28TH CHAPTER

Judgment on the King of Tyre

1 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 2 “Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: 

In your arrogance you say, 

“I’m a god. I sit on God’s throne in the sea.” 

But you’re only human and not a god, 

although you think you are a god. 

3  You think that you are wiser than Daniel 

and that no secret can be hidden from you. 

4  Because you are wise and understanding, 

you’ve made yourself rich. 

You saved gold and silver in your treasuries. 

5  Because of your great skill in trading, 

you’ve made yourself very wealthy. 

You have become arrogant because of your wealth. 

6 “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: 

You think you are wise like God. 

7  That is why I am going to bring foreigners against you, 

the most ruthless foreigners among the nations. 

They will draw their swords against your fine wisdom 

and dishonor your greatness. 

8  They will throw you into a pit, 

and you will die a violent death in the sea. 

9  You will no longer say that you are a god 

when you face those who kill you. 

You will be a human, not a god, in the hands of those who kill you. 

10  You will die at the hands of foreigners like a godless person. 

I have spoken,’ ” declares the Lord. 

11 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 12 “Son of man, sing a funeral song for the ruler of Tyre. Tell him, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: 

You were the perfect example, 

full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 

13  You were in Eden, God’s garden. 

You were covered with every kind of precious stone: 

red quartz, topaz, crystal, 

beryl, onyx, gray quartz, sapphire, 

turquoise, and emerald. 

Your settings and your sockets 

were made of gold when you were created. 

14  I appointed an angela to guard you. 

You were on God’s holy mountain. 

You walked among fiery stones. 

15  Your behavior was perfect from the time you were created, 

until evil was found in you. 

16  You traded far and wide. You learned to be violent, and you sinned. 

So I threw you down from God’s mountain in disgrace. 

The guardian angel forced you out from the fiery stones. 

17  You became too proud because of your beauty. 

You wasted your wisdom because of your greatness. 

So I threw you to the ground 

and left you in front of the kings 

so that they could see you. 

18  You dishonored your own holy places 

because of your many sins and dishonest trade. 

So I set fire to you to burn you up. 

I turned you into ashes on the ground 

in the presence of all who saw you. 

19  All the nations who knew you are horrified because of you. 

You have come to a terrible end, 

and you will never exist again.’ ” 

Judgment on Sidon Means Hope for Israel

20 The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, 21 “Son of man, turn to Sidon and prophesy against it. 22 Tell it, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: 

I’m against you, Sidon. 

I will show my greatness through you. 

Then people will know that I am the Lord, 

because I will punish you and show you how holy I am. 

23  I will send a plague against you 

and make blood flow in your streets. 

Your people will fall dead. 

People with swords will attack you from every side. 

Then they will know that I am the Lord. 

24  The nation of Israel will no longer be hurt 

by prickly thorns or sharp briars from everyone around them. 

Then they will know that I am the Almighty Lord. 

25 “ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they were scattered, I will show that I am holy as the nations watch. The people of Israel will live in their own land, the land I gave to my servant Jacob. 26 They will live there in safety. They will build homes and plant vineyards. They will live in safety when I punish all the surrounding people who treat them with scorn. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’ ”