Ezekiel 37

1The hand of Yahweh came upon me, and he carried me out by the Spirit of Yahweh and set me down in the middle of the valley, which was full of bones.

2He caused me to pass over them all around, and look, exceedingly many lay on the surface of the valley, and look, they were very dry.

3He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Lord Yahweh, you know.”

4He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of Yahweh.'"

5Thus says Lord Yahweh to these bones: See, I am bringing breath into you, and you will live.

6I will put sinews on you, cause flesh to come up over you, and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will live, and you will know that I am Yahweh.

7I prophesied as I was commanded, and as I prophesied a sound arose—behold, a rattling—and the bones approached, bone to its bone.

8I saw, and behold, sinews upon them, flesh came up, and skin covered them from above; but there was no breath in them.

9He said to me, "Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, 'Thus says Lord Yahweh: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.'"

10I prophesied as he instructed me, and the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet—an exceedingly great army.

11He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel. See, they are saying, 'Our bones have dried up, and our hope has perished; we are utterly cut off.'"

12Therefore prophesy and say to them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will open your graves and bring you up from your graves, my people, and I will bring you to the land of Israel.

13You will know that I am Yahweh when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, my people.

14I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you on your own soil; then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken and done it, says Yahweh.

15The word of Yahweh came to me, saying.

16You, son of man, take one stick and write on it, "For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions," and take another stick and write on it, "For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions."

17Bring them together one to another into one stick for yourself, and they will become one in your hand.

18When your people's children speak to you, saying, "Will you not tell us what these are to you?"

19Speak to them, Thus says Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in Ephraim's hand, and the tribes of Israel his companions, and I will put them with it, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in my hand.

20And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.

21Say to them: This is what Lord Yahweh declares: See, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, gather them from all around, and bring them to their land.

22I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one king will be king to them all; they will no longer be two nations, nor will they be divided into two kingdoms ever again.

23They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their rebellions, but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places where they sinned, and I will purify them, so they become my people while I become their God.

24My servant David will be king over them; one shepherd will be for all of them. They will follow my judgments, keep my statutes, and perform them.

25They will dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers dwelt; they will dwell in it—they themselves, their children, and their children's children—forever, and my servant David will be their prince forever.

26I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them, and I will settle them and multiply them, and set my sanctuary among them forever.

27My dwelling will be among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.

28The nations will know that I, Yahweh, sanctify Israel when my sanctuary is in their midst forever.