Ezekiel 18

1 They determine no causes, nor deliver countries from oppression: because they can do nothing, and are as daws between heaven and earth. 2 For when fire shall fall upon the house of these gods of wood, and of silver, and of gold, their priests indeed will flee away, and be saved: but they themselves shall be burnt in the midst like beams. 3 And they cannot withstand a king and war. How then can it be supposed, or admitted, that they are gods? 4 Neither are these gods of wood, and of stone, and laid over with gold, and with silver, able to deliver themselves from thieves or robbers: they that are stronger than them, 5 Shall take from them the gold, and silver, and the raiment wherewith they are clothed, and shall go their way, neither shall they help themselves. 6 Therefore it is better to be a king that sheweth his power: or else a profitable vessel in the house, with which the owner thereof will be well satisfied: or a door in the house, to keep things safe that are therein, than such false gods. 7 The sun, and the moon, and the stars being bright, and sent forth for profitable uses, are obedient. 8 In like manner the lightning, when it breaketh forth, is easy to be seen: and after the same manner the wind bloweth in every country. 9 And the clouds, when God commandeth them to go over the whole world, do that which is commanded them. 10 The fire also being sent from above to consume mountains, and woods, doth as it is commanded. But these neither in shew, nor in power, are alike to any one of them. 11 Wherefore it is neither to be thought, nor to be said, that they are gods: since they are neither able to judge causes, nor to do any good to men. 12 Knowing, therefore, that they are not gods, fear them not. 13 For neither can they curse kings, nor bless them. 14 Neither do they shew signs in the heaven to the nations, nor shine as the sun, nor give light as the moon. 15 Beasts are better than they, which can fly under a covert, and help themselves. 16 Therefore there is no manner of appearance that they are gods: so fear them not. 17 For as a scarecrow in a garden of cucumbers keepeth nothing, so are their gods of wood, and of silver, and laid over with gold. 18 They are no better than a white thorn in a garden, upon which every bird sitteth. In like manner also their gods of wood, and laid over with gold, and with silver, are like to a dead body cast forth in the dark. 19 By the purple also and the scarlet which are motheaten upon them, you shall know that they are not gods. And they themselves at last are consumed, and shall be a reproach in the country. 20 Better, therefore, is the just man that hath no idols: for he shall be far from reproach. 21 The Prophecy of Ezekiel 23 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives by the river Chobar, the heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of God. 24 On the fifth day of the month, the same was the fifth year of the captivity of king Joachin, 25 The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest the son of Buzi in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the Lord was there upon him. 26 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: 27 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. 28 Every one had four faces, and every one four wings. 29 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. 30 And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides: and they had faces, and wings on the four sides, 31 And the wings of one were joined to the wings of another. They turned not when they went: but every one went straight forward. 32 And as for the likeness of their faces: there was the face of a man, and the face of a 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.