23 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, say to her, ‘You are a land that is (A)not clean or rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25 There is a (B)conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have (C)devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many (D)widows in the midst of her. 26 Her (E)priests have done violence to My Law and have (F)profaned My holy things; they have made no (G)distinction between the holy and the [a]common, and they have not taught the difference between the (H)unclean and the clean; and they have closed their eyes from My Sabbaths, and I am defiled among them. 27 Her leaders within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and (I)destroying lives in order to make (J)dishonest profit. 28 And her prophets have coated with whitewash for them, seeing (K)false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘This is what the Lord God says,’ when the Lord has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have practiced (L)extortion and committed robbery, and they have oppressed the poor and needy, and have (M)oppressed the stranger without justice. 30 I (N)searched for a man among them who would (O)build up a wall and (P)stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found [b]no one. 31 So I have poured out My (Q)indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; I have brought (R)their way upon their heads,” declares the Lord God.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 22:26 Lit profane
  2. Ezekiel 22:30 Lit not

The Sins of Israel’s Leaders

23 Again a message came to me from the Lord: 24 “Son of man, give the people of Israel this message: In the day of my indignation, you will be like a polluted land, a land without rain. 25 Your princes[a] plot conspiracies just as lions stalk their prey. They devour innocent people, seizing treasures and extorting wealth. They make many widows in the land. 26 Your priests have violated my instructions and defiled my holy things. They make no distinction between what is holy and what is not. And they do not teach my people the difference between what is ceremonially clean and unclean. They disregard my Sabbath days so that I am dishonored among them. 27 Your leaders are like wolves who tear apart their victims. They actually destroy people’s lives for money! 28 And your prophets cover up for them by announcing false visions and making lying predictions. They say, ‘My message is from the Sovereign Lord,’ when the Lord hasn’t spoken a single word to them. 29 Even common people oppress the poor, rob the needy, and deprive foreigners of justice.

30 “I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one. 31 So now I will pour out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my anger. I will heap on their heads the full penalty for all their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

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Footnotes

  1. 22:25 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads prophets.

23 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’(A) 25 There is a conspiracy(B) of her princes[a] within her like a roaring lion(C) tearing its prey; they devour people,(D) take treasures and precious things and make many widows(E) within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law(F) and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common;(G) they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;(H) and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned(I) among them.(J) 27 Her officials(K) within her are like wolves(L) tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people(M) to make unjust gain.(N) 28 Her prophets whitewash(O) these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations.(P) They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken.(Q) 29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery;(R) they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner,(S) denying them justice.(T)

30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall(U) and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.(V) 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger,(W) bringing down(X) on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.(Y)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 22:25 Septuagint; Hebrew prophets