Judgment on the king of Tyre

1The LORD God said:

2Ezekiel, son of man, tell the king of Tyre28.2 Tyre: See the note at 26.2. that I am saying:

You are so arrogant that you think you're a god and that the city of Tyre is your throne. You may claim to be a god, though you're nothing but a mere human. 3You think you're wiser than Daniel28.3 Daniel: See the note at 14.14.and know everything.28.3 and know everything: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

4Your wisdom has certainly made you rich, because you have storehouses filled with gold and silver. 5You're a clever businessman and are extremely wealthy, but your wealth has led to arrogance!

6You compared yourself to a god, so now I, the LORD God, 7will make you the victim of cruel enemies. They will destroy all the possessions you've worked so hard to get. 8Your enemies will brutally kill you, and the sea will be your only grave.

9When you face your enemies, will you still claim to be a god? They will attack, and you will suffer like any other human. 10Foreigners will kill you, and you will die the death of those who don't worship me. I, the LORD, have spoken.

A funeral song for the king of Tyre

11The LORD said:

12Ezekiel, son of man, sing a funeral song for the king of Tyre28.12 Tyre: See the note at 26.2. and tell him I am saying:

At one time, you were perfect,28.12 you were perfect: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. intelligent, and good-looking. 13You lived in the garden of Eden and wore jewellery made of brightly-coloured gems and precious stones. They were all set in gold28.13 They were all set in gold: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. and were ready for you on the day you were born. 14I appointed a winged creature to guard your home28.14 I appointed a winged creature to guard your home: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. on my holy mountain, where you walked among gems that dazzled like fire.

15You were truly good from the time of your birth, but later you started doing wicked things. 16You traded with other nations and became more and more cruel and evil. So I forced you to leave my mountain, and the creature that had been your protector now chased you away from the gems.

17It was your good looks that made you arrogant, and you were so famous that you started acting like a fool. That's why I threw you to the ground and let other kings sneer at you. 18You have cheated so many other merchants that your places of worship are corrupt. So I set your city on fire and burnt it down. Now everyone sees only ashes where your city once stood, 19and the people of other nations are shocked. Your punishment was horrible, and you are gone for ever.

Judgment on Sidon and peace for Israel

20The LORD said:28.20-26: Jl 3.4-8; Zec 9.1,2; Mt 11.21,22; Lk 10.13,14.

21Ezekiel, son of man, condemn the city of Sidon28.21 Sidon: See the note at 26.2. 22and tell its people:

I, the LORD God, am your enemy! People will praise me when I punish you, and they will see that I am holy. 23I will send deadly diseases to wipe you out, and I will send enemies to invade and surround you. Your people will be killed, and you will know that I am the LORD.

24When that happens, the people of Israel will no longer have cruel neighbours that abuse them and make them feel as though they are in a field of thorns and briers. And the Israelites will know that I, the LORD God, have done these things.

A blessing for Israel

25The LORD God said:

Some day I will gather the people of Israel from the nations where they are now scattered, and every nation will see that I am holy. The Israelites will once again live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob. 26They will be safe and will build houses and plant vineyards. They will no longer be in danger, because I will punish their hateful neighbours. Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.