land of Israel:


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Therefore, behold, will I stretch out my hand over thee, and will give thee up for a spoil to the nations; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries; I will destroy thee, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations:


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Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethhayeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiryathayim,


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Unto the children of the east <i>coming</i> against the sons of Ammon, and I will give them in possession; in order that the sons of Ammon may not be remembered among the nations.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because the Edomites have acted revengefully against the house of Judah, and have greatly offended, and have taken vengeance on them:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will also stretch out my hand against Edom, and cut off from it man and beast; and I will make it a ruined land from Theman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.


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And I will display my vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my fury: and they shall feel my vengeance, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because the Philistines have acted in revenge, and have taken vengeance with derision in their soul, to destroy out of ancient enmity:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will stretch out my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Kerethim, and destroy the remnant of the <i>dwellers</i> of the seacoast.


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And I will execute on them great vengeances with furious chastisements: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I display my vengeance on them.


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And it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,


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Son of man, because Tyre hath said concerning Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people; she is turned unto me; I shall be made full, now she is laid in ruins:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I am against thee, O Tyre, and will bring up against thee many nations, as the sea causeth its waves to come up.


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And they shall destroy the walls of Tyre, and pull down her towers: I will also flood away her earth from her, and I will change her into a naked rock.


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A place for the spreading out of nets shall she be in the midst of the sea; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Eternal: and she shall become a spoil to the nations.


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And her daughters that are in the field shall be slain with the sword: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will bring against Tyre Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, from the north, the king of kings, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and an assemblage, and a numerous people.


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Thy daughters in the field will he slay with the sword: and he shall place around thee works of attack, and cast up against thee a mound, and erect against thee a targetfence.


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By reason of the abundance of his horses shall the dust they raise cover thee: by reason of the noise of horsemen, and wheels, and chariots, shall thy walls quake, when he entereth into thy gates, as men enter into a city that is broken in.


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With the hoofs of his horses shall he tread down all thy streets: thy people will he slay with the sword, and the statues of thy strength shall come down to the ground.


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And they shall plunder thy riches, and make a spoil of thy merchandise; and they shall break down thy walls, and thy pleasurehouses shall they pull down: and thy stones and thy timber and thy earth shall they throw into the midst of the water.


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And I will cause the sound of thy songs to cease: and the tones of thy harps shall not be heard any more.


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And I will change thee into a naked rock; a place to spread out nets upon shalt thou be; thou shalt not be rebuilt any more; for I the Lord have spoken it, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal to Tyre, Truly at the noise of thy fall, when the deadly wounded whine, when the slaughter taketh place in the midst of thee, shall the islands quake.


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Then shall all the princes of the sea come down from their thrones, and lay aside their robes, and their broidered garments shall they put off: with trembling shall they clothe themselves; upon the ground shall they sit, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished concerning thee.


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And they shall lift up over thee a lamentation, and say to thee, How art thou lost, that wast inhabited <i>safely</i> by reason of the seas: O renowned city, which was strong on the sea, she and her inhabitants, who caused their terror to be on all that dwelt around her!


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Now shall the isles tremble on the day of thy fall; yea, the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy end.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, When I render thee a ruined city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I bring up over thee the deep, and when the great waters cover thee:


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Then will I bring thee down with those that descend into the pit, unto the people of olden time, and I will cause thee to dwell in the land of the nether world, among ruins of ancient days, with those that go down to the pit, in order that thou mayest not be inhabited; but I will bestow glory in the land of life.


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As though thou hadst not been will I render thee, and thou shalt be no more: and thou shalt be sought for, but thou shalt never be found any more to eternity, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And say unto Tyre, O thou that art situated at the entrances of the sea, the merchant of the people unto many isles, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, O Tyre, thou hast indeed said, I am perfect in beauty.


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Of the firtrees from Senir had they built thee all thy woodwork: cedars from Lebanon had they taken to make masts for thee.


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Of the oaks of Bashan had they made thy oars; thy rudder had they made inlaid with ivory of boxwood, brought out of the isles of the Kittim.


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Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was thy flag to be unto thee a sign: of blue and purple from the isles of Ellishah was thy cover.


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The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy oarsmen: thy wise men, O Tyre, that were in thee, these were thy pilots.


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The elders of Gebal and her wise men were in thee thy caulkers: all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to carry on thy commerce.


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They of Persia and of Lud and of Put were in thy army, thy men of war: the shield and the helmet did they hang up in thee; these gave thee thy elegance.


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The men of Arvad with thy army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gammadim were in thy towers: their quivers they hung upon thy walls round about; these made perfect thy beauty.


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Tharshish was thy merchant through the abundance of all kind of wealth: with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they supplied thy markets.


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Javan, Thubal, and Meshech; these were thy merchants: with the persons of men and vessels of copper they carried on thy commerce.


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The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles fetched the merchandise from thy place: chamois horns, ivory, and ebony did they bring as presents for thee.


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Syria was thy trader by reason of the multitude of thy productions: with emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and fine linen, and coral, and rubies they made deposits in thy treasuries.


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Judah, and the land of Israel, these were thy merchants: in wheat of Minnith, and balsam, and honey, and oil, and balm they carried on thy commerce.


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Damascus was thy trader in the multitude of thy productions, for the multitude of all wealth, with the wine of Chelbon, and white wool.


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Dan also and Javan brought silken goods into thy warehouses: hardened iron, cassia, and calamus came among thy commerce.


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Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, these were the traders of thy place in lambs, and wethers, and hegoats: in these were they thy traders.


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The merchants of Sheba and Ramah,these were thy merchants: in the best of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold, they furnished thy supplies.


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Charan, and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, <i>and</i> Kilmad, were thy merchants.


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These were thy merchants in ornamental wares, in cloaks of blue, and broidered work, and in chests of damask cloth, bound with cords, and packed in cedar, in thy marketplace.


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The ships of Tharshish were thy caravans in thy commerce: and thou wast made full, and becamest very rich in the heart of the seas.


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Into great waters brought thee those that were thy rowers: the east wind hath broken thee in the heart of the seas.


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Thy wealth, and thy warehouses, thy commerce, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy caulkers, and the conductors of thy commerce, and all thy men of war that were in thee, and in all thy assemblage which was in the midst of thee, fell into the heart of the seas on the day of thy downfall.


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And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, come down from their ships, they stand upon the land;


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And cause their voice to be heard concerning thee, and cry bitterly, and cast up dust upon their heads, they wallow in the ashes;


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And they make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird themselves with sackcloth, and they weep for thee with bitterness of heart in a bitter complaint.


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And they take in their wailing a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, Who is like Tyre, who is so utterly destroyed in the midst of the sea?


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When thy supplies went forth out of the seas, thou didst satisfy many people: with the multitude of thy wealth and of thy commerce thou didst enrich the kings of the earth.


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<i>Now</i> at the time thou art broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, thy commerce and all thy assemblage fell in the midst of thee.


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All the inhabitants of the isles are astonished at thee, and the hair of their kings stand at an end, grieved are their countenances.


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The traders among the people shall hiss concerning thee: thou wast rendered as though thou hadst not been, and thou shalt not be any more for ever.


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Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyre, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Whereas thy heart was lifted up, and thou saidst, A god am I, on the seat of the gods do I dwell, in the heart of the seas; yet thou art but a man, and not God, while thou esteemest thy mind equal to the mind of God;


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With thy wisdom and with thy understanding hadst thou gotten thee riches, and hadst gotten gold and silver into thy treasuries;


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By the abundance of thy wisdom in thy traffic hadst thou increased thy riches; and thy heart was lifted up because of thy riches:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because thou hast esteemed thy mind equal to the mind of God,


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Therefore, behold, will I bring over thee strangers, the fiercest  of nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall profane thy elegance.


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Down to the grave will they cast thee, and thou shalt die the deaths of the slain in the heart of the seas.


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Wilt thou then say, I am God, before him that slayeth thee? when thou art but a man, and no God, in the hand of him that fatally wounded thee.


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The deaths of the uncircumcised shalt thou die by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, take up a lamentation concerning the king of Tyre, and say unto him, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Thou wast complete in outline, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.


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In Eden the garden of God didst thou abide; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, the topaz, and the diamond, the chrysolite, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold; thy tabrets and thy flutes of artificial workmanship were prepared in thee on the day thou wast created.


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Thou wast a cherub with outspread covering <i>wings</i>; and I had set thee upon the holy mountain of God <i>as</i> thou wast; in the midst of the stones of fire didst thou wander.


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Perfect wast thou in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till wickedness was found in thee.


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By the abundance of thy commerce thou wast filled to thy centre with violence, and thou didst sin: therefore I degraded thee out of the mountain of God; and I destroyed thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.


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Thy heart was lifted up through thy beauty, thou didst corrupt thy wisdom by reason of thy elegance: <i>therefore</i> I cast thee down to the ground, before kings did I set thee that they might gaze on thee.


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Through the abundance of thy iniquities, through the wickedness of thy commerce didst thou profane thy sanctuaries: therefore brought I forth fire from the midst of thee, this devoured thee, and I changed thee to ashes upon the earth before the eyes of all those that saw thee.


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All that know thee among the people are astonished concerning thee: thou art as though thou hadst not been, and thou shalt not be any more for ever.


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And thou shalt say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon, and I will be honored in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I execute judgments on her, and will be sanctified on her.


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And I will send out against her pestilence, and blood <i>shedding</i> into her streets; and the deadly wounded shall be felled in the midst of her by the sword <i>that is</i> against her from every side: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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And there shall be no more unto the house of Israel a pricking brier, nor painful thorn from all that are round about them, that despoil them: and they shall know that I am the Lord Eternal.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, When I gather the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified on them before the eyes of the nations: then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.


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And they shall dwell thereupon in safety, and they shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell in safety; when I execute judgments on all those that despoiled them from round about them: and they shall know that I am the Lord their God.


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In the tenth year, in the tenth month, on the twelfth day of the month, came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,


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Son of man, set thy face against Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt.


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Speak and say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will be against thee, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great crocodile that lieth in the midst of his streams, who hath said, Mine is my stream, and I have made it for myself.


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But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will fasten the fish of thy streams on thy scales; and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy streams, with all the fish of thy streams which shall stick fast on thy scales.


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And I will cast thee out into the wilderness, thee with all the fish of thy streams; upon the open field shalt thou fall; thou shalt not be brought in, nor gathered up: to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven have I given thee for food.


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And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord; because they have been a reedstaff to the house of Israel.


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When they took hold of thee with the hand, thou wast cracked, and didst rend for them all the shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou wast broken, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and I will cut off out of thee man and beast.


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And the land of Egypt shall be changed into a waste and ruin, and they shall know that I am the Lord; because he hath said, The stream is mine, and I have made it.


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Therefore, behold, I will be against thee, and against thy streams, and I will render the land of Egypt a mass of ruins, a waste, and a wilderness, from Migdol to Seveneh even up to the border of Ethiopia.


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There shall not pass through it the foot of man, and the foot of beast shall not pass through it, and it shall not be inhabited forty years.


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And I will render the land of Egypt a desolate land in the midst of desolated countries, and her cities among the cities that are ruined shall be desolate forty years: and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, <i>only</i> at the end of forty years will I gather the Egyptians from the people whither they shall have been scattered;


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And I will bring back the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their own origin: and they shall be there an unimportant kingdom.


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Among the kingdoms it shall be the lowest; neither shall it raise itself any more above the nations: and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.


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And it shall be no more unto the house of Israel for a dependence, bringing <i>their</i> iniquity to remembrance, when they turned after them: and they shall know that I am the Lord Eternal.


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And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, on the first of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,


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Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath caused his army to perform a great service against Tyre; every head hath been made bald, and every shoulder hath been rubbed sore: yet no reward hath come to him or to his army from Tyre, for the service that he hath performed against it.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will give unto Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon the land of Egypt; and he shall carry away its multitude, and take its spoil, and plunder its prey: and this shall be the reward for his army.


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As his recompense for that which he hath served against it, have I given him the land of Egypt, for that which they had done against me, saith the Lord Eternal.


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On that day will I cause to grow a horn for the house of Israel, and unto thee will I open the mouth in the midst of them: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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For nigh is the day, yea nigh is the day of the Lord; a cloudy day; the time of the nations <i>misfortune</i> shall it be.


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And the sword shall come into Egypt, and there shall be trembling in Ethiopia, when the slain fall in Egypt, and when they take away its multitude, and its foundations shall be broken down.


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Ethiopia, and Put, and Lud, and all the confederates, and Cub, and all the men of the leagued land, shall fall with them by the sword.


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Thus hath said the Lord, Yea, there shall fall those that uphold Egypt; and there shall come down the pride of her strength: from Migdol to Seveneh shall they fall in her by the sword, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And they shall be made desolate in the midst of the desolate countries, and its cities shall be counted in the midst of the cities that have been laid in ruins.


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And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I set fire to Egypt, and when all her helpers shall be broken.


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On that day shall messengers go forth from my presence in ships to terrify the secure Ethiopians, and there shall be trembling among them, as on the day of Egypt; for, lo, it cometh.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will also cause the multitude of Egypt to cease through the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon.


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He and his people with him, the fiercest of nations, shall be brought to destroy the land; and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and they shall fill the land with the slain.


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And I will render the streams dry, and sell the land into the hand of evil men; and I will make the land desolate, and all that filleth it, by the hand of strangers: I the Lord have spoken it.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause false gods to cease out of Noph; and a prince out of the land of Egypt shall there not be any more: and I will lay fear on the land of Egypt.


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And I will set fire to Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and No shall be broken in, and <i>over</i> Noph shall the besiegers <i>prevail</i> by broad day.


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The young men of Aven and of Pibesseth shall fall by the sword; and they themselves shall go into captivity.


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And at Thechaphneches the day shall be darkened, when I break there the yokebars of Egypt, and the pride of her strength ceaseth therein: as for her, a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.


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And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,


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Son of man, the arm of Pharaoh the king of Egypt have I broken; and lo, it shall not be bound up to apply remedies, to put on a bandage to bind it up, to make it strong that it may grasp the sword.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will be against Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong, and that which was already broken; and I will cause the sword to fall out of his hand.


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And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and will put my sword in his hand; but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he shall groan, with the groanings of a deadly wounded man before him.


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Yea I will make strong the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I place my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon, that he may stretch it out over the land of Egypt.


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And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the countries: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,


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Son of man, say unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and to his multitude, Unto whom art thou like in thy arrogance?


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Behold, Asshur was a cedar in Lebanon beautiful in its boughs, and a shadowing thicket, and high in stature; and among the thickboughed trees was its highest branch.


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The waters made it great, the deep made it high, with its rivers it was flowing round the place where it was planted, and its ditches it sent forth unto all the trees of the field.


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Therefore became its stature higher than all the trees of the field, and its boughs were multiplied, and its branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when it stretched itself forth.


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In its boughs made all the fowls of heaven their nest, and under its branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under its shade dwelt all great nations.


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And it was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its light branches; for its root was by many waters.


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The cedars could not obscure it in the garden of God; the firs were not like its boughs, and the chestnuttrees were not like its branches: not any tree in the garden of God was like unto it in its beauty.


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Beautiful had I made it by the multitude of its light branches: so that all the trees of Eden that were in the garden of God, envied it.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because thou wast so high in stature, and it had placed its highest branch between the thickboughed trees, and its heart was lifted up through its height:


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Therefore do I give it up into the hand of the mighty one of the nations; he shall surely deal with it at his pleasure; for its wickedness do I drive it out.


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And strangers, the fiercest of nations, cut it down, and cast it to the ground: on the mountains and in all the valleys fall its light branches, and its boughs are <i>lying</i> broken in all the ravines of the land; and all the people of the earth are gone away from its shade, and have cast it to the ground.


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Upon its fallen fragments dwell all the fowls of the heaven, and on its branches are all the beasts of the field:


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In order that none of all the trees by the waters shall exalt themselves for their height, nor place their highest branch among the thickboughed trees, and that all those that are nourished by water shall not place themselves erect, because of their height; for they are all given up unto death, to the land of the nether world, in the midst of the children of men, with those that go down to the pit.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, On the day when it went down to the grave I caused a mourning; I covered the deep for its sake, and I restrained its rivers, and the great waters were withheld; and I caused Lebanon to be clothed in black attire for its sake, and all the trees of the field were famished because of it.


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Through the noise of its downfall I caused nations to quake, when I cast it down into the tomb with the <i>others</i> that descend into the pit: and in the land of the nether world comforted themselves all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that were nourished by water.


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They also went down with it into the tomb unto those that were slain with the sword, and its helpers that had dwelt under its shade in the midst of the nations.


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To whom art thou then like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? And thou too shalt be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the land of the nether world: in the midst of the uncircumcised shalt thou lie with those slain by the sword; yes, he, Pharaoh, and all his multitude, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,


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Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and say unto him, Thou didst deem thyself like a young lion among the nations: while thou art as a crocodile in the seas; and thou issuedst forth with thy rivers, and madest turbid the waters with thy feet, and didst stir up their rivers.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will therefore spread out my net over thee through the assemblage of many people, and they shall draw thee up in my net.


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Then will I cast thee upon the land, upon the open field will I hurl thee, and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to dwell upon thee, and I will satisfy off thee the beasts of all the earth.


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I will also saturate the land wherein thou swimmest with thy blood, even to the mountains; and the ravines shall be full of thee.


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And I will cover up the heavens, when thou art quenched, and make their stars obscure: the sun will I cover up with a cloud, and the moon shall not let shine her light.


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All the lightdispensing lights of the heavensthese will I make obscure because of thee, and I will lay darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And I will aggrieve the heart of many people, when I bring those who are broken off from thee among the nations, into countries which thou hast not known.


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Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and on their kings the hair shall stand on end because of thee, when I brandish my sword before their faces: and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, on the day of thy downfall.


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By the swords of the mighty will I cause thy multitude to fall, the fiercest of nations are all of them: and they shall destroy the pride of Egypt, and all her multitude shall be annihilated.


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And I will cause to vanish all her beasts from beside the great waters; and the foot of man shall not make them turbid any more, nor shall the hoofs of beasts make them turbid.


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Then will I make clear their waters, and cause their rivers to flow like oil, saith the Lord Eternal;


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When I render the land of Egypt desolate and wasted, the country bereft of what now filleth it, when I smite all those that dwell therein: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament for her; the daughters of the nations shall lament for her: for Egypt, and for all her multitude, shall they lament with it, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And it came to pass in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,


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Son of man, moan for the multitude of Egypt, and say that it shall go down, yea, she, and the daughters of powerful nations, unto the land of the nether world, with those that go down to the pit.


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Whom dost thou surpass in loveliness? go down <i>then</i>, and be thou laid with the <i>other</i> uncircumcised.


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In the midst of those that are slain by the sword shall they fall: to the sword is she given up; drag her away and all her multitudes.


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Then will speak of him the strongest among the mighty out of the midst of the nether world with those that once helped him, They are gone down, there lie the uncircumcised,slain by the sword.


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There is Asshur and all his assemblage; round about him are his graves; all of them the slain that are fallen by the sword;


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Whose graves are placed in the lowest depth of the pit, and his assemblage is round about his grave; all of them are slain, fallen by the sword, who once spread terror in the land of the living.


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There is Elam and all her multitude round about her grave, all of them the slain, that are fallen by the sword, who are gone down uncircumcised into the land of the nether world, who once spread their terror in the land of the living; and they have borne their confusion with those that go down to the pit.


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In the midst of the slain have they set a couch for her with all her multitude; all round about are her graves; all of them are uncircumcised, slain by the sword; because their terror was once spread in the land of the living; and they have borne their confusion with those that go down to the pit: in the midst of the slain was she placed.


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There is Meshech, Thubal, and all her multitude; all round about her are her graves: all of them are the uncircumcised, slain by the sword; because they once spread their terror in the land of the living.


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And those who are fallen of the uncircumcised shall not lie with the mighty, who are gone down to the nether world with their weapons of war, while men laid their swords under their heads, and the <i>instruments of</i> their iniquities were upon their bones; for the terror of the mighty was in the land of the living.


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But thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with those that are slain by the sword.


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There are Edom, her kings, and all her princes, who are laid despite their prowess by those that are slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with those that go down to the pit.


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There are the chieftains of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, who are gone down with the slain: despite the terror they excited through their prowess are they made ashamed; and they lie uncircumcised with those that are slain by the sword, and bear their confusion with those that go down to the pit.


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These shall Pharaoh see, and he shall be comforted over all his multitude: slain by the sword are Pharaoh and all his army, saith the Lord Eternal.


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For I spread my terror in the land of the living; and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with those that are slain by the sword,yea, Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, If there be a land over which I bring the sword, and the people of the land take a man from among themselves, and appoint him unto themselves for a watchman;


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And whosoever heareth the sound of the cornet, and taketh no warning; and the sword cometh, and taketh him away: his blood shall be upon his own head.


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The sound of the cornet hath he heard, and he hath taken no warning; his blood shall be upon him. But had he taken warning he would have delivered his soul.


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But if the watchman see the sword coming, and blow not the cornet, so that the people be not warned, and the sword cometh, and taketh away from among them some person: this one is taken away for his iniquity; but his blood will I require from the watchmans hand.


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But as for thee, O son of man, I have appointed thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: so that when thou hearest a word from my mouth, thou shalt warn them from me.


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When I say unto the wicked, O wicked one, thou shalt surely die; and thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way: that wicked one shall die for his iniquity; but his blood will I require from thy hand.


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Nevertheless, if thou hast indeed warned the wicked of his way to turn away from it, and he do not turn from his way: he shall certainly die for his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.


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But thou, O son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, Thus do ye speak, saying, Truly our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and through them do we pine away: how then shall we live?


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Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but in the return of the wicked from his way that he may live: return ye, return ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?


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But thou, son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him on the day of his transgression; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not stumble through it on the day that he returneth from his wickedness; nor shall the righteous be able to live through the other on the day that he sinneth.


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When I say of the righteous, that he shall surely live, and he trusteth to his own righteousness, and committeth what is wrong: all his righteous deeds shall not be remembered, and for his wrong that he hath committed,through this shall he die.


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Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and he turneth from his sin, and executeth justice and righteousness;


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If the wicked restore the pledge, make restitution for what he hath robbed, walk in the statutes of life, so as not to do any wrong: he shall surely live, he shall not die.


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All his sins that he hath committed shall not be remembered unto him: justice and righteousness hath he executed, he shall surely live.


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Yet say the children of thy people, The way of the Lord is not equitable: while, as to them, their way is not equitable.


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When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and doth what is wrong, he shall even die therefore.


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And when the wicked returneth from his wickedness, and executeth justice and righteousness, he shall surely live therefore.


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Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equitable. Every one after his own ways will I judge you, O house of Israel.


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And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month after our exile, that there came unto me one that had escaped out of Jerusalem, saying, The city hath been smitten.


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Now the inspiration of the Lord was come upon me in the evening, before the coming of the one who had escaped; and he had opened my mouth, before he was come to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened and I was not kept dumb any more.


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Son of man, they that dwell in these ruins in the land of Israel say as followeth, But one man was Abraham, and he obtained the land as an inheritance; and as we are many, the land must <i>surely</i> be given to us for an inheritance.


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Therefore say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, By the blood do ye eat, and your eyes do you lift up toward your idols, and blood do ye shed: and ye expect to possess the land?


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Ye depend upon your sword, ye commit abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbors wife: and ye expect to possess the land?


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Thus shalt thou say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, As I live, surely those that are in the ruined places shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts that they may devour him, and those that are in the strongholds and in the caves shall die through the pestilence.


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And I will render the land desolate and wasted, and the pride of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, with none to pass through them.


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And they shall experience that I am the Lord, when I render the land desolate and wasted, because of all their abominations which they have committed.


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And thou, son of man, <i>there are</i> the children of thy people, who are talking about thee by the walls and in the entrances of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Do come, and hear what the word is which cometh forth from the Lord.


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And then they come unto thee as the people come, and they sit before thee <i>as</i> my people, and they hear thy words, but do not execute them; for as merry songs they carry them in their mouth, while their heart goeth after their unlawful gains.


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And, lo, thou art unto them as a merry song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well: and <i>thus</i> they hear thy words, but execute them not.


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But when it cometh to pass, <i>lo, it will come,</i> then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.


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Son of man, prophesy concerning the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say unto them, unto the shepherds, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Woe to the shepherds of Israel who do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?


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The fat ye eat, and with the wool ye clothe yourselves, those that are well fed ye slaughter; but the flock ye feed not.


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The diseased have ye not strengthened, and the sick have ye not healed, and that which had a limb broken have ye not bound up, and the strayed have ye not brought back again, and what was lost have ye not sought for; but with force have ye ruled them and with rigor.


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And they were scattered for want of a shepherd; and they became food unto all the beasts of the field, and they were scattered.


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My sheep have to wander about on all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, over all the face of the land are my flock scattered, and there is none that inquireth and none that seeketh <i>after them</i>.


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As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became food unto every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, and my shepherds did not inquire for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and my flock they fed not:


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will be against the shepherds, and I will require my flock from their hand, and I will stop them from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more: and I will deliver my flock out of their mouth, that they may not serve them for food.


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For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I am here, and I will both inquire for my flocks, and search for them.


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As a shepherd searcheth for his flock on the day that he is among his flocks that are scattered: so will I search for my flocks; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered on the day of clouds and <i>tempestuous</i> darkness.


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And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them to their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, in the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.


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On a good pasture will I feed them, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall be their fold: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed on the mountains of Israel.


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That which was lost will I seek for, and that which was gone astray will I bring back again, and that which had a limb broken will I bind up, and the sick will I strengthen: but the fat and the strong will I destroy; I will feed them in justice.


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And as for you, O my flock, thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will judge between lamb and lamb, between the wethers and the hegoats.


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Is it too little for you that ye can feed on the good pasture, that ye must tread down the residue of your pastures with your feet? and that ye can drink clear waters, that ye must render muddy with your feet what is left?


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And as for my flock, what ye have trodden with your feet must they eat; and what ye have made muddy with your feet must they drink.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal unto them, Behold, I am here, and I will judge between the fat lamb and the lean lamb.


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Because ye thrust with side and with shoulder, and push with your horns all the diseased, till ye have scattered them abroad:


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Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between lamb and lamb.


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And I will appoint over them one shepherd, and he shall feed them, namely, my servant David: he it is that shall feed them, and he it is that shall be unto them for a shepherd.


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And I the LordI will be unto them for a God, and my servant David shall be a prince in their midst: I the Lord have spoken it.


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And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and I will cause the wild beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell in the wilderness in safety, and sleep in the forests.


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And I will make them and the environs of my hill a blessing; and I will cause the rain to come down in its season; rains of blessing shall they be.


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And the tree of the field shall yield its fruit, and the earth shall yield her products, and they shall be on their land in safety: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break the bands of their yoke, and deliver them out of the hand of those that had made them labor for them.


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And they shall be no more a prey to the nations, and the beasts of the land shall not devour them; but they shall dwell in safety, with none to make them afraid.


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And I will raise up for them a plantation for a <i>perpetual</i> renown, and they shall be no more taken away by hunger in the land, neither bear the shameful reproach of the nations any more.


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Thus shall they experience that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, <i>and</i> I am your God, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And say unto it, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will be against thee, O mountain of Seir, and I will stretch out my hand over thee, and I will render thee desolate and wasted.


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Thy cities will I lay in ruins, and thou thyself shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.


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Because thou hast had an undying hatred, and didst surrender the children of Israel to the power of the sword, at the time of their calamity, at the time of the iniquity of the end:


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Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord Eternal, I will surely let thy blood flow, and blood shall pursue thee; since thou didst not hate bloodshedding, so shall blood pursue thee.


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Thus will I change the mountain of Seir into a desolate land and a waste, and I will cut off from it him that travelleth forward and backward.


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And I will fill his mountains with his slain: as regardeth thy hills, and thy valleys, and all thy ravines, in them shall fall those that are slain by the sword.


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Into perpetual desolations will I change thee, and thy cities shall not be restored: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall indeed be mine, and we will take possession thereof; whereas the Lord was there:


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Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord God, I will even do according to thy anger, and according to thy envy which thou didst use out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I judge thee.


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And thou shalt know that I am the Lord: I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given unto us to consume them.


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And ye boasted greatly against me with your mouth, and have multiplied against me your words: I have indeed heard them.


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As thou didst rejoice over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was made desolate: so will I do unto thee; desolate shalt thou be, O mountain of Seir, and all Idumeaaltogether; and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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But thou, son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, O mountains of Israel, hear ye the word of the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because the enemy hath said regarding you, Aha, even the ancient highplaces are become ours as a possession:


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Therefore prophesy and say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because, even because men have made you desolate, and sought to swallow you up on every side, that ye might become a possession unto the residue of the nations, and ye are taken up as a talk for tongues, and an evil report of the people:


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Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear ye the word of the Lord Eternal, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal to the mountains, and to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins, and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are round about:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the nations, and against all Idumea, that have appropriated my land unto themselves as a possession with the joy of all their heart, with derision in their soul, in order to drive it out that it may be for a prey.


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Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, In my zealousness and in my fury have I spoken, because ye have borne the reproach of the nations:


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I have indeed lifted up my hand, that the nations who are round about you these shall bear their shame.


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But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall send forth your boughs, and your fruit shall ye bear for my people Israel, for they are near at hand to come.


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For, behold, I will be for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and ye shall be sown;


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And I will multiply upon you men, all the house of Israel altogether; and the cities shall be inhabited again, and the ruins shall be rebuilt;


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And I will multiply upon you men and beast, and they shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited after your old estates, and will do more good unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.


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Yea, I will cause to walk upon you men, even my people Israel, and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be unto them as an inheritance, and thou shalt not any more henceforth cast them out.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because they say unto you, Thou land devourest up men, and hast been one that hath ever cast out thy nations:


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Therefore shalt thou not devour up men any more, and thy nations shalt thou not cast out any more, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And I will not let be heard against thee any more the reproach of the nations, and the disgrace of the people shalt thou not bear any more, and thy nations shalt thou not cast out any more, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Son of man, the house of Israel, when they dwelt in their own land, defiled it through their way and through their doings: like the uncleanness of a woman in her separation was their way before me.


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And I poured out my fury over them because of the blood that they had shed in the land, and because through their idols they had polluted it;


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And I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings did I judge them.


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And when they were come unto the nations, whither they were gone, they profaned my holy name; because they said of them, These are the people of the Lord, and out of his land are they gone forth.


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But I had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, whither they were gone.


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Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Not for your sake do I this, O house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither ye are gone.


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And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord Eternal, when I will be sanctified through you before your eyes.


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And I will take you from among the nations, and I will gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you unto your own land.


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And I will sprinkle upon you clean water, and ye shall be clean: from all your impurities, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.


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And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will remove the heart of stone out of your body, and I will give you a heart of flesh.


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And my spirit I will put within you, and I will cause that you shall walk in my statutes, and that my ordinances ye shall keep, and do them.


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And ye shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be unto me for a people, and I truly will be unto you as a God.


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And I will save you from all kinds of your impurities; and I will call unto the corn, and increase it, and I will not lay famine upon you.


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And I will multiply the fruit of the trees, and the products of the field: in order that ye may receive no more reproach on account of famine among the nations.


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Then shall ye remember your ways that they were evil, and your doings that were not good; and ye shall loathe yourselves on account of your iniquities and on account of your abominations.


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Not for your sake do I this, saith the Lord Eternal, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded because of your ways, O house of Israel.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, On the day of my cleansing you from all your iniquities, when I cause the cities to be inhabited, and when the ruins are built up,


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And when the desolate land is tilled, instead that it was a waste before the eyes of every passer by:


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Then shall they say, This land, that was desolate, is become like the garden of Eden; and the cities that were ruined, and desolate, and broken down, are become fortified, and inhabited.


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And the nations that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord have built up the brokendown <i>places</i>, have planted the desolate <i>land</i>: I the Lord have spoken this, and have done it.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Also in this will I yet suffer myself to be entreated of by the house of Israel, to do it for them, I will increase them with men like flocks <i>in multitude</i>.


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As the flocks of the holy things, as the flocks of Jerusalem on her appointed feasts, so shall the ruined cities be full of flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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There came over me the inspiration of the Lord, and he carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones;


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And he caused me to pass by them all round about; and, behold, there were very many of them on the surface of the valley; and, lo, they were very dry.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live! And I said, O Lord Eternal, thou alone knowest this.


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And he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear ye the word of the Lord.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal unto these bones, Behold, I will bring a spirit into you, and ye shall live;


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And I will lay sinews upon you, and bring up flesh upon you, and draw over you a skin, and put a spirit in you, and ye shall live: and ye shall experience that I am the Lord.


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And so I prophesied as I had been commanded: and there was a sound, as I prophesied, and behold there was a rustling noise, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.


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And I looked, and behold, there were sinews upon them, and the flesh came up, and the skin was drawn over them above; but no spirit was in them.


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Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the spirit; prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, From the four winds come, O spirit, and breathe into these slain ones, that they may live.


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And I prophesied as he had commanded me, and there came into them the spirit, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.


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Then said he unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Dried are our bones, and lost is our hope; we are quite cut off.


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Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will open your graves, and I will cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people, and I will bring you into the land of Israel.


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And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and when I cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people.


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And I will put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall acknowledge that I the Lord have spoken it, and done it, saith the Lord.


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But thou, son of man, take unto thyself one stick of wood, and write upon it, "For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions;" then take another stick, and write upon it, "For Joseph,the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:"


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And if the children of thy people should say unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not tell us what thou meanest by these?


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<i>Then</i> speak unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph,which is in the hand of Ephraim,and the tribes of Israel his companions, and will lay them upon him, even the stick of Judah, and make them into one stick, and they shall be one in my hand.


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And speak unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, whither they are gone, and I will gather them from every side, and bring them unto their own land;


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And I will make them into one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be to them all for king; and they shall not be any more two nations, nor shall they at any time be divided into two kingdoms any more:


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Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, and with their detestable things, and with all their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and I will cleanse them, and they shall be unto me for a people, and I will be to them for a God.


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And my servant David shall be king over them; and one shepherd shall be for them all: and in my ordinances shall they walk, and my statutes shall they observe, and do them.


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And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto my servant, unto Jacob, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, they, and their children, and their childrens children for ever: and David my servant shall be prince unto them for ever.


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And I will make with them a covenant of peace, an everlasting covenant shall it be with them: and I will multiply them, and I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.


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My dwelling also shall be with them, and I will be unto them for a God; and they shall be unto me as a people.


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And the nations shall know that I am the Lord who sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary will be in the midst of them for evermore.


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Son of man, direct thy face against Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Thubal, and prophesy against him,


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And say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will be against thee, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Thubal;


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And I will derange thee, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thy army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in elegant attire, a great assemblage with bucklers and shields, all of them grasping swords.


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Gomer and all of its armies; the house of Thogarmah out of the farthest north, and all its armies; many people shall be with thee.


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Be thou ready, and prepare thyself, thou, and all thy assemblages that are assembled about thee, and be thou a guard unto them.


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After many days shalt thou be ordered forward; in the end of years shalt thou come into the land that is recovering from the sword, and is gathered together out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been ruined for a very long time: <i>to a people</i> that are brought forth out of the nations, and that now dwell in safety, all of them.


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Thou wilt ascend and come like a tempest, like a cloud to cover the earth wilt thou be, thou, and all thy armies, and the many people with thee.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, It will also come to pass, at the same time, that things will come into thy mind, and thou wilt entertain an evil device;


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And thou wilt say, I will go up over the land of open towns; I will come against those that are careless, that dwell in safety, all of whom dwell without walls, and have neither bars nor gates,


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To snatch up the spoil, and to take away the prey; to turn thy hand against the ruined places now inhabited, and against the people that are gathered out of the nations, that have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the highest part of the land.


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Sheba, and Dedan, and the traders of Tharshish, with all her young lions, will say unto thee, Art thou come to plunder the spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to carry off the prey? to bear away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to plunder a great spoil?


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Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say unto Gog, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, on the day when my people of Israel dwelleth in safety, shalt thou know <i>my power</i>.


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And thou wilt come from thy place out of the farthest ends of the north, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great assemblage, and a mighty army;


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And thou wilt come up against my people of Israel, like a cloud to cover the land; in the latter days will this be, and I will bring thee over my land, in order that the nations may know me, when I am sanctified on thee, before their eyes, O Gog.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Art thou <i>not</i> he of whom I have spoken in ancient days through means of my servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days <i>many</i> years, that I would bring thee against them?


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And it shall come to pass at the same time, on the day of Gogs coming over the land of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal, that my fury shall be kindled in my nose.


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And in my zealousness, in the fire of my wrath, have I spoken, Surely on that day there shall be a great earthquake in the country of Israel;


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And there shall quake at my presence the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.


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And I will call against him throughout all my mountains for the sword, saith the Lord Eternal: every mans sword shall be against his brother.


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And I will hold judgment over him with pestilence and with blood<i>shedding</i>; and an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur will I let rain over him and his armies, and over the many people that are with him.


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Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and make myself known before the eyes of many nations: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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But thou, O son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will be against thee O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Thubal;


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And I will derange thee, and lead thee astray, and will cause thee to come up from the farthest ends of the north; and I will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel;


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And I will strike thy bow out of thy left hand, and thy arrows will I cause to fall out of thy right hand.


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Upon the mountains of Israel shalt thou fall, thou, and all thy armies, and the people that are with thee: unto the ravenous birds, to every thing that hath wings, and to the beasts of the field, do I give thee for food.


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And I will send a fire against Magog, and against those that dwell in the isles in safety: and they shall know that I am the Lord.


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And my holy name will I make known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not permit my holy name to be profaned any more: and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, Holy in Israel.


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Behold, it cometh, and it taketh place, saith the Lord Eternal; this is the day whereof I have spoken.


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And the inhabitants of the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall burn and make fire for heating of the weapons, and shields and bucklers, of bows and of arrows, and of handstaves, and of spears; and they shall feed with them the fire for seven years;


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And they shall take no wood out of the field, nor cut down any out of the forests; for with weapons shall they feed the fire: and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and plunder those that plundered them, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And it shall come to pass on that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there for a grave in Israel, the valley where people pass over to the east of the sea; and it shall stop the passengers <i>from passing</i>: and they shall bury there Gog and all his multitude, and they shall call it The valley of the multitude of Gog.


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Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them as a renown on the day that I glorify myself, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And men constantly devoted to this shall they set apart to pass through the land, to bury with those that pass through those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it; at the end of seven months shall they make a search.


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And those that thus travel will pass through the land; and when any one seeth a human bone, then will he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of the multitude of Gog.


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And thou, O son of man, thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Say unto the birds, to every thing that hath wings, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves from every side to my sacrifice that I do slaughter for you, as a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.


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The flesh of the mighty shall ye eat, and the blood of the princes of the earth shall ye drink,wethers, lambs, and hegoats, bullocks, fatlings of Bashan are they all of them.


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And ye shall eat fat till ye be sated, and ye shall drink blood till ye be drunken, from my sacrifice which I have slaughtered for you.


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And ye shall be sated at my table on horses and chariotteams, on mighty men, and on all men of war, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And I will display my glory among the nations: and all the nations shall see my punishment that I execute, and my hand that I lay on them.


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And the nations shall know that for their iniquity did the house of Israel go into exile; because they had trespassed against me, and I had hidden my face from them; and I gave them up therefore into the hand of their oppressors, and they all fell by the sword.


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According to their uncleanness, and according to their transgressions did I deal with them, and hid my face from them.


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Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Now will I bring back again the captivity of Jacob, and I will have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be zealous for my holy name;


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And they shall feel their disgrace, and all their trespass whereby they had trespassed against me, when they dwelt in their land in safety, with none to make them afraid:


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When I bring them back again from the people, and gather them out of the land of their enemies, and sanctify myself on them before the eyes of the many nations.


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And they shall know that I am the Lord their God; because I had exiled them among the nations, but gather them now unto their own land, and leave none of them any more there.


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And I will not hide my face any more from them; for I will have poured out my spirit over the house of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal.


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In the five and twentieth year of our exile, in the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city had been smitten, on the selfsame day came the inspiration of the Lord upon me, and brought me thither.


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In the visions of God brought he me unto the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mount, on which there was built something like a city on the south.


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And when he had brought me thither, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of copper, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuringrod: and he was standing in the gate.


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And the man spoke unto me, Son of man, behold with thy eyes, and hear with thy ears, and direct thy heart unto all that I am about to show thee; for in order to show it unto thee art thou brought hither: tell all that thou seest to the house of Israel.


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And behold there was a wall on the outside of the house all round about, and in the mans hand was a measuringrod of six cubits long by the cubit which was a hands breadth longer than usual; and he measured the breadth of the building, one rod, and the height, one rod.


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Then came he unto the gate which looked in the direction toward the east, and went up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one rod in breadth, and the other threshold one rod in breadth.


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And every cell was one rod long, and one rod broad; and between the cells were five cubits: and the threshold of the gate near by the porch of the gate within was one rod.


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Then measured he the porch of the gate, eight cubits, and its doorposts, two cubits: and the porch of the gate was inward.


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And the cells of the gate in the eastern direction were three on this side, and three on that side, one measure was for all the three; and there was one measure for the doorposts on this side and on that side.


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And he measured the breadth of the entrance of the gate, ten cubits, <i>and</i> the length of the gate, thirteen cubits.


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And there was a space before the cells of one cubit on this side, and one cubit space was there on that side: and every cell was of six cubits on this side, and of six cubits on that side.


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And he measured the gate from the roof of <i>one</i> cell to the roof of <i>another</i>, in breadth five and twenty cubits, one door being against <i>the other</i> door.


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And he made doorposts of sixty cubits, and around the doorposts the court and the gate all round about.


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And the height of the gate of the entrance as also the height of the porch of the inner gate was fifty cubits.


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And there were narrow windows in the cells, and by their doorposts within the gate all round about, and likewise in the porches: and windows were all round about inward; and on each door post were palmshaped <i>capitals</i>.


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Then brought he me into the outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a pavement made for the court all round about: thirty chambers were upon the pavement.


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And the pavement by the side of the gates was all along the whole length of the gates: this was the lower pavement.


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Then measured he the breadth from the front of the lower gate unto the front of the inner court, without, one hundred cubits, eastward and northward.


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And the gate of the outer court that looked in a northern direction, he measured after its length, and its breadth.


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And its cells were three on this side and three on that side; and its doorposts and its porches were after the measure of the first gate: fifty cubits was its length, and its breadth five and twenty cubits.


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And its windows, and its porches, and their palmshaped capitals, were after the measure of the gate that looked in an eastern direction: and by seven steps did they go up unto it, and to its porches which were before them.


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And the gates of the inner court were opposite the gates on the north, and on the east: and he measured from gate to gate one hundred cubits.


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After that he led me forth to the south side, and behold there was a gate on the south side: and he measured its doorposts and its porches after these measures.


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And there were windows in it and in its porches all round about, like the other windows: it was fifty cubits in length, and in breadth five and twenty cubits.


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And by seven steps was the ascent to it, and to its porches which were before them; and it had palmshaped capitals, one on this side, and another on that side, upon its doorposts.


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And there was a gate in the inner court on the south side: and he measured from gate to gate on the south side one hundred cubits.


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And he brought me to the inner court by the south gate; and he measured the south gate after these measures;


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And its cells, and its doorposts, and its porches were after these measures; and there were windows in it and in its porches all round about: it was fifty cubits in length, and in breadth five and twenty cubits.


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And its porches were toward the outer court; and palmshaped capitals were upon its doorposts: and its ascent was by eight steps.


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And he brought me into the inner court on the east side; and he measured the gate after these measures;


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And its cells and its doorposts, and its porches, were according to these measures; and there were windows in it and in its porches all round about: its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth five and twenty cubits.


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And its porches were toward the outward court; and palmshaped capitals were upon its doorposts, on this side, and on that side: and by eight steps was the ascent to it.


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Its cells, its doorposts, and its porches; and the windows in it were all round about: its length was fifty cubits, and its breadth five and twenty cubits.


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And its doorposts were toward the outer court; and palmshaped capitals were upon its doorposts, on this side, and on that side: and by eight steps was the ascent to it.


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And there was a chamber with its door by the doorposts of the gates, where they washed off the burntofferings.


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And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, and two tables on that side, to slaughter thereon the burntofferings and the sinofferings and the trespassofferings.


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And at the side without <i>the porch</i>, as one went up to the entrance of the north gate, were two tables; and on the other side of the porch of the gate were two tables;


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Four tables being on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate, eight tables, whereupon they slaughtered <i>the sacrifices</i>.


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And there were four tables of hewn stone for the burntofferings, of a cubit and a half long, and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon they laid the instruments wherewith they slaughtered the burntofferings and the sacrifices.


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And hooks, a hand long, were fastened within all round about: and on the tables was placed the flesh of the offerings.


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And without the inner gate were the chambers of the singers in the inner court, which was at the side of the north gate; and their front was toward the south side: one was at the side of the east gate having the front toward the north side.


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And he spoke unto me, This chamber, the front of which is toward the south, is for the priests who have the charge of the house.


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And the chamber, the front of which is toward the north, is for the priests who have the charge of the altar: these are the sons of Zadok, who come near, from among the sons of Levi, to the Lord to minister unto him.


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So he measured the court, in length one hundred cubits, and in breadth one hundred cubits, foursquare: and the altar <i>stood</i> before the house.


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And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each doorpost of the porch, five cubits on this side, and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.


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The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits, together with the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were pillars by the doorposts, one on this side, and another on that side.


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And he brought me to the temple: and he measured the doorposts, six cubits broad on the one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, <i>as also</i> the breadth of the tabernacle.


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And the breadth of the door was ten cubits; and the sides of the door were five cubits on the one side, and five cubits on the other side: and he measured its length, forty cubits, and the breadth, twenty cubits.


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Then went he inward, and measured the posts of the door, two cubits; and the door was six cubits high; and the breadth of the door, was seven cubits.


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And he measured its length, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, fronting on the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place.


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After this he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every sidechamber was four cubits, all round about the house on every side.


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And the sidechambers were one over another, three and thirty times; and they entered into the wall which was on the house for the sidechambers all round about, that they might be fastened on, but they were not fastened on the wall of the house.


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And as one wound upward it became continually wider for the sidechambers; for the row of chambers about the house went more and more upward round about the house; therefore was the breadth of the house greater upward: and so they ascended from the lowest chambers to the highest through the middle ones.


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And I saw the height of the house all round about: the foundations of the sidechambers were a full rod of six cubits under ground.


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The thickness of the wall, which was for the sidechambers without, was five cubits, as also the space which was left open by the row of the sidechambers that were on the house.


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And the doors of the sidechambers were on the open space, one door was in a northern direction, and another door on the south; and the breadth of the place that was left open was five cubits all round about.


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Now the building that was before the main wing on the west side was seventy cubits broad; and the wall of the building was five cubits thick round about, and its length, ninety cubits.


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So he measured the house, in length one hundred cubits; and the main wing, and the building, with its walls, in length one hundred cubits;


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Also the breadth in the front of the house, and of the main wing on the east, was one hundred cubits.


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And he measured the length of the building on the front side of the main wing which was behind it, and its cornerpillars on the one side and on the other side, one hundred cubits; and this included the inner temple, and the porches of the court;


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The thresholds, and the narrow windows, and the cornerpillars were round about on their three sides: opposite the threshold there was a wainscoting of wood all round about, and so from the ground up to the windows; and the windows were covered.


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On the part above the door, and as far as the inner house, and the outer <i>house</i>, was <i>a wainscoting</i>, and on all the wall round about within and without, by <i>the same</i> measure;


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And it was ornamented with cherubim and palmtrees, a palmtree being between two cherubim; and every cherub had two faces;


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So that a human face was toward the palmtree on the one side, and a young lions face toward the palmtree on the other side: it was so made on all the house round about.


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From the ground to the part above the door were the cherubim and the palmtrees made, and so on the wall of the temple.


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The temple had fourcornered doorposts, and the front of the holy of holies had the <i>same</i> appearance as the appearance <i>of the other</i>.


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The altar was of wood, three cubits high, and its length was two cubits; and its corners, and its toppiece, and its walls, were of wood: and he spoke unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord.


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And the doors had two leaves <i>apiece</i>, two turning leaves, two <i>leaves</i> for the one door, and two leaves for the other.


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And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, cherubim and palmtrees, as they were made upon the walls; and <i>a covering of</i> thick wooden planks was upon the front of the porch without.


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And there were narrow windows and palmtrees on the one side and on the other side, on the sides of the porch, and on the sidechambers of the house, and the <i>covering of</i> thick planks.


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And he led me forth into the outer court, on the way to the north side; and he brought me into the <i>row of</i> chambers that was opposite the main wing, and which was opposite the building toward the north;


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On the front side the length <i>of which</i> was a hundred cubits, <i>up to</i> the north door, while the breadth was fifty cubits.


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Opposite the twenty cubits which were for the inner court, and opposite the pavement which was for the outer court, was cornerpillar before cornerpillar in the three stories.


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And before the chambers was a walk of ten cubits in breadth toward the inner house, a way of one cubit <i>in width</i>; and their doors were toward the north.


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Now the upper chambers were shorter <i>for the cornerpillar took away part of the space from them</i> than the lowest and than the middle chambers of the building.


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For they were in three stories, but had not pillars like the pillars of the courts: therefore was something taken off the lowest and the middle ones <i>as one ascended</i> from the ground.


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And the wall that was without alongside the chambers, toward the outer court in front of the chambers, was in its length fifty cubits.


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For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was fifty cubits; and lo, <i>the whole space</i> in front of the temple was one hundred cubits.


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And beneath these chambers was the entrance from the east side, as one goeth into them from the outer court.


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On the breadth of the wall of the court in an eastern direction before the main wing, and before the building, were chambers.


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And the way before them was of like appearance as that for the chambers which were on the north side, of the same length and the same breadth; and all their means of egress, and their arrangement, and their doors were of the like manner.


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And so also were the doors of the chambers that were on the south side, a door being on the head of the way, of the way directly before the wall on the east side, as one entereth into them.


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And he said unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers which are in front of the main wing,these are the holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the Lord shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, namely, the meatoffering, and the sinoffering, and the trespassoffering; for the place is holy.


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When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the sanctuary into the outer court; but there shall they lay down their garments wherein they may have ministered; for they are holy: and they shall put on other garments, and shall then approach to <i>the court</i> which is for the people.


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Now when he had finished the measurings of the inner house, he led me forth by the way of the gate which looked in an eastern direction, and measured it all round about.


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He measured the east side with the measuringrod, five hundred rods, with the measuringrod round about.


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On the four sides did he measure it by the wall that was all round about, five hundred rods in length, and in breadth five hundred, to make a separation between the holy place and the profane.


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And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east; and his voice was like a noise of many waters; and the earth gave light from his glory.


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And it was like the appearance of the vision which I had seen, yea, like the vision that I had seen when I came to destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I had seen by the river Kebar: and I fell upon my face.


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And the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate which was turned in an eastern direction.


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Then did the Spirit take me up, and bring me into the inner court: and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, <i>this</i> is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever: and the house of Israel shall not defile any more my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their lewdness, nor by the carcasses of their kings on their highplaces.


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Inasmuch as they placed their threshold by my threshold, and their doorposts close by my doorposts, and the wall being only between me and them, and they defiled my holy name by their abominations which they committed; so that I made an end of them in my anger.


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Now will they have to put away their lewdness, and the carcasses of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever.


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Thou, son of man, tell the house of Israel of the house, that they may be confounded because of their iniquities: and let them measure the outlines.


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And if they be confounded because of all that they have done: then let them know the form of the house, and its arrangements, and its means of egress, and its entrances, and all its forms, and all its statutes, and all its forms, and all its laws, and write them down before their eyes; that they may observe the whole of its form, and all its statutes, and carry them out.


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This is the law for the house, Upon the top of the mount shall its whole limit all round about be most holy: behold, this is the law for the house.


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And these are the measures of the altar in cubits, The cubit is a cubit and a handbreadth; and the bottom shall be a cubit high, and a cubit broad, and its border on its edge round about shall be a span: and this shall be the outside of the altar.


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And from the bottom upon the ground up to the lower projection shall be two cubits, and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser projection up to the greater projection shall be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.


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And the upper portion of the altar shall be four cubits; and from the upper surface of the altar and upward shall be the four horns.


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And the upper surface of the altar shall be twelve cubits long, by twelve broad, square on its four sides.


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And the projection shall be fourteen cubits in length, by fourteen in breadth on its four sides; and the border round about it shall be half a cubit; and its bottom shall be a cubit round about; and its steps shall look toward the east.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, thus hath said the Lord Eternal, These are the statutes of the altar on the day when it shall be finished, to offer thereon burntofferings, and to sprinkle thereon blood.


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And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that are of the seed of Zadok, who approach unto me, saith the Lord Eternal, to minister unto me, a young bullock for a sinoffering.


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And thou shalt take of his blood, and put it on its four horns, and on the four corners of the projection, and upon the border round about; and thou shalt cleanse it and make an atonement for it.


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And thou shalt take the bullock of the sinoffering, and some one shall burn him at an appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.


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And on the second day shalt thou offer a hegoat without blemish for a sinoffering: and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock.


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When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, shalt thou offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.


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And thou shalt bring them near before the Lord, and the priests shall throw salt upon them, and they shall offer them up as a burntoffering unto the Lord.


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Seven days shalt thou prepare a goat for a sinoffering every day; and a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish shall they prepare.


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And when these days are expired, it shall be, that on the eighth day, and thenceforward, the priests shall prepare upon the altar your burntofferings, and your peaceofferings: and I will accept you in favor, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And he brought me back by the way of the outer gate of the sanctuary which looked toward the east: and it was locked.


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Then said the Lord unto me, This gate shall remain locked, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore shall it remain locked.


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As for the prince, being the prince, he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord: by the way of the porch of that gate shall he enter, and by the way of the same shall he go out.


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Then brought he me by the way of the north gate before the house; and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord: and I fell upon my face.


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And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, direct thy mind, and see with thy eyes, and hear with thy ears all that I am speaking with thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and of all its laws; and direct thy mind to the entrance of the house, with every place of egress of the sanctuary.


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And thou shalt say to the rebellious, to the house of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Ye have done enough with all your abominations, O house of Israel!


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In your having brought the sons of the stranger, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, while you were offering my food, the fat and the blood: so that they broke my covenant because of all your abominations.


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And <i>because</i> ye have not kept the charge of my holy things; but ye have set <i>those unworthy ones</i> as keepers of my charge in my sanctuary at your own pleasure.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, No son of the stranger, uncircumcised in heart, or uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of all the sons of the stranger that are in the midst of the children of Israel.


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But as respecteth the Levites that were gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray away from me, after their idols, they shall surely bear their iniquity;


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And they shall be in my sanctuary, servants, appointed to watch at the gates of the house, and to be servants for the house: these are they that shall slay the burntofferings and the sacrifices for the people, and they shall stand before them to do the service for them.


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Because that they used to serve them before their idols, and have been unto the house of Israel as a stumblingblock of iniquity; therefore have I lifted up my hand against them, saith the Lord Eternal, and they shall bear their iniquity;


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And they shall not come near unto me, to officiate as priests unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, to the most holy things; but they shall bear their shame, yea, for their abominations which they have committed.


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And I will appoint them to be keepers of the charge of the house, for all the service thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.


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But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me,these are they that shall come near unto me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord Eternal:


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These are they that shall enter into my sanctuary, and these shall come near to my table, to minister unto me; and they shall keep my charge.


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And it shall come to pass, that, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall clothe themselves with linen garments; and there shall no wool come upon them, when they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within the house.


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Linen bonnets shall be upon their heads, and linen breeches shall be upon their loins: they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.


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And when they go forth into the outer court, into the outer court to the people: then shall they put off their garments wherein they have ministered, and they shall lay them down in the holy chambers; and they shall put on other garments, and they shall not mingle among the people with their garments.


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And their heads shall they not shave close, nor suffer their hair to grow long: they shall only crop <i>the hair of</i> their heads.


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And a widow, or one that is divorced from her husband shall they not take to themselves as wives; but only virgins of the seed of the house of Israel; but whatever widow it may be, the <i>common</i> priests may take.


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And my people shall they teach the difference between the holy and profane, and that between the unclean and the clean shall they make known unto them.


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And in a controversy shall they stand up to judge, according to my ordinances shall they decide it: and my laws and my statutes at all my festivals shall they observe, and my sabbaths shall they sanctify.


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And to a dead person shall they not come to defile themselves; but on father, or on mother, or on son, or on daughter, on brother, or on sister that hath had no husband, may they defile themselves.


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Then shall he on the day that he cometh into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, offer his sinoffering, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And it shall be unto them as an inheritance, I am their inheritance: and any possession shall you not give them in Israel, I am their possession.


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The meatoffering, and the sinoffering, and the trespassofferingthese shall they eat; and every devoted thing in Israel shall belong to them.


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And the first of all kinds of firstfruits of all, and every kind of heaveoffering of every thing of all your heaveofferings, shall belong to the priests; and the first of your dough shall you give to the priest, to cause a blessing to rest on thy house.


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Any thing that hath died of itself, or that is torn, whether it be fowl or beast, shall the priests not eat.


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And when ye divide the land by lot for an inheritance, shall ye offer an oblation unto the Lord, as a holy portion of the land, five and twenty thousand rods in length, and in breadth ten thousand. This shall be holy in all its extent round about.


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Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred <i>rods</i> by five hundred, square round about; and fifty cubits as an open space for it round about.


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And of this measure shalt thou measure, in length five and twenty thousand, and in breadth ten thousand <i>rods</i>: and in it shall be the sanctuary <i>and</i> the holy of holies.


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The holy portion of the land shall it be, for the priests the ministers of the sanctuary shall it be, who come near to minister unto the Lord; and it shall be unto them a place for houses, and a holy place for the sanctuary.


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And five and twenty thousand <i>rods</i> in length, and ten thousand in breadth, shall also belong unto the Levites, the servants of the house, for themselves, as a possession, with twenty chambers.


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And as the possession of the city shall ye assign five thousand rods broad, and five and twenty thousand long, alongside the holy oblation: unto the whole house of Israel shall it belong.


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And the prince shall have that on the one side and on the other side of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, in front of the holy oblation, and in front of the possession of the city, on the west side westward, and on the east side eastward; and in length alongside one of the portions, both on the west border and on the east border.


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As landed property shall it be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more wrong my people; but the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Ye have done enough wrong, O princes of Israel: remove violence and robbery, and execute justice and righteousness; take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord Eternal.


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The ephah and the bath shall contain the same quantity, that the bath may contain the tenth part of a chomer, and the ephah the tenth part of a chomer: after the chomer shall the measure of contents be.


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And the shekel shall be twenty gerahs: <i>in pieces of</i> twenty shekels, five and twenty shekels, fifteen shekels, shall be your maneh.


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This is the heaveoffering that ye shall offer; The sixth part of an ephah of a chomer of wheat; and ye shall give the sixth part of an ephah of a chomer of barley;


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And the fixed portion of oil shall be after the bath of oil, the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, ten baths reckoned to the chomer; for ten baths are a chomer;


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And one lamb out of the flock, out of two hundred, out of the fat pastures of Israel, for meatofferings, and for burntofferings, and for peaceofferings, to make an atonement for them, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And upon the prince shall be the duty to furnish the burntofferings, the meatofferings, and the drinkofferings, on the feasts, and on the newmoon days, and on the sabbaths, on all the festive seasons of the house of Israel: he himself shall prepare the sinoffering, and the meatoffering, and the burntoffering, and the peaceofferings, to make an atonement in behalf of the house of Israel.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, In the first month, on the first of the month, shalt thou take a young bullock without blemish, and make an expiation for the sanctuary.


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And the priest shall take some of the blood of the sinoffering, and put it upon the doorpost of the house, and upon the four corners of the projection of the altar, and upon the doorpost of the gate of the inner court.


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And so shalt thou do on the seventh day of the month for every one that erreth, and for him that hath sinned unawares; so shall ye atone for the house.


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In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, shall ye have the passover: a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.


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And the prince shall prepare on that day in behalf of himself and in behalf of all the people of the land a bullock for a sinoffering.


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And on the seven days of the feast shall he prepare a burntoffering to the Lord, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish on every day of the seven days; and for a sinoffering a hegoat on every day.


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And as a meatoffering an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram shall he prepare, and a hin of oil for each ephah.


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In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month, on the feast, shall he prepare the like during the seven days, both the sinoffering, as also the burntoffering, and the meatoffering, and the oil.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall remain locked the six working days; but on the sabbath day shall it be opened, and on the newmoon day shall it be opened.


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And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of the gate, from without, and shall stand by the doorpost of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burntoffering and his peaceofferings, and he shall bow himself down at the threshold of the gate, and he shall then go forth; but the gate shall not be locked until the evening.


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And the people of the land shall bow themselves down at the door of this same gate on the sabbaths and on the newmoons before the Lord.


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And the burntoffering which the prince is to offer unto the Lord, shall be on the sabbathday six sheep without blemish, and a ram without blemish;


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And as a meatoffering an ephah for the ram, and for the sheep a meatoffering as his hand may be able to give, and a hin of oil for every ephah.


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And on the day of the new moon, a young bullock without blemish, and six sheep and a ram; without blemish shall they be.


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And an ephah for the bullock, and an ephah for the ram, shall he prepare as a meatoffering, and for the sheep according as his means may reach, and a hin of oil for every ephah.


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And when the prince doth enter, he shall go in by the way of the porch of the gate, and by the same way shall he go forth.


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But when the people of the land come before the Lord on the appointed feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to bow himself down shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go out by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in; but by that opposite to him shall he go out.


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And as for the princein the midst of them, when they go in, shall he go in; and when they go out, shall they go out <i>together</i>.


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And on the feasts and on the appointed festivals shall the meatoffering be an ephah for each bullock, and an ephah for each ram, and for the sheep as his hand may be able to give, and a hin of oil for every ephah.


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And when the prince doth prepare as a voluntary gift a burntoffering, or a peaceoffering, as a voluntary gift unto the Lord: then shall be opened for him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burntoffering and his peaceoffering, as he usually doth on the sabbathday; and he shall go out, and the gate shall be locked after his going out.


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And a sheep of the first year without blemish shalt thou prepare as a burntoffering every day unto the Lord: morning by morning shalt thou prepare it.


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And as a meatoffering shalt thou prepare with it, morning by morning, the sixth part of an ephah, and the third of a hin of oil, to mingle with the fine floura meatoffering unto the Lord, as ordinances for ever continually.


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Thus shall they prepare the sheep, and the meatoffering, and the oil, morning by morning, as a continual burntoffering.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, If the prince make gift unto any one of his sons, it is his inheritance, it shall belong to his sons: it shall be their possession as their inheritance.


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But if he make a gift of his inheritance to one of his servants: then shall it remain his to the year of freedom, when it shall return to the prince; but his inheritance shall only remain for his sons.


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But the prince shall not take any thing from the inheritance of the people, to wrong them out of their possession: out of his own possession can he give an inheritance to his sons; in order that not one of my people be deprived of his possession.


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And then he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers for the priests, which looked toward the north: and, behold, there was a place by the back wall on the west side.


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And he said unto me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespassoffering and the sinoffering, where <i>also</i> they shall bake the meatoffering; so as not to carry the same out into the outer court, to mingle with the people.


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Then did he lead me forth into the outer court, and caused me to pass along the four corners of the court; and, behold, in every corner of the court there was a court.


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In the four corners of the court there were uncovered courts of forty cubits in length and thirty in breadth: there was one measure for all these four in the corners.


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And there was a shelf of masonry round about in them, round about all these four, and it was furnished with hearths for boiling under the shelves round about.


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Then said he unto me, These are the places of those that boil, where the servants of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.


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And he brought me back again unto the door of the house: and, behold, water was issuing out from under the threshold of the house eastward; for the front of the house stood toward the east; and the water came down from under <i>the threshold</i>, from the right side of the house, to the south of the altar.


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Then did he bring me out by the way of the gate northwards and led me about the way without unto the outer gate by the way that looked eastward: and, behold, the water was running on the right side.


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When the man went forth eastward, having the measuringline in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, the water reaching to the ankles.


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Again he measured a thousand <i>cubits</i>, and led me through the water, the water reaching to the knees. Again he measured a thousand <i>cubits</i>, and led me through, the water reaching to the loins.


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And he measured again a thousand <i>cubits</i>, it being a stream that I could not wade through; for the water was increased, being water fit to swim in, a stream that could not be waded through.


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And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this: Then did he lead me, and caused me to return to the bank of the stream.


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Now when I returned, behold, there were at the banks of the stream very many trees, on the one side and on the other.


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Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the eastern district, and go down into the plain, and fall into the sea, <i>the waters</i> being carried forth into the sea, so that the waters shall be healed.


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And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the doublestream shall come, shall live: and the fish shall be <i>therein</i> in great abundance; for when this water shall have come thither, <i>the waters of the sea</i> shall be healed, and every thing shall live whither the stream cometh.


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And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand by it; from Engedi even unto Eneglayim, there shall be places for the spreading out of nets: after their various kinds shall the fish thereof be, like the fish of the great sea, exceedingly many.


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But its swamps and its lagoons shall not be healed, for <i>the production of</i> salt are they destined.


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And by the stream upon its banks, on this side and on that side, shall grow up all kinds of trees for food, the leaves of which shall not fade, and the fruit of which shall not come to an end, every month shall they bring forth new ripe fruit; because its water is that which issueth out of the sanctuary; and their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for remedies.


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Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, This shall be the boundary, whereby ye shall divide out the land unto the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph shall have two portions.


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And ye shall inherit it, every one like the other, <i>the land</i> concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for an inheritance.


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And this shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the great sea, the road to Chethlon, as far as to Zedad;


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Chamath, Berothah, Sibrayim, which is between the boundary of Damascus and the boundary of Chamath; Chazarhattichon, which is by the boundary of Chavran.


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And the boundary shall be from the sea to Chazarenon, the boundary of Damascus, and the northern part on the north, and the boundary of Chamath. And this is the north side.


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And the east side shall ye measure between Chavran and Damascus <i>on the one side</i>, and between Gilad and the land of Israel <i>on the other side</i> by the Jordan, from the <i>north</i> boundary unto the east sea. And this is the east side.


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And the south side; on the south, from Thamar even to the waters of contention at Kadesh, toward the brook <i>flowing</i> into the Great Sea. And this is the south side on the south.


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And the west side shall be the great sea from the <i>southern</i> boundary, as far as straight up to Chamath. This is the west side.


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And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance among yourselves, and to the strangers that sojourn in the midst of you, who shall have begotten children in the midst of you; and they shall be unto you as the native born among the children of Israel: with you shall they obtain an inheritance in the midst of the tribes of Israel.


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And it shall come to pass that in whatever tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord Eternal.


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Now these are the names of the tribes: At the edge, on the north side, along the road on the way to Chethlon, as far as Chamath, Chazarenan, the boundary of Damascus northward, alongside of Chamath, there shall be from the east side to the west for Dan one portion.


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And by the boundary of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the oblation which ye shall set aside of five and twenty thousand rods in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it.


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The oblation that ye shall set aside unto the Lord shall be in length five and twenty thousand <i>rods</i>, and in breadth ten thousand.


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And to these shall belong the holy oblation,namely to the priests, toward the north, five and twenty thousand rods <i>in length</i>, and on the west ten thousand in breadth, and on the east ten thousand in breadth, and on the south five and twenty thousand in length: and the sanctuary of the Lord shall be in the midst of it.


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Unto the priests, that are sanctified, of the sons of Zadok, who have kept my charge, who went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.


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To them shall thus belong the portion set aside of the oblation of the land as a most holy thing by the boundary of the Levites.


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And the Levites shall have alongside the boundary of the priests five and twenty thousand rods in length, and in breadth ten thousand; the whole in length five and twenty thousand, and in breadth ten thousand.


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But they shall not sell aught thereof, or exchange, or alienate this first portion of the land; for it is holy unto the Lord.


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And the five thousand rods, that are left in the breadth, with a length of five and twenty thousand, shall be an unconsecrated land for the city, for dwelling, and for an open space: and the city shall be in the midst thereof.


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And these shall be its measures: The north side four thousand and five hundred <i>rods</i>, and the south side four thousand and five hundred, and on the east side four thousand and five hundred, and the west side four thousand and five hundred.


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And the open space of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty <i>rods</i>, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.


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And the produce of the residue in length alongside the holy oblation ten thousand rods eastward, and ten thousand westward, that which is alongside the holy oblation, shall be for food unto the laborers of the city.


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All the oblation, five and twenty thousand <i>rods</i> by five and twenty thousand square, shall ye set apart as the holy oblation, with the possession of the city.


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And the residue shall belong to the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy oblation, and of the possession of the city, alongside of the five and twenty thousand of the oblation toward the eastern boundary, and westward alongside the five and twenty thousand toward the western boundary, alongside the portions <i>of the tribes</i>; for the prince <i>shall it be</i>: and so shall be the holy oblation; and the sanctuary of the house shall be in the midst thereof.


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And both the possession of the Levites, and the possession of the city, shall be in the midst of that which belongeth to the prince: between the boundary of Judah and the boundary of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.


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As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side unto the west side, shall be for Benjamin one portion.


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And by the boundary of Gad, on the southern side toward the south, shall be the boundary from Thamar unto the waters of contention of Kadesh, unto the brook by the Great Sea.


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This is the land which ye shall divide by lot for an inheritance to the tribes of Israel, and these are their allotted divisions, saith the Lord Eternal.


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And these are the outlines of the city: On the north side, five hundred and four thousand rods, by the measure.


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And of the gates of the city, being after the names of the tribes of Israel, shall be three gates on the north: the gate of Reuben one, the gate of Judah one, the gate of Levi one.


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And on the east side, five hundred and four thousand rods, with three gates: namely, the gate of Joseph one, the gate of Benjamin one, the gate of Dan one.


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And the south side, five hundred and four thousand rode by the measure, with three gates: the gate of Simeon one, the gate of Issachar one, the gate of Zebulun one.


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The west side, five hundred and four thousand rods, with their three gates: the gate of Gad one, the gate of Asher one, the gate of Naphtali one.


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All around it shall be eighteen thousand rods: and the name of the city shall be from that day "The Lord is there."


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In the third year of the reign of Jehoyakim the king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.


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And the Lord gave up into his hand Yehoyakim the king of Judah, with part of the vessels of the house of God: and he brought them into the land of Shinar into the house of his god, namely, he brought the vessels into the treasurehouse of his god.


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And the king said unto Ashpenas, the chief of his eunuchs, that he should bring out of the children of Israel, and of the royal seed, and of the nobles,


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<i>Certain</i> lads in whom there should be no kind of blemish, but who should be handsome in appearance, and intelligent in all wisdom, and acquainted with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as should have the ability to serve in the kings palace, and that these should be taught the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.


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And the king ordered for them a daily provision for its day of the kings food, and of the wine which he drank, and to educate them three years, so that at the end thereof they should serve before the king.


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And the chief of the eunuchs assigned them names; and he assigned to Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Chananyah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azaryah, of Abednego.


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But Daniel resolved in his heart that he would not defile himself with the food of the king, nor with the wine which he drank: and therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not need to defile himself.


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And the chief of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath ordered your food and your drink; for why should he see your face sadder looking than that of the lads who are of your age? and ye would thus endanger my head with the king.


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Then said Daniel to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had given charge over Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah,


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Prove, I beseech thee, thy servants, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink;


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And then let our countenances be looked at before thee, and the countenance of the lads that eat the food of the king: and as thou mayest see <i>fitting</i>, so deal with thy servants.


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And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared better and fuller in flesh than <i>that of</i> all the lads who ate the food of the king.


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And the steward took away their <i>apportioned</i> food, and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.


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But as regardeth all these four lads, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.


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And at the end of the days <i>after</i> which the king had said that they should be presented, the chief of the eunuchs presented them before Nebuchadnezzar.


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And the king spoke with them; and there was not found among them all any one like Daniel, Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah: and so they served before the king.


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And in every matter of wise understanding, which the king required of them, he found them ten times superior above all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his kingdom.


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And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, whereat his spirit was troubled, and his sleep that was upon him was gone.


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Then said the king to call the magicians, and the astrologers and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to solve for the king his dreams: and they came and placed themselves before the king.


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Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in Aramic, O king, live for ever: recite the dream to thy servants, and we will tell the interpretation.


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The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The decree is firmly resolved on by me: If ye do not make known unto me the dream with its interpretation, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be changed into a dunghill.


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But if ye tell the dream and its interpretation, then shall ye receive gifts and rewards and great honor from me. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.


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They answered the second time and said, Let the king recite the dream to his servants, and we will tell its interpretation.


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The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye wish to gain time, because ye see the decree is firmly resolved on by me:


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That if ye do not make known unto me the dream, there is but one sentence for you; for ye have prepared lying and deceptive words to speak before me, till the time be changed. Therefore relate to me the dream, and I shall know that ye can tell me its interpretation.


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The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the habitable earth that can tell the kings matter: wherefore no mighty and powerful king ever hath asked such a thing of any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.


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And the matter which the king requireth is difficult, and there is no other that can tell it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.


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For all this cause the king became angry, and very furious; and he commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.


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And the law went forth and <i>some of</i> the wise men were slain: and they sought Daniel and his companions to slay them.


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Then made Daniel representations with intelligence and prudence to Aryoch the captain of the kings guard, who was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon.


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He commenced and said to Aryoch the kings commander, Wherefore is the law so hasty from the king? Then made Aryoch the matter known to Daniel.


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But Daniel went in, and requested of the king that he would give him time, that he might tell the interpretation to the king.


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Then went Daniel to his house, and made the matter known to Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaryah, his companions.


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In order that they might pray for mercy of the God of heaven concerning this secret: so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.


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Thereupon was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision of the night. Then did Daniel bless the God of heaven.


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Daniel commenced and said, May the name of God be blessed from eternity and to all eternity; for wisdom and might are his;


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And he changeth times and seasons; he removeth kings, and raiseth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to those that possess understanding.


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He it is that revealeth what is deep and secret; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.


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To thee, O God of my father, do I give thanks, and I praise thee, who hast given me wisdom and might, and because thou hast made known unto me what we prayed for of thee; for thou hast made known unto us the kings matter.


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Therefore did Daniel go in unto Aryoch, whom the king had ordered to destroy the wise men of Babylon, He went and said thus unto him, the wise men of Babylon must thou not destroy: bring me before the king, and I will tell unto the king the interpretation.


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Then did Aryoch bring Daniel before the king in haste, and thus he said unto him, Here have I found a man out of the children of the exiles of Judah, who will make known unto the king the interpretation.


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The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?


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Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or soothsayers, can tell unto the king;


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But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and he hath made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what is to be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy couch, were these.


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As for thee, O king, thy thoughts, when thou wast on thy couch, rose <i>within thee</i> concerning what is to come to pass hereafter; and the Revealer of secrets hath made known to thee what is to come to pass.


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But as for me, this secret hath not been revealed to me because of any wisdom that is in me more than in all other living; but for the sake that men might make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest understand the thoughts of thy heart.


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Thou, O king, sawest, and behold there was a large image; this image was mighty, and its brightness was excellent; it stood opposite to thee; and its form was fearinspiring.


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As regardeth this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms were of silver, its belly and its thighs of copper,


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Thou didst look on till the moment that a stone tore itself loose, not through <i>human</i> hands, and it struck the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and ground them to pieces.


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Then were the iron, the clay, the copper, the silver, and the gold ground up together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no trace was found of them; and the stone that had stricken the image became a mighty mountain, and filled the whole earth.


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Thou, O king, art a king of kings, to whom the God of heaven hath given kingdom, power, and strength, and honor:


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And wheresoever the children of men dwell, hath he given the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art the head of gold.


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And after thee there will arise another kingdom inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of copper, which will bear rule over all the earth.


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And the fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron; forasmuch as iron grindeth up and beateth down all things, and as iron that breaketh <i>every thing</i>, will it grind up and break all these.


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And that thou sawest the feet and toes, and part of them of potters clay, and part of them of iron, <i>signifieth</i> that it will be a divided kingdom, although there will be in it of the strength of the iron; forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mingled with miry clay.


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And as the toes of the feet were part of them of iron, and part of them of clay: so will the kingdom be partly strong and partly brittle.


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And whereas thou sawest iron mingled with miry clay: so will they mingle themselves among the seed of men; but they will not cleave firmly one to another, even as iron cannot be mingled with clay.


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But in the days of these kings will the God of heaven set up a kingdom: which shall to eternity not be destroyed, and its rule shall not be transferred to any other people; <i>but</i> it will grind up and make an end of all these kingdoms, while it will itself endure for ever.


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Whereas thou sawest that out of the mountain a stone tore itself loose, not through <i>human</i> hands, and that it ground up the iron, the copper, the clay, the silver, and the gold: the great God hath made known to the king what is to come to pass after this. And the dream is reliable, and its interpretation certain.


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Then did king Nebuchadnezzar fall upon his face, and he bowed down to Daniel, and ordered that they should offer an oblation and sweet odors unto him.


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The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and the revealer of secrets; because thou hast been able to reveal this secret.


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Then did the king elevate Daniel, and gave him many great presents, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the superintendents over all the wise men of Babylon.


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Then requested Daniel of the king, that he might appoint Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the public service of the province of Babylon; but Daniel remained in the gate of the king.


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King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits, and the breadth of which was six cubits: he set it up in the valley of Dura, in the province of Babylon.


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And king Nebuchadnezzar sent to assemble <i>his</i> lieutenants, the superintendents, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, those learned in the law, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.


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Thereupon were assembled the lieutenants, the superintendents, and the governors, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, those learned in the law, and all the rulers of the provinces unto the dedication of the image that king Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood opposite to the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.


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Then a herald called out with a loud voice, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,


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That at the time when ye do hear the sound of the cornet, flute, guitar, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ye shall fall down and bow yourselves to the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar hath set up:


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And whoso doth not fall down and bow himself shall in the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.


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Therefore at the same time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, guitar, harp, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages fell down bowing themselves to the golden image which king Nebuchadnezzar had set up.


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Thou, O king, hadst made a decree, that every man that should hear the sound of the cornet, flute, guitar, harp, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, should fall down and bow himself to the golden image;


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And that whoso should not fall down and bow himself should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.


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There are certain Jewish men whom thou hast appointed over the public service of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: these men, O king, have not paid any regard to thee; thy god they do not worship, and to the golden image which thou hast set up they do not bow themselves.


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Then ordered Nebuchadnezzar in rage and fury to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then were these men brought before the king.


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Nebuchadnezzar commenced and said unto them, Is it out of disrespect, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? My god ye do not worship, and to the golden image which I have set up ye do not bow yourselves?


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Now then if ye be ready at the time when ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, guitar, psaltery, and bagpipe, and all kinds of music, to fall down and bow yourselves to the image which I have made, <i>well</i>; but if ye bow yourselves not, ye shall be cast in the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace: and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hand?


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Then answered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee a word in this matter.


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Behold, there is our God whom we worship, he is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace: and out of thy hand, O king, will he deliver us.


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But if not, then be it known unto thee, O king, that thy god will we not worship, and to the golden image which; thou hast set up will we not bow ourselves.


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Then was Nebuchadnezzar filled with fury, and the form of his countenance was changed because of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; <i>and</i> he commenced and ordered that they should heat the furnace thoroughly seven times more than it was wont to be heated.


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And he ordered the mightiest men in strength that were in his army, to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, <i>and</i> to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.


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Then were these men bound in their mantles, their undergarments, and their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.


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Now, because the kings command was so urgent, and the furnace exceedingly heated, the flame of the fire slew those men that carried up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.


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And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.


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Then was king Nebuchadnezzar astonished, and he rose up in haste, <i>and</i> commenced, and said unto his counsellors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, Certainly, O king.


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He answered and said, Lo, I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and there is no injury on them; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.


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Then came Nebuchadnezzar near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, commenced, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, step forth, and come hither. Then stepped Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego forth out of the midst of the fire.


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And the lieutenants, superintendents, and governors, and the kings counsellors, being assembled together, saw these men, over whose bodies the fire had had no power, and the hair of whose head was not singed, whose mantles were not changed, and on whom there was not come the smell of fire.


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Then commenced Nebuchadnezzar, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that had trusted in him, and had transgressed the kings word, and yielded up their bodies, that they might not worship no bow themselves to any god, except their own God.


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Therefore do I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, that may speak any thing disrespectful against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be changed into a dunghill; because there is no other God that can deliver like this one.


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<n>(3:31)</n> Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell on all the earth, May your welfare increase.


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<n>(3:32)</n> The signs and wonders which the most high God hath wrought toward me I find it for good to make known.


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<n>(3:33)</n> His signshow great are they! and his wonders how mighty are they! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his rule is over every generation.


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<n>(4:2)</n> I saw a dream which terrified me; and the thoughts upon my couch and the visions of my head troubled me.


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<n>(4:3)</n> Therefore made I a decree to bring before me all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.


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<n>(4:4)</n> Then came up the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and the dream did I recite before them; but its interpretation did they not make known unto me.


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<n>(4:5)</n> But at the last came up before me Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and the dream did I recite before him, <i>saying,</i>


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<n>(4:6)</n> O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, of whom I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and that no secret is concealed from thee, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, with its interpretation.


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<n>(4:7)</n> And the visions of my head on my couch were, <i>that</i> I saw, and behold, there was a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.


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<n>(4:8)</n> The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached unto heaven, and it was visible to the end of all the earth.


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<n>(4:9)</n> Its foliage was splendid, and its fruit large, and on it was food for all: under it sought the beasts of the field for shade, and in its boughs dwelt the fowls of heaven, and from it was fed all flesh.


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<n>(4:10)</n> I saw in the visions of my head on my couch, and, behold, a watcher who was also a holy one came down from heaven.


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<n>(4:11)</n> He called with might, and thus he said, Hew down the trees and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee away from under it, and the fowls from among its branches:


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<n>(4:12)</n> Nevertheless leave the body of its roots in the earth, but <i>bound</i> with fetters of iron and copper, among the grass of the field; and let it be made wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts on the herbage of the earth;


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<n>(4:13)</n> Let his heart be changed not to be human, and let a beasts heart be given unto him; and let seven times elapse over him.


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<n>(4:14)</n> Through the resolve of the watchers is this decree, and by the order of the holy ones is this decision: to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and that he can give it to whomsoever he pleaseth, and can set up over it the lowest of men.


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<n>(4:15)</n> This dream have I, king Nebuchadnezzar, seen; but thou, O Belteshazzar, relate its interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.


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<n>(4:16)</n> Then was Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, astounded for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king then commenced, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or its interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, O that the dream might be for those that hate thee, and its interpretation for thy enemies.


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<n>(4:17)</n> The tree that thou hast seen, which grew, and was strong, the height of which reached unto the heaven, and which was visible to all the earth;


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<n>(4:18)</n> The foliage of which was splendid, and the fruit of which was large, and on which was food for all; under which dwelt the beasts of the field, and in the boughs of which nestled the fowls of the heaven:


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<n>(4:19)</n> It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; and thy greatness is grown apace, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion is to the end of the earth.


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<n>(4:20)</n> And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, who said, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the body of its roots in the earth, but <i>bound</i> in fetters of iron and copper, among the grass of the field; and let it be made wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times elapse over it:


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<n>(4:21)</n> This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the resolve of the Most High, which will come over my lord the king:


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<n>(4:22)</n> They will drive thee away from men, and with the beasts of the field is thy dwelling to be, and they will suffer thee to eat herbs like oxen, and they will suffer thee to be made wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times will elapse over thee; until that thou wilt know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth.


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<n>(4:23)</n> And whereas they ordered to leave the body of the roots of the tree: thy kingdom will remain unto thee, as soon as thou wilt know that the Heavens do rule.


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<n>(4:24)</n> Therefore, O king, let my counsel be agreeable unto thee, and atone for thy sins by righteousness, and for thy iniquities by showing kindness to the poor: perhaps thy prosperity may <i>thereby</i> endure long.


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<n>(4:27)</n> The king commenced, and said, Is not this Babylon the great, that I myself have built for a royal residence by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?


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<n>(4:28)</n> The word was still in the kings mouth, when there fell a voice from heaven, <i>saying,</i> To thee it is said, O king Nebuchadnezzar, The kingdom departeth from thee.


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<n>(4:29)</n> And from men will they drive thee away, and with the beasts of the field shall thy dwelling be; herbs like oxen will they suffer thee to eat, and seven times shall elapse over thee: until thou wilt know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth.


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<n>(4:30)</n> At the same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and from men was he driven away, and herbs like oxen had he to eat, and with the dew of heaven was his body made wet: till his hair was grown like eagles <i>feathers</i>, and his nails were like birds <i>claws</i>.


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<n>(4:31)</n> But at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and glorified the Everliving, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and whose kingdom is over every generation;


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<n>(4:32)</n> And <i>by whom</i> all the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nought; and <i>who</i> according to his pleasure doth with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth; while there is none that can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?


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<n>(4:33)</n> At the same time my understanding returned unto me; and with the glory of my kingdom, my honor and my splendor returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought for me: and I was replaced in my kingdom, and additional greatness was added unto me.


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<n>(4:34)</n> Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and glorify the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and whose ways are justice; and who is able to bring low those that walk in pride.


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King Belshazzar prepared a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and before these thousand did he drink wine.


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Belshazzar ordered, through the counsel of the wine, to bring in the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken away out of the temple which was in Jerusalem: that the king, and his lords, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therefrom.


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Then they brought in the golden vessels that were taken away out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his lords, his wives, and his concubines, drank from them.


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They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, and of silver, of copper, of iron, of wood, and of stone.


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At that same hour came forth fingers of a mans hand, and wrote opposite to the chandelier upon the plaster of the wall of the kings palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.


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Then was the kings color changed, and his thoughts troubled him: so that the bands of his loins were loosed, and his knees knocked one against the other.


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the king called with might to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king commenced, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whatsoever man will read this writing, and tell me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall rule as the third in the kingdom.


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Then came in all the wise men of the king; but they were not able to read the writing, nor to make its interpretation known to the king.


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Then was king Belshazzar greatly terrified, and his color was changed on him, and his lords were confounded.


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<i>Now</i> the queen in consequence of the words of the king and of his lords came into the banquethouse; the queen commenced and said, O king, live for ever; let thy thoughts not trouble thee, nor let thy color be changed:


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There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father enlightenment and intelligence and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him: and king Nebuchadnezzar thy father appointed him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers:yes, thy father, O king.


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Forasmuch as a superior spirit, and knowledge, and intelligence, interpreting of dreams, and solving of riddles, and of untying knotty <i>doubts</i>, were found in him, in Daniel, to whom the king assigned the name of Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will tell the interpretation.


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Then was Daniel brought in before the king: the king commenced and said unto Daniel, Art thou Daniel, who art of the children of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?


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And I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that enlightenment and intelligence and superior wisdom are found in thee.


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And now the wise men, the astrologers, had been brought before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me its interpretation; but they were not able to tell the interpretation of the matter.


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But I have truly heard concerning thee, that thou art able to give interpretations, and untie knotty <i>doubts</i>: now if thou art able to read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, thou shalt be clothed with purple, with a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt rule as the third in the kingdom.


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Then answered Daniel and said before the king, Let thy gifts remain in thy possession, and bestow thy bounty on another: nevertheless will I read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.


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O thou king! the most high God gave kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and honor unto Nebuchadnezzar thy father;


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And because of the greatness that he had given unto him, all people, nations, and languages trembled and shook before him: whom he pleased he slew; and whom he pleased he kept alive; and whom he pleased he lifted up; and whom he pleased he brought low.


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But, when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit hardened to deal presumptuously, he was cast down from the throne of his kingdom, and his dignity did they take from him;


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And from the sons of men was he driven forth, and his heart became equal with <i>that of</i> the beasts, and with the wild asses was his dwelling; they suffered him to eat herbs like oxen, and with the dew of heaven was his body made wet: till he acknowledged that the most high God ruleth over the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he pleaseth.


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But against the Lord of heaven hast thou lifted thyself up; and the vessels of his house have they brought before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine from them; and the gods of silver, and gold, of copper, iron, wood, and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor know, hast thou praised; and the God in whose hand thy soul is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:


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Then gave Belshazzar the order, and they clothed Daniel with purple, with a chain of gold about his neck, and they made a proclamation concerning him, that he should rule as the third in the kingdom.


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<n>(6:2)</n> Darius deemed it proper, and he set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty lieutenants, who should be over all the kingdom;


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<n>(6:3)</n> And over these, three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these lieutenants should give accounts unto them, so that the king might suffer no damage.


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<n>(6:4)</n> Then did this Daniel excel <i>all</i> the presidents and lieutenants, because a superior spirit was in him: and the king thought to appoint him over the whole kingdom.


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<n>(6:5)</n> Then sought the presidents and lieutenants to find a pretext against Daniel on account of the management of the kingdom; but they were not able to find any pretext or fault, forasmuch as he was faithful, and no kind of error or fault was to be found on him.


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<n>(6:6)</n> Then said these men, We shall not find any pretext against this Daniel, except we find it against him in the law of his God.


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<n>(6:7)</n> Then came these presidents and lieutenants tumultuously to the king, and thus said they unto him, King Darius, live for ever.


