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1. Some of the elders of Israel came to me. They sat down to talk with me.
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1. Then came H935 certain H376 of the elders H4480 H2205 of Israel H3478 unto H413 me , and sat H3427 before H6440 me.
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2. The word of the Lord came to me. He said,
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2. And the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came H1961 unto H413 me, saying H559 ,
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3. "Son of man, these men came to talk to you. But they still have their filthy idols. They kept the things that made them sin. They still worship those statues, so why do they come to me for advice? Should I answer their questions? No!
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3. Son H1121 of man H120 , these H428 men H376 have set up H5927 their idols H1544 in H5921 their heart H3820 , and put H5414 the stumblingblock H4383 of their iniquity H5771 before H5227 their face H6440 : should I be inquired of at all H1875 H1875 by them?
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4. But I will give them an answer. You must tell them this. 'This is what the Lord God says: If any Israelites come to a prophet and ask me for advice, I myself will answer their questions. I will answer them even if they still have their filthy idols, even if they kept the things that made them sin, and even if they still worship those statues. I will speak to them in spite of all their filthy idols.
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4. Therefore H3651 speak H1696 unto them , and say H559 unto H413 them, Thus H3541 saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 ; Every man H376 H376 of the house H4480 H1004 of Israel H3478 that H834 setteth up H5927 H853 his idols H1544 in H413 his heart H3820 , and putteth H7760 the stumblingblock H4383 of his iniquity H5771 before H5227 his face H6440 , and cometh H935 to H413 the prophet H5030 ; I H589 the LORD H3068 will answer H6030 him that cometh H935 according to the multitude H7230 of his idols H1544 ;
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5. This is because I want to touch their hearts. I want to show them I love them, even though they left me for their filthy idols.'
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5. That H4616 I may take H8610 H853 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 in their own heart H3820 , because H834 they are all H3605 estranged H2114 from H4480 H5921 me through their idols H1544 .
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6. "So tell the family of Israel, 'This is what the Lord God says: Come back to me and leave your filthy idols. Turn away from those terrible, false gods.
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6. Therefore H3651 say H559 unto H413 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 ; Repent H7725 , and turn H7725 yourselves from H4480 H5921 your idols H1544 ; and turn away H7725 your faces H6440 from H4480 H5921 all H3605 your abominations H8441 .
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7. If any Israelites or foreigners who live in Israel come to me for advice, I will give them an answer. I will answer them even if they still have their filthy idols, even if they kept the things that made them sin and even if they worship those statues. This is the answer I will give them:
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7. For H3588 every one H376 H376 of the house H4480 H1004 of Israel H3478 , or of the stranger H4480 H1616 that H834 sojourneth H1481 in Israel H3478 , which separateth himself H5144 from H4480 H310 me , and setteth up H5927 his idols H1544 in H413 his heart H3820 , and putteth H7760 the stumblingblock H4383 of his iniquity H5771 before H5227 his face H6440 , and cometh H935 to H413 a prophet H5030 to inquire H1875 of him concerning me; I H589 the LORD H3068 will answer H6030 him by myself:
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8. I will turn against them and destroy them. They will be an example to others. People will laugh at them. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord!
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8. And I will set H5414 my face H6440 against that H1931 man H376 , and will make H7760 him a sign H226 and a proverb H4912 , and I will cut him off H3772 from the midst H4480 H8432 of my people H5971 ; and ye shall know H3045 that H3588 I H589 am the LORD H3068 .
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9. And if a prophet is foolish enough to give his own answer, I will show him how foolish he is! I will use my power against him. I will destroy him and remove him from among my people, Israel.
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9. And if H3588 the prophet H5030 be deceived H6601 when he hath spoken H1696 a thing H1697 , I H589 the LORD H3068 have deceived H6601 H853 that H1931 prophet H5030 , and I will stretch out H5186 H853 my hand H3027 upon H5921 him , and will destroy H8045 him from the midst H4480 H8432 of my people H5971 Israel H3478 .
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10. So both the one who came for advice and the prophet who gave an answer will get the same punishment.
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10. And they shall bear H5375 the punishment of their iniquity H5771 : the punishment H5771 of the prophet H5030 shall be H1961 even as the punishment H5771 of him that seeketh H1875 unto him ;
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11. Why? So that those prophets will stop leading my people away from me, and my people will stop being filthy with sin. Then they will be my special people, and I will be their God.'" This is what the Lord God said.
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11. That H4616 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 may go no H3808 more H5750 astray H8582 from H4480 H310 me, neither H3808 be polluted H2930 any more H5750 with all H3605 their transgressions H6588 ; but that they may be H1961 my people H5971 , and I H589 may be H1961 their God H430 , saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 .
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12. Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said,
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12. The word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came H1961 again to H413 me, saying H559 ,
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13. "Son of man, I will punish any nation that leaves me and sins against me. I will stop their food supply. I might cause a famine and remove the people and animals from that country.
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13. Son H1121 of man H120 , when H3588 the land H776 sinneth H2398 against me by trespassing H4603 grievously H4604 , then will I stretch out H5186 mine hand H3027 upon H5921 it , and will break H7665 the staff H4294 of the bread H3899 thereof , and will send H7971 famine H7458 upon it , and will cut off H3772 man H120 and beast H929 from H4480 it:
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14. I would punish that country even if Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there. They could save their own lives by their goodness, {but they could not save the whole country}." This is what the Lord God said.
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14. Though these H428 three H7969 men H376 , Noah H5146 , Daniel H1840 , and Job H347 , were H1961 in H8432 it, they H1992 should deliver H5337 but their own souls H5315 by their righteousness H6666 , saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 .
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15. "Or I might send wild animals through that country to kill all the people. Then no one would travel through that country because of the wild animals.
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15. If H3863 I cause noisome H7451 beasts H2416 to pass H5674 through the land H776 , and they spoil H7921 it , so that it be H1961 desolate H8077 , that no man H4480 H1097 may pass through H5674 because H4480 H6440 of the beasts H2416 :
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16. If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people�not even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed." This is what the Lord God said.
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16. Though these H428 three H7969 men H376 were in H8432 it, as I H589 live H2416 , saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 , they H1992 shall deliver H5337 neither H518 sons H1121 nor H518 daughters H1323 ; they only H905 shall be delivered H5337 , but the land H776 shall be H1961 desolate H8077 .
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17. "Or I might send an enemy army to fight against that country. The soldiers would destroy that country�I would remove all the people and animals from that country.
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17. Or H176 if I bring H935 a sword H2719 upon H5921 that H1931 land H776 , and say H559 , Sword H2719 , go H5674 through the land H776 ; so that I cut off H3772 man H120 and beast H929 from H4480 it:
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18. If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people�not even their own sons and daughters! That evil country would be destroyed." This is what the Lord God said.
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18. Though these H428 three H7969 men H376 were in H8432 it, as I H589 live H2416 , saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 , they shall deliver H5337 neither H3808 sons H1121 nor daughters H1323 , but H3588 they H1992 only H905 shall be delivered themselves H5337 .
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19. "Or I might send a disease against that country. I will pour my anger down on the people. I will remove all the people and animals from that country.
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19. Or H176 if I send H7971 a pestilence H1698 into H413 that H1931 land H776 , and pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon H5921 it in blood H1818 , to cut off H3772 from H4480 it man H120 and beast H929 :
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20. If Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, those three men could save their own lives because they are good men. But I promise by my own life that they could not save the lives of other people�not even their own sons and daughters!" This is what the Lord God said.
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20. Though Noah H5146 , Daniel H1840 , and Job H347 , were in H8432 it, as I H589 live H2416 , saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 , they H1992 shall deliver H5337 neither H518 son H1121 nor H518 daughter H1323 ; they shall but deliver H5337 their own souls H5315 by their righteousness H6666 .
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21. Then the Lord God said, "So think how bad it will be for Jerusalem: I will send all four of those punishments against that city! I will send enemy soldiers, hunger, disease, and wild animals against that city. I will remove all the people and animals from that country.
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21. For H3588 thus H3541 saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 ; How much more H637 when H3588 I send H7971 my four H702 sore H7451 judgments H8201 upon H413 Jerusalem H3389 , the sword H2719 , and the famine H7458 , and the noisome H7451 beast H2416 , and the pestilence H1698 , to cut off H3772 from H4480 it man H120 and beast H929 ?
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22. Some of the people will escape from that country. They will bring their sons and daughters and come to you for help. Then you will see how bad those people really are, and you will feel better about all the troubles that I am bringing to Jerusalem.
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22. Yet, behold H2009 , therein shall be left H3498 a remnant H6413 that shall be brought forth H3318 , both sons H1121 and daughters H1323 : behold H2009 , they shall come forth H3318 unto H413 you , and ye shall see H7200 H853 their way H1870 and their doings H5949 : and ye shall be comforted H5162 concerning H5921 the evil H7451 that H834 I have brought H935 upon H5921 Jerusalem H3389 , even concerning H854 all H3605 that H834 I have brought H935 upon H5921 it.
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23. You will see how they live and all the bad things they do. Then you will know that I had a good reason for punishing them." This is what the Lord God said.
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23. And they shall comfort H5162 you, when H3588 ye see H7200 H853 their ways H1870 and their doings H5949 : and ye shall know H3045 that H3588 I have not H3808 done H6213 without cause H2600 H853 all H3605 that H834 I have done H6213 in it, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 .
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