Ezekiel 27

1-36 Lamentation over Tyre

God tells Ezekiel to raise a lamentation over Tyre – a merchant of many coastlands. In poetic format, he compares her to a magnificent ship:

3 Tyre has said “I am in perfect in beauty.”

4-7 Your borders are in the heart of the seas; you are made from the finest imported wood, ivory, embroidered linen and materials

8-11 Your rowers, your pilots, your artisans, mariners, and warriors are the most skilled.

12-25a Goods from other countries enumerated

• Tarshish gave you great minerals for your wares
• Javan, Tubal and Meshech gave you slaves and bronze vessels for your merchandise
• Beth-togarmah supplied horses, war horses and mules
• Rhodians paid you in ivory and ebony
• Edom paid you in turquoise, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies
• Judah and Israel paid you with wheat, honey, oil and balm
• Damascus paid in wine and white wool
• Vedan and Javan from Uzel paid you in iron, cassia, and sweet cane
• Dedan – saddlecloths for riding
• Arabia – lambs, rams, goats
• Sheba and Raamah – spices, precious stones and gold
• Others – fabric and colorful carpets

26b-27 You are so heavily laden in the hearts of the seas that you sink, with all your riches, your wares, your crew, your merchants.

28-32 When they hear your cry, all the mariners stand on the shore and wail bitterly, throwing dust and wearing sackcloth.

33-35 You satisfied many peoples, but now you are wrecked by the seas. Kings are afraid, and merchants hiss at you.

36 “You have come to a dreadful end and shall be no more forever.”