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A Funeral Song for Tyre

27 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] for the city of Tyre. Speak to Tyre, which ·has ports for the Mediterranean Sea [L sits at the gateway to the Sea] and is a ·place for trade [merchant] for the people of many coastlands. ‘This is what the Lord God says:

Tyre, you have said,
“I am ·like a beautiful ship [L perfect in beauty].”

·You were at home on [L Your borders were in the heart of] the high seas.
Your builders made your beauty perfect.

They made all your boards
    of fir trees from ·Mount Hermon [L Senir].
They took a cedar tree from Lebanon
    to make a ship’s mast for you.

They made your oars
    from oak trees from Bashan.
They made your deck
    from cypress trees from the coast of ·Cyprus [L Kittim]
·and set ivory into it [inlaid with ivory].

Your sail of ·linen with designs sewed on it [embroidered linen] came from Egypt
    and ·became like a flag for you [served as your banner].
Your ·cloth shades over the deck [awnings] were blue and purple
    and came from the ·island [coastlands] of ·Cyprus [L Elisha; C a city on the east side of Cyprus and an older name for the island].
·Men [Residents; or Leaders] from Sidon [C a major city twenty-five miles north of Tyre] and Arvad [C a city on the Phoenician coast, north of Sidon] used oars to row you.
    Tyre, your skilled men were ·the sailors [or captains; pilots] on your deck.
·Workers [or Veteran craftsmen; L Elders] of Byblos were with you,
    putting caulk in your ship’s seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
    came alongside to trade with you.

10 “‘Men of Persia, ·Lydia [L Lud; C a city in Asia Minor], and ·Put [C present-day Libya, in North Africa]
    were warriors in your ·navy [army]
and hung their shields and helmets on your sides.
    They ·made you look beautiful [gave you splendor].

11 Men of Arvad [v. 8] and ·Cilicia [L Helech; C southeast Asia Minor]
    guarded your city walls all around.
Men of Gammad [C an unknown location, perhaps northern Asia Minor]
    were in your watchtowers

and hung their shields around your walls.
They made your beauty perfect.

12 “‘People of Tarshish [C probably in southern Spain; Jonah 1:3] became traders for you because of your great wealth. They ·traded [exchanged] your goods for silver, iron, tin, and lead.

13 “‘People of ·Greece [L Javan], Tubal, and Meshech [C both in Asia Minor; 32:26] became merchants for you. They traded your goods for slaves and items of bronze.

14 “‘People of Beth Togarmah [C eastern Asia Minor; present-day Armenia] traded your goods for ·work [or chariot] horses, war horses [C either chariot of cavalry horses], and mules.

15 “‘·People of [L Sons of] Rhodes[a] [C an island off southwest coast of Asia Minor] became merchants for you, selling your goods on many coastlands. They brought back ivory tusks and ·valuable black wood [ebony] as your payment.

16 “‘People of Aram[b] [C Syria] ·became traders for [did business with] you, because you had so many good things to sell. They traded your goods for turquoise, purple cloth, ·cloth with designs sewed on [embroidered work], fine linen, coral, and rubies.

17 “‘People of Judah and Israel became merchants for you. They traded your goods for wheat from Minnith [C a town in Ammon, east of the Jordan River], and for ·meal [millet], honey, olive oil, and balm.

“‘People of Damascus [C the capital of Aram (Syria)] became traders for you because you have many good things and great wealth. They traded your goods for wine from Helbon [C a town north of Damascus], wool from Zahar [C an area northwest of Damascus], and barrels of wine[c] from Izal [C possibly present-day Yemen]. They received wrought iron, cassia [C a tree similar to the cinnamon tree; Ex. 30:24], and ·sugar cane [or calamus; C a fragrant reed] in payment for your ·good things [wares; merchandise].

20 “‘People of Dedan [C a territory in southern Edom] became merchants for you, trading saddle blankets for riding.

21 “‘People of Arabia and all the ·rulers [princes] of Kedar became traders for you. They received lambs, ·male sheep [rams], and goats in payment for you.

22 “‘The merchants of Sheba [C the southwestern Arabian peninsula, present-day Yemen] and Raamah [C a city in southern Arabia] became merchants for you. They traded your goods for all the best spices, ·valuable gems [precious stones], and gold.

23 “‘People of Haran [C a city in present-day eastern Turkey], Canneh [C unknown location], Eden [C in Mesopotamia near Haran], and the traders of Sheba [v. 22], Asshur [C a city south of Nineveh], and Kilmad [C an unknown location] became merchants for you. 24 They were paid with the best clothes, blue cloth, ·cloth with designs sewed on [embroidered work], carpets of many colors, ·and tightly wound ropes [or rolled up and tied with cords; or made of tightly knotted cords].

25 “‘·Trading ships [or The ships of Tarshish]
    carried ·the things you sold [your merchandise].
You were like a ship full of heavy cargo
    in the ·middle [L heart] of the sea.

26 The men who rowed you
    brought you out into the high seas,
but the east wind broke you to pieces
    in the ·middle [L heart] of the sea.

27 Your wealth, your ·trade [products], your goods,
    your seamen, your ·sailors [or captains], your ·workers [or caulkers],
your traders, your ·warriors [soldiers],
    and everyone else on board
sank into the ·sea [L heart of the sea]
    on the day ·your ship was wrecked [L of your fall].

28 The ·people on the shore shake with fear [L countryside shakes; or waves surge]
when your ·sailors [or captains] cry out.

29 All the men who row
    ·leave [disembark from; or abandon] their ships;
the seamen and the ·sailors [or captains] of other ships
    stand on the shore.

30 They cry loudly about you;
    they cry ·very much [bitterly].
They throw dust on their heads
    and roll in ashes.

31 They shave their heads for you,
    and they put on ·rough cloth [burlap; sackcloth; C signs of sorrow and distress].
They ·cry and sob for you [weep over you with bitter souls];
    they ·cry loudly [mourn bitterly].

32 And in their ·loud crying [wailing]
    they sing a ·funeral song [lament; dirge] for you:
“·No one was ever destroyed [L Who was…?] like Tyre,
    ·surrounded by [or like a tower in the middle of; or now silent in the midst of] the sea.”

33 When the goods you traded went out over the seas,
    you ·met the needs of [satisfied] many nations.
With your great wealth and ·goods [merchandise],
    you made kings of the earth rich.

34 But now you are ·broken [shipwrecked; shattered] by the sea
    ·and have sunk to the bottom [L in the depths of the waters].
Your ·goods [merchandise] and all the people on board
    have gone down with you.

35 All those who live along the ·shore [coastland]
    are ·shocked [appalled; aghast] by what happened to you.
Their kings are ·terribly afraid [horrified],
    and their faces ·show their fear [are troubled/contorted].

36 The traders among the nations hiss at you.
    You have ·come to a terrible end [or become a horror],
and you are gone forever.’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 27:15 Rhodes Greek copies read “Rhodes.” Hebrew copies read “Dedan.”
  2. Ezekiel 27:16 Aram Some Hebrew copies read “Edom.”
  3. Ezekiel 27:18 barrels of wine Some Hebrew copies read “Vedan and Javan.”

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament(A) concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre,(B) situated at the gateway to the sea,(C) merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You say, Tyre,
    “I am perfect in beauty.(D)
Your domain was on the high seas;
    your builders brought your beauty to perfection.(E)
They made all your timbers
    of juniper from Senir[a];(F)
they took a cedar from Lebanon(G)
    to make a mast for you.
Of oaks(H) from Bashan
    they made your oars;
of cypress wood[b] from the coasts of Cyprus(I)
    they made your deck, adorned with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen(J) from Egypt was your sail
    and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple(K)
    from the coasts of Elishah.(L)
Men of Sidon and Arvad(M) were your oarsmen;
    your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.(N)
Veteran craftsmen of Byblos(O) were on board
    as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea(P) and their sailors
    came alongside to trade for your wares.

10 “‘Men of Persia,(Q) Lydia(R) and Put(S)
    served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields(T) and helmets on your walls,
    bringing you splendor.
11 Men of Arvad and Helek
    guarded your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
    were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
    they brought your beauty to perfection.(U)

12 “‘Tarshish(V) did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;(W) they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13 “‘Greece,(X) Tubal and Meshek(Y) did business with you; they traded human beings(Z) and articles of bronze for your wares.

14 “‘Men of Beth Togarmah(AA) exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15 “‘The men of Rhodes[c](AB) traded with you, and many coastlands(AC) were your customers; they paid you with ivory(AD) tusks and ebony.

16 “‘Aram[d](AE) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,(AF) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,(AG) coral(AH) and rubies for your merchandise.

17 “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat(AI) from Minnith(AJ) and confections,[e] honey, olive oil and balm(AK) for your wares.(AL)

18 “‘Damascus(AM) did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.(AN) They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar 19 and casks of wine from Izal(AO) in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia(AP) and calamus.

20 “‘Dedan(AQ) traded in saddle blankets with you.

21 “‘Arabia(AR) and all the princes of Kedar(AS) were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22 “‘The merchants of Sheba(AT) and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices(AU) and precious stones, and gold.(AV)

23 “‘Harran,(AW) Kanneh and Eden(AX) and merchants of Sheba, Ashur(AY) and Kilmad traded with you. 24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25 “‘The ships of Tarshish(AZ) serve
    as carriers for your wares.
You are filled with heavy cargo
    as you sail the sea.(BA)
26 Your oarsmen take you
    out to the high seas.
But the east wind(BB) will break you to pieces
    far out at sea.
27 Your wealth,(BC) merchandise and wares,
    your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,
your merchants and all your soldiers,
    and everyone else on board
will sink into the heart of the sea(BD)
    on the day of your shipwreck.
28 The shorelands will quake(BE)
    when your sailors cry out.
29 All who handle the oars
    will abandon their ships;
the mariners and all the sailors
    will stand on the shore.
30 They will raise their voice
    and cry bitterly over you;
they will sprinkle dust(BF) on their heads
    and roll(BG) in ashes.(BH)
31 They will shave their heads(BI) because of you
    and will put on sackcloth.
They will weep(BJ) over you with anguish of soul
    and with bitter mourning.(BK)
32 As they wail and mourn over you,
    they will take up a lament(BL) concerning you:
“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,
    surrounded by the sea?(BM)
33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,(BN)
    you satisfied many nations;
with your great wealth(BO) and your wares
    you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 Now you are shattered by the sea
    in the depths of the waters;
your wares and all your company
    have gone down with you.(BP)
35 All who live in the coastlands(BQ)
    are appalled(BR) at you;
their kings shudder with horror
    and their faces are distorted with fear.(BS)
36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;(BT)
    you have come to a horrible end
    and will be no more.(BU)’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 27:5 That is, Mount Hermon
  2. Ezekiel 27:6 Targum; the Masoretic Text has a different division of the consonants.
  3. Ezekiel 27:15 Septuagint; Hebrew Dedan
  4. Ezekiel 27:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom
  5. Ezekiel 27:17 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.