Ezekiel 37

The valley of bones

1The hand of the LORD came upon me. He brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley full of bones. 2He led me all around them. There were very many bones across the valley, and they were very dry. 3He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord GOD, you know.” 4Then he told me, “Prophesy over these bones. Say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I am bringing breath into you, and you will live. 6I will put sinews on you, bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin, and put breath into you. You will live, and you will know that I am the LORD.’” 7So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound—a rattling—and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8I looked: sinews were on them, flesh had grown, and skin covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9He told me, “Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: This is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe into these slain, so they may live.” 10I prophesied as he commanded me. Breath entered them; they lived and stood on their feet, an immense army. 11He told me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones have dried up, our hope is lost, and we are cut off.’ 12Therefore prophesy and tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am opening your graves and bringing you up from them, my people. I will bring you to Israel’s soil. 13Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them, my people. 14I will put my spirit within you, and you will live. I will settle you on your own soil. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it, declares the LORD.”