¹⁹ and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.^(A)

³ He followed the ways of the kings of Israel^(A) and even sacrificed his son^(B) in the fire, engaging in the detestable^(C) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.

²² Judah^(A) did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger^(B) more than those who were before them had done. ²³ They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones^(C) and Asherah poles^(D) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.^(E)

⁵¹ Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done.^{(A) 52} Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous^(B) than you. So then, be ashamed and bear^(C) your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

⁸ I gave faithless Israel^(A) her certificate of divorce^(B) and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear;^(C) she also went out and committed adultery. ⁹ Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land^(D) and committed adultery^(E) with stone^(F) and wood.^{(G) 10} In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return^(H) to me with all her heart, but only in pretense,^(I)” declares the Lord.^(J)

¹¹ The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous^(K) than unfaithful^(L) Judah.^(M)

¹¹ He had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

⁴ The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.^(A)

⁵ “Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians^(B)—warriors^{(C) 6} clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen. ⁷ She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.^{(D) 8} She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt,^(E) when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.^(F)

⁹ “Therefore I delivered her into the hands^(G) of her lovers,^(H) the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.^{(I) 10} They stripped^(J) her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women,^(K) and punishment was inflicted^(L) on her.^(M)

¹¹ “Her sister Oholibah saw this,^(N) yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.^{(O) 12} She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men.^{(P) 13} I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way.^(Q)

² “Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed?^(A) Then confront her with all her detestable practices^{(B) 3} and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood^(C) in her midst and defiles herself by making idols, ⁴ you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed^(D) and have become defiled by the idols you have made. You have brought your days to a close, and the end of your years has come.^(E) Therefore I will make you an object of scorn^(F) to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries.^{(G) 5} Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.^(H)

⁶ “‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood.^{(I) 7} In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;^(J) in you they have oppressed the foreigner^(K) and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.^{(L) 8} You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.^{(M) 9} In you are slanderers^(N) who are bent on shedding blood;^(O) in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines^(P) and commit lewd acts.^{(Q) 10} In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed;^(R) in you are those who violate women during their period,^(S) when they are ceremonially unclean.^{(T) 11} In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife,^(U) another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law,^(V) and another violates his sister,^(W) his own father’s daughter.^{(X) 12} In you are people who accept bribes^(Y) to shed blood; you take interest^(Z) and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors.^(AA) And you have forgotten^(AB) me, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AC)

¹³ “‘I will surely strike my hands^(AD) together at the unjust gain^(AE) you have made and at the blood^(AF) you have shed in your midst.^{(AG) 14} Will your courage endure^(AH) or your hands^(AI) be strong in the day I deal with you? I the Lord have spoken,^(AJ) and I will do it.^{(AK) 15} I will disperse you among the nations and scatter^(AL) you through the countries; and I will put an end to^(AM) your uncleanness.^{(AN) 16} When you have been defiled^[a] in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the Lord.’”