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THE BIBLE - DOUAY-RHEIMS - BOOK 31
THE BIBLE - DOUAY-RHEIMS - BOOK 31 TITLE THE HOLY BIBLE
Translated from the Latin Vulgate
Diligently Compared with the Hebrew Greek
and Other Editions in Divers Languages
THE OLD TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Douay
A.D. 1609 & 1610
and
THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Published by the English College at Rheims
A.D. 1582
With Annotations
The Whole Revised and Diligently Compared with
the Latin Vulgate by Bishop Richard Challoner
A.D. 1749-1752
THE PROPHECY OF EZECHIEL
EZECHIEL whose name signifies the STRENGTH OF GOD was of the priestly
race; and of the number of captives that were carried away to Babylon
with king JOACHIN. He was contemporary with JEREMIAS and prophesied to
the same effect in Babylon as JEREMIAS did in Jerusalem; and is said to
have ended his days in like manner by martyrdom.
Ezechiel Chapter 1
The time of Ezechiel's prophecy: he sees a glorious vision.
1:1. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year in the fourth month on
the fifth day of the month when I was in the midst of the captives by
the river Chobar the heavens were opened and I saw the visions of God.
The thirtieth year... Either of the age of Ezechiel; or as others will
have it from the solemn covenant made in the eighteenth year of the
reign of Josias. 4 Kings 23.
1:2. On the fifth day of the month the same was the fifth year of the
captivity of king Joachin
1:3. The word of the Lord came to Ezechiel the priest the son of Buzi in
the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chobar: and the hand of the Lord
was there upon him.
1:4. And I saw and behold a whirlwind came out of the north: and a
great cloud and a fire infolding it and brightness was about it: and
out of the midst thereof that is out of the midst of the fire as it
were the resemblance of amber:
1:5. And in the midst thereof the likeness of four living creatures: and
this was their appearance: there was the likeness of a man in them.
Living creatures... Cherubims (as appears from Ecclesiasticus 49.10)
represented to the prophet under these mysterious shapes as supporting
the throne of God and as it were drawing his chariot. All this chapter
appeared so obscure and so full of mysteries to the ancient Hebrews
that as we learn from St. Jerome (Ep. ad Paulin.) they suffered none
to read it before they were thirty years old.
1:6. Every one had four faces and every one four wings.
1:7. Their feet were straight feet and the sole of their foot was like
the sole of a calf's foot and they sparkled like the appearance of
glowing brass.
1:8. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four
sides: and they had faces and wings on the four sides
1:9. And the wings of one were joined to the wings of another. They
turned not when they went: but every one went straight forward.
1:10. And as for the likeness of their faces: there was the face of a
man and the face of a lion on the right side of all the four: and the
face of an ox on the left side of all the four: and the face of an
eagle over all the four.
1:11. And their faces and their wings were stretched upward: two wings
of every one were joined and two covered their bodies:
1:12. And every one of them went straight forward: whither the impulse
of the spirit was to go thither they went: and they turned not when
they went.
1:13. And as for the likeness of the living creatures their appearance
was like that of burning coals of fire and like the appearance of
lamps. This was the vision running to and fro in the midst of the living
creatures a bright fire and lightning going forth from the fire.
1:14. And the living creatures ran and returned like flashes of
lightning.
1:15. Now as I beheld the living creatures there appeared upon the
earth by the living creatures one wheel with four faces.
1:16. And the appearance of the wheels and the work of them was like
the appearance of the sea: and the four had all one likeness: and their
appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the midst of a
wheel.
1:17. When they went they went by their four parts: and they turned not
when they went.
When they went they went by their four parts... That is indifferently
to any of their sides either forward or backward: to the right or to the
left.
1:18. The wheels had also a size and a height and a dreadful
appearance: and the whole body was full of eyes round about all the
four.
1:19. And when the living creatures went the wheels also went together
by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth
the wheels also were lifted up with them.
1:20. Withersoever the spirit went thither as the spirit went the
wheels also were lifted up withal and followed it: for the spirit of
life was in the wheels.
1:21. When those went these went and when those stood these stood and
when those were lifted up from the earth the wheels were lifted up
together and followed them: for the spirit of life was in the wheels.
1:22. And over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of the
firmament the appearance of crystal terrible to behold and stretched
out over their heads above.
1:23. And under the firmament were their wings straight the one toward
the other every one with two wings covered his body and the other was
covered in like manner.
1:24. And I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of many
waters as it were the voice of the most high God: when they walked it
was like the voice of a multitude like the noise of an army and when
they stood their wings were let down.
1:25. For when a voice came from above the firmament that was over
their heads they stood and let down their wings.
1:26. And above the firmament that was over their heads was the
likeness of a throne as the appearance of the sapphire stone and upon
the likeness of the throne was the likeness of the appearance of a man
above upon it.
1:27. And I saw as it were the resemblance of amber as the appearance of
fire within it round about: from his loins and upward and from his
loins downward I saw as it were the resemblance of fire shining round
about.
1:28. As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy
day: this was the appearance of the brightness round about.
Ezechiel Chapter 2
The prophet receives his commission.
2:1. This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord and I
saw and I fell upon my face and I heard the voice of one that spoke
and he said to me: Son of man stand upon thy feet and I will speak to
thee.
2:2. And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me and he
set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me
2:3. And saying: Son of man I send thee to the children of Israel to a
rebellious people that hath revolted from me they and their fathers
have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.
2:4. And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face and of an
obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God:
2:5. If so be they at least will hear and if so be they will forbear
for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath been
a prophet in the midst of them.
2:6. And thou O son of man fear not neither be thou afraid of their
words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers and thou dwellest
with scorpions. Fear not their words neither be thou dismayed at their
looks: for they are a provoking house.
2:7. And thou shalt speak my words to them if perhaps they will hear
and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.
2:8. But thou O son of man hear all that I say to thee: and do not
thou provoke me as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth and eat
what I give thee.
2:9. And I looked and behold a hand was sent to me wherein was a book
rolled up: and he spread it before me and it was written within and
without: and there were written in it lamentations and canticles and
woe.
Ezechiel Chapter 3
The prophet eats the book and receives further instructions: the office
of a watchman.
3:1. And he said to me: Son of man eat all that thou shalt find: eat
this book and go speak to the children of Israel.
Eat this book and go speak to the children of Israel... By this eating
of the book was signified the diligent attention and affection with
which we are to receive and embrace the word of God; and to let it as
it were sink into our interior by devout meditation.
3:2. And I opened my mouth and he caused me to eat that book:
3:3. And he said to me: Son of man thy belly shall eat and thy bowels
shall be filled with this book which I give thee and I did eat it: and
it was sweet as honey in my mouth.
3:4. And he said to me: Son of man go to the house of Israel and thou
shalt speak my words to them.
3:5. For thou art not sent to a people of a profound speech and of an
unknown tongue but to the house of Israel:
3:6. Nor to many nations of a strange speech and of an unknown tongue
whose words thou canst not understand: and if thou wert sent to them
they would hearken to thee.
3:7. But the house of Israel will not hearken to thee: because they will
not hearken to me: for all the house of Israel are of a hard forehead
and an obstinate heart.
3:8. Behold I have made thy face stronger than their faces: and thy
forehead harder than their foreheads.
3:9. I have made thy face like an adamant and like flint: fear them not
neither be thou dismayed at their presence: for they are a provoking
house.
3:10. And he said to me: Son of man receive in thy heart and hear with
thy ears all the words that I speak to thee:
3:11. And go get thee in to them of the captivity to the children of
thy people and thou shalt speak to them and shalt say to them: Thus
saith the Lord: If so be they will hear and will forbear.
3:12. And the spirit took me up and I heard behind me the voice of a
great commotion saying: Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his
place.
3:13. The noise of the wings of the living creatures striking one
against another and the noise of the wheels following the living
creatures and the noise of a great commotion.
3:14. The spirit also lifted me and took me up: and I went away in
bitterness in the indignation of my spirit: for the hand of the Lord was
with me strengthening me.
3:15. And I came to them of the captivity to the heap of new corn to
them that dwelt by the river Chobar and I sat where they sat: and I
remained there seven days mourning in the midst of them.
The heap of new corn... It was the name of a place: in Hebrew tel abib.
3:16. And at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me
saying:
3:17. Son of man I have made thee a watchman to the house of Israel:
and thou shalt hear the word out of my mouth and shalt tell it them
from me.
3:18. If when I say to the wicked Thou shalt surely die: thou declare
it not to him nor speak to him that he may be converted from his
wicked way and live: the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity but
I will require his blood at thy hand.
3:19. But if thou give warning to the wicked and he be not converted
from his wickedness and from his evil way: he indeed shall die in his
iniquity but thou hast delivered thy soul.
3:20. Moreover if the just man shall turn away from his justice and
shall commit iniquity: I will lay a stumblingblock before him he shall
die because thou hast not given him warning: he shall die in his sin
and his justices which he hath done shall not be remembered: but I will
require his blood at thy hand.
3:21. But if thou warn the just man that the just may not sin and he
doth not sin: living he shall live because thou hast warned him and
thou hast delivered thy soul.
3:22. And the hand of the Lord was upon me and he said to me: Rise and
go forth into the plain and there I will speak to thee.
3:23. And I rose up and went forth into the plain: and behold the glory
of the Lord stood there like the glory which I saw by the river Chobar:
and I fell upon my face.
3:24. And the spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet: and he
spoke to me and said to me: Go in; and shut thyself up in the midst of
thy house.
3:25. And thou O son of man behold they shall put bands upon thee and
they shall bind thee with them: and thou shalt not go forth from the
midst of them.
3:26. And I will make thy tongue stick fast to the roof of thy mouth
and thou shalt be dumb and not as a man that reproveth: because they
are a provoking house.
3:27. But when I shall speak to thee I will open thy mouth and thou
shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: He that heareth let him
hear: and he that forbeareth let him forbear: for they are a provoking
house.
Ezechiel Chapter 4
A prophetic description of the siege of Jerusalem and the famine that
shall reign there.
4:1. And thou O son of man take thee a tile and lay it before thee:
and draw upon it the plan of the city of Jerusalem.
4:2. And lay siege against it and build forts and cast up a mount and
set a camp against it and place battering rams round about it.
4:3. And take unto thee an iron pan and set it for a wall of iron
between thee and the city: and set thy face resolutely against it and
it shall be besieged and thou shalt lay siege against it: it is a sign
to the house of Israel.
4:4. And thou shalt sleep upon thy left side and shalt lay the
iniquities of the house of Israel upon it according to the number of
the days that thou shalt sleep upon it and thou shalt take upon thee
their iniquity.
4:5. And I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity according to
the number of the days three hundred and ninety days: and thou shalt
bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
4:6. And when thou hast accomplished this thou shalt sleep again upon
thy right side and thou shalt take upon thee the iniquity of the house
of Juda forty days: a day for a year yea a day for a year I have
appointed to thee.
4:7. And thou shalt turn thy face to the siege of Jerusalem and thy arm
shall be stretched out: and thou shalt prophesy against it.
4:8. Behold I have encompassed thee with bands: and thou shalt not turn
thyself from one side to the other till thou hast ended the days of thy
siege.
4:9. And take to thee wheat and barley and beans and lentils and
millet and fitches and put them in one vessel and make thee bread
thereof according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy
side: three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof.
4:10. And thy meat that thou shalt eat shall be in weight twenty
staters a day: from time to time thou shalt eat it.
4:11. And thou shalt drink water by measure the sixth part of a hin:
from time to time thou shalt drink it
Hin... That is a measure of liquids containing about ten pints.
4:12. And thou shalt eat it as barley bread baked under the ashes: and
thou shalt cover it in their sight with the dung that cometh out of a
man.
4:13. And the Lord said: So shall the children of Israel eat their bread
all filthy among the nations whither I will cast them out.
4:14. And I said: Ah ah ah O Lord God behold my soul hath not been
defiled and from my infancy even till now I have not eaten any thing
that died of itself or was torn by beasts and no unclean flesh hath
entered into my mouth.
4:15. And he said to me: Behold I have given thee neat's dung for man's
dung and thou shalt make thy bread therewith.
4:16. And he said to me: Son of man: Behold I will break in pieces the
staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight and
with care: and they shall drink water by measure and in distress.
4:17. So that when bread and water fail every man may fall against his
brother and they may pine away in their iniquities.
Ezechiel Chapter 5
The judgments of God upon the Jews are foreshewn under the type of the
prophet's hair.
5:1. And thou son of man take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the
hair: and cause it to pass over thy head and over thy beard: and take
thee a balance to weigh in and divide the hair.
5:2. A third part thou shalt burn with fire in the midst of the city
according to the fulfilling of the days of the siege: and thou shalt
take a third part and cut it in pieces with the knife all round about:
and the other third part thou shalt scatter in the wind and I will draw
out the sword after them.
5:3. And thou shalt take thereof a small number: and shalt bind them in
the skirt of thy cloak.
5:4. And thou shalt take of them again and shalt cast them in the midst
of the fire and shalt burn them with fire: and out of it shall come
forth a fire into all the house of Israel.
5:5. Thus saith the Lord God: This is Jerusalem I have set her in the
midst of the nations and the countries round about her.
5:6. And she hath despised my judgments so as to be more wicked than
the Gentiles; and my commandments more than the countries that are
round about her: for they have cast off my judgments and have not
walked in my commandments.
5:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have surpassed the
Gentiles that are round about you and have not walked in my
commandments and have not kept my judgments and have not done
according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you:
5:8. Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee and
I myself will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the
Gentiles.
5:9. And I will do in thee that which I have not done: and the like to
which I will do no more because of all thy abominations.
5:10. Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee and
the sons shall eat their fathers: and I will execute judgments in thee
and I will scatter thy whole remnant into every wind.
5:11. Therefore as I live saith the Lord God: Because thou hast
violated my sanctuary with all thy offences and with all thy
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