27 The Prophet bewaileth the desolation of Tyre, showing what were the riches, power and authority thereof in times past.

The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,

Son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyre,

And say unto Tyre that is situated at the entry of the sea, which is the mart [a]of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord God, O Tyre, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty.

Thy borders are in the [b]midst of the sea, and thy builders have made thee of perfect beauty.

They have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of [c]Senir: they have brought cedars from Lebanon, to make masts for thee.

Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine ores: the company of the Assyrians have made thy banks of ivory, brought out of the isles of [d]Kittim.

Fine linen with broidered work, brought from Egypt, was spread over thee to be thy sail, blue silk and purple, brought from the isles of Elishah was thy covering.

The inhabitants of Sidon, and Arvad were thy mariners, O Tyre: thy wise men that were in thee, they were thy [e]pilots.

The ancients of Gebal, and the wise men thereof were in thee thy [f]caulkers, all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.

10 They of Persia, and of Lud and of Put were in thine army: thy men of war they hanged the shield and helmet in thee: they set forth thy beauty.

11 The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the [g]Gammadims were in thy towers: they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about: they have made thy beauty perfect.

12 They of Tarshish were thy merchants for the multitude of all riches, for silver, iron, tin, and lead, which they brought to thy fairs.

13 They of [h]Javan, Tubal and Meshech were thy merchants, [i]concerning the lives of men, and they brought vessels of brass for thy merchandise.

14 They of the house of [j]Togarmah brought to thy fairs, horses and horsemen, and mules.

15 The men of Dedan were thy merchants: and the merchandise of many isles were in thine hands: they brought thee for a present, [k]horns, teeth, and peacocks.

16 They of Aram were thy merchants for the multitude of thy [l]wares: they occupied in thy fairs, with [m]emeralds, purple, and broidered work, and [n]fine linen, and coral, and pearl.

17 They of Judah and of the land of Israel were thy merchants: they brought for thy merchandise wheat of [o]Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and [p]balm.

18 They of Damascus were thy merchants in the multitude of thy wares, for the multitude of all riches, as in the wine of Helbon and white wool.

19 They of Dan also and of Javan, going to and fro, occupied in thy fairs: iron work, cassia and calamus were among thy merchandise.

20 They of Dedan were thy merchants in precious clothes for the chariots.

21 They of Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar [q]occupied with thee, in lambs, and rams and goats: in these were thy merchants.

22 The merchants of Sheba, and Raamah were thy merchants: they occupied in thy fairs with the chief of all spices, and with all precious stones and gold.

23 They of Haram and Canneh and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Assyria and Chilmad were thy merchants.

24 These were thy merchants in all sorts of things, in raiment of blue silk, and of broidered work, and in coffers for the rich apparel, which were bound with cords: chains also were among thy merchandise.

25 The ships of Tarshish [r]were thy chief in thy merchandise, and thou wast replenished and made very glorious in the midst of the sea.

26 Thy [s]robbers have brought thee into great waters: the [t]East wind hath broken thee in the midst of the sea.

27 Thy riches and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners and pilots, thy caulkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war that are in thee, and all thy multitude which is in the midst of thee, shall fall in the midst of the sea in the day of thy ruin.

28 The [u]suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.

29 And all that handle the oar, the mariners and all the pilots of the sea shall come down from their ships, and shall stand upon the land,

30 And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast dust upon their heads, and wallow themselves in the ashes.

31 They shall pluck off their hair for thee, and gird them with a sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with sorrow of heart and bitter mourning.

32 And in their mourning, they shall take up a lamentation for thee, saying, What city is like Tyre so destroyed in the midst of the sea!

33 When thy wares went forth of the seas, thou filledst many people, and thou didst enrich the Kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.

34 When thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, thy merchandise and all thy multitude which was in the midst of thee, shall fall.

35 All the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and all their Kings shall be sore afraid and troubled in their countenance.

36 The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt be [v]anymore.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 27:3 Which servest all the world with thy merchandise.
  2. Ezekiel 27:4 Hebrew, heart.
  3. Ezekiel 27:5 This mountain was called Hermon, but the Amorites called it Senir, Deut. 3:9.
  4. Ezekiel 27:6 Which is taken for Greece and Italy.
  5. Ezekiel 27:8 Or, shipmasters.
  6. Ezekiel 27:9 Meaning, that they built the walls of the city, which is here meant by the ship: and of these were the builders of Solomon’s Temple, 1 Kings 5:18.
  7. Ezekiel 27:11 That is, they of Cappadocia, or Pygmies and dwarfs, which were so called, because that out of the high towers they seemed little.
  8. Ezekiel 27:13 Of Greece, Italy and Cappadocia.
  9. Ezekiel 27:13 By selling slaves.
  10. Ezekiel 27:14 Which are taken for a people of Asia minor.
  11. Ezekiel 27:15 Meaning, Unicorn’s horns, and Elephant’s teeth.
  12. Ezekiel 27:16 Or, works.
  13. Ezekiel 27:16 Or, carbuncle.
  14. Ezekiel 27:16 Or, silk.
  15. Ezekiel 27:17 Where the best wheat grew.
  16. Ezekiel 27:17 Or, turpentine, or, treacle.
  17. Ezekiel 27:21 Or, were merchants whose merchandise passed through thine hands.
  18. Ezekiel 27:25 Or, came in company toward thee.
  19. Ezekiel 27:26 Or, rowers.
  20. Ezekiel 27:26 That is, Nebuchadnezzar.
  21. Ezekiel 27:28 That is, the cities near about thee, as was Zidon, Arvad, and others.
  22. Ezekiel 27:36 Whereby is meant a long time: for it was prophesied to be destroyed but seventy years, Isa. 23:15.

A Lament Over Tyre

27 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, take up a lament(A) concerning Tyre. Say to Tyre,(B) situated at the gateway to the sea,(C) merchant of peoples on many coasts, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘You say, Tyre,
    “I am perfect in beauty.(D)
Your domain was on the high seas;
    your builders brought your beauty to perfection.(E)
They made all your timbers
    of juniper from Senir[a];(F)
they took a cedar from Lebanon(G)
    to make a mast for you.
Of oaks(H) from Bashan
    they made your oars;
of cypress wood[b] from the coasts of Cyprus(I)
    they made your deck, adorned with ivory.
Fine embroidered linen(J) from Egypt was your sail
    and served as your banner;
your awnings were of blue and purple(K)
    from the coasts of Elishah.(L)
Men of Sidon and Arvad(M) were your oarsmen;
    your skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as your sailors.(N)
Veteran craftsmen of Byblos(O) were on board
    as shipwrights to caulk your seams.
All the ships of the sea(P) and their sailors
    came alongside to trade for your wares.

10 “‘Men of Persia,(Q) Lydia(R) and Put(S)
    served as soldiers in your army.
They hung their shields(T) and helmets on your walls,
    bringing you splendor.
11 Men of Arvad and Helek
    guarded your walls on every side;
men of Gammad
    were in your towers.
They hung their shields around your walls;
    they brought your beauty to perfection.(U)

12 “‘Tarshish(V) did business with you because of your great wealth of goods;(W) they exchanged silver, iron, tin and lead for your merchandise.

13 “‘Greece,(X) Tubal and Meshek(Y) did business with you; they traded human beings(Z) and articles of bronze for your wares.

14 “‘Men of Beth Togarmah(AA) exchanged chariot horses, cavalry horses and mules for your merchandise.

15 “‘The men of Rhodes[c](AB) traded with you, and many coastlands(AC) were your customers; they paid you with ivory(AD) tusks and ebony.

16 “‘Aram[d](AE) did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise,(AF) purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen,(AG) coral(AH) and rubies for your merchandise.

17 “‘Judah and Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat(AI) from Minnith(AJ) and confections,[e] honey, olive oil and balm(AK) for your wares.(AL)

18 “‘Damascus(AM) did business with you because of your many products and great wealth of goods.(AN) They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar 19 and casks of wine from Izal(AO) in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia(AP) and calamus.

20 “‘Dedan(AQ) traded in saddle blankets with you.

21 “‘Arabia(AR) and all the princes of Kedar(AS) were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.

22 “‘The merchants of Sheba(AT) and Raamah traded with you; for your merchandise they exchanged the finest of all kinds of spices(AU) and precious stones, and gold.(AV)

23 “‘Harran,(AW) Kanneh and Eden(AX) and merchants of Sheba, Ashur(AY) and Kilmad traded with you. 24 In your marketplace they traded with you beautiful garments, blue fabric, embroidered work and multicolored rugs with cords twisted and tightly knotted.

25 “‘The ships of Tarshish(AZ) serve
    as carriers for your wares.
You are filled with heavy cargo
    as you sail the sea.(BA)
26 Your oarsmen take you
    out to the high seas.
But the east wind(BB) will break you to pieces
    far out at sea.
27 Your wealth,(BC) merchandise and wares,
    your mariners, sailors and shipwrights,
your merchants and all your soldiers,
    and everyone else on board
will sink into the heart of the sea(BD)
    on the day of your shipwreck.
28 The shorelands will quake(BE)
    when your sailors cry out.
29 All who handle the oars
    will abandon their ships;
the mariners and all the sailors
    will stand on the shore.
30 They will raise their voice
    and cry bitterly over you;
they will sprinkle dust(BF) on their heads
    and roll(BG) in ashes.(BH)
31 They will shave their heads(BI) because of you
    and will put on sackcloth.
They will weep(BJ) over you with anguish of soul
    and with bitter mourning.(BK)
32 As they wail and mourn over you,
    they will take up a lament(BL) concerning you:
“Who was ever silenced like Tyre,
    surrounded by the sea?(BM)
33 When your merchandise went out on the seas,(BN)
    you satisfied many nations;
with your great wealth(BO) and your wares
    you enriched the kings of the earth.
34 Now you are shattered by the sea
    in the depths of the waters;
your wares and all your company
    have gone down with you.(BP)
35 All who live in the coastlands(BQ)
    are appalled(BR) at you;
their kings shudder with horror
    and their faces are distorted with fear.(BS)
36 The merchants among the nations scoff at you;(BT)
    you have come to a horrible end
    and will be no more.(BU)’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 27:5 That is, Mount Hermon
  2. Ezekiel 27:6 Targum; the Masoretic Text has a different division of the consonants.
  3. Ezekiel 27:15 Septuagint; Hebrew Dedan
  4. Ezekiel 27:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac Edom
  5. Ezekiel 27:17 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.