From: "FamilyNet Direct" 

Bible Reading for September 16

Ezekiel 19
[1] Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel, [2] And
say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished
her whelps among young lions. [3] And she brought up one of her whelps: it
became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men. [4]
The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought
him with chains unto the land of Egypt. [5] Now when she saw that she had
waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and
made him a young lion. [6] And he went up and down among the lions, he
became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men. [7]
And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the
land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
[8] Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and
spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit. [9] And they put him
in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him
into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of
Israel.
[10] Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was
fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters. [11] And she had
strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and her stature was
exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the
multitude of her branches. [12] But she was plucked up in fury, she was
cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong
rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
[13] And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
[14] And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her
fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a
lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

Ezekiel 20
[1] And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth
day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of
the LORD, and sat before me.
[2] Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying, [3] Son of man, speak
unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are
ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be
inquired of by you. [4] Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge
them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: [5] And say
unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and
lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself
known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them,
saying, I am the LORD your God; [6] In the day that I lifted up mine hand
unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had
espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all
lands: [7] Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations
of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the
LORD your God.
[8] But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did
not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they
forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them
to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. [9]
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the
heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto
them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. [10] Wherefore I
caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the
wilderness.
[11] And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a
man do, he shall even live in them. [12] Moreover also I gave them my
sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am
the LORD that sanctify them. [13] But the house of Israel rebelled against
me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my
judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths
they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in
the wilderness, to consume them.
[14] But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted
before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. [15] Yet also I
lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them
into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is
the glory of all lands; [16] Because they despised my judgments, and walked
not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after
their idols. [17] Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them,
neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. [18] But I said unto
their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your
fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their
idols:
[19] I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
[20] And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you,
that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. [21] Notwithstanding the
children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept
my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them;
they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them,
to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. [22] Nevertheless I
withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be
polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
[23] I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would
scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
[24] Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my
statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their
fathers' idols.
[25] Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments
whereby they should not live;
[26] And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass
through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them
desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD. [27]
Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them,
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in
that they have committed a trespass against me. [28] For when I had brought
them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them,
then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered
there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their
offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there
their drink offerings. [29] Then I said unto them, What is the high place
whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. [30]
Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye
polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after
their abominations?
[31] For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through
the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day:
and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the
Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you. [32] And that which cometh into
your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as
the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
[33] As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: [34] And
I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the
countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a
stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. [35] And I will bring you into
the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
[36] Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of
Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. [37] And I will cause
you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the
covenant:
[38] And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that
transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where
they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye
shall know that I am the LORD.
[39] As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve
ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me:
but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
[40] For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,
saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the
land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your
offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy
things. [41] I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out
from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been
scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. [42] And ye
shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of
Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to
your fathers.
[43] And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye
have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all
your evils that ye have committed.
[44] And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for
my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your
corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD. [45] Moreover the
word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [46] Son of man, set thy face toward
the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the
forest of the south field; [47] And say to the forest of the south, Hear
the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire
in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree:
the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to
the north shall be burned therein.
[48] And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not
be quenched.
[49] Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Ezekiel 21
[1] And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [2] Son of man, set thy
face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and
prophesy against the land of Israel, [3] And say to the land of Israel,
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my
sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the
wicked.
[4] Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked,
therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from
the south to the north:
[5] That all flesh may know that I the LORD have drawn forth my sword out
of his sheath: it shall not return any more. [6] Sigh therefore, thou son
of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before
their eyes. [7] And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest
thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every
heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall
faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and shall
be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.
[8] Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, [9] Son of man,
prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened,
and also furbished: [10] It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is
furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the
rod of my son, as every tree.
[11] And he hath give it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this
sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the
slayer. [12] Cry and howl, son of man: for it shall be upon my people, it
shall be upon all the princes of Israel: terrors by reason of the sword
shall be upon my people: smite therefore upon thy thigh. [13] Because it is
a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more,
saith the Lord GOD. [14] Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite
thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the
sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which
entereth into their privy chambers.
[15] I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that their
heart may faint, and their ruins be multiplied: ah! it is made bright, it
is wrapped up for the slaughter.
[16] Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left,
whithersoever thy face is set.
[17] I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to
rest: I the LORD have said it.
[18] The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, [19] Also, thou son
of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may
come: both twain shall come forth out of one land: and choose thou a place,
choose it at the head of the way to the city. [20] Appoint a way, that the
sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the
defenced. [21] For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at
the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he
consulted with images, he looked in the liver. [22] At his right hand was
the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the
slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint battering rams
against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
[23] And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to
them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity,
that they may be taken.
[24] Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity
to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in
all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to
remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. [25] And thou, profane wicked
prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,
[26] Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown:
this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is
high.
[27] I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more,
until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. [28] And thou, son
of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites,
and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is
drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the
glittering:
[29] Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee,
to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose
day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end. [30] Shall I cause it
to return into his sheath? I will judge thee in the place where thou wast
created, in the land of thy nativity. [31] And I will pour out mine
indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath,
and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.
[32] Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of
the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I the LORD have spoken it.

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