A prophecy against the king of Tyre

1The 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.

3Are you wiser than Daniel28:3 Or Danel, a man of renown in ancient literature?

Is no secret hidden from you?

4By your wisdom and understanding

you have gained wealth for yourself

and amassed gold and silver

in your treasuries.

5By 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,

7I 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.

8They will bring you down to the pit,

and you will die a violent death

in the heart of the seas.

9Will 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.

10You will die the death of the uncircumcised

at the hands of foreigners.

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.” ’

11The 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.

13You 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.28:13 The precise identification of some of these precious stones is uncertain.

Your settings and mountings28:13 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. were made of gold;

on the day you were created they were prepared.

14You 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.

15You were blameless in your ways

from the day you were created

till wickedness was found in you.

16Through 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.

17Your 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.

18By 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.

19All the nations who knew you

are appalled at you;

you have come to a horrible end

and will be no more.” ’

A prophecy against Sidon

20The word of the Lord came to me: 21‘Son of man, set your face against Sidon; prophesy against her 22and 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.

23I 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. 26They 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.” ’