Ezekiel 25

1 This message came to me from the LORD:ISV — Ezekiel 25:1

2 “Son of Man, turn your attention ^{a25:2 Lit. face} to the descendants of Ammon and rebuke ^{b25:2 Lit. and prophesy against} them.ISV — Ezekiel 25:2

3 Tell the Ammonites: ‘Listen to a message from ^{c25:3 Lit. to the word of} the Lord GOD! This is what the Lord GOD says: “Because you have said, ‘Aha!’ ^{d25:3 i.e. an expression of delight upon hearing that disaster has befallen another} about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it became desolate, and about the households of Judah when they went into exile,ISV — Ezekiel 25:3

4 therefore you’d better look out! I’m going to turn you over to men ^{e25:4 Lit. to children} from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. They will set up military encampments and permanent places ^{f25:4 Lit. tents} in which to live among you, and then they’ll eat your fruit and drink your milk.ISV — Ezekiel 25:4

5 I will turn Rabbah ^{g25:5 i.e. the capital city of the Ammonites, located east of the Jordan River} into a pasture for camels, and Ammon will become a resting place for flocks of sheep. That’s how they’ll learn that I am the LORD.”’”ISV — Ezekiel 25:5

6 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you’ve applauded, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all sorts of malice in your heart ^{h25:6 i.e. expressions of delight upon hearing that disaster has befallen another} against the land of Israel,ISV — Ezekiel 25:6

7 therefore you’d better ^{i25:7 The Heb. lacks you’d better} watch out! I’m raising a clenched fist ^{j25:7 Lit. I’m stretching out my hand} in your direction! I’m about to feed you to the surrounding ^{k25:7 The Heb. lacks surrounding} nations as war plunder. I’m going to eliminate you as a nation and kill off those of you who survive to live in other ^{l25:7 The Heb. lacks other} countries. I’m going to destroy you, and that’s how you’ll learn that I am the LORD.’”ISV — Ezekiel 25:7

8 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir are claiming, “Judah’s citizens are ^{m25:8 Lit. Judah’s household is} just like every other ^{n25:8 The Heb. lacks other} nation,”ISV — Ezekiel 25:8

9 therefore you’d better watch out! I’m going to tear open Moab’s flanks, starting with its frontier cities—the very glory of the nation!—including Beth-jeshimoth, ^{o25:9 This city was originally intended to be owned by the tribe of Reuben. Cf. Num 33:49; Josh 12:3; 13:20. The name means House of Destruction.} Baal-meon, ^{p25:9 This city was originally intended to be owned by the tribe of Reuben. Cf. Num 33:38; 1Chron 5:8. The name means Lord of the Habitation.} and Kiriathaim. ^{q25:9 This city was originally intended to be owned by the tribe of Reuben. Cf. Num 32:37; Josh 13:19. The name means Twin Cities.}ISV — Ezekiel 25:9

10 I’m going to turn these cities ^{r25:10 Lit. give it} over to men ^{s25:10 Lit. to children} from the East, who will dominate you. You will become their property. As a result, Ammon will be forgotten as a nation.ISV — Ezekiel 25:10

11 I’m also going to punish Moab, and that’s how they’ll learn that I am the LORD.’”ISV — Ezekiel 25:11

12 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom has made it their practice to seek extraordinary vengeance against Judah’s citizens, ^{t25:12 Lit. household} and by doing so has incurred extraordinary guilt by taking revenge against them,’ISV — Ezekiel 25:12

13 therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I’m going to raise my clenched fist ^{u25:13 Lit. to stretch out my hand} in Edom’s direction and eliminate every single human being and animal from Edom! I’m going to turn everything into a wasteland, starting with Teman, and Dedan will fall by violence! ^{v25:13 Lit. by the sword}ISV — Ezekiel 25:13

14 I’m going to inundate Edom with ^{w25:14 Lit. give Edom} my retribution, using my people Israel to carry it out! They’ll deliver my anger, acting as an agent of my fury. Edom will come to know my vengeance,’ declares the Lord GOD.’”ISV — Ezekiel 25:14

15 “This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Philistia has made it their practice to carry out retribution, accompanied by extraordinary malice in their personal vendettas—vendettas that spring from their everlasting hostility—ISV — Ezekiel 25:15

16 this is what the Lord GOD says: “Look out! I’m raising my clenched fist ^{x25:16 Lit. to stretch out my hand} in Philistia’s direction. I’m going to execute ^{y25:16 Lit. cut off; the Heb. verb is the root upon which the Heb. term Cherethites is based.} the Cherethites ^{z25:16 Lit. executioners; i.e. Philistines who originally served as bodyguards for King David, but by the date of this writing had become rogue mercenaries who harassed the territory of ancient Israel.} and destroy what’s left of the coastline of the Mediterranean ^{aa25:16 The Heb. lacks Mediterranean} Sea.ISV — Ezekiel 25:16

17 I’ll take vengeance on them, punishing them severely in my anger. They’ll know that I am the LORD when I take my vengeance on them.”’”ISV — Ezekiel 25:17