וַיְהִי דְבַר־ה' אֵלַי לֵאמֹר

The word of the Lord was with me, saying:

וְאַתָּה בֶן־אָדָם שָׂא עַל־צֹר קִינָה

You, Son of man, raise a lament for Tyre.

וְאָמַרְתָּ לְצוֹר הַיֹּשֶׁבֶת עַל־מְבוֹאֹת יָם רֹכֶלֶת הָעַמִּים אֶל־אִיִּים רַבִּים כֹּה אָמַר ה' אֱלוֹהִים צוֹר אַתְּ אָמַרְתְּ אֲנִי כְּלִילַת יֹפִי

Say of Tyre that dwells by the harbors of the sea, the merchant of the peoples, which transports its goods to many lands of the sea and overseas countries: So said the Lord God: You, Tyre, said: I am the perfection of beauty. Ezekiel will elaborate on this claim in the form of a detailed description of a sophisticated luxury ship.

בְּלֵב יַמִּים גְּבוּלָיִךְ בֹּנַיִךְ כָּלְלוּ יָפְיֵךְ

In the heart of the seas are your surrounding borders; there, your builders perfected your beauty. Tyre was established in all its glory in the middle of the sea.

בְּרוֹשִׁים מִשְּׂנִיר בָּנוּ לָךְ אֵת כָּל־לֻחֹתָיִם אֶרֶז מִלְּבָנוֹן לָקָחוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת תֹּרֶן עָלָיִךְ

Of junipers from Senir, Hermon, they built you, all your planks for your ship; cedars, which are tall, upright, and strong, from Lebanon they took to make a mast for you. Tyre’s ship is made from the best raw materials in the world.

אַלּוֹנִים מִבָּשָׁן עָשׂוּ מִשּׁוֹטָיִךְ קַרְשֵׁךְ עָשׂוּ שֵׁן בַּת־אֲשֻׁרִים מֵאִיֵּי כִּתִּיִּם

Of oaks from Bashan they made your oars; the planks of your rudder, your ship’s wheel or your deck and rooms, they made of ivory inlaid in boxwood, which were brought from the isles of the Kitites.

שֵׁשׁ בְּרִקְמָה מִמִּצְרַיִם הָיָה מִפְרָשֵׂךְ לִהְיוֹת לָךְ לְנֵס תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן מֵאִיֵּי אֱלִישָׁה הָיָה מְכַסֵּךְ

Of embroidered linen from Egypt, the source of superior linen, was your sail to be a banner for you; sky blue and purple from the isles of Elisha was your awning for shade and protection.

יֹשְׁבֵי צִידוֹן וְאַרְוַד הָיוּ שָׁטִים לָךְ חֲכָמַיִךְ צוֹר הָיוּ בָךְ הֵמָּה חֹבְלָיִךְ

The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were oarsmen for you; while your wise men, Tyre, who were among you, they were your navigators. Navigation, which requires great skill, was performed by Tyre’s own talented residents.

זִקְנֵי גְבַל וַחֲכָמֶיהָ הָיוּ בָךְ מַחֲזִיקֵי בִּדְקֵךְ כָּל־אֳנִיּוֹת הַיָּם וּמַלָּחֵיהֶם הָיוּ בָךְ לַעֲרֹב מַעֲרָבֵךְ

The elders of Geval, a city in the region of Tyre, and its wise men who were among you, were caulkers of your seams, those who mend your cracks; all the ships of the sea and their sailors were among you, in order to trade their goods for your merchandise.

פָּרַס וְלוּד וּפוּט הָיוּ בְחֵילֵךְ אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתֵּךְ מָגֵן וְכוֹבַע תִּלּוּ בָךְ הֵמָּה נָתְנוּ הֲדָרֵךְ

Persia, Lud, and Put were in your army; they were your men of war. Since Tyre was a small state, most of whose inhabitants engaged in seamanship and commerce, it employed mercenary soldiers from other places. They hung bucklers and helmets on you for display. They conferred your grandeur, as they endowed you with honor and a position of power.

בְּנֵי אַרְוַד וחֵילֵךְ עַל־חוֹמוֹתַיִךְ סָבִיב וְגַמָּדִים בְּמִגְדְּלוֹתַיִךְ הָיוּ שִׁלְטֵיהֶם תִּלּוּ עַל־חוֹמוֹתַיִךְ סָבִיב הֵמָּה כָּלְלוּ יָפְיֵךְ

The children of Arvad and your army were upon your walls all around, and Gamadim were guarding in your towers. They hung their shields upon your walls all around in order to show their presence and strength to all who might threaten you; they perfected your beauty.

תַּרְשִׁישׁ סֹחַרְתֵּךְ מֵרֹב כָּל־הוֹן בְּכֶסֶף בַּרְזֶל בְּדִיל וְעוֹפֶרֶת נָתְנוּ עִזְבוֹנָיִךְ

The city of Tarshish was your trading partner due to the abundance of all types of Tyre’s riches; silver, iron, tin, and lead they, the merchants of Tarshish, gave both luxuries and necessities in exchange for your wares. Silver, which is almost entirely absent from the region, and likewise tin, which is necessary for manufacturing bronze and the like, were brought to Tyre from Tarshish.

יָוָן תֻּבַל וָמֶשֶׁךְ הֵמָּה רֹכְלָיִךְ בְּנֶפֶשׁ אָדָם וּכְלֵי נְחֹשֶׁת נָתְנוּ מַעֲרָבֵךְ

Yavan, Tuval, and Meshekh, they were your traders; human beings, slaves, and bronze vessels they gave for your merchandise.

מִבֵּית תּוֹגַרְמָה סוּסִים וּפָרָשִׁים וּפְרָדִים נָתְנוּ עִזְבוֹנָיִךְ

From the house of Togarma (see 38:6), they gave horses, horsemen; alternatively, both regular horses and fine horses that are particularly fast, and mules for your wares.

בְּנֵי דְדָן רֹכְלַיִךְ אִיִּים רַבִּים סְחֹרַת יָדֵךְ קַרְנוֹת שֵׁן וְהָבְנִים הֵשִׁיבוּ אֶשְׁכָּרֵךְ

The men of Dedan, a people from southwest Asia Minor or the island of Rhodes, trafficked with you, and many lands of the sea were the domain of your merchandise; horns of ivory and ebony,or peacocks, they brought back, or paid you, as your tribute. Some explain that the verse means that the people of Dedan gave Tyre these tributes repeatedly.

אֲרָם סֹחַרְתֵּךְ מֵרֹב מַעֲשָׂיִךְ בְּנֹפֶךְ אַרְגָּמָן וְרִקְמָה וּבוּץ וְרָאמֹת וְכַדְכֹּד נָתְנוּ בְּעִזְבוֹנָיִךְ

Aram was your trading partner due to the abundance of your commerce or due to your many business dealings; carbuncle, a red gem, purple wool, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and chalcedonythey, the Arameans, gave for your wares.

יְהוּדָה וְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵמָּה רֹכְלָיִךְ בְּחִטֵּי מִנִּית וּפַנַּג וּדְבַשׁ וָשֶׁמֶן וָצֹרִי נָתְנוּ מַעֲרָבֵךְ

Judah and the Land of Israel, they trafficked with you; choice wheat of Minit, millet, honey, oil, and balm, a plant grown mainly in Gilad and used as a perfume or for medicinal purposes, they gave for your merchandise.

דַּמֶּשֶׂק סֹחַרְתֵּךְ בְּרֹב מַעֲשַׂיִךְ מֵרֹב כָּל־הוֹן בְּיין חֶלְבּוֹן וְצֶמֶר צָחַר

Damascus was your trading partner in the abundance of your commerce, due to the abundance of all riches. The Damascenes paid you with the wine brought from the city of Helvon and white wool. Some interpret “wine of Helvon” as a general reference to white wine.

וְדָן וְיָוָן מְאוּזָּל בְּעִזְבוֹנַיִךְ נָתָנּוּ בַּרְזֶל עָשׁוֹת קִדָּה וְקָנֶה בְּמַעֲרָבֵךְ הָיָה

Vedan and Yavan and Me’uzalgave you goods for your wares; massive, solid blocks of iron, cassia, and fragrant canewere among your merchandise.

דְּדָן רֹכַלְתֵּךְ בְּבִגְדֵי־חֹפֶשׁ לְרִכְבָּה

Dedan, a nation of nomads, trafficked with you in fine garments used for riding, worn by nobles for ostentatious purposes; probably loose-fitting clothes worn by people who need not engage in physical labor.

עֲרַב וְכָל־נְשִׂיאֵי קֵדָר הֵמָּה סֹחֲרֵי יָדֵךְ בְּכָרִים וְאֵילִם וְעַתּוּדִים בָּם סֹחֲרָיִךְ

Arabia and all the princes of Kedar, an Ishmaelite tribe who raised flocks of high-quality sheep, they were trading partners in your domain; with fat lambs, rams, and goats, with these they were your trading partners. They traded these animals with Tyre.

רֹכְלֵי שְׁבָא וְרַעְמָה הֵמָּה רֹכְלָיִךְ בְּרֹאשׁ כָּל־בּשֶׂם וּבְכָל־אֶבֶן יְקָרָה וְזָהָב נָתְנוּ עִזְבוֹנָיִךְ

The traders of Sheba and Raama, nations that were neighbors, probably from the southern Arabian Peninsula, they trafficked with you; the choicest of every spice, every precious stone, and gold they gave for your wares.

חָרָן וְכַנֵּה וָעֶדֶן רֹכְלֵי שְׁבָא אַשּׁוּר כִּלְמַד רֹכַלְתֵּךְ

The prophet lists places to the west: Haran, Kaneh, and Eden, the traders of Sheba, Assyria, and Kilmad trafficked with you.

הֵמָּה רֹכְלַיִךְ בְּמַכְלֻלִים בִּגְלוֹמֵי תְּכֵלֶת וְרִקְמָה וּבְגִנְזֵי בְּרֹמִים בַּחֲבָלִים חֲבֻשִׁים וַאֲרֻזִים בְּמַרְכֻלְתֵּךְ

They trafficked with you in elegant garments, in colorful bolts of expensive sky-blue wool, using dye that was extracted from snails, and embroidery and in treasures of magnificent objects, or ornaments, tied with cords and secured with your merchandise or in your storehouses.

אֳנִיּוֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ שָׁרוֹתַיִךְ מַעֲרָבֵךְ וַתִּמָּלְאִי וַתִּכְבְּדִי מְאֹד בְּלֵב יַמִּים

The large, strong ships of Tarshish, which traverse distances as great as the distance between Tyre and Tarshish, were your caravans, or accompanied you for your merchandise; you, the ships of Tyre, were filled, and you became very heavy in the heart of the seas. Tyre was constantly developing, and therefore its cargoes became increasingly heavier.

בְּמַיִם רַבִּים הֱבִאוּךְ הַשָּׁטִים אוֹתָךְ רוּחַ הַקָּדִים שְׁבָרֵךְ בְּלֵב יַמִּים

Tyre will fall from the heights of success: Your oarsmen brought you, heavily loaded, into great waters, and suddenly the mighty east wind broke you in the heart of the seas. Tyre’s insatiable desire to become richer will cause it to drown.

הוֹנֵךְ וְעִזְבוֹנַיִךְ מַעֲרָבֵךְ מַלָּחַיִךְ וְחֹבְלָיִךְ מַחֲזִיקֵי בִדְקֵךְ וְעֹרְבֵי מַעֲרָבֵךְ וְכָל־אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתֵּךְ אֲשֶׁר־בָּךְ וּבְכָל קְהָלֵךְ אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹכֵךְ יִפְּלוּ בְּלֵב יַמִּים בְּיוֹם מַפַּלְתֵּךְ

Your riches and your wares, your merchandise, both your exports and the corresponding imports, your sailors, your navigators, the caulkers of your seams, the merchants of your merchandise, the traders, and all your men of war who are among you, with your entire assembly that is in your midst, will fall into the heart of the seas on the day of your downfall.

לְקוֹל זַעֲקַת חֹבְלָיִךְ יִרְעֲשׁוּ מִגְרֹשׁוֹת

At the sound of the cry of your navigators, the shores will quake. The empty plots of land, the shores, shall tremble, as Tyre’s cry will be heard everywhere.

וְיָרְדוּ מֵאֳנִיּוֹתֵיהֶם כֹּל תֹּפְשֵׂי מָשׁוֹט מַלָּחִים כֹּל חֹבְלֵי הַיָּם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ יַעֲמֹדוּ

When Tyre’s tragedy is heard, all who grasp an oar will disembark from their ships; sailors and all the navigators of the sea, and they will stand upon the ground.

וְהִשְׁמִיעוּ עָלַיִךְ בְּקוֹלָם וְיִזְעֲקוּ מָרָה וְיַעֲלוּ עָפָר עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶם בָּאֵפֶר יִתְפַּלָּשׁוּ

They will loudly proclaim about you with their voice and cry out bitterly, and they will place dust upon their heads; they will wallow in the ashes, mourning over your bitter fate.

וְהִקְרִיחוּ אֵלַיִךְ קָרְחָה וְחָגְרוּ שַׂקִּים וּבָכוּ אֵלַיִךְ בְּמַר־נֶפֶשׁ מִסְפֵּד מָר

They will tear out a bald spot over you, by tearing out their hair. This was customary for mourners in those times, although such practices were prohibited to the people of Israel. And they will gird themselves with sackcloth, and they will weep for you with bitterness of the soul, a bitter eulogy. Due to Tyre’s extensive connections, many people will mourn its destruction for various reasons, including the death of its inhabitants, the loss of a source of livelihood, or the sinking of its wealth and merchandise.

וְנָשְׂאוּ אֵלַיִךְ בְּנִיהֶם קִינָה וְקוֹנְנוּ עָלָיִךְ מִי כְצוֹר כְּדֻמָה בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם

They will raise a lament about you in their wailing, and they will lament over you: Who was like Tyre, comparable to it [keduma] in the midst of the sea? Alternatively, who was rendered silent [demuma] and devastated like Tyre?

בְּצֵאת עִזְבוֹנַיִךְ מִיַּמִּים הִשְׂבַּעַתְּ עַמִּים רַבִּים בְּרֹב הוֹנַיִךְ וּמַעֲרָבַיִךְ הֶעֱשַׁרְתְּ מַלְכֵי־אָרֶץ

In the past, when your wares came forth from the seas, you satisfied many peoples, you sustained them with your plentitude; with the abundance of your riches and your merchandise, you enriched the kings of the earth. Tyre was formerly a source of blessing and riches for many nations and kings.

עֵת נִשְׁבֶּרֶת מִיַּמִּים בְּמַעֲמַקֵּי־מָיִם מַעֲרָבֵךְ וְכָל־קְהָלֵךְ בְּתוֹכֵךְ נָפָלוּ

However, a different era has begun: At the time that you were shattered by the seas in the watery depths, your merchandise and all your assembly fell in your midst into the depths.

כֹּל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאִיִּים שָׁמְמוּ עָלָיִךְ וּמַלְכֵיהֶם שָׂעֲרוּ שַׂעַר רָעֲמוּ פָּנִים

All the inhabitants of the distant lands of the sea were astonished about you, and their kings were frantic with agitation; they were upset and shocked, and their faces were anguished.

סֹחֲרִים בָּעַמִּים שָׁרְקוּ עָלָיִךְ בַּלָּהוֹת הָיִית וְאֵינֵךְ עַד־עוֹלָם

Merchants among the peoples whistled about you in astonishment. They are unable to grasp how such a major city could have collapsed so completely. You became a horror, and you are no more, forever. After Tyre had previously embodied wealth, prominence, and achievement, which were undoubtedly accompanied by self-confidence, conceit, and complacency, its story has become a nightmare, and Tyre itself has ceased to exist. Tyre’s uniquely powerful ships, which more than any other vessel controlled the Mediterranean Sea and perhaps even the waters beyond, its many business contacts, and its great wealth have been entirely lost.