A Valley of Dried Bones; A Renewed Nation of Israel

37 The hand of Yahweh was upon me, and he brought me by the Spirit of Yahweh, and he ⌊let me rest⌋a in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. 2 And he led me ⌊all around⌋b over them, and look, very many on the surface of the valley, and look, very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man,c can these bones live?” And I said, “Lord Yahweh, you know.” 4 And he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and you must say to them, to the dry bones, ‘Hear the word of Yahweh! 5 Thus says the Lord Yahweh to these bones: “Look! I am bringing into you breath, and you will live! 6 And I will lay on you sinews, and I will let flesh come upon you, and I will cover you over with skin, and I will put breath into you, and you will live, and you will know that I am Yahweh.” ’ ”

7 And I prophesied ⌊just as⌋d I had been commanded, and there was a sound at my prophesying, and look! A rattling, and they came together—the bones! Bone to its bone! 8 And I looked, and indeed, sinews were on them, and flesh went up,e and skin covered overf them ⌊upward⌋,g but breath was not in them. 9 And he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man,h and you must say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh ⌊from the four winds⌋,i “Come, O spirit and breath, on these dead ones, so that they may live!” ’ ” 10 And I prophesied ⌊as⌋j he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they became alive, and they stood on their feet, a very, very large group.

11 And he said to me, “Son of man,k these bones are all of the house of Israel; look! they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is destroyed; ⌊we are cut off as far as we are concerned⌋.’l 12 Therefore prophesy, and you must say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: “Look! I am opening your graves, and I will bring you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to the land of Israel! 13 And you will know that I am Yahweh when I open your graves when I bring you up from your graves, my people! 14 And I will put my breath into you so that you may live, and I will cause you to rest on your soil, and you will know that I, Yahweh, I have spoken, and I will act!” ’ ⌊declares⌋m Yahweh.”