1 The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of Jehovah and set me down in the middle of the valley. The valley was full of bones.

2 He caused me to pass among them round about. There were very many on the surface of the valley and they were very dry.

3 He said to me: »Son of man, can these bones live?« I answered, »O Lord Jehovah, you know.«

4 »‘Again he said: »Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah.

5 »‘The Lord Jehovah says to these bones: »I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.

6 »‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive. You will know that I am Jehovah.« ’«

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling. The bones came together, bone to its bone.

8 I looked, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them. But there was no breath in them.

9 Then Jehovah said to me: »Prophesy to the wind ruach: air, breath, spirit, life! Prophesy, son of man. Tell the wind, this is what the Lord Jehovah says: ‘Come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe on these people who were killed so that they will live.« ’«

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath of life entered them. Then they came to life and stood on their feet. There were enough of them to form a very large army.

11 Jehovah also said: »Son of man, all the people of Israel are like these bones. The people say: Our bones are dry, and our hope has vanished. We are completely destroyed.

12 Prophesy and tell them: ‘This is what the Lord Jehovah says: »My people, I will open your graves and take you out of them. I will bring you to Israel.

13 Then, my people, you will know that I am Jehovah, because I will open your graves and bring you out of your graves.« ’

14 ‘I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I, Jehovah, have spoken, and I have done it,’ declares Jehovah.«

15 Jehovah spoke his word to me again:

16 »Son of man, take a stick and write on it: For Judah and for the Israelites who are associated with it.’ Then take another stick and write on it: ‘The stick of Ephraim, for Joseph and for all the people of Israel associated with it.’

17 Then join both sticks together so that they will be one in your hand. Your people will say to you:

18 ‘Tell us what you mean by this.’

19 Then say to them: ‘This is what the Lord Jehovah says: I will take Joseph's stick, which is in Ephraim's hand, and the tribes of Israel associated with it, and I will put them with Judah's stick. I will make them into one stick. They will be one in my hand.« ’

20 When you hold the sticks in your hand, let the people see them.

21 »Tell them: ‘The Lord Jehovah says: »I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from everywhere and bring them to their own land.

22 I will form them into one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule all of them. They will no longer be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.

23 They will no longer dishonor themselves with their idols, with their detestable things, or with their rebellious acts. I will forgive them for all the times they turned away from me and sinned. I will cleanse them so that they will be my people, and I will be their God.

24 »‘»My servant David will be their king. All of them will have one shepherd. They will live by my rules, and they will obey my laws.

25 »‘»They will live in the land that I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They, their children, and their grandchildren will live in it for a very long time. My servant David will be their prince for a very long time.

26 »‘»I will promise them peace. This will be a long lasting promise. I will establish them and make them increase in number. I will put my holy place among them for a very long time.

27 »‘»My dwelling place will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

28 »‘»Then the nations will know that I, Jehovah, have set Israel apart as holy, because my holy place will be among them permanently.« ’«