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Ezekiel 19-24
New Living Translation

A Funeral Song for Israel’s Kings

19 “Sing this funeral song for the princes of Israel:

2 “What is your mother?
    A lioness among lions!
She lay down among the young lions
    and reared her cubs.
3 She raised one of her cubs
    to become a strong young lion.
He learned to hunt and devour prey,
    and he became a man-eater.
4 Then the nations heard about him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him away with hooks
    to the land of Egypt.

5 “When the lioness saw
    that her hopes for him were gone,
she took another of her cubs
    and taught him to be a strong young lion.
6 He prowled among the other lions
    and stood out among them in his strength.
He learned to hunt and devour prey,
    and he, too, became a man-eater.
7 He demolished fortresses[a]
    and destroyed their towns and cities.
Their farms were desolated,
    and their crops were destroyed.
The land and its people trembled in fear
    when they heard him roar.
8 Then the armies of the nations attacked him,
    surrounding him from every direction.
They threw a net over him
    and captured him in their pit.
9 With hooks, they dragged him into a cage
    and brought him before the king of Babylon.
They held him in captivity,
    so his voice could never again be heard
    on the mountains of Israel.

10 “Your mother was like a vine
    planted by the water’s edge.
It had lush, green foliage
    because of the abundant water.
11 Its branches became strong—
    strong enough to be a ruler’s scepter.
It grew very tall,
    towering above all others.
It stood out because of its height
    and its many lush branches.
12 But the vine was uprooted in fury
    and thrown down to the ground.
The desert wind dried up its fruit
    and tore off its strong branches,
so that it withered
    and was destroyed by fire.
13 Now the vine is transplanted to the wilderness,
    where the ground is hard and dry.
14 A fire has burst out from its branches
    and devoured its fruit.
Its remaining limbs are not
    strong enough to be a ruler’s scepter.

“This is a funeral song, and it will be used in a funeral.”

The Rebellion of Israel

20 On August 14,[b] during the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, some of the leaders of Israel came to request a message from the Lord. They sat down in front of me to wait for his reply. 2 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 3 “Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will tell you nothing!’

4 “Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were. 5 Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: When I chose Israel—when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt—I took a solemn oath that I, the Lord, would be their God. 6 I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. 7 Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols[c] of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God.’

8 “But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt. 9 But I didn’t do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name. I would not allow shame to be brought on my name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. 10 So I brought them out of Egypt and led them into the wilderness. 11 There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. 12 And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the Lord, who had set them apart to be holy.

13 “But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness. They wouldn’t obey my regulations even though obedience would have given them life. They also violated my Sabbath days. So I threatened to pour out my fury on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the wilderness. 14 But again I held back in order to protect the honor of my name before the nations who had seen my power in bringing Israel out of Egypt. 15 But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on earth. 16 For they had rejected my regulations, refused to follow my decrees, and violated my Sabbath days. Their hearts were given to their idols. 17 Nevertheless, I took pity on them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness.

18 “Then I warned their children not to follow in their parents’ footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols. 19 ‘I am the Lord your God,’ I told them. ‘Follow my decrees, pay attention to my regulations, 20 and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the Lord your God.’

21 “But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my name before the nations that had seen my power in bringing them out of Egypt. 23 But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would scatter them among all the nations 24 because they did not obey my regulations. They scorned my decrees by violating my Sabbath days and longing for the idols of their ancestors. 25 I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life. 26 I let them pollute themselves[d] with the very gifts I had given them, and I allowed them to give their firstborn children as offerings to their gods—so I might devastate them and remind them that I alone am the Lord.

Judgment and Restoration

27 “Therefore, son of man, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: Your ancestors continued to blaspheme and betray me, 28 for when I brought them into the land I had promised them, they offered sacrifices on every high hill and under every green tree they saw! They roused my fury as they offered up sacrifices to their gods. They brought their perfumes and incense and poured out their liquid offerings to them. 29 I said to them, ‘What is this high place where you are going?’ (This kind of pagan shrine has been called Bamah—‘high place’—ever since.)

30 “Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: Do you plan to pollute yourselves just as your ancestors did? Do you intend to keep prostituting yourselves by worshiping vile images? 31 For when you offer gifts to them and give your little children to be burned as sacrifices,[e] you continue to pollute yourselves with idols to this day. Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Israel? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will tell you nothing.

32 “You say, ‘We want to be like the nations all around us, who serve idols of wood and stone.’ But what you have in mind will never happen. 33 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I will rule over you with an iron fist in great anger and with awesome power. 34 And in anger I will reach out with my strong hand and powerful arm, and I will bring you back[f] from the lands where you are scattered. 35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will judge you face to face. 36 I will judge you there just as I did your ancestors in the wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt, says the Sovereign Lord. 37 I will examine you carefully and hold you to the terms of the covenant. 38 I will purge you of all those who rebel and revolt against me. I will bring them out of the countries where they are in exile, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

39 “As for you, O people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go right ahead and worship your idols, but sooner or later you will obey me and will stop bringing shame on my holy name by worshiping idols. 40 For on my holy mountain, the great mountain of Israel, says the Sovereign Lord, the people of Israel will someday worship me, and I will accept them. There I will require that you bring me all your offerings and choice gifts and sacrifices. 41 When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. And I will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch. 42 Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised with a solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord. 43 You will look back on all the ways you defiled yourselves and will hate yourselves because of the evil you have done. 44 You will know that I am the Lord, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Judgment against the Negev

45 [g]Then this message came to me from the Lord: 46 “Son of man, turn and face the south[h] and speak out against it; prophesy against the brushlands of the Negev. 47 Tell the southern wilderness, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Hear the word of the Lord! I will set you on fire, and every tree, both green and dry, will be burned. The terrible flames will not be quenched and will scorch everything from south to north. 48 And everyone in the world will see that I, the Lord, have set this fire. It will not be put out.’”

49 Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, ‘He only talks in riddles!’”

The Lord’s Sword of Judgment

21 [i]Then this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, turn and face Jerusalem and prophesy against Israel and her sanctuaries. 3 Tell her, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am your enemy, O Israel, and I am about to unsheath my sword to destroy your people—the righteous and the wicked alike. 4 Yes, I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked! I will draw my sword against everyone in the land from south to north. 5 Everyone in the world will know that I am the Lord. My sword is in my hand, and it will not return to its sheath until its work is finished.’

6 “Son of man, groan before the people! Groan before them with bitter anguish and a broken heart. 7 When they ask why you are groaning, tell them, ‘I groan because of the terrifying news I have heard. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will become as weak as water. And the Sovereign Lord says: It is coming! It’s on its way!’”

8 Then the Lord said to me, 9 “Son of man, give the people this message from the Lord:

“A sword, a sword
    is being sharpened and polished.
10 It is sharpened for terrible slaughter
    and polished to flash like lightning!
Now will you laugh?
    Those far stronger than you have fallen beneath its power![j]
11 Yes, the sword is now being sharpened and polished;
    it is being prepared for the executioner.

12 “Son of man, cry out and wail;
    pound your thighs in anguish,
for that sword will slaughter my people and their leaders—
    everyone will die!
13 It will put them all to the test.
    What chance do they have?[k]
    says the Sovereign Lord.

14 “Son of man, prophesy to them
    and clap your hands.
Then take the sword and brandish it twice,
    even three times,
to symbolize the great massacre,
    the great massacre facing them on every side.
15 Let their hearts melt with terror,
    for the sword glitters at every gate.
It flashes like lightning
    and is polished for slaughter!
16 O sword, slash to the right,
    then slash to the left,
wherever you will,
    wherever you want.
17 I, too, will clap my hands,
    and I will satisfy my fury.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Omens for Babylon’s King

18 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 19 “Son of man, make a map and trace two routes on it for the sword of Babylon’s king to follow. Put a signpost on the road that comes out of Babylon where the road forks into two— 20 one road going to Ammon and its capital, Rabbah, and the other to Judah and fortified Jerusalem. 21 The king of Babylon now stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah. He calls his magicians to look for omens. They cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver. They inspect the livers of animal sacrifices. 22 The omen in his right hand says, ‘Jerusalem!’ With battering rams his soldiers will go against the gates, shouting for the kill. They will put up siege towers and build ramps against the walls. 23 The people of Jerusalem will think it is a false omen, because of their treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion. Then he will attack and capture them.

24 “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Again and again you remind me of your sin and your guilt. You don’t even try to hide it! In everything you do, your sins are obvious for all to see. So now the time of your punishment has come!

25 “O you corrupt and wicked prince of Israel, your final day of reckoning is here! 26 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“Take off your jeweled crown,
    for the old order changes.
Now the lowly will be exalted,
    and the mighty will be brought down.
27 Destruction! Destruction!
    I will surely destroy the kingdom.
And it will not be restored until the one appears
    who has the right to judge it.
Then I will hand it over to him.

A Message for the Ammonites

28 “And now, son of man, prophesy concerning the Ammonites and their mockery. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“A sword, a sword
    is drawn for your slaughter.
It is polished to destroy,
    flashing like lightning!
29 Your prophets have given false visions,
    and your fortune-tellers have told lies.
The sword will fall on the necks of the wicked
    for whom the day of final reckoning has come.

30 “Now return the sword to its sheath,
    for in your own country,
the land of your birth,
    I will pass judgment upon you.
31 I will pour out my fury on you
    and blow on you with the fire of my anger.
I will hand you over to cruel men
    who are skilled in destruction.
32 You will be fuel for the fire,
    and your blood will be spilled in your own land.
You will be utterly wiped out,
    your memory lost to history,
    for I, the Lord, have spoken!”

The Sins of Jerusalem

22 Now this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, are you ready to judge Jerusalem? Are you ready to judge this city of murderers? Publicly denounce her detestable sins, 3 and give her this message from the Sovereign Lord: O city of murderers, doomed and damned—city of idols,[l] filthy and foul— 4 you are guilty because of the blood you have shed. You are defiled because of the idols you have made. Your day of destruction has come! You have reached the end of your years. I will make you an object of mockery throughout the world. 5 O infamous city, filled with confusion, you will be mocked by people far and near.

6 “Every leader in Israel who lives within your walls is bent on murder. 7 Fathers and mothers are treated with contempt. Foreigners are forced to pay for protection. Orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed among you. 8 You despise my holy things and violate my Sabbath days of rest. 9 People accuse others falsely and send them to their death. You are filled with idol worshipers and people who do obscene things. 10 Men sleep with their fathers’ wives and force themselves on women who are menstruating. 11 Within your walls live men who commit adultery with their neighbors’ wives, who defile their daughters-in-law, or who rape their own sisters. 12 There are hired murderers, loan racketeers, and extortioners everywhere. They never even think of me and my commands, says the Sovereign Lord.

13 “But now I clap my hands in indignation over your dishonest gain and bloodshed. 14 How strong and courageous will you be in my day of reckoning? I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said. 15 I will scatter you among the nations and purge you of your wickedness. 16 And when I have been dishonored among the nations because of you,[m] you will know that I am the Lord.”

The Lord’s Refining Furnace

17 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 18 “Son of man, the people of Israel are the worthless slag that remains after silver is smelted. They are the dross that is left over—a useless mixture of copper, tin, iron, and lead. 19 So tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you are all worthless slag, I will bring you to my crucible in Jerusalem. 20 Just as silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are melted down in a furnace, I will melt you down in the heat of my fury. 21 I will gather you together and blow the fire of my anger upon you, 22 and you will melt like silver in fierce heat. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have poured out my fury on you.’”

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[n] 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!”

The Adultery of Two Sisters

23 This message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, once there were two sisters who were daughters of the same mother. 3 They became prostitutes in Egypt. Even as young girls, they allowed men to fondle their breasts. 4 The older girl was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. I married them, and they bore me sons and daughters. I am speaking of Samaria and Jerusalem, for Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

5 “Then Oholah lusted after other lovers instead of me, and she gave her love to the Assyrian officers. 6 They were all attractive young men, captains and commanders dressed in handsome blue, charioteers driving their horses. 7 And so she prostituted herself with the most desirable men of Assyria, worshiping their idols[o] and defiling herself. 8 For when she left Egypt, she did not leave her spirit of prostitution behind. She was still as lewd as in her youth, when the Egyptians slept with her, fondled her breasts, and used her as a prostitute.

9 “And so I handed her over to her Assyrian lovers, whom she desired so much. 10 They stripped her, took away her children as their slaves, and then killed her. After she received her punishment, her reputation was known to every woman in the land.

11 “Yet even though Oholibah saw what had happened to Oholah, her sister, she followed right in her footsteps. And she was even more depraved, abandoning herself to her lust and prostitution. 12 She fawned over all the Assyrian officers—those captains and commanders in handsome uniforms, those charioteers driving their horses—all of them attractive young men. 13 I saw the way she was going, defiling herself just like her older sister.

14 “Then she carried her prostitution even further. She fell in love with pictures that were painted on a wall—pictures of Babylonian[p] military officers, outfitted in striking red uniforms. 15 Handsome belts encircled their waists, and flowing turbans crowned their heads. They were dressed like chariot officers from the land of Babylonia.[q] 16 When she saw these paintings, she longed to give herself to them, so she sent messengers to Babylonia to invite them to come to her. 17 So they came and committed adultery with her, defiling her in the bed of love. After being defiled, however, she rejected them in disgust.

18 “In the same way, I became disgusted with Oholibah and rejected her, just as I had rejected her sister, because she flaunted herself before them and gave herself to satisfy their lusts. 19 Yet she turned to even greater prostitution, remembering her youth when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 She lusted after lovers with genitals as large as a donkey’s and emissions like those of a horse. 21 And so, Oholibah, you relived your former days as a young girl in Egypt, when you first allowed your breasts to be fondled.

The Lord’s Judgment of Oholibah

22 “Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will send your lovers against you from every direction—those very nations from which you turned away in disgust. 23 For the Babylonians will come with all the Chaldeans from Pekod and Shoa and Koa. And all the Assyrians will come with them—handsome young captains, commanders, chariot officers, and other high-ranking officers, all riding their horses. 24 They will all come against you from the north[r] with chariots, wagons, and a great army prepared for attack. They will take up positions on every side, surrounding you with men armed with shields and helmets. And I will hand you over to them for punishment so they can do with you as they please. 25 I will turn my jealous anger against you, and they will deal harshly with you. They will cut off your nose and ears, and any survivors will then be slaughtered by the sword. Your children will be taken away as captives, and everything that is left will be burned. 26 They will strip you of your beautiful clothes and jewels. 27 In this way, I will put a stop to the lewdness and prostitution you brought from Egypt. You will never again cast longing eyes on those things or fondly remember your time in Egypt.

28 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will surely hand you over to your enemies, to those you loathe, those you rejected. 29 They will treat you with hatred and rob you of all you own, leaving you stark naked. The shame of your prostitution will be exposed to all the world. 30 You brought all this on yourself by prostituting yourself to other nations, defiling yourself with all their idols. 31 Because you have followed in your sister’s footsteps, I will force you to drink the same cup of terror she drank.

32 “Yes, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“You will drink from your sister’s cup of terror,
    a cup that is large and deep.
It is filled to the brim
    with scorn and derision.
33 Drunkenness and anguish will fill you,
    for your cup is filled to the brim with distress and desolation,
    the same cup your sister Samaria drank.
34 You will drain that cup of terror
    to the very bottom.
Then you will smash it to pieces
    and beat your breast in anguish.
    I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

35 “And because you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: You must bear the consequences of all your lewdness and prostitution.”

The Lord’s Judgment on Both Sisters

36 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, you must accuse Oholah and Oholibah of all their detestable sins. 37 They have committed both adultery and murder—adultery by worshiping idols and murder by burning as sacrifices the children they bore to me. 38 Furthermore, they have defiled my Temple and violated my Sabbath day! 39 On the very day that they sacrificed their children to their idols, they boldly came into my Temple to worship! They came in and defiled my house.

40 “You sisters sent messengers to distant lands to get men. Then when they arrived, you bathed yourselves, painted your eyelids, and put on your finest jewels for them. 41 You sat with them on a beautifully embroidered couch and put my incense and my special oil on a table that was spread before you. 42 From your room came the sound of many men carousing. They were lustful men and drunkards[s] from the wilderness, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your heads. 43 Then I said, ‘If they really want to have sex with old worn-out prostitutes like these, let them!’ 44 And that is what they did. They had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, these shameless prostitutes. 45 But righteous people will judge these sister cities for what they really are—adulterers and murderers.

46 “Now this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Bring an army against them and hand them over to be terrorized and plundered. 47 For their enemies will stone them and kill them with swords. They will butcher their sons and daughters and burn their homes. 48 In this way, I will put an end to lewdness and idolatry in the land, and my judgment will be a warning to all women not to follow your wicked example. 49 You will be fully repaid for all your prostitution—your worship of idols. Yes, you will suffer the full penalty. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

The Sign of the Cooking Pot

24 On January 15,[t] during the ninth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the Lord: 2 “Son of man, write down today’s date, because on this very day the king of Babylon is beginning his attack against Jerusalem. 3 Then give these rebels an illustration with this message from the Sovereign Lord:

“Put a pot on the fire,
    and pour in some water.
4 Fill it with choice pieces of meat—
    the rump and the shoulder
    and all the most tender cuts.
5 Use only the best sheep from the flock,
    and heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot.
Bring the pot to a boil,
    and cook the bones along with the meat.

6 “Now this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
What sorrow awaits Jerusalem,
    the city of murderers!
She is a cooking pot
    whose corruption can’t be cleaned out.
Take the meat out in random order,
    for no piece is better than another.
7 For the blood of her murders
    is splashed on the rocks.
It isn’t even spilled on the ground,
    where the dust could cover it!
8 So I will splash her blood on a rock
    for all to see,
an expression of my anger
    and vengeance against her.

9 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
What sorrow awaits Jerusalem,
    the city of murderers!
    I myself will pile up the fuel beneath her.
10 Yes, heap on the wood!
    Let the fire roar to make the pot boil.
Cook the meat with many spices,
    and afterward burn the bones.
11 Now set the empty pot on the coals.
    Heat it red hot!
    Burn away the filth and corruption.
12 But it’s hopeless;
    the corruption can’t be cleaned out.
    So throw it into the fire.
13 Your impurity is your lewdness
    and the corruption of your idolatry.
I tried to cleanse you,
    but you refused.
So now you will remain in your filth
    until my fury against you has been satisfied.

14 “I, the Lord, have spoken! The time has come, and I won’t hold back. I will not change my mind, and I will have no pity on you. You will be judged on the basis of all your wicked actions, says the Sovereign Lord.”

The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife

15 Then this message came to me from the Lord: 16 “Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears. 17 Groan silently, but let there be no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any food brought to you by consoling friends.”

18 So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did everything I had been told to do. 19 Then the people asked, “What does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?”

20 So I said to them, “A message came to me from the Lord, 21 and I was told to give this message to the people of Israel. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will defile my Temple, the source of your security and pride, the place your heart delights in. Your sons and daughters whom you left behind in Judah will be slaughtered by the sword. 22 Then you will do as Ezekiel has done. You will not mourn in public or console yourselves by eating the food brought by friends. 23 Your heads will remain covered, and your sandals will not be taken off. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan among yourselves for all the evil you have done. 24 Ezekiel is an example for you; you will do just as he has done. And when that time comes, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

25 Then the Lord said to me, “Son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold—their joy and glory, their heart’s desire, their dearest treasure—I will also take away their sons and daughters. 26 And on that day a survivor from Jerusalem will come to you in Babylon and tell you what has happened. 27 And when he arrives, your voice will suddenly return so you can talk to him, and you will be a symbol for these people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. 19:7 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads He knew widows.
  2. 20:1 Hebrew In the fifth month, on the tenth day, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This day was August 14, 591 B.c.; also see note on 1:1.
  3. 20:7 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung; also in 20:8, 16, 18, 24, 31, 39.
  4. 20:25-26 Or I gave them worthless decrees and regulations. . . . I polluted them.
  5. 20:31 Or and make your little children pass through the fire.
  6. 20:34 Greek version reads I will welcome you. Compare 2 Cor 6:17.
  7. 20:45 Verses 20:45-49 are numbered 21:1-5 in Hebrew text.
  8. 20:46 Hebrew toward Teman.
  9. 21:1 Verses 21:1-32 are numbered 21:6-37 in Hebrew text.
  10. 21:10 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  11. 21:13 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  12. 22:3 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung; also in 22:4.
  13. 22:16 As in one Hebrew manuscript and Greek and Syriac versions; Masoretic Text reads when you have been dishonored among the nations.
  14. 22:25 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads prophets.
  15. 23:7 The Hebrew term (literally round things) probably alludes to dung; also in 23:30, 37, 39, 49.
  16. 23:14 Or Chaldean.
  17. 23:15 Or Chaldea; also in 23:16.
  18. 23:24 As in Greek version; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
  19. 23:42 Or Sabeans.
  20. 24:1 Hebrew On the tenth day of the tenth month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This event occurred on January 15, 588 B.c.; also see note on 1:1.
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Ezekiel 19-24
New International Version

A Lament Over Israel’s Princes

19 “Take up a lament(A) concerning the princes(B) of Israel 2 and say:

“‘What a lioness(C) was your mother
    among the lions!
She lay down among them
    and reared her cubs.(D)
3 She brought up one of her cubs,
    and he became a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.
4 The nations heard about him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.
They led him with hooks(E)
    to the land of Egypt.(F)

5 “‘When she saw her hope unfulfilled,
    her expectation gone,
she took another of her cubs(G)
    and made him a strong lion.(H)
6 He prowled among the lions,
    for he was now a strong lion.
He learned to tear the prey
    and he became a man-eater.(I)
7 He broke down[a] their strongholds
    and devastated(J) their towns.
The land and all who were in it
    were terrified by his roaring.
8 Then the nations(K) came against him,
    those from regions round about.
They spread their net(L) for him,
    and he was trapped in their pit.(M)
9 With hooks(N) they pulled him into a cage
    and brought him to the king of Babylon.(O)
They put him in prison,
    so his roar(P) was heard no longer
    on the mountains of Israel.(Q)

10 “‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard[b](R)
    planted by the water;(S)
it was fruitful and full of branches
    because of abundant water.(T)
11 Its branches were strong,
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.
It towered high
    above the thick foliage,
conspicuous for its height
    and for its many branches.(U)
12 But it was uprooted(V) in fury
    and thrown to the ground.
The east wind(W) made it shrivel,
    it was stripped of its fruit;
its strong branches withered
    and fire consumed them.(X)
13 Now it is planted in the desert,(Y)
    in a dry and thirsty land.(Z)
14 Fire spread from one of its main[c] branches
    and consumed(AA) its fruit.
No strong branch is left on it
    fit for a ruler’s scepter.’(AB)

“This is a lament(AC) and is to be used as a lament.”

Rebellious Israel Purged

20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire(AD) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.(AE)

2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders(AF) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire(AG) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AH)’

4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors(AI) 5 and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose(AJ) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand(AK) to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the Lord your God.(AL)” 6 On that day I swore(AM) to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(AN) the most beautiful of all lands.(AO) 7 And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images(AP) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols(AQ) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.(AR)”

8 “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;(AS) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.(AT) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.(AU) 9 But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.(AV) I did it to keep my name from being profaned(AW) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.(AX) 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.(AY) 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths(AZ) as a sign(BA) between us,(BB) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.(BC)

13 “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled(BD) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws(BE)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.(BF) So I said I would pour out my wrath(BG) on them and destroy(BH) them in the wilderness.(BI) 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned(BJ) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.(BK) 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore(BL) to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands(BM)— 16 because they rejected my laws(BN) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts(BO) were devoted to their idols.(BP) 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy(BQ) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents(BR) or keep their laws or defile yourselves(BS) with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God;(BT) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(BU) 20 Keep my Sabbaths(BV) holy, that they may be a sign(BW) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.(BX)”

21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,(BY) of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger(BZ) against them in the wilderness.(CA) 22 But I withheld(CB) my hand, and for the sake of my name(CC) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter(CD) them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees(CE) and desecrated my Sabbaths,(CF) and their eyes lusted after(CG) their parents’ idols.(CH) 25 So I gave(CI) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;(CJ) 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice(CK) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.(CL)’

27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this also your ancestors(CM) blasphemed(CN) me by being unfaithful to me:(CO) 28 When I brought them into the land(CP) I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.(CQ) 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place(CR) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah[d] to this day.)

Rebellious Israel Renewed

30 “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves(CS) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?(CT) 31 When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children(CU) in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.(CV)

32 “‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen. 33 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm(CW) and with outpoured wrath.(CX) 34 I will bring you from the nations(CY) and gather(CZ) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand(DA) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.(DB) 35 I will bring you into the wilderness(DC) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment(DD) upon you. 36 As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.(DE) 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,(DF) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.(DG) 38 I will purge(DH) you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(DI)

39 “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,(DJ) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name(DK) with your gifts and idols.(DL) 40 For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,(DM) declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings(DN) and your choice gifts,[e] along with all your holy sacrifices.(DO) 41 I will accept you as fragrant incense(DP) when I bring you out from the nations and gather(DQ) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy(DR) through you in the sight of the nations.(DS) 42 Then you will know that I am the Lord,(DT) when I bring you into the land of Israel,(DU) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.(DV) 43 There you will remember your conduct(DW) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves(DX) for all the evil you have done.(DY) 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake(DZ) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.(EA)’”

Prophecy Against the South

45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, set your face toward(EB) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against(EC) the forest of the southland.(ED) 47 Say to the southern forest:(EE) ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume(EF) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north(EG) will be scorched by it.(EH) 48 Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.(EI)’”

49 Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,(EJ) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?(EK)’”[f]

Babylon as God’s Sword of Judgment

21 [g]The word of the Lord came to me:(EL) 2 “Son of man, set your face against(EM) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuary.(EN) Prophesy against(EO) the land of Israel 3 and say to her: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you.(EP) I will draw my sword(EQ) from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked.(ER) 4 Because I am going to cut off the righteous and the wicked, my sword(ES) will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north.(ET) 5 Then all people will know that I the Lord have drawn my sword(EU) from its sheath; it will not return(EV) again.’(EW)

6 “Therefore groan, son of man! Groan before them with broken heart and bitter grief.(EX) 7 And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?(EY)’ you shall say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear(EZ) and every hand go limp;(FA) every spirit will become faint(FB) and every leg will be wet with urine.’(FC) It is coming! It will surely take place, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

8 The word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘A sword, a sword,
    sharpened and polished—
10 sharpened for the slaughter,(FD)
    polished to flash like lightning!

“‘Shall we rejoice in the scepter of my royal son? The sword despises every such stick.(FE)

11 “‘The sword is appointed to be polished,(FF)
    to be grasped with the hand;
it is sharpened and polished,
    made ready for the hand of the slayer.
12 Cry out and wail, son of man,
    for it is against my people;
    it is against all the princes of Israel.
They are thrown to the sword
    along with my people.
Therefore beat your breast.(FG)

13 “‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign Lord.’

14 “So then, son of man, prophesy
    and strike your hands(FH) together.
Let the sword strike twice,
    even three times.
It is a sword for slaughter—
    a sword for great slaughter,
    closing in on them from every side.(FI)
15 So that hearts may melt with fear(FJ)
    and the fallen be many,
I have stationed the sword for slaughter[h]
    at all their gates.
Look! It is forged to strike like lightning,
    it is grasped for slaughter.(FK)
16 Slash to the right, you sword,
    then to the left,
    wherever your blade is turned.
17 I too will strike my hands(FL) together,
    and my wrath(FM) will subside.
I the Lord have spoken.(FN)”

18 The word of the Lord came to me: 19 “Son of man, mark out two roads for the sword(FO) of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same country. Make a signpost(FP) where the road branches off to the city. 20 Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites(FQ) and another against Judah and fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon will stop at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He will cast lots(FR) with arrows, he will consult his idols,(FS) he will examine the liver.(FT) 22 Into his right hand will come the lot for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to give the command to slaughter, to sound the battle cry,(FU) to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp(FV) and to erect siege works.(FW) 23 It will seem like a false omen to those who have sworn allegiance to him, but he will remind(FX) them of their guilt(FY) and take them captive.

24 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you people have brought to mind your guilt by your open rebellion, revealing your sins in all that you do—because you have done this, you will be taken captive.

25 “‘You profane and wicked prince of Israel, whose day has come,(FZ) whose time of punishment has reached its climax,(GA) 26 this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Take off the turban, remove the crown.(GB) It will not be as it was: The lowly will be exalted and the exalted will be brought low.(GC) 27 A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come;(GD) to him I will give it.’(GE)

28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about the Ammonites(GF) and their insults:

“‘A sword,(GG) a sword,
    drawn for the slaughter,
polished to consume
    and to flash like lightning!
29 Despite false visions concerning you
    and lying divinations(GH) about you,
it will be laid on the necks
    of the wicked who are to be slain,
whose day has come,
    whose time of punishment has reached its climax.(GI)

30 “‘Let the sword return to its sheath.(GJ)
    In the place where you were created,
in the land of your ancestry,(GK)
    I will judge you.
31 I will pour out my wrath on you
    and breathe(GL) out my fiery anger(GM) against you;
I will deliver you into the hands of brutal men,
    men skilled in destruction.(GN)
32 You will be fuel for the fire,(GO)
    your blood will be shed in your land,
you will be remembered(GP) no more;
    for I the Lord have spoken.’”

Judgment on Jerusalem’s Sins

22 The word of the Lord came to me:

2 “Son of man, will you judge her? Will you judge this city of bloodshed?(GQ) Then confront her with all her detestable practices(GR) 3 and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You city that brings on herself doom by shedding blood(GS) in her midst and defiles herself by making idols, 4 you have become guilty because of the blood you have shed(GT) 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.(GU) Therefore I will make you an object of scorn(GV) to the nations and a laughingstock to all the countries.(GW) 5 Those who are near and those who are far away will mock you, you infamous city, full of turmoil.(GX)

6 “‘See how each of the princes of Israel who are in you uses his power to shed blood.(GY) 7 In you they have treated father and mother with contempt;(GZ) in you they have oppressed the foreigner(HA) and mistreated the fatherless and the widow.(HB) 8 You have despised my holy things and desecrated my Sabbaths.(HC) 9 In you are slanderers(HD) who are bent on shedding blood;(HE) in you are those who eat at the mountain shrines(HF) and commit lewd acts.(HG) 10 In you are those who dishonor their father’s bed;(HH) in you are those who violate women during their period,(HI) when they are ceremonially unclean.(HJ) 11 In you one man commits a detestable offense with his neighbor’s wife,(HK) another shamefully defiles his daughter-in-law,(HL) and another violates his sister,(HM) his own father’s daughter.(HN) 12 In you are people who accept bribes(HO) to shed blood; you take interest(HP) and make a profit from the poor. You extort unjust gain from your neighbors.(HQ) And you have forgotten(HR) me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(HS)

13 “‘I will surely strike my hands(HT) together at the unjust gain(HU) you have made and at the blood(HV) you have shed in your midst.(HW) 14 Will your courage endure(HX) or your hands(HY) be strong in the day I deal with you? I the Lord have spoken,(HZ) and I will do it.(IA) 15 I will disperse you among the nations and scatter(IB) you through the countries; and I will put an end to(IC) your uncleanness.(ID) 16 When you have been defiled[i] in the eyes of the nations, you will know that I am the Lord.’”

17 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, the people of Israel have become dross(IE) to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace.(IF) They are but the dross of silver.(IG) 19 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you have all become dross,(IH) I will gather you into Jerusalem. 20 As silver, copper, iron, lead and tin are gathered into a furnace to be melted with a fiery blast, so will I gather you in my anger and my wrath and put you inside the city and melt you.(II) 21 I will gather you and I will blow(IJ) on you with my fiery wrath, and you will be melted inside her.(IK) 22 As silver is melted(IL) in a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I the Lord have poured out my wrath(IM) on you.’”(IN)

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.’(IO) 25 There is a conspiracy(IP) of her princes[j] within her like a roaring lion(IQ) tearing its prey; they devour people,(IR) take treasures and precious things and make many widows(IS) within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law(IT) and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common;(IU) they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;(IV) and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned(IW) among them.(IX) 27 Her officials(IY) within her are like wolves(IZ) tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people(JA) to make unjust gain.(JB) 28 Her prophets whitewash(JC) these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations.(JD) They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken.(JE) 29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery;(JF) they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner,(JG) denying them justice.(JH)

30 “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall(JI) 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.(JJ) 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger,(JK) bringing down(JL) on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.(JM)”

Two Adulterous Sisters

23 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.(JN) 3 They became prostitutes in Egypt,(JO) engaging in prostitution(JP) from their youth.(JQ) In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.(JR) 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.(JS)

5 “Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians(JT)—warriors(JU) 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.(JV) 8 She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt,(JW) when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.(JX)

9 “Therefore I delivered her into the hands(JY) of her lovers,(JZ) the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.(KA) 10 They stripped(KB) her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women,(KC) and punishment was inflicted(KD) on her.(KE)

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

14 “But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall,(KJ) figures of Chaldeans[k] portrayed in red,(KK) 15 with belts(KL) around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea.[l] 16 As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers(KM) to them in Chaldea.(KN) 17 Then the Babylonians(KO) came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.(KP) 18 When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body,(KQ) I turned away(KR) from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.(KS) 19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. 21 So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.[m](KT)

22 “Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stir up your lovers(KU) against you, those you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side(KV)— 23 the Babylonians(KW) and all the Chaldeans,(KX) the men of Pekod(KY) and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, all of them governors and commanders, chariot officers and men of high rank, all mounted on horses.(KZ) 24 They will come against you with weapons,[n] chariots and wagons(LA) and with a throng of people; they will take up positions against you on every side with large and small shields and with helmets. I will turn you over to them for punishment,(LB) and they will punish you according to their standards. 25 I will direct my jealous anger(LC) against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears, and those of you who are left will fall by the sword. They will take away your sons and daughters,(LD) and those of you who are left will be consumed by fire.(LE) 26 They will also strip(LF) you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry.(LG) 27 So I will put a stop(LH) to the lewdness and prostitution you began in Egypt. You will not look on these things with longing or remember Egypt anymore.

28 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to deliver you into the hands(LI) of those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust. 29 They will deal with you in hatred and take away everything you have worked for. They will leave you stark naked,(LJ) and the shame of your prostitution will be exposed.(LK) Your lewdness(LL) and promiscuity(LM) 30 have brought this on you, because you lusted after the nations and defiled yourself with their idols.(LN) 31 You have gone the way of your sister; so I will put her cup(LO) into your hand.(LP)

32 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“You will drink your sister’s cup,
    a cup large and deep;
it will bring scorn and derision,(LQ)
    for it holds so much.(LR)
33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
    the cup of ruin and desolation,
    the cup of your sister Samaria.(LS)
34 You will drink it(LT) and drain it dry
    and chew on its pieces—
    and you will tear your breasts.

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.(LU)

35 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you have forgotten(LV) me and turned your back on me,(LW) you must bear(LX) the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”

36 The Lord said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront(LY) them with their detestable practices,(LZ) 37 for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them.(MA) 38 They have also done this to me: At that same time they defiled my sanctuary(MB) and desecrated my Sabbaths.(MC) 39 On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated(MD) it. That is what they did in my house.(ME)

40 “They even sent messengers for men who came from far away,(MF) and when they arrived you bathed yourself for them, applied eye makeup(MG) and put on your jewelry.(MH) 41 You sat on an elegant couch,(MI) with a table(MJ) spread before it on which you had placed the incense(MK) and olive oil that belonged to me.(ML)

42 “The noise of a carefree(MM) crowd was around her; drunkards(MN) were brought from the desert along with men from the rabble, and they put bracelets(MO) on the wrists of the woman and her sister and beautiful crowns on their heads.(MP) 43 Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute,(MQ) for that is all she is.’ 44 And they slept with her. As men sleep with a prostitute, so they slept with those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah. 45 But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood,(MR) because they are adulterous and blood is on their hands.(MS)

46 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Bring a mob(MT) against them and give them over to terror and plunder.(MU) 47 The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters(MV) and burn(MW) down their houses.(MX)

48 “So I will put an end(MY) to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you.(MZ) 49 You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry.(NA) Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.(NB)”

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:(NC) 2 “Son of man, record(ND) this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.(NE) 3 Tell this rebellious people(NF) a parable(NG) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot;(NH) put it on
    and pour water into it.
4 Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;(NI)
5     take the pick of the flock.(NJ)
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.(NK)

6 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe(NL) to the city of bloodshed,(NM)
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order(NN) it comes.(NO)

7 “‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.(NP)
8 To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

9 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.(NQ)
12 It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed(NR) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.(NS)

14 “‘I the Lord have spoken.(NT) The time has come for me to act.(NU) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,(NV) nor will I relent.(NW) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,(NX) declares the Sovereign Lord.(NY)’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow(NZ) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.(OA) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.(OB) 17 Groan quietly;(OC) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban(OD) fastened and your sandals(OE) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard(OF) or eat the customary food of mourners.(OG)”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.(OH)

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?(OI) Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary(OJ)—the stronghold in which you take pride,(OK) the delight of your eyes,(OL) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters(OM) you left behind will fall by the sword.(ON) 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard(OO) or eat the customary food of mourners.(OP) 23 You will keep your turbans(OQ) on your heads and your sandals(OR) on your feet. You will not mourn(OS) or weep but will waste away(OT) because of[o] your sins and groan among yourselves.(OU) 24 Ezekiel(OV) will be a sign(OW) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,(OX) their heart’s desire,(OY) and their sons and daughters(OZ) as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you(PA) the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.(PB) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.(PC)”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 19:7 Targum (see Septuagint); Hebrew He knew
  2. Ezekiel 19:10 Two Hebrew manuscripts; most Hebrew manuscripts your blood
  3. Ezekiel 19:14 Or from under its
  4. Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place.
  5. Ezekiel 20:40 Or and the gifts of your firstfruits
  6. Ezekiel 20:49 In Hebrew texts 20:45-49 is numbered 21:1-5.
  7. Ezekiel 21:1 In Hebrew texts 21:1-32 is numbered 21:6-37.
  8. Ezekiel 21:15 Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  9. Ezekiel 22:16 Or When I have allotted you your inheritance
  10. Ezekiel 22:25 Septuagint; Hebrew prophets
  11. Ezekiel 23:14 Or Babylonians
  12. Ezekiel 23:15 Or Babylonia; also in verse 16
  13. Ezekiel 23:21 Syriac (see also verse 3); Hebrew caressed because of your young breasts
  14. Ezekiel 23:24 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
  15. Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in
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Ezekiel 18
Ezekiel 25
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