Fluent Translation · Read & Reflect
Ezekiel 27
The splendid ship
The word of the LORD came to me:
“Son of man, take up a lament over Tyre.
Say to Tyre, who sits at the entrances to the sea, trading with peoples on many coastlands: This is what the Lord GOD says:
‘Tyre, you said,
“I am perfect in beauty.”
Your borders lie in the heart of the seas;
your builders perfected your beauty.
They made all your planks
from junipers of Senir;
they took a cedar from Lebanon
to make your mast.
They made your oars from oaks of Bashan,
your deck of cypress from the coastlands of Kittim,
inlaid with ivory.
Embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail
and served as your banner.
Blue and purple cloth from Elishah’s coastlands
was your awning.
People of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers;
your own skilled men, Tyre, were aboard as pilots.
Elders of Gebal and its skilled men
were aboard to repair your seams.
All the ships of the sea and their sailors
came to you to exchange your goods.
Men of Persia, Lud, and Put served in your army
as your warriors.
They hung shield and helmet on you
and gave you splendor.
Men of Arvad and your army stood on your walls all around;
the Gammadim were in your towers.
They hung their shields all around your walls
and perfected your beauty.
Its trading partners
“‘Tarshish traded with you because of your abundant wealth. They paid for your wares with silver, iron, tin, and lead.
Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They exchanged human lives and bronze vessels for your goods.
From Beth-togarmah they brought horses, warhorses, and mules in exchange for your wares.
The people of Dedan traded with you. Many coastlands were your customers; they paid you in ivory tusks and ebony.
Aram traded with you because of your many products. They paid for your wares with turquoise, purple cloth, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies.
Judah and the land of Israel traded with you. They exchanged wheat from Minnith, pannag, honey, oil, and balm for your goods.
Damascus traded with you for your many products and abundant wealth, bringing wine from Helbon and white wool.
Vedan and Javan from Uzal paid for your wares. Wrought iron, cassia, and aromatic cane were among your traded goods.
Dedan traded saddlecloths with you.
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers. They traded with you in lambs, rams, and male goats.
The traders of Sheba and Raamah traded with you. They paid for your wares with the finest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold.
Haran, Canneh, Eden, the traders of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad traded with you.
They traded with you in splendid clothes, blue and embroidered wraps, and multicolored rugs bound and secured with cords.
Ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise.
You were filled and heavily laden
in the heart of the seas.
The ship breaks apart
Your rowers took you into great waters,
but the east wind shattered you
in the heart of the seas.
Your wealth, wares, and goods,
your sailors and pilots,
those who repaired your seams and traded your goods,
all your warriors aboard
and the whole company within you—
they will fall into the heart of the seas
on the day of your fall.
At the sound of your pilots’ cry,
the shorelands will shake.
All who handle an oar will leave their ships.
Sailors and all the sea’s pilots
will stand on land.
They will raise their voices over you
and cry out bitterly,
throwing dust on their heads
and rolling in ashes.
They will shave their heads for you
and wrap themselves in sackcloth.
With bitter hearts they will weep over you,
a bitter mourning.
In their wailing they will take up a lament for you:
“Who is like Tyre,
now silenced in the midst of the sea?”
When your wares went out across the seas,
you satisfied many peoples.
Your great wealth and merchandise
enriched the kings of the earth.
Now you are shattered by the seas,
in the depths of the waters;
your merchandise and all your company
have fallen with you.
All who live on the coastlands are appalled at you.
Their kings shudder with horror;
their faces are troubled.
Merchants among the peoples hiss at you.
You have become a terror,
and you will be no more forever.’”