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A Song of Sadness About Tyre

27 A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, “Son of man, sing a song of sadness about Tyre. It is located at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. It does business with nations on many coasts. Say to it, ‘The Lord and King says,

“ ‘ “Tyre, you say,
    ‘I am perfect and beautiful.’
You were like a ship that ruled over the high seas.
    Your builders made you perfect and beautiful.
They cut all your lumber
    from juniper trees on Mount Hermon.
They used a cedar tree from Lebanon
    to make a mast for you.
They made your oars
    out of oak trees from Bashan.
They made your deck out of cypress wood
    from the coasts of Cyprus.
    They decorated it with ivory.
Your sail was made out of beautiful Egyptian linen.
    It served as your banner.
Your shades were made out of blue and purple cloth.
    They were from the coasts of Elishah.
Men from Sidon and Arvad manned your oars.
    Tyre, your sailors were skillful.
Very skilled workers from Byblos were on board.
    They kept you waterproof.
All the ships on the sea and their sailors
    came up beside you.
    They brought their goods to trade for yours.

10 “ ‘ “Men from Persia, Lydia and Put
    served as soldiers in your army, city of Tyre.
They hung their shields and helmets on your walls.
    That brought glory to you.
11 Men from Arvad and Helek
    guarded your walls on every side.
Men from Gammad
    were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls.
    They made you perfect and beautiful.

12 “ ‘ “Tarshish did business with you because you had so much wealth. They traded silver, iron, tin and lead for your goods.

13 “ ‘ “Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you. They traded human beings and bronze objects for your products.

14 “ ‘ “Men from Beth Togarmah traded chariot horses, war horses and mules for your goods.

15 “ ‘ “Men from Rhodes did business with you. Many lands along the coast bought goods from you. They paid you with ivory tusks and ebony wood.

16 “ ‘ “Aram did business with you because you had so many products for sale. They traded turquoise, purple cloth and needlework for your goods. They also traded fine linen, coral and rubies for them.

17 “ ‘ “Judah and Israel did business with you. They traded wheat from Minnith, sweets, honey, olive oil and lotion for your products.

18 “ ‘ “Damascus did business with you. That’s because you had so many products and so much wealth. They traded to you wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. 19 They also traded to you casks of wine from Izal. You traded to them wrought iron, cassia and calamus.

20 “ ‘ “Dedan traded saddle blankets to you.

21 “ ‘ “Arabia and all the princes of Kedar bought goods from you. They traded you lambs, rams and goats for them.

22 “ ‘ “Traders from Sheba and Raamah did business with you. They traded the finest spices, jewels and gold for your goods.

23 “ ‘ “Harran, Kanneh and Eden did business with you. So did traders from Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad. 24 In your market they traded beautiful clothes, blue cloth, and needlework to you. They also traded colorful rugs that had twisted cords and tight knots.

25 “ ‘ “The ships of Tarshish
    carry your products.
You are like a ship filled with a heavy load
    as you sail the sea.
26 The sailors who man your oars take you
    out to the high seas.
But the east wind will break you in pieces
    far out at sea.
27 You will be wrecked on that day.
    Your wealth, goods and products
    will sink deep into the sea.
So will your sailors, officers, carpenters,
    traders and all your soldiers.
    Anyone else on board will sink too.
28 The lands along the coast will shake
    when your sailors cry out.
29 All those who man the oars
    will desert their ships.
The sailors and all the officers
    will stand on the shore.
30 They will raise their voices.
    They will cry bitterly over you.
They will sprinkle dust on their heads.
    They will roll in ashes.
31 They will shave their heads because of you.
    And they will put on the clothes of sadness.
They will weep over you.
    Their spirits will be greatly troubled.
    They will be very sad.
32 As they weep and mourn over you,
    they will sing a song of sadness about you.
They will say, ‘Who was ever like Tyre?
    It was destroyed in the sea.’
33 Your goods went out on the seas.
    You supplied many nations with what they needed.
You had so much wealth and so many products.
    You made the kings of the earth rich.
34 Now the sea has torn you apart.
    You have sunk deep down into it.
Your products and all your people
    have gone down with you.
35 All those who live in the lands along the coast
    are shocked because of what has happened to you.
Their kings tremble with fear.
    Their faces are twisted in horror.
36 The traders among the nations laugh at you.
    You have come to a horrible end.
    And you will be gone forever.” ’ ”

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.