Hesekiel 27 | New International Reader’s Version

A song of sadness about Tyre

1 A message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said, 2 ‘Son of man, sing a song of sadness about Tyre. 3 It is located at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. It does business with nations on many coasts. Say to it, “The LORD and King says, ‘ “ ‘Tyre, you say, “I am perfect and beautiful.” 4 You were like a ship that ruled over the high seas. Your builders made you perfect and beautiful. 5 They cut all your lumber from juniper trees on Mount Hermon. They used a cedar tree from Lebanon to make a mast for you. 6 They made your oars out of oak trees from Bashan. They made your deck out of cypress wood from the coasts of Cyprus. They decorated it with ivory. 7 Your sail was made out of beautiful Egyptian linen. It served as your banner. Your shades were made out of blue and purple cloth. They were from the coasts of Elishah. 8 Men from Sidon and Arvad manned your oars. Tyre, your sailors were skilful. 9 Very skilled workers from Byblos were on board. They kept you waterproof. All the ships on the sea and their sailors came up beside you. They brought their goods to trade for yours. 10 ‘ “ ‘Men from Persia, Lydia and Put served as soldiers in your army, city of Tyre. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls. That brought glory to you. 11 Men from Arvad and Helek guarded your walls on every side. Men from Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls. They made you perfect and beautiful. 12 ‘ “ ‘Tarshish did business with you because you had so much wealth. They traded silver, iron, tin and lead for your goods. 13 ‘ “ ‘Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you. They traded human beings and bronze objects for your products. 14 ‘ “ ‘Men from Beth Togarmah traded chariot horses, war horses and mules for your goods. 15 ‘ “ ‘Men from Rhodes did business with you. Many lands along the coast bought goods from you. They paid you with ivory tusks and ebony wood. 16 ‘ “ ‘Aram did business with you because you had so many products for sale. They traded turquoise, purple cloth and needlework for your goods. They also traded fine linen, coral and rubies for them. 17 ‘ “ ‘Judah and Israel did business with you. They traded wheat from Minnith, sweets, honey, olive oil and lotion for your products. 18 ‘ “ ‘Damascus did business with you. That’s because you had so many products and so much wealth. They traded to you wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. 19 They also traded to you casks of wine from Izal. You traded to them wrought iron, cassia and calamus. 20 ‘ “ ‘Dedan traded saddle blankets to you. 21 ‘ “ ‘Arabia and all the princes of Kedar bought goods from you. They traded you lambs, rams and goats for them. 22 ‘ “ ‘Traders from Sheba and Raamah did business with you. They traded the finest spices, jewels and gold for your goods. 23 ‘ “ ‘Harran, Kanneh and Eden did business with you. So did traders from Sheba, Ashur and Kilmad. 24 In your market they traded beautiful clothes, blue cloth, and needlework to you. They also traded colourful rugs that had twisted cords and tight knots. 25 ‘ “ ‘The ships of Tarshish carry your products. You are like a ship filled with a heavy load as you sail the sea. 26 The sailors who man your oars take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you in pieces far out at sea. 27 You will be wrecked on that day. Your wealth, goods and products will sink deep into the sea. So will your sailors, officers, carpenters, traders and all your soldiers. Anyone else on board will sink too. 28 The lands along the coast will shake when your sailors cry out. 29 All those who man the oars will desert their ships. The sailors and all the officers will stand on the shore. 30 They will raise their voices. They will cry bitterly over you. They will sprinkle dust on their heads. They will roll in ashes. 31 They will shave their heads because of you. And they will put on the clothes of sadness. They will weep over you. Their spirits will be greatly troubled. They will be very sad. 32 As they weep and mourn over you, they will sing a song of sadness about you. They will say, “Who was ever like Tyre? It was destroyed in the sea.” 33 Your goods went out on the seas. You supplied many nations with what they needed. You had so much wealth and so many products. You made the kings of the earth rich. 34 Now the sea has torn you apart. You have sunk deep down into it. Your products and all your people have gone down with you. 35 All those who live in the lands along the coast are shocked because of what has happened to you. Their kings tremble with fear. Their faces are twisted in horror. 36 The traders among the nations laugh at you. You have come to a horrible end. And you will be gone for ever.’ ” ’

English Standard Version

A Lament for Tyre

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Now you, son of man, raise a lamentation over Tyre, 3 and say to Tyre, who dwells at the entrances to the sea, merchant of the peoples to many coastlands, thus says the Lord God: “O Tyre, you have said, ‘I am perfect in beauty.’ 4 Your borders are in the heart of the seas; your builders made perfect your beauty. 5 They made all your planks of fir trees from Senir; they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you. 6 Of oaks of Bashan they made your oars; they made your deck of pines from the coasts of Cyprus, inlaid with ivory. 7 Of fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail, serving as your banner; blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was your awning. 8 The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your skilled men, O Tyre, were in you; they were your pilots. 9 The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were in you, caulking your seams; all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to barter for your wares. 10 “Persia and Lud and Put were in your army as your men of war. They hung the shield and helmet in you; they gave you splendor. 11 Men of Arvad and Helech were on your walls all around, and men of Gamad were in your towers. They hung their shields on your walls all around; they made perfect your beauty. 12 “Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every kind; silver, iron, tin, and lead they exchanged for your wares. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech traded with you; they exchanged human beings and vessels of bronze for your merchandise. 14 From Beth-togarmah they exchanged horses, war horses, and mules for your wares. 15 The men of Dedan* traded with you. Many coastlands were your own special markets; they brought you in payment ivory tusks and ebony. 16 Syria did business with you because of your abundant goods; they exchanged for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and ruby. 17 Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, meal,* honey, oil, and balm. 18 Damascus did business with you for your abundant goods, because of your great wealth of every kind; wine of Helbon and wool of Sahar 19 and casks of wine* from Uzal they exchanged for your wares; wrought iron, cassia, and calamus were bartered for your merchandise. 20 Dedan traded with you in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your favored dealers in lambs, rams, and goats; in these they did business with you. 22 The traders of Sheba and Raamah traded with you; they exchanged for your wares the best of all kinds of spices and all precious stones and gold. 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden, traders of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you. 24 In your market these traded with you in choice garments, in clothes of blue and embroidered work, and in carpets of colored material, bound with cords and made secure. 25 The ships of Tarshish traveled for you with your merchandise. So you were filled and heavily laden in the heart of the seas. 26 “Your rowers have brought you out into the high seas. The east wind has wrecked you in the heart of the seas. 27 Your riches, your wares, your merchandise, your mariners and your pilots, your caulkers, your dealers in merchandise, and all your men of war who are in you, with all your crew that is in your midst, sink into the heart of the seas on the day of your fall. 28 At the sound of the cry of your pilots the countryside shakes, 29 and down from their ships come all who handle the oar. The mariners and all the pilots of the sea stand on the land 30 and shout aloud over you and cry out bitterly. They cast dust on their heads and wallow in ashes; 31 they make themselves bald for you and put sackcloth on their waist, and they weep over you in bitterness of soul, with bitter mourning. 32 In their wailing they raise a lamentation for you and lament over you: ‘Who is like Tyre, like one destroyed in the midst of the sea? 33 When your wares came from the seas, you satisfied many peoples; with your abundant wealth and merchandise you enriched the kings of the earth. 34 Now you are wrecked by the seas, in the depths of the waters; your merchandise and all your crew in your midst have sunk with you. 35 All the inhabitants of the coastlands are appalled at you, and the hair of their kings bristles with horror; their faces are convulsed. 36 The merchants among the peoples hiss at you; you have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.’”

Hesekiel 27 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version

A song of sadness about Tyre

A Lament for Tyre