神派以西结作守望者
（3．16－21）
耶和华的话临到我，说：
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2“人子啊，你要吩咐本国的百姓，对他们说：我使刀剑临到哪一国，哪一国的百姓从他们中间选立一人，作为守望者。Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3守望者见刀剑临到那地，若吹角警戒百姓，If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4有人听见角声却不受警戒，刀剑来除灭了他，这人的血必归到自己头上。Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5他听见角声，不受警戒，他的血必归到自己身上；他若受警戒，就救了自己的命。He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6倘若守望者见刀剑临到，却不吹角，以致百姓未受警戒，刀剑来杀了他们中间的一个人，这人虽然因自己的罪孽而死，我却要从守望者的手里讨他的血债。But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
7“人子啊，我照样立你作以色列家的守望者；你要听我口中的话，替我警戒他们。So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8我对恶人说：‘恶人哪，你必要死！’你若不开口警戒恶人，使他离开所行的道，这恶人必因自己的罪孽而死，我却要从你手里讨他的血债。When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9但是你，你若警戒恶人，叫他离弃所行的道，他仍不转离，他必因自己的罪孽而死，你却救了自己的命。”个人的责任
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
10“人子啊，你要对以色列家说：你们曾这样说：‘我们的过犯罪恶在自己身上，我们必因此消灭，怎能存活呢？’Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
11你要对他们说，主耶和华说：我指着我的永生起誓，我断不喜悦恶人死亡，惟喜悦恶人转离他所行的道而存活。以色列家啊，你们回转，回转离开恶道吧！何必死亡呢？Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
12人子啊，你要对本国的百姓说：义人的义，在他犯罪之日不能救他；至于恶人的恶，在他转离恶行之日不会使他倾倒；义人在他犯罪之日不能因自己的义存活。Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
13我对义人说：‘你必存活！’他若倚靠自己的义作恶，所行的义就不被记念；他必因所作的恶死亡。When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
14我对恶人说：‘你必死亡！’他若转离他的罪恶，行公平公义的事；Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15恶人若归还抵押品，归回所抢夺的东西，遵行生命的律例，不再作恶；他必存活，不致死亡。If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16他所犯的一切罪必不被记念；他行了公平公义的事，必要存活。None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17“你本国的百姓说：‘主的道不公平。’其实他们，他们的道才是不公平。Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
18义人转离自己的义作恶，他必因此而死亡。When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
19恶人转离他的恶，行公平公义的事，他必因此而存活。But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
20你们还说：‘主的道不公平。’以色列家啊，我必按你们各人所行的审判你们。”耶路撒冷陷落的消息
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
21我们被掳后第十二年的十月初五，有人从耶路撒冷逃到我这里，说：“城已被攻破。”And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten.
22逃来的人到的前一天晚上，耶和华的手按在我身上，开我的口。第二天早晨，等那人来到我这里，我的口就开了，不再说不出话来。百姓的罪
Now the hand of the LORD was upon me in the evening, afore he that was escaped came; and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and my mouth was opened, and I was no more dumb.
23耶和华的话临到我，说：Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
24“人子啊，住在以色列荒废之地的人说：‘亚伯拉罕一人能得这地为业，我们人数众多，这地更是给我们为业的。’Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
25所以你要对他们说，主耶和华如此说：你们吃带血的食物，向偶像举目，并且流人的血，你们还能得这地为业吗？Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?
26你们倚靠自己的刀剑行可憎的事，人人污辱邻舍的妻，你们还能得这地为业吗？Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land?
27你要对他们这样说，主耶和华如此说：我指着我的永生起誓，在废墟的，必倒在刀下；在田野的，必交给野兽吞吃；在堡垒和洞中的，必遭瘟疫而死。Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.
28我必使这地荒废荒凉，它骄傲的权势也必止息；以色列的山都必荒废，无人经过。For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
29我因他们所做一切可憎的事，使地荒废荒凉；那时，他们就知道我是耶和华。”先知传讲的信息
Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.
30“你，人子啊，你本国的百姓在城墙旁边、在房屋门口谈论你。弟兄对弟兄彼此说：‘来吧！听听有什么话从耶和华而出。’Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.
31他们如同百姓前来，来到你这里，坐在你面前仿佛是我的子民。他们听了你的话，却不实行；因为他们口里说爱，心却追随财利。And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
32看哪，他们看你如同一个唱情歌的人☛“一个唱情歌的人”：原文是“一首情歌”。，声音优雅、善于奏乐；他们听了你的话，却不实行。And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
33看哪，这话就要应验；应验时，他们就知道在他们中间有了先知。”And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.