1The hand of Yahweh was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of Yahweh and set me down in the middle of a valley that was full of bones.
2He led me all around them, and I saw that there were a great many bones in the open valley, and they were very dry.
3He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I answered, "Lord Yahweh, only you know."
4Again he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and tell them, 'You dry bones, hear Yahweh’s word.'"
5The Lord Yahweh says this to these bones: 'Look, I will make breath enter you, and you will live.'
6I will put muscles on you, bring flesh on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you. You will live, and you will know that I am Yahweh.
7So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and then an earthquake. The bones came together, each bone to its own bone.
8I looked, and there were muscles on them, then flesh grew, and skin covered them. But there was no breath in them.
9Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the wind. Prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain people so they may live.'"
10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them. They lived and stood up on their feet, a vast army.
11Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole nation of Israel. Look, they are saying, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.'"
12Therefore, prophesy and tell them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Look, my people, I will open your graves and bring you up from your graves. Then I will bring you into 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. I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and acted on it, says Yahweh.
15Yahweh’s word came to me again, saying,
16"You, son of man, take one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the people of Israel who are his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions.'"
17Then join them together into one stick in your hand so they become one.
18When your people ask you, 'Won't you explain what you mean by these things?'
19tell them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Look, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions. I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick. They will be one in my hand.'
20The sticks you write on will be in your hand for them to see.
21Say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Look, I will take the people of Israel from the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all sides and bring them into their own land.'
22I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will be king over all of them. They will no longer be two nations, nor will they ever again be divided into two kingdoms.
23They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, their detestable things, or any of their wrongdoings. I will save them from all the places where they have sinned and cleanse them. So they will be my people, and I will be their God.
24My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will live by my laws, and keep my rules, and obey them.
25They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They, their children, and their grandchildren will live there forever. And my servant David will be their leader forever.
26Also, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will settle them, and make them numerous, and put my holy place among them forever.
27My dwelling place will also be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
28The nations will know that I am Yahweh, who makes Israel holy, when my holy place is among them forever.