OF

EZECHIEL.

Ezechiel, whose name signifies the strength their wings on their four sides: and they of God, was of the priestly race: and of the had faces and wings on the four sides. number of the captives that were carried|| 9 And the wings of one were joined to away to Babylon with king Joachin. He the wings of another. They turned not was cotemporary with Jeremias, and pro-when they went: but every one went straight phesied to the same effect in Babylon, as Je-forward. remias did in Jerusalem; and is said to have|| ended his days in like manner, by martyr-there was the face of a man, and the face of a dom. lion on the right side of all the four; and the face of an ox, on the left side of all the four; and the face of an eagle over all the four.

CHAP. I.

The time of Ezechiel's prophecy: he sees a

glorious vision.

10 And as for the likeness of their faces:

11 And their faces, and their wings were stretched upward: two wings of every one Ow it came to pass in the thirtieth were joined, and two covered their bodies: Now, the foam in to the neth 12 And every one of them went straight day of the month, when I was in the midst forward: whither the impulse of the spirit of the captives by the river Chobar, the hea-was to go, thither they went: and they turnvens were opened, and I saw the visions ofed not when they went.

God. 13 And as for the likeness of the living On the fifth day of the month, the same creatures, their appearance was like that of was the fifth year of the captivity of king burning coals of fire, and like the appearance Joachin, of lamps. This was the vision running to

14 And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of lightning.

3 The word of the Lord came to Eze-and fro in the midst of the living creatures, chiel the priest the son of Buzi in the land a bright fire, and lightning going forth from of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the fire. the hand of the Lord was there upon him. 4 And I saw, and behold, a whirlwind came out of the north: and a great cloud, and a fire infolding it, and brightness was about it: and out of the midst thereof, that is, out of the midst of the fire, as it were the resemblance of amber:

5 And in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures:† and this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them.

6 Every one had four faces, and every one four wings.

7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their foot was like the sole of a calf's foot and they sparkled like the appearance of glowing brass.

8 And they had the hands of a man under

15 Now as I beheld the living creatures, there appeared upon the earth by the living creatures one wheel with four faces.

16 And the appearance of the wheels, and the work of them, was like the appearance of the sea and the four had all one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the midst of a wheel.

17 When they went, they went by their four parts: and they turned not when they went.

18 The wheels had also a size, and a height, and a dreadful appearance: and the whole body was full of eyes round about all the four.

19 And when the living creatures went, * The thirtieth year. Either of the age the wheels also went together by them: of Ezechiel; or, as others will have it, from and when the living creatures were lifted up the solemn covenant made in the eighteenth||from the earth, the wheels also were lifted year of the reign of Josias. 4 Kings xxiii. up with them.

21 When those went, these went; and

tLiving creatures. Cherubims (as ap- 20 Whithersoever the spirit went, thither pears from Ecclesiasticus xlix. 10.) repre- as the spirit went the wheels also were lifted sented to the prophet under these myste- withal, and followed it: for the spirit of life rious shapes, as supporting the throne of was in the wheels. God, and as it were drawing his chariot. All this chapter appeared so obscure, and full of mysteries, to the ancient Hebrews, When they went, they went by their four that, as we learn from St. Jerom, (Ep. ad parts. That is, indifferently to any of their Paulin.) they suffered none to read it, be-sides either forward or backward: to the fore they were thirty years old. right or to the left.

when those stood, these stood; and when their words; neither be thou dismayed at those were lifted up from the earth, the their looks: for they are a provoking wheels also were lifted up together, and house. followed them: for the spirit of life was in the wheels.

7 And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and for22 And over the heads of the living crea-bear; for they provoke me to anger. tures was the likeness of the firmament, as 8 But thou, O son of man, hear all that I the appearance of crystal terrible to behold, say to thee: and do not thou provoke me, and stretched out over their heads above. as that house provoketh me: open thy 23 And under the firmament were their mouth, and eat what I give thee. wings straight the one toward the other: 9 And I looked, and behold, a hand was every one with two wings covered his bo-sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up: dy; and the other was covered in like man- and he spread it before me, and it was written within and without: and there were

ner.

24 And I heard the noise of their wings, written in it lamentations, and canticles, and like the noise of many waters, as it were||wo. the voice of the most high God: when they walked, it was like the voice of a multitude,

CHAP. III.

like the noise of an army: and when they The prophet eats the book, and receives furstood, their wings were let down.

25 For when a voice came from above the firmament, that was over their heads, they stood, and let down their wings.

ther instructions; the office of a watchman.

ND he said to me: Son of man, eat all that thou shalt find: eat this book, and speak to the children of Israel.*

2 And I opened my mouth; and he caused me to eat that book:

26 And above the firmament, that was go over their heads, was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of the sapphirestone: and upon the likeness of the throne, was a likeness as of the appearance of a man above upon it.

3 And he said to me: Son of man, thy belly shall eat, and thy bowels shall be filled with this book, which I give thee. And I did eat it and it was sweet as honey in my

mouth.

:

27 And I saw as it were the resemblance of amber, as the appearance of fire within it round about: from his loins and upward, 4 And he said to me: Son of man, go to and from his loins downward, I saw as it the house of Israel, and thou shalt speak were the resemblance of fire shining round my words to them.

about.

28 As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy day; this was the appearance of the brightness round about. CHAP. II.

TH

5 For thou art not sent to a people of a profound speech, and of an unknown tongue, but to the house of Israel:

6 Nor to many nations of a strange speech, and of an unknown tongue, whose words thou canst not understand: and if thou wert sent to them, they would hearken to thee. 7 But the house of Israel will not hearken

The prophet receives his commission. HIS was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fell upon my face; and I heard the voice of to thee: because they will not hearken to one that spoke. And he said to me: Son me for all the house of Israel are of a hard forehead and an obstinate heart. of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee: 8 Behold, I have made thy face stronger

than their foreheads.

2 And the spirit entered into me after than their faces, and thy forehead harder that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet and I heard him speaking to me,

9 I have made thy face like an adamant, 3 And saying: Son of man, I send thee and like flint: fear them not, neither be to the children of Israel, to a rebellious peo- thou dismayed at their presence: for they ple that hath revolted from me: they and are a provoking house. their fathers have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.

10 And he said to me: Son of man, receive in thy heart, and hear with thy ears, 4 And they to whom I send thee are chil- all the words that I speak to thee: dren of a hard face, and of an obstinate 11 And go get thee into them of the capheart; and thou shalt say to them: Thus tivity, to the children of thy people: saith the Lord God: and thou shalt speak to them, and shall

5 If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provok

* Eat this book, and go speak to the chiling house and they shall know that there dren of Israel. By this eating of the book hath been a prophet in the midst of them. was signified the diligent attention and af6 And thou, O son of man, fear not, nei- fection, with which we are to receive, and ther be thou afraid of their words: for thou embrace the word of God; and to let it, art among unbelievers and destroyers, and as it were, sink into our interior by devout thou dwellest with scorpions. Fear not meditation.

say to them: Thus saith the Lord: If so befshall put bands upon thee; and they shall they will hear, and will forbear.

12 And the spirit took me up; and heard behind me the voice of a great com motion, saying: Blessed be the glory of the Lord, from his place.

13 And the noise of the wings of the living creatures striking one against another, and the noise of the wheels following the living creatures, and the noise of great commotion.

14 The spirit also lifted me, and took me up: and I went away in bitterness in the indignation of my spirit: for the hand of the Lord was with me, strengthening me.

15 And I came to them of the captivity to the heap of new corn, to them that dwelt by the river Chobar, and I sat where they sat: and I remained there seven days

mourning in the midst of them.

bind thee with them: and thou shalt not go forth from the midst of them.

26 And I will make thy tongue stick fast to the roof of thy mouth; and thou shalt be dumb, and not as a man that reproveth: because they are a provoking house.

27 But when I shall speak to thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say to them. Thus saith the Lord God: He that heareth, let him hear: and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they are a provoking house.

CHAP. IV.

A prophetic description of the siege of Jeru sulem, and the famine that shall reign there. ND thou, O son of man, take thee a tile,

and lay it before thee: and draw upon

16 And at the end of seven days the it the plan of the city of Jerusalem. word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2 And lay siege against it, and build 17 Son of man, I have made thee a watch-forts, and cast up mount, and set a camp man to the house of Israel: and thou shalt against it, and place battering rams round hear the word out of my mouth, and shal about it. tell it them from me.

:

3 And take unto thee an iron pan, and 18 If, when I say to the wicked, Thou set it for a wall of iron between thee and shalt surely die: thou declare it not to him, the city and set thy face resolutely against nor speak to him, that he may be converted it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt from his wicked way, and live: the same lay siege against it: it is a sign to the house wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but 1 of Israel.

will require his blood at thy hand.

4 And thou shalt sleep upon thy left side,

19 But if thou give warning to the wick-and shalt lay the iniquities of the house of ed, and he be not converted from his wick-Israel upon it, according to the number of edness, and from his evil way; he indeed the days that thou shalt sleep upon it; and shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast de-thou shalt take upon thee their iniquity. livered thy soul. 5 And I have laid upon thee the years of 20 Moreover if the just man shall turn their iniquity, according to the number of away from his justice, and shall commit the days three hundred and ninety days; iniquity; I will lay a stumbling-block be- and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house fore him; he shall die, because thou hast not given him warning: he shall die in his' sin, and his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: but I will require his blood at thy hand.

21 But if thou warn the just man, that the just may not sin, and he doth not sin : living he shall live, because thou hast warned him, and thou hast delivered thy soul.

22 And the hand of the Lord was upon me; and he said to me: Rise, and go forth into the plain, and there I will speak to thee. 23 And I rose up, and went forth into the plain and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the river Chobar: and I fell upon my face. 24 And the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet: and he spoke to me, and said to me; Go in, and shut thyself up in the midst of thy house.

25 And thou, O son of man, behold; they

of Israel.

6 And when thou hast accomplished this, thou shalt sleep again upon thy right side: and thou shalt take upon thee the inquity of the house of Juda forty days: a day for year, yea, a day for a year I have appoint. ed to thee.

7 And thou shalt turn thy face to the siege of Jerusalem, and thy arm shall be stretched out: and thou shalt prophesy against it.

8 Behold, I have encompassed thee with bands: and thou shalt not turn thyself from one side to the other, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

9 And take to thee wheat and barley, and beans, and lentils, and millet, and fitches: and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread therof according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side: three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.

10 And thy meat that thou shalt eat, shall be in weight twenty staters a day from The heap of new corn. It was the name time to time thou shalt eat it. 11 And thou shalt drink water by mea

of a place; in Hebrew, Tebabib.

sure, the sixth part of a hin:* from time to that are round about you, and have not time thou shalt drink it.

12 And thou shalt eat it as barley-bread baked under the ashes: and thou shalt cover it, in their sight, with the dung that cometh out of a man.

13 And the Lord said: So shall the children of Israel eat their bread all filthy among the nations whither I will cast them out.

walked in my commandments, and have not kept my judgments, and have not done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you:

8 Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I come against thee; and I myself will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the Gentiles.

14 And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God,| 9 And I will do in thee that which I have behold, my soul hath not been defiled, and not done; and the like to which I will do from my infancy even till now, I have not no more, because of all thy abominations. eaten any thing that died of itself, or was 10 Therefore the fathers shall eat the torn by beasts, and no unclean flesh hath sons in the midst of thee; and the sons entered into my mouth.

15 And he said to me: Behold, I have given thee neat's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt make thy bread therewith.

shall eat their fathers: and I will execute judgments in thee: and I will scatter thy whole remnant into every wind.

11 Therefore as I live, saith the Lord

16 And he said to me: Son of man: Be- God: Because thou hast violated my sanchold, I will break in pieces the staff of bread tuary with all thy offences, and with all thy in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by abominations; I will also break thee in weight, and with care and they shall drink pieces; and my eye shall not spare, and I water by measure, and in distress. will not have any pity.

17 So that when bread and water fail, every man may fall against his brother, and they may pine away in their iniquities.

12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and shall be consumed with famine in the midst of thee: and a third part of thee shall fall by the sword round about thee: and a third part of thee will I scatter The judgments of God upon the Jews are into every wind: and I will draw out a foreshewn under the type of the prophet's sword after them.

hair.

CHAP. V.

13 And I will accomplish my fury, and

AND thou, son of man, take thee a sharp will cause my indignation to rest upon them,

knife that shaveth the hair: and cause and I will be comforted: and they shall it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: know that I the Lord have spoken it in my and take thee a balance to weigh in, and zeal, when I shall have accomplished my divide the hair. indignation in them.

14 And I will make thee desolate, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of every one that passeth by.

2 A third part thou shalt burn with fire in the midst of the city, according to the fulfilling of the days of the siege and thou shalt take a third part, and cut it in pieces with the knife all round about: and the 15 And thou shalt be a reproach, and a other third part thou shalt scatter in the scoff, an example, and an astonishment wind: and I will draw out the sword after amongst the nations that are round about them. thee, when I shall have executed judgments in thee in anger, and in indignation, and in wrathful rebukes.

3 And thou shalt take thereof a small number; and shalt bind them in the skirt of thy cloke.

4 And thou shalt take of them again, and shalt cast them in the midst of the fire, and shalt burn them with fire: and out of it shall come forth a fire into all the house of Israel.

16 I the Lord have spoken it: When I shall send upon them the grievous arrows of famine, which shall bring death, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will gather together famine against you, and I will break among you the staff of bread.

5 Thus saith the Lord God: This is Je- 17 And I will send in upon you famine, rusalem; I have set her in the midst of the and evil beasts unto utter destruction: and nations, and the countries round about her. pestilence and blood shall pass through 6 And she hath despised my judgments, thee, and I will bring in the sword upon so as to be more wicked than the Gentiles; thee. I the Lord have spoken it.

and my commandments, more than the countries that are round about her: for they

CHAP. VI.

have cast off my judgments, and have not The punishment of Israel for their idolatry: walked in my commandments.

a remnant shall be blessed.

7 Therefore thus saith the Lord God: AND the word of the Lord came to me, Because you have surpassed the Gentiles

2 Son of man, set thy face towards the Hin. That is, a measure of liquids con-mountains of Israel, and prophesy against taining about ten pints.

them:

3 And say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear 2 And thou son of man, thus saith the the word of the Lord God: Thus saith the Lord God, to the land of Israel: The end Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, is come, the end is come upon the four and to the rocks, and the valleys: Behold, quarters of the land.

I will bring upon you the sword, and I will 3 Now is an end come upon thee, and I destroy your high places, will send my wrath upon thee: and I will 4 And I will throw down your altars, and judge thee according to thy ways: and I your idols shall be broken in pieces: and I will set all thy abominations against thee. will cast down your slain before your idols. 4 And my eye shall not spare thee, and I 5 And I will lay the dead carcases of the will shew thee no pity: but I will lay thy children of Israel before your idols: and Iways upon thee: and thy abominations shall will scatter your bones round about your be in the midst of thee : and you shall know altars that I am the Lord.

6 In all your dwelling-places. The cities 5 Thus saith the Lord God: One afflicshall be laid waste, and the high places tion, behold, an affliction is come. shall be thrown down, and destroyed: and 6 An end is come, the end is come, it your altars shall be abolished, and shall be hath awaked against thee: behold, it is broken in pieces; and your idols shall be no more; and your temples shall be destroyed; and your works shall be defaced.

come.

7 Destruction is come upon thee that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the 7 And the slain shall fall in the midst of day of slaughter is near, and not of the joy you and you shall know that I am the Lord. of mountains.

8 And I will leave in you some that shall 8 Now very shortly I will pour out my escape the sword among the nations, when wrath upon thee; and I will accomplish my I shall have scattered you through the coun-anger in thee: and I will judge thee accordtries. ing to thy ways; and I will lay upon thee 9 And they that are saved of you shall all thy crimes. remember me amongst the nations to which|| 9 And my eyes shall not spare, neither they are carried captives: because I have will I shew mercy: but I will lay thy ways broken their heart that was faithless, and upon thee, and thy abominations shall be in revolted from me: and their eyes that went the midst of thee: and you shall know that a fornicating after their idols: and they shall I am the Lord that strike. be displeased with themselves because of the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

10 And they shall know that I the Lord have not spoken in vain that I would do this evil to them.

10 Behold, the day, behold, it is come: destruction is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed; pride hath budded.

11 Iniquity is risen up into a rod of impiety: nothing of them shall remain, nor of their people, nor of the noise of them : and there shall be no rest among them.

11 Thus saith the Lord God: Strike with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say: 12 The time is come, the day is at hand; Alas, for all the abominations of the evils of let not the buyer rejoice; nor the seller the house of Israel: for they shall fall by the mourn for wrath is upon all the people sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence. thereof.

12 He that is far off shall die of the pes- 13 For the seller shall not return to that tilence and he that is near, shall fall by the which he hath sold, although their life be sword: and he that remaineth, and is be-yet among the living. For the vision which sieged, shall die by the famine and I will regardeth all the multitude thereof, shall accomplish my indignation upon them. not go back: neither shall man be strength

13 And you shall know that I am theened in the iniquity of his life. Lord, when your slain shall be amongst 14 Blow the trumpet; let all be made your idols, round about your altars, in every ready; yet there is none to go to the bathigh hill, and on all the tops of mountains, tle; for my wrath shall be upon all the peoand under every woody tree, and under ple thereof.

every thick oak, the place where they burnt 15 The sword without, and the pestilence sweet-smelling frankincense to all their idols. and the famine within: he that is in the 14 And I will stretch forth my hand upon field shall die by the sword: and they that them and I will make the land desolate, are in the city, shall be devoured by the pesand abandoned from the desert of Deblatha tilence and the famine. in all their dwelling places: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

16 And such of them as shall flee shall escape: and they shall be in the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them trembling, every one for his iniquity.

17 All hands shall be made feeble; and all knees shall run with water.

18 And they shall gird themselves with hair-cloth; and fear shall cover them, and