A PROPHESY AGAINST GOG

(Ezekiel 38-39)

The word of the Lord came to me:

2 'Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog,

The chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;'

Prophesy against him and say;

3 'THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:'

I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meschech and Tubal.

4 I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws

And bring you out with your whole army--

Your horses, your horsemen full armed,

And a great horde with large and small shields,

All of them brandishing their swords.

5 Persia, Cush and Put will be with them,

All with shields and helmets,

6 Also Gomer with all its troops,

And Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops--

The many nations with you.'

7 'Get ready;

Be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you,

And take command of them.

8 After many days you will be called to arms.

In the future years you will invade a land

That has recovered from war,

WHOSE PEOPLE WERE GATHERED FROM MANY NATIONS

TO THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL,

Which had long been desolate.

They had been brought out from the nations,

And now all of them live in safety.

9 You and all your troops

And the many nations with you will go up,

Advancing like a storm;

You will be like a cloud covering the land.'

10 THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:

'On that day thoughts will come into your mind

AND YOU WILL DEVISE AN EVIL SCHEME.

11 YOU WILL SAY,

'I will invade a land of unwalled villages;

I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people--

All of them living without walls and without gates and bars.

12 I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins

And the people gathered from the nations,

Rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.'

13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish

And all her villages will say to you,

'Have you come to plunder?

Have you gathered your hordes to loot,

To carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods

And to seize much plunder?'

14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog:

THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:

'In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety,

Will you not take notice of it?

15 You will come from your place in the far north,

You and many nations with you,

All of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army.

16 You will advance against my people Israel

Like a cloud that covers the land.

In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land,

SO THAT THE NATIONS MAY KNOW ME

When I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

(Ezekiel 38:1-16