Add parallel Print Page Options

A Funeral Song for Tyre

27 The Lord said:

Ezekiel, son of man, sing a funeral song for Tyre,[a] the city that is built along the sea and that trades with nations along the coast. Tell the people of Tyre that the following message is from me:

Tyre, you brag about
your perfect beauty,
    and your control of the sea.[b]

You are a ship
    built to perfection.
Builders used cypress trees
from Mount Hermon
    to make your planks
and a cedar tree from Lebanon
    for your tall mast.
Oak trees from Bashan
    were shaped into oars;
pine trees from Cyprus[c]
    were cut for your deck,
which was then decorated
    with strips of ivory.
The builders used fancy linen
from Egypt for your sails,
    so everyone could see you.
Blue and purple cloth
from Cyprus was used
    to shade your deck.
Men from Sidon and Arvad
    did the rowing,
and your own skilled workers
    were the captains.
Experienced men from Byblos
    repaired any damages.
Sailors from all over
shopped at the stores
    in your port.

10 Brave soldiers from Persia,
Lydia, and Libya
    served in your navy,
protecting you with shields
and helmets,
    and making you famous.
11 Your guards came from
    Arvad and Cilicia,
and men from Gamad
    stood watch in your towers.
With their weapons
hung on your walls,
    your beauty was complete.

12 Merchants from southern Spain[d] traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products. 13 The people of Greece, Tubal, and Meshech traded slaves and things made of bronze, 14 and those from Beth-Togarmah traded work horses, war horses, and mules. 15 You also did business with people from Rhodes,[e] and people from nations along the coast gave you ivory and ebony[f] in exchange for your goods. 16 Edom[g] traded emeralds, purple cloth, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies. 17 Judah and Israel gave you their finest wheat, fancy figs,[h] honey, olive oil, and spices in exchange for your merchandise. 18 The people of Damascus saw what you had to offer and brought you wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. 19 Vedan and Javan near Uzal[i] traded you iron and spices. 20 The people of Dedan supplied you with saddle blankets, 21 while people from Arabia and the rulers of Kedar traded lambs, sheep, and goats. 22 Merchants from Sheba and Raamah gave you excellent spices, precious stones, and gold in exchange for your products. 23 You also did business with merchants from the cities of Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, 24 and they gave you expensive clothing, purple and embroidered cloth, brightly colored rugs, and strong rope. 25 (A) Large, seagoing ships[j] carried your goods wherever they needed to go.

You were like a ship
loaded with heavy cargo
26     and sailing across the sea,
but you were wrecked
    by strong eastern winds.
27 Everything on board was lost—
    your valuable cargo,
    your sailors and carpenters,
    merchants and soldiers.
28 The shouts of your drowning crew
    were heard on the shore.

29 Every ship is deserted;
rowers and sailors and captains
    all stand on shore,
30     mourning for you.
They show their sorrow
by putting dust on their heads
    and rolling in ashes;
31 they shave their heads
and dress in sackcloth[k]
    as they cry in despair.
32 In their grief they sing
    a funeral song for you:
“Tyre, you were greater
    than all other cities.
But now you lie in silence
    at the bottom of the sea.[l]

33 “Nations that received
your merchandise
    were always pleased;
kings everywhere got rich
    from your costly goods.
34 But now you are wrecked
    in the deep sea,
with your cargo and crew
    scattered everywhere.
35 People living along the coast
    are shocked at the news.
Their rulers are horrified,
and terror is written
    across their faces.
36 The merchants of the world
    can't believe what happened.
Your death was gruesome,
    and you are gone forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 27.2 Tyre: See the note at 26.2.
  2. 27.4 and your control of the sea: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  3. 27.6 pine trees from Cyprus: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  4. 27.12 southern Spain: The Hebrew text has “Tarshish,” which may have been a Phoenician city in southern Spain.
  5. 27.15 Rhodes: One ancient translation; Hebrew “Dedan.”
  6. 27.15 ebony: A valuable black wood.
  7. 27.16 Edom: Some Hebrew manuscripts and one ancient translation; most Hebrew manuscripts “Syria.”
  8. 27.17 their finest wheat, fancy figs: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  9. 27.19 Vedan and Javan near Uzal: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  10. 27.25 Large, seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has “Ships of Tarshish,” which may have been a Phoenician city in Spain. “Ships of Tarshish” probably means large, seagoing ships.
  11. 27.31 sackcloth: See the note at 7.18.
  12. 27.32 Tyre, you were greater … the bottom of the sea: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

Bible Gateway Recommends