Ezekiel 37

1 The Lord’s hand came on me, and the Lord brought me out by the Spirit and set me on the plain. It was full of human bones. 2 He led me all around them. I saw very many bones lying on the plain, and they were very dry. 3 He asked me, 3 “Son of man, will these bones live?” 3 I answered, 3 “Lord, you know these things.” 4 He told me, 4 “Prophesy over these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the Lord’s word.’” 5 “This is what the Lord says to these bones: Look, I will bring the breath of life on you.” 6 “I will place sinews on you, bring flesh on you, spread skin over you, and put my Spirit within you. You will live and know that I am the Lord.” 7 I prophesied as he commanded me. While I was prophesying, there was a shaking, and each bone came together at its joint. † 8 I looked and saw sinews and flesh grow on them and skin cover them, but there was no breath in them. † 9 He told me, 9 “Prophesy to the wind, son of man. Tell the wind, ‘This is what the Lord says: Come from the four winds and breathe on these dead people so that they live.’” 10 I prophesied as he commanded me. Breath entered them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great assembly. 11 The Lord spoke to me. 11 “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say,” 11 “Our bones have dried up, our hope has perished, and we are completely spent.” † 12 “Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I will open your tombs, bring you from them, and lead you into Israel’s land.’” 13 “‘When I open your graves and bring my people from them, you will know that I am the Lord.’” 14 “I will put my Spirit within you, and you will live, and I will place you on your land. You will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and will do it, says the Lord.” 15 The Lord’s word came to me. 16 “Son of man, take a rod and write on it, ‘Judah and the people of Israel who belong to him.’ Take another rod and write on it, ‘Joseph, Ephraim’s rod, and all the people of Israel who belong to him.’” 17 “Join the two rods together so they bind into one stick in your hand.” 18 “When your people ask you,” 18 “Will you not tell us what you mean by these things?” 19 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I will take Joseph’s tribe, which is in Ephraim’s hand, and the tribes of Israel belonging to him. I will add them to Judah’s tribe, and they will become one rod in Judah’s hand.’” 20 “Hold the rods on which you wrote in your hand before them.” 21 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Look, I will take the whole house of Israel from among the nations where they went, gather them from every side, and bring them into Israel’s land.’” 22 “‘I will make them one nation in my land on Israel’s mountains, with one ruler over them. They will no longer be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.’” 23 “‘They will no longer defile themselves with their idols. I will rescue them from all the lawless deeds by which they sinned and make them clean. They will be my people, and I, the Lord, will be their God.’” 24 “‘My servant David will be their ruler, and all will have one shepherd. They will walk in my decrees, keep my judgments, and do them.’” 25 “They will live in their land, which I have given to my servant Jacob, where their fathers lived. They will live on it. David my servant will be their ruler forever.” 26 “I will make with them a covenant of peace. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will establish my sanctuary among them forever.” 27 “My tent will be among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 28 “Then the nations will know that I am the Lord who makes them holy, when my sanctuary remains among them forever.”