LHC Midday Word: The Book of EZEKIEL

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 ‘Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘“In the pride of your heart
    you say, ‘I am a god;
I sit on the throne of a god
    in the heart of the seas.’
But you are a mere mortal and not a god,
    though you think you are as wise as a god.

Are you wiser than Daniel?
Is no secret hidden from you?

By your wisdom and understanding
you have gained wealth for yourself
and amassed gold and silver
in your treasuries.

By your great skill in trading
you have increased your wealth,
and because of your wealth
your heart has grown proud.

6 ‘“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘“Because you think you are wise,
as wise as a god,

I am going to bring foreigners against you,
the most ruthless of nations;
they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom
and pierce your shining splendour.

They will bring you down to the pit,
and you will die a violent death
in the heart of the seas.

Will you then say, ‘I am a god,’
in the presence of those who kill you?
You will be but a mortal, not a god,
in the hands of those who slay you.

You will die the death of the uncircumcised
at the hands of foreigners.

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’

11 The word of the Lord came to me: 12 ‘Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘“You were the seal of perfection,
full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

You were in Eden,
    the garden of God;
every precious stone adorned you:
    carnelian, chrysolite and emerald,
    topaz, onyx and jasper,
    lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.
Your settings and mountings were made of gold;
    on the day you were created they were prepared.

You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you.
You were on the holy mount of God;
you walked among the fiery stones.

You were blameless in your ways
from the day you were created
till wickedness was found in you.

Through your widespread trade
    you were filled with violence,
    and you sinned.
So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God,
    and I expelled you, guardian cherub,
    from among the fiery stones.

Your heart became proud
    on account of your beauty,
and you corrupted your wisdom
    because of your splendour.
So I threw you to the earth;
    I made a spectacle of you before kings.

By your many sins and dishonest trade
    you have desecrated your sanctuaries.
So I made a fire come out from you,
    and it consumed you,
and I reduced you to ashes on the ground
    in the sight of all who were watching.

All the nations who knew you
are appalled at you;
you have come to a horrible end
and will be no more.”’

20 The word of the Lord came to me: 21 ‘Son of man, set your face against Sidon; prophesy against her 22 and say: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘“I am against you, Sidon,
    and among you I will display my glory.
You will know that I am the Lord,
    when I inflict punishment on you
    and within you am proved to be holy.

I will send a plague upon you
and make blood flow in your streets.
The slain will fall within you,
with the sword against you on every side.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.

24 ‘“No longer will the people of Israel have malicious neighbours who are painful briers and sharp thorns. Then they will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.

25 ‘“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: when I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbours who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.”’

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READINGS

The Book of EZEKIEL

Chapter Twenty Eight

Read by Sir David Suchet