Through the Bible – Day 328

₁The LORD God said:

₂Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the people of Ammon ₃and tell them:

₈The LORD God said, “The people of Moab thought Judah was no different from any other nation. ₉So I will let Moab's fortress towns along its border be attacked, including Beth-Jeshimoth, Baal-Meon, and Kiriathaim. ₁₀The same eastern desert tribes that invade Ammon will invade Moab, and just as Ammon will be forgotten for ever, ₁₁Moab will be punished. Then the people there will know that I am the LORD.”

₁₂The LORD God then said, “The people of Edom are guilty of taking revenge on Judah. ₁₃So I will punish Edom by killing all its people and livestock. It will be an empty wasteland all the way from Teman to Dedan. ₁₄I will send my own people to take revenge on the Edomites by making them feel my fierce anger. And when I punish them, they will know that I am the LORD God.”

₁₅The LORD God said, “The cruel Philistines have taken revenge on their enemies over and over and have tried to destroy them. ₁₆Now it's my turn to treat the Philistines as my enemies and to kill everyone living in their towns along the coast. ₁₇In my fierce anger, I will take revenge on them. And when I punish them, they will know that I am the LORD.”

₁Eleven years after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, the LORD spoke to me on the first day of the month. He said:

₂Ezekiel, son of man, the people of the city of Tyre have celebrated Jerusalem's defeat by singing,

₃Because the people of Tyre have sung that song, I have the following warning for them: I am the LORD God, and I am now your enemy! I will send nations to attack you, like waves crashing against the shore. ₄They will tear down your city walls and defence towers. I will sweep away the ruins until all that's left of you is a bare rock, ₅where fishermen can dry their nets along the coast. I promise that you will be robbed ₆and that the people who live in your towns along the coast will be killed. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

₇King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia is the world's most powerful king, and I will send him to attack you. He will march from the north with a powerful army, including horses and chariots and cavalry troops. ₈First, he will attack your towns along the coast and kill the people who live there. Then he will build earth ramps up to the top of your city walls and set up rows of shields around you. ₉He will command some of his troops to use large wooden poles to beat down your walls, while others use iron rods to knock down your watchtowers. ₁₀He will have so many horses that the dust they stir up will seem like a thick fog. And as his chariots and cavalry approach, even the walls will shake, especially when he proudly enters your ruined city. ₁₁His troops will ride through your streets, killing people left and right, and your strong columns will crumble to the ground. ₁₂The troops will steal your valuable possessions; they will break down your walls, and crush your expensive houses. Then the stones and wood and all the remains will be dumped into the sea. ₁₃You will have no reason to sing or play music on harps, ₁₄because I will turn you into a bare rock where fishermen can dry their nets. And you will never rebuild your city. I, the LORD God, make this promise.

₁₅The people of the nations up and down the coast will shudder when they hear your screams and moans of death. ₁₆The kings will step down from their thrones, then take off their royal robes and fine clothes, and sit on the ground, trembling. They will be so shocked at the news of your defeat that they will shake in fear ₁₇and sing this funeral song:

₁₉I, the LORD God, will turn you into a ghost town. The ocean depths will rise over you ₂₀and carry you down to the world of the dead, where you will join people of ancient times and towns ruined long ago. You will stay there and never again be a city filled with people. ₂₁You will die a horrible death! People will come looking for your city, but it will never be found. I, the LORD, have spoken.

₁The LORD said:

₂Ezekiel, son of man, sing a funeral song for Tyre, ₃the city that is built along the sea and that trades with nations along the coast. Tell the people of Tyre that the following message is from me:

₁₂Merchants from southern Spain traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products. ₁₃The people of Greece, Tubal, and Meshech traded slaves and things made of bronze, ₁₄and those from Beth-Togarmah traded work horses, war horses, and mules. ₁₅You also did business with people from Rhodes, and people from nations along the coast gave you ivory and ebony in exchange for your goods. ₁₆Edom traded emeralds, purple cloth, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies. ₁₇Judah and Israel gave you their finest wheat, best figs, honey, olive oil, and spices in exchange for your merchandise. ₁₈The people of Damascus saw what you had to offer and brought you wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. ₁₉Vedan and Javan near Uzal traded you iron and spices. ₂₀The people of Dedan supplied you with saddle blankets, ₂₁while people from Arabia and the rulers of Kedar traded lambs, sheep, and goats. ₂₂Merchants from Sheba and Raamah gave you excellent spices, precious stones, and gold in exchange for your products. ₂₃You also did business with merchants from the cities of Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, ₂₄and they gave you expensive clothing, purple and embroidered cloth, brightly-coloured rugs, and strong rope. ₂₅Large, seagoing ships carried your goods wherever they needed to go.

₁If you are a wife, you must put your husband first. Even if he opposes our message, you will win him over by what you do. No one else will have to say anything to him, ₂because he will see how you honour God and live a pure life. ₃Don't depend on things like fancy hair styles or gold jewellery or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful. ₄Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.

₅Long ago those women who worshipped God and put their hope in him made themselves beautiful by putting their husbands first. ₆For example, Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her true children, if you do right and don't let anything frighten you.

₇If you are a husband, you should be thoughtful of your wife. Treat her with honour, because she isn't as strong as you are, and she shares with you in the gift of life. Then nothing will stand in the way of your prayers.

₈Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. ₉Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say,

₁₃Can anyone really harm you for being eager to do good deeds? ₁₄Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don't worry about what people might do. ₁₅Honour Christ and let him be the Lord of your life.

Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. ₁₆Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear. This way you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ. ₁₇You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong.

₁₉Christ then preached to the spirits that were being kept in prison. ₂₀They had disobeyed God while Noah was building the boat, but God had been patient with them. Eight people went into that boat and were brought safely through the flood.

₂₁Those flood waters were like baptism that now saves you. But baptism is more than just washing your body. It means turning to God with a clear conscience, because Jesus Christ was raised from death. ₂₂Christ is now in heaven, where he sits at the right side of God. All angels, authorities, and powers are under his control.