The Valley of Dry Bones

37 The hand of the Lord was on me, q and He brought me out by His Spirit r and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. 3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I replied, “Lord God, only You know.” s

4 He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. t 6 I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am * Yahweh.” u

7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 As I looked, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, v prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord God says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!” w 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me; the breath x entered them, y and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army.

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. z Look how they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, a and our hope has perished; b we are cut off.’ c 12 Therefore, prophesy and say to them: This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, d My people, and lead you into the land of Israel. 13 You will know that I am Yahweh, My people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. e 14 I will put My Spirit in you, f and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. I have spoken, and I will do it.” g This is the declaration of the Lord.