Ezekiel 28

A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre 1A message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said,

2“Son of man, speak to Ethbaal. He is the ruler of Tyre. Tell him, ‘The LORD and King says, “ ‘ “In your proud heart you say, ‘I am a god. I sit on the throne of a god in the Mediterranean Sea.’ But you are only a human being. You are not a god. In spite of that, you think you are as wise as a god.

3Are you wiser than Daniel? Isn’t even one secret hidden from you?

4You are wise and understanding. So you have become very wealthy. You have piled up gold and silver among your treasures.

5You have used your great skill in trading to increase your wealth. You are very rich. So your heart has become proud.” ’ ”

6The LORD and King says, “You think you are wise. In fact, you claim to be as wise as a god.

7So I am going to bring outsiders against you. They will not show you any pity at all. They will use their swords against your beauty and wisdom. They will strike down your shining glory.

8They will bring you down to the grave. You will die a horrible death in the middle of the sea.

9Then will you say, ‘I am a god’? Will you say that to those who kill you? You will be only a human being to those who kill you. You will not be a god to them.

10You will die just like those who have not been circumcised. Outsiders will kill you. I have spoken,” announces the LORD and King. 11A message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said,

12“Son of man, sing a song of sadness about the king of Tyre. Tell him, ‘The LORD and King says, “ ‘ “You were the model of perfection. You were full of wisdom. You were perfect and beautiful.

13You were in Eden. It was my garden. All kinds of jewels decorated you. Here is a list of them: carnelian, chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made out of gold. On the day you were created, they were prepared.

14I appointed you to be like a guardian angel. I anointed you for that purpose. You were on my holy mountain. You walked among the gleaming jewels.

15Your conduct was without blame from the day you were created. But soon you began to sin.

16You traded with many nations. You harmed people everywhere. And you sinned. So I sent you away from my mountain in shame. Guardian angel, I drove you away from among the gleaming jewels.

17You thought you were so handsome that it made your heart proud. You thought you were so glorious that it spoiled your wisdom. So I threw you down to the earth. I made an example out of you in front of kings.

18Your many sins and dishonest trade made your holy places impure. So I made you go up in flames. I turned you into nothing but ashes on the ground. I let everyone see it.

19All the nations that knew you are shocked because of what happened to you. You have come to a horrible end. And you will be gone forever.” ’ ”

A Prophecy Against Sidon 20A message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said, 21“Son of man, turn your attention to the city of Sidon. Prophesy against it.

22Say, ‘The LORD and King says, “ ‘ “Sidon, I am against your people. Among you I will display my glory. I will punish your people. Among you I will prove that I am holy. Then you will know that I am the LORD .

23I will send a plague on you. I will make blood flow in your streets. Those who are killed will fall inside you. Swords will strike your people on every side. Then they will know that I am the LORD .

24“ ‘ “The people of Israel will no longer have neighbors who hate them. Those neighbors will not be like sharp and painful thorns anymore. Then Israel will know that I am the LORD and King.” ’ ” 25The LORD and King says, “I will gather the people of Israel together from the nations where they have been scattered. That will prove that I am holy. I will let the nations see it. Then Israel will live in their own land. I gave it to my servant Jacob. 26My people will live there in safety. They will build houses. They will plant vineyards. They will live in safety. I will punish all their neighbors who told lies about them. Then Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.”