Ezekiel 14

Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

Then some older people from Israel came to me and sat in front of me.

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

And God spoke to me through his message.

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

Son, these people have created idols in their hearts and put obstacles of their wrongdoings in front of them. Should I even consider helping them?

Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

So tell them this: The Lord God says, Anyone from Israel who sets up idols in their heart and puts obstacles of sin in front of them, then goes to a prophet; I, the Lord, will answer the person based on how many idols they have.

That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

So that I can make the people of Israel truly understand in their hearts, since they have all gone away from me because of their idols.

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

So tell the people of Israel, God says: Change your ways and stop worshipping false gods. Turn away from everything you hate.

For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

For anyone in Israel or living with them who turns away from me, has idols in their heart, sets up sin in front of them, and asks a prophet about me - I, the Lord, will reply directly.

And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

I will oppose that person, and make him an example to warn others. I will remove him from among my followers, and you'll understand that I am in charge.

And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

If a prophet is tricked when they speak, it's because I, the Lord, tricked them. Then I will punish them and remove them among my people, the Israelites.

And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

And they will face the consequences of their wrongdoing: the punishment for the prophet will be the same as the punishment for those who seek him out.

That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.

So that the people of Israel don't stray from me anymore or be unclean because of their wrongdoings, I want them to be my people and I want to be their God, says the Lord.

The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,

The LORD's message came to me once more, saying,

Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

Son of man, when the land disobeys me by committing serious wrongs, I will punish it by taking away its food supply, causing hunger, and eliminating both people and animals.

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

Even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were part of it, they could only save their own souls through their goodness, says the Lord God.

If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

If I let bad animals roam through the area, and they mess it up so people can't go through due to the animals being there.

Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Even though these three people are involved, the Lord says that they won't save children or women. The only ones saved will be them, but the land will be empty and abandoned.

Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

If I order a sword to go through the land, destroying both people and animals there.

Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

Even though these three people are involved, says the Lord, they won't save anyone else - sons or daughters. They will only be saved themselves.

Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

If I send sickness to that land and show my anger with blood, destroying people and animals there.

Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job are part of it, says the Lord God, they won't be able to save their children. The only thing they can save is their own souls through their good actions.

For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

So says the Lord God: How much worse will it be when I bring my four severe punishments on Jerusalem - the sword, famine, dangerous animals, and disease - to destroy both people and animals?

Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.

However, a remaining group will be left, consisting of both sons and daughters. They will come to you, and you will witness their actions and decisions. This will bring you comfort regarding the harm I have caused in Jerusalem, including everything I have done there.

And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.

They will encourage you as you watch their actions and behaviors. You'll understand that I had a reason for everything I did there, says the Lord God.