Ezekiel 35
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 35[a]
Against Edom. 1 This word of the Lord came to me: 2 Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it. 3 Say to it: Thus says the Lord God:
Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir
I will stretch out my hand against you
and reduce you to a desolate waste.
4 I will lay your towns in ruins,
and you will become a wasteland.
Then you will know that I am the Lord.
5 Because you refused to cease an ancient feud,
you handed over the people of Israel
to the power of the sword
on the day of their distress,
the hour of their final punishment.
6 Therefore, as I live, says the Lord God,
blood shall be your destiny,
and it will pursue you.
Since by shedding blood you incurred guilt,
bloodshed will pursue you.
7 I will make Mount Seir a desolate waste
and prevent anyone from going there or departing.
8 I will fill its mountains with the slain;
those slain by the sword will fall
on your hills and in your valleys and ravines.
9 I will make you desolate forever,
and your towns will never again be inhabited.
Thus, you shall know that I am the Lord.
10 Because you said, “These two nations and the two lands will be mine, and we will take possession of them,” even though I, the Lord, was there, 11 therefore, as I live, says the Lord God, I will act with the same anger and jealousy that you showed in your hatred for them, and I will make myself known among you when I judge you.
12 You will know that I, the Lord, have heard of all the contemptible things you have uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They have been laid waste and have been given to us to devour.” 13 You made insolent remarks about me and showed no restraint in your insults, and I have heard them.
14 Thus says the Lord God: I will make you a desolate wasteland, and the entire earth will rejoice. 15 As you were unable to conceal your joy over the devastation of the heritage of the house of Israel, so will I treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Thus, they shall know that I am the Lord.
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 35:1 The prophecy against the mountains of Egypt is an announcement of punishment; the prophecy on the mountains of Israel in chapter 36 is a promise of salvation. The parallel is deliberate, chosen in order to highlight the second prophecy. Here the prophecy is against Mount Seir, which is south of the Dead Sea and represents the entire population of Edom. Israel has many complaints against Edom as a deceitful brother.
