²⁹ Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land a desolate^(A) waste because of all the detestable things they have done.’^(B)

⁷ Your people will fall slain^(A) among you, and you will know that I am the Lord.^(B)

Jerusalem

Israel’s Guilt and Punishment

¹⁷ “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness^(A) in my sight.^{(B) 18} So I poured out^(C) my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols.

¹¹ and I will inflict punishment on Moab. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’”^(A)

⁴⁹ You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry.^(A) Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.^(B)”

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

³⁰ “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall^(T) 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.^{(U) 31} So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger,^(V) bringing down^(W) on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(X)”

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)