12 Tarshish 'is' thy merchant, Because of the abundance of all wealth, For silver, iron, tin, and lead, They have given out thy remnants. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech—they 'are' thy merchants, For persons of men, and vessels of brass, They have given out thy merchandise. 14 They of the house of Togarmah, 'For' horses, and riding steeds, and mules, They have given out thy remnants. 15 Sons of Dedan 'are' thy merchants, Many isles 'are' the mart of thy hand, Horns of ivory and ebony they sent back thy reward. 16 Aram 'is' thy merchant, Because of the abundance of thy works, For emerald, purple, and embroidery, And fine linen, and coral, and agate, They have given out thy remnants. 17 Judah and the land of Israel—they 'are' thy merchants, For wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, And honey, and oil, and balm, They have given out thy merchandise. 18 Damascus 'is' thy merchant, For the abundance of thy works, Because of the abundance of all wealth, For wine of Helbon, and white wool. 19 Vedan and Javan go about with thy remnants, They have given shining iron, cassia, and cane, In thy merchandise it hath been. 20 Dedan 'is' thy merchant, For clothes of freedom for riding. 21 Arabia, and all princes of Kedar, They 'are' the traders of thy hand, For lambs, and rams, and he-goats, In these thy merchants. 22 Merchants of Sheba and Raamah—they 'are' thy merchants, For the chief of all spices, And for every precious stone, and gold, They have given out thy remnants. 23 Haran, and Canneh, and Eden, merchants of Sheba, Asshur—Chilmad—'are' thy merchants, 24 They 'are' thy merchants for perfect things, For wrappings of blue, and embroidery, And for treasuries of rich apparel, With cords bound and girded, for thy merchandise, 25 Ships of Tarshish 'are' thy double walls of thy merchandise, And thou art filled and honoured greatly, In the heart of the seas.
26 Into great waters have they brought thee, Those rowing thee, The east wind hath broken thee in the heart of the seas. 27 Thy wealth and thy remnants, Thy merchandise, thy mariners, And thy pilots, strengtheners of thy breach, And the traders of thy merchandise, And all thy men of war, who 'are' in thee, And in all thine assembly that 'is' in thy midst, Fall into the heart of the seas in the day of thy fall, 28 At the voice of the cry of thy pilots shake do the suburbs. 29 And come down from their ships have all handling an oar, Mariners, all the pilots of the sea, on the land they stand, 30 And have sounded for thee with their voice, And cry bitterly, and cause dust to go up on their heads, In ashes they do roll themselves. 31 And they have made for thee baldness, And they have girded on sackcloth, And they have wept for thee, In bitterness of soul—a bitter mourning. 32 And lifted up for thee have their sons a lamentation, And they have lamented over thee, who 'is' as Tyre? As the cut-off one in the midst of the sea? 33 With the outgoing of thy remnants from the seas, Thou hast filled many peoples, With the abundance of thy riches, and thy merchandise, Thou hast made rich things of earth. 34 The time of 'thy' being broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, Thy merchandise and all thy assembly in thy midst have fallen. 35 All inhabitants of the isles have been astonished at thee, And their kings have been sore afraid, They have been troubled in countenance. 36 Merchants among the peoples have shrieked for thee, Wastes thou hast been, and thou art not—to the age!'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 27:12-36
Commentary on Ezekiel 27:1-25
(Read Ezekiel 27:1-25)
Those who live at ease are to be lamented, if they are not prepared for trouble. Let none reckon themselves beautified, any further than they are sanctified. The account of the trade of Tyre intimates, that God's eye is upon men when employed in worldly business. Not only when at church, praying and hearing, but when in markets and fairs, buying and selling. In all our dealings we should keep a conscience void of offence. God, as the common Father of mankind, makes one country abound in one commodity, and another in another, serviceable to the necessity or to the comfort and ornament of human life. See what a blessing trade and merchandise are to mankind, when followed in the fear of God. Besides necessaries, an abundance of things are made valuable only by custom; yet God allows us to use them. But when riches increase, men are apt to set their hearts upon them, and forget the Lord, who gives power to get wealth.
Commentary on Ezekiel 27:26-36
(Read Ezekiel 27:26-36)
The most mighty and magnificent kingdoms and states, sooner or later, come down. Those who make creatures their confidence, and rest their hopes upon them, will fall with them: happy are those who have the God of Jacob for their Help, and whose hope is in the Lord their God, who lives for ever. Those who engage in trade should learn to conduct their business according to God's word. Those who possess wealth should remember they are the Lord's stewards, and should use his goods in doing good to all. Let us seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.