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Ezekiel 20

Amplified Bible, 2015 (AMP)

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¹ Ephraim is joined to idols, So let him alone [to suffer the consequences].

² When their liquor is gone [and their drinking parties are over], They habitually go to play the prostitute; Ephraim's rulers continue to dearly love shame [more than her glory which is the LORD, Israel's God].

³ The wind [of God's relentless wrath] has wrapped up Israel in its wings, And [in captivity] they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices [to calves, to sun, to moon, to stars, and to pagan gods].

⁴ Hear this and pay close attention, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the [pronounced] judgment pertains to you and is meant for you to hear, Because you have been a snare at Mizpah And a net spread out over Tabor (military strongholds on either side of the Jordan River).

⁵ The revolters have gone deep into depravity, But I [the LORD God] will chastise them all.

⁶ I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the prostitute and have worshiped idols; Israel has defiled itself.

⁷ Their [immoral] practices will not permit them To return to their God, For the spirit of prostitution is within them And they do not know the LORD [they do not recognize, appreciate, heed or cherish Him].

⁸ But the pride and self-reliance of Israel testifies against him. Therefore Israel, and [especially][1] Ephraim, stumble and fall in their wickedness and guilt; [2] Judah also has stumbled with them.

⁹ They will go with their flocks and with their herds To seek the LORD [diligently searching for Him], but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them [refusing to hear the prayers of the unrepentant].

¹⁰ They have dealt treacherously against the LORD, For they have borne illegitimate (pagan) children. Now the[3] New Moon will devour them along with their land [bringing judgment and captivity].

¹¹ Blow the horn in Gibeah, The trumpet in Ramah [the lofty hills on Benjamin's northern border]. Sound the alarm at Beth-aven: "Behind you and coming after you [is the enemy], O Benjamin [be on guard]!"

¹² Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I declare what is certain.

¹³ The princes of Judah are like those who[4] move a boundary marker; I will pour out My wrath on them like [an unrestrained flood of] water.

¹⁴ Ephraim is oppressed; he is broken and crushed by [divine] judgment, Because he was determined to follow man's command[5](vanities, filth, secular precepts).

¹⁵ Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim And like dry rot to the house of Judah [in My judgment against them].

¹⁶ When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria [instead of the LORD] And sent to [Assyria's] great King Jareb [for help]. But he cannot heal you Nor will he cure you of your wound [received in judgment].

¹⁷ For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go on [tearing]; I will carry off [the prey] and there will be no one to rescue them.

¹⁸ I will go away and return to My place [on high] Until they acknowledge their offense and bear their guilt and seek My face; In their distress they will earnestly seek Me, saying,

¹⁹ "Come and let us return [in repentance] to the LORD, For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.

²⁰ "After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up That we may live before Him.

²¹ "So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] LORD [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth."

²² O Ephraim, what shall I do with you? O Judah, what shall I do with you? For your [wavering] loyalty and kindness are [transient] like the morning cloud And like the dew that goes away early.

²³ Therefore, I have hewn them in pieces by [the words of] the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; My judgments [pronounced upon them by the prophets] are like the light that shines forth [obvious to all].

²⁴ For I desire and delight in [steadfast] loyalty [faithfulness in the covenant relationship], rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

²⁵ But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.

²⁶ Gilead is a city of wrongdoers; It is tracked with bloody footprints.

²⁷ And as bands of robbers [lie in] wait for a man, So a band of priests murder on the road toward[1] Shechem [covering their crimes in that city of refuge]; Certainly they have committed crimes and outrages.

²⁸ I have seen a horrible thing [sins of every kind] in the house of Israel! Ephraim's prostitution (idolatry) is there; Israel has defiled itself.

²⁹ Also, O Judah, there is a harvest [of divine judgment] appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people [who have been slaves to the misery of sin].

³⁰ When I would heal Israel, The sin (guilt) of Ephraim is uncovered, And the wickedness of[1] Samaria, Because they practice false dealing; The thief enters, Bandits ravage and raid outside.

³¹ But they do not consider in their hearts (minds) That I remember [always] all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround and entangle them; They are before My face.

³² They make the king glad with their wickedness, And the princes with their lies.

³³ They are all adulterers; Like the heat of an oven When the baker ceases to stir the fire, [their passion smolders] From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.

³⁴ On the [special] day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; The king stretched out his hand [in association] with scoffers (lawless people).

³⁵ As they approach their plotting, Their mind burns [with intrigue] like an oven [while they lie in wait]. Their anger smolders all night; In the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.

³⁶ They are all hot like an oven And they consume their judges (rulers); All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to Me.

³⁷ Ephraim mixes himself with the [Gentile] nations [seeking favor with one country, then another]; Ephraim is a cake not turned [worthless; ready to be thrown away].

³⁸ Strangers have devoured his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know.

³⁹ Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they do not return [in repentance] to the LORD their God, Nor seek nor search for nor desire Him [as essential] in spite of all this.

⁴⁰ Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart or good sense; They call to Egypt [for help], they go to Assyria.

⁴¹ When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens [into Assyrian captivity]. I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation (prophecy) to their congregation.

⁴² Woe (judgment is coming) to them, for they have wandered away from Me! Devastation is theirs, because they have rebelled and trespassed against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.

⁴³ They do not cry out to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds [in unbelieving despair]; For the sake of grain and new wine they[2] assemble themselves [as if worshiping Baal]; They rebel against Me.

⁴⁴ Although I trained and strengthened their arms [for victory over their enemies], Yet they devise evil against Me.

⁴⁵ They turn, but they do not turn upward to the Most High. They are like a poorly crafted bow [that misses the mark]; Their princes shall fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be cause for their mockery and disdain in the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Set the trumpet to your lips [announcing impending judgment]! Like a [great] vulture the enemy comes against the house of the LORD, Because they have broken My covenant And transgressed and rebelled against My law.

⁴⁷ Then they will cry out to Me, "My God, we of Israel know You!"

⁴⁸ Israel has rejected the good; The enemy shall pursue him.

⁴⁹ They set up kings, but not from Me [therefore without My blessing]; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and their gold they made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.

#	AMP
1	Ephraim is joined to idols, So let him alone [to suffer the consequences].
2	When their liquor is gone [and their drinking parties are over], They habitually go to play the prostitute; Ephraim's rulers continue to dearly love shame [more than her glory which is the LORD, Israel's God].
3	The wind [of God's relentless wrath] has wrapped up Israel in its wings, And [in captivity] they will be ashamed because of their sacrifices [to calves, to sun, to moon, to stars, and to pagan gods].
4	Hear this and pay close attention, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! Listen, O house of the king! For the [pronounced] judgment pertains to you and is meant for you to hear, Because you have been a snare at Mizpah And a net spread out over Tabor (military strongholds on either side of the Jordan River).
5	The revolters have gone deep into depravity, But I [the LORD God] will chastise them all.
6	I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me; For now, O Ephraim, you have played the prostitute and have worshiped idols; Israel has defiled itself.
7	Their [immoral] practices will not permit them To return to their God, For the spirit of prostitution is within them And they do not know the LORD [they do not recognize, appreciate, heed or cherish Him].
8	But the pride and self-reliance of Israel testifies against him. Therefore Israel, and [especially][1] Ephraim, stumble and fall in their wickedness and guilt; [2] Judah also has stumbled with them.
9	They will go with their flocks and with their herds To seek the LORD [diligently searching for Him], but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn from them [refusing to hear the prayers of the unrepentant].
10	They have dealt treacherously against the LORD, For they have borne illegitimate (pagan) children. Now the[3] New Moon will devour them along with their land [bringing judgment and captivity].
11	Blow the horn in Gibeah, The trumpet in Ramah [the lofty hills on Benjamin's northern border]. Sound the alarm at Beth-aven: "Behind you and coming after you [is the enemy], O Benjamin [be on guard]!"
12	Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke; Among the tribes of Israel I declare what is certain.
13	The princes of Judah are like those who[4] move a boundary marker; I will pour out My wrath on them like [an unrestrained flood of] water.
14	Ephraim is oppressed; he is broken and crushed by [divine] judgment, Because he was determined to follow man's command[5](vanities, filth, secular precepts).
15	Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim And like dry rot to the house of Judah [in My judgment against them].
16	When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria [instead of the LORD] And sent to [Assyria's] great King Jareb [for help]. But he cannot heal you Nor will he cure you of your wound [received in judgment].
17	For I will be like a lion to Ephraim And like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear to pieces and go on [tearing]; I will carry off [the prey] and there will be no one to rescue them.
18	I will go away and return to My place [on high] Until they acknowledge their offense and bear their guilt and seek My face; In their distress they will earnestly seek Me, saying,
19	"Come and let us return [in repentance] to the LORD, For He has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us.
20	"After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up That we may live before Him.
21	"So let us know and become personally acquainted with Him; let us press on to know and understand fully the [greatness of the] LORD [to honor, heed, and deeply cherish Him]. His appearing is prepared and is as certain as the dawn, And He will come to us [in salvation] like the [heavy] rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth."
22	O Ephraim, what shall I do with you? O Judah, what shall I do with you? For your [wavering] loyalty and kindness are [transient] like the morning cloud And like the dew that goes away early.
23	Therefore, I have hewn them in pieces by [the words of] the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; My judgments [pronounced upon them by the prophets] are like the light that shines forth [obvious to all].
24	For I desire and delight in [steadfast] loyalty [faithfulness in the covenant relationship], rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
25	But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; There they have dealt treacherously against Me.
26	Gilead is a city of wrongdoers; It is tracked with bloody footprints.
27	And as bands of robbers [lie in] wait for a man, So a band of priests murder on the road toward[1] Shechem [covering their crimes in that city of refuge]; Certainly they have committed crimes and outrages.
28	I have seen a horrible thing [sins of every kind] in the house of Israel! Ephraim's prostitution (idolatry) is there; Israel has defiled itself.
29	Also, O Judah, there is a harvest [of divine judgment] appointed for you, When I restore the fortunes of My people [who have been slaves to the misery of sin].
30	When I would heal Israel, The sin (guilt) of Ephraim is uncovered, And the wickedness of[1] Samaria, Because they practice false dealing; The thief enters, Bandits ravage and raid outside.
31	But they do not consider in their hearts (minds) That I remember [always] all their wickedness. Now their deeds surround and entangle them; They are before My face.
32	They make the king glad with their wickedness, And the princes with their lies.
33	They are all adulterers; Like the heat of an oven When the baker ceases to stir the fire, [their passion smolders] From the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
34	On the [special] day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine; The king stretched out his hand [in association] with scoffers (lawless people).
35	As they approach their plotting, Their mind burns [with intrigue] like an oven [while they lie in wait]. Their anger smolders all night; In the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
36	They are all hot like an oven And they consume their judges (rulers); All their kings have fallen. There is no one among them who calls to Me.
37	Ephraim mixes himself with the [Gentile] nations [seeking favor with one country, then another]; Ephraim is a cake not turned [worthless; ready to be thrown away].
38	Strangers have devoured his strength, Yet he does not know it; Gray hairs are sprinkled on him, Yet he does not know.
39	Though the pride of Israel testifies against him, Yet they do not return [in repentance] to the LORD their God, Nor seek nor search for nor desire Him [as essential] in spite of all this.
40	Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart or good sense; They call to Egypt [for help], they go to Assyria.
41	When they go, I will spread My net over them; I will bring them down like birds of the heavens [into Assyrian captivity]. I will chastise them in accordance with the proclamation (prophecy) to their congregation.
42	Woe (judgment is coming) to them, for they have wandered away from Me! Devastation is theirs, because they have rebelled and trespassed against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me.
43	They do not cry out to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds [in unbelieving despair]; For the sake of grain and new wine they[2] assemble themselves [as if worshiping Baal]; They rebel against Me.
44	Although I trained and strengthened their arms [for victory over their enemies], Yet they devise evil against Me.
45	They turn, but they do not turn upward to the Most High. They are like a poorly crafted bow [that misses the mark]; Their princes shall fall by the sword Because of the insolence of their tongue. This will be cause for their mockery and disdain in the land of Egypt.
46	Set the trumpet to your lips [announcing impending judgment]! Like a [great] vulture the enemy comes against the house of the LORD, Because they have broken My covenant And transgressed and rebelled against My law.
47	Then they will cry out to Me, "My God, we of Israel know You!"
48	Israel has rejected the good; The enemy shall pursue him.
49	They set up kings, but not from Me [therefore without My blessing]; They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. With their silver and their gold they made idols for themselves, That they might be cut off.

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