Idolatrous Elders Condemned

14 Then some (A)elders of Israel came to me and (B)sat down before me. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have (C)set up their idols in their hearts and have (D)put in front of their faces the stumbling block of their wrongdoing. Should I let Myself be (E)consulted by them at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord [a]God says: “Anyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will let Myself answer him in [b]the matter in view of the (F)multitude of his idols, in order to take hold of [c](G)the hearts of the house of Israel who have [d](H)turned away from Me due to all their idols.”’

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “(I)Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your (J)abominations. For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the (K)strangers who reside in Israel, who deserts Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts in front of his face the stumbling block of his wrongdoing, and then comes to the prophet to request something of Me for himself, (L)I the Lord will let Myself answer him Myself. I will (M)set My face against that person and make him a (N)sign and [e]a proverb, and I will eliminate him from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord.

“But if the prophet is persuaded so that he speaks a word, it is I, the Lord, who have persuaded that prophet; and I will stretch out My hand against him and (O)eliminate him from among My people Israel. 10 And they will bear the punishment for their wrongdoing; as the wrongdoing of the inquirer is, so the wrongdoing of the prophet will be, 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer (P)stray from Me and no longer (Q)defile themselves with all their offenses. So they will be (R)My people, and I shall be their God,”’ declares the Lord God.”

The City Will Not Be Spared

12 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 13 “Son of man, if a country sins against Me by (S)being unfaithful, and I stretch out My hand against it, [f]destroy its (T)supply of bread, send famine against it, and eliminate from it both human and animal life, 14 even (U)though these three men, (V)Noah, (W)Daniel, and (X)Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only save (Y)themselves,” declares the Lord God. 15 “If I were to cause (Z)vicious animals to pass through the land and they [g]depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the animals, 16 though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not save either their sons or their daughters. (AA)They alone would be saved, but the country would be desolate. 17 Or if I were to (AB)bring a sword on that country and say, ‘A sword is to pass through the country,’ and I (AC)eliminated human and animal life from it, 18 even though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not save either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be saved. 19 Or if I were to send a (AD)plague against that country and pour out My wrath on it in blood to eliminate man and animal from it, 20 even though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not save either their son or their daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.”

21 For this is what the Lord God says: “How much more when (AE)I send My four [h]severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, vicious animals, and plague to eliminate human and animal life from it! 22 Yet, behold, [i]survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come out to you, and you will (AF)see their conduct and actions; then you will be (AG)comforted for the disaster which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it. 23 Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done (AH)without reason whatever I did [j]to it,” declares the Lord God.

Jerusalem like a Useless Vine

15 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, [k]how is the wood of the (AI)vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? Can wood be taken from it to make [l]anything, or can even a peg be taken from it on which to hang any utensil? If it has been put into the (AJ)fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then good for [m]anything? Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into [n]anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into [o]anything! Therefore, this is what the Lord [p]God says: ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and I (AK)set My face against them. Though they have (AL)come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them. So I will make the land desolate, because they have (AM)acted unfaithfully,’” declares the Lord God.

God’s Grace to Unfaithful Jerusalem

16 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, (AN)make known to Jerusalem her abominations, and say, ‘This is what the Lord [q]God says to Jerusalem: “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your birth, (AO)on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths. No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the [r](AP)open field, [s]for you were abhorred on the day you were born.

“When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ I (AQ)made you [t]very numerous, like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine jewelry; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.

“Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, [u]you were at the time for love; so I (AR)spread My [v]garment over you and covered your nakedness. I also (AS)swore an oath to you and (AT)entered into a covenant with you so that you (AU)became Mine,” declares the Lord God. “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you, and (AV)anointed you with oil. 10 I also clothed you with (AW)colorfully woven cloth and put sandals of [w]fine leather on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11 I adorned you with jewelry, put (AX)bracelets on your wrists, and a (AY)necklace around your neck. 12 I also put a (AZ)ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a (BA)beautiful crown on your head. 13 So you were adorned with (BB)gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk, and colorfully woven cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to (BC)royalty. 14 Then your (BD)fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was (BE)perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God.

15 “But you (BF)trusted in your beauty and (BG)became unfaithful because of your fame, and you poured out your [x]obscene practices on every passer-by to whom it might be tempting. 16 You took some of your clothes, made for yourself [y]high places of various colors, and committed prostitution on them, which should not come about nor happen. 17 You also took your beautiful [z](BH)jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images so that you might commit prostitution with them. 18 Then you took your colorfully woven cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them. 19 Also (BI)My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey with which I fed you, [aa]you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord God. 20 “Furthermore, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to (BJ)Me and (BK)sacrificed them to [ab]idols to be devoured. Were your obscene practices a trivial matter? 21 You slaughtered (BL)My children and offered them to [ac]idols by (BM)making them pass through the fire. 22 And besides all your abominations and obscene practices, you did not remember the days of (BN)your youth, when you were naked and bare and squirming in your blood.

23 “Then it came about after all your wickedness (‘Woe, woe to you!’ declares the Lord God), 24 that you built yourself a (BO)shrine and made yourself a (BP)high place in every public square. 25 You built yourself a high place at the beginning of (BQ)every street and made your beauty abominable, and you spread your legs to every passer-by and multiplied your obscene practice. 26 You also committed prostitution with the Egyptians, your [ad]lustful neighbors, and multiplied your obscene practice to (BR)provoke Me to anger. 27 So behold, I have stretched out My hand against you and cut back your rations. And I turned you over to the desire of those who hate you, the (BS)daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your outrageous conduct. 28 Moreover, you committed prostitution with the (BT)Assyrians because you were not satisfied; you committed prostitution with them and still were not satisfied. 29 You also multiplied your obscene practice with the land of merchants, Chaldea; yet even with this you were not satisfied.”’”

30 “How (BU)feverish is your heart,” declares the Lord God, “while you do all these things, the action of a [ae](BV)bold prostitute! 31 When you built your shrine at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every public square, in (BW)spurning a prostitute’s fee, you were not like a prostitute. 32 You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband! 33 Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you (BX)give your gifts to all your lovers and lavish favors on them so that they will come to you from every direction for your obscene practices. 34 So it is the opposite for you from those women in your obscene practices, in that you are not approached for prostitution, and in the fact that you pay a prostitute’s fee, and no fee is paid to you; so you are the opposite.”

35 Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord. 36 This is what the Lord God says: “Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your obscene practices with your lovers and with all your detestable (BY)idols, and because of the blood of your sons that you gave to [af]idols, 37 therefore, behold, I am going to (BZ)gather all your lovers whom you pleased, all those whom you loved as well as all those whom you (CA)hated. So I will gather them against you from every direction and (CB)expose your nakedness to them so that they may see all your nakedness. 38 So I will (CC)judge you as women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of (CD)wrath and jealousy. 39 I will also hand you over to [ag]your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, (CE)strip you of your clothing, take away your [ah]jewels, and will leave you naked and bare. 40 They will [ai]incite a (CF)crowd against you, and they will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. 41 And they will (CG)burn your houses with fire and execute judgments against you in the sight of many women. Then I will (CH)put an end to your prostitution, and you will also no longer pay [aj]your lovers. 42 So I (CI)will satisfy My fury against you and My jealousy will leave you, and I will be pacified and (CJ)no longer be angry. 43 Since you have (CK)not remembered the days of your youth but [ak]have (CL)caused Me unrest by all these things, behold, I in turn will (CM)bring your conduct down on your own head,” declares the Lord God, “so that you will not commit this outrageous sin in addition to all your other abominations.

44 “Behold, everyone who quotes (CN)proverbs will quote this proverb about you, saying, ‘Like [al]mother, like daughter.’ 45 You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are also the (CO)sister of your sisters, who (CP)loathed their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46 Now your (CQ)older sister is Samaria, who lives [am]north of you with her [an]daughters; and your younger sister, who lives [ao]south of you, is (CR)Sodom with her [ap]daughters. 47 Yet you have not merely walked in their ways and [aq]committed their abominations; but, as if that were (CS)too little, you also acted (CT)more corruptly in all your conduct than they. 48 As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have (CU)not done as you and your daughters have done! 49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had (CV)arrogance, (CW)plenty of food, and (CX)carefree ease, but she did not [ar]help the (CY)poor and needy. 50 So they were haughty and committed (CZ)abominations before Me. Therefore I (DA)removed them [as]when I saw it. 51 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. So you have made your sisters appear (DB)innocent by all your abominations which you have committed. 52 Also, bear your disgrace in that you have [at]made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted (DC)more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear innocent.

53 “Nevertheless, I will restore their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, the fortunes of Samaria and her daughters, and [au]along with them your own fortunes, 54 so that you will bear your disgrace and feel (DD)ashamed for all that you have done when you become (DE)a consolation to them. 55 Your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, [av]will return to their former state, and you with your daughters will also return to your former state. 56 As the name of your sister Sodom was not heard from your lips in your day of pride, 57 before your (DF)wickedness was uncovered, [aw]so now you have become the (DG)disgrace of the daughters of [ax]Edom and of all who are around her, of the daughters of the Philistines—those surrounding you who despise you. 58 You have (DH)suffered the penalty of your outrageous sin and abominations,” the Lord declares. 59 For this is what the Lord God says: “I will also do with you as you have done, you who have (DI)despised the oath by breaking the covenant.

The Covenant Remembered

60 “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an (DJ)everlasting covenant with you. 61 Then you will (DK)remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. 62 So I will (DL)establish My covenant with you, and you shall (DM)know that I am the Lord, 63 so that you may (DN)remember and be ashamed, and (DO)not open your mouth again because of your disgrace, when I have [ay](DP)forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord God declares.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 14:4 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  2. Ezekiel 14:4 Lit it
  3. Ezekiel 14:5 Lit their
  4. Ezekiel 14:5 Or all turned away from Me due to their idols
  5. Ezekiel 14:8 Lit proverbs
  6. Ezekiel 14:13 Lit break its staff
  7. Ezekiel 14:15 Lit bereaved it of children
  8. Ezekiel 14:21 Lit evil
  9. Ezekiel 14:22 Lit a survivor
  10. Ezekiel 14:23 Lit in
  11. Ezekiel 15:2 Or of all the wood of the branches...what becomes of the wood of the vine
  12. Ezekiel 15:3 Lit a work
  13. Ezekiel 15:4 Lit a work
  14. Ezekiel 15:5 Lit a work
  15. Ezekiel 15:5 Lit a work
  16. Ezekiel 15:6 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  17. Ezekiel 16:3 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord, and so throughout the ch
  18. Ezekiel 16:5 Lit face of the field
  19. Ezekiel 16:5 Lit in the loathing of your soul
  20. Ezekiel 16:7 Lit a myriad
  21. Ezekiel 16:8 Lit your time was
  22. Ezekiel 16:8 Lit hem (of a garment)
  23. Ezekiel 16:10 Meaning of the Heb uncertain
  24. Ezekiel 16:15 I.e., idolatrous practices with nations
  25. Ezekiel 16:16 I.e., pagan altars
  26. Ezekiel 16:17 Lit articles of beauty
  27. Ezekiel 16:19 Lit and you...offer it
  28. Ezekiel 16:20 Lit them
  29. Ezekiel 16:21 Lit them
  30. Ezekiel 16:26 Lit great of flesh
  31. Ezekiel 16:30 Lit mighty
  32. Ezekiel 16:36 Lit them
  33. Ezekiel 16:39 Lit their hands, and they
  34. Ezekiel 16:39 Lit articles of beauty
  35. Ezekiel 16:40 Lit bring up an assembly
  36. Ezekiel 16:41 Lit a prostitute’s fee
  37. Ezekiel 16:43 As in ancient versions; MT tremble at
  38. Ezekiel 16:44 Lit her mother, her daughter
  39. Ezekiel 16:46 Lit on your left
  40. Ezekiel 16:46 I.e., surrounding villages; so through v 55
  41. Ezekiel 16:46 Lit from your right
  42. Ezekiel 16:46 I.e., surrounding villages; so through v 55
  43. Ezekiel 16:47 Lit acted in their
  44. Ezekiel 16:49 Lit grasp the hand of
  45. Ezekiel 16:50 Some mss and ancient versions as you have seen
  46. Ezekiel 16:52 Lit mediated for
  47. Ezekiel 16:53 Lit in their midst
  48. Ezekiel 16:55 Heb includes will return...state after Sodom also
  49. Ezekiel 16:57 Lit as at the time of
  50. Ezekiel 16:57 As in many mss and one ancient version; MT Aram
  51. Ezekiel 16:63 Or made atonement for

Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.(A) Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts(B) and put wicked stumbling blocks(C) before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?(D) Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the Lord will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted(E) me for their idols.’(F)

“Therefore say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent!(G) Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!(H)

“‘When any of the Israelites or any foreigner(I) residing in Israel separate themselves from me and set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block(J) before their faces and then go to a prophet to inquire(K) of me, I the Lord will answer them myself. I will set my face against(L) them and make them an example(M) and a byword.(N) I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(O)

“‘And if the prophet(P) is enticed(Q) to utter a prophecy, I the Lord have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.(R) 10 They will bear their guilt—the prophet will be as guilty as the one who consults him. 11 Then the people of Israel will no longer stray(S) from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people,(T) and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign Lord.(U)’”

Jerusalem’s Judgment Inescapable

12 The word of the Lord came to me: 13 “Son of man, if a country sins(V) against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply(W) and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals,(X) 14 even if these three men—Noah,(Y) Daniel[a](Z) and Job(AA)—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness,(AB) declares the Sovereign Lord.

15 “Or if I send wild beasts(AC) through that country and they leave it childless and it becomes desolate so that no one can pass through it because of the beasts,(AD) 16 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved, but the land would be desolate.(AE)

17 “Or if I bring a sword(AF) against that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass throughout the land,’ and I kill its people and their animals,(AG) 18 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if these three men were in it, they could not save their own sons or daughters. They alone would be saved.

19 “Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out my wrath(AH) on it through bloodshed,(AI) killing its people and their animals,(AJ) 20 as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, they could save neither son nor daughter. They would save only themselves by their righteousness.(AK)

21 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments(AL)—sword(AM) and famine(AN) and wild beasts and plague(AO)—to kill its men and their animals!(AP) 22 Yet there will be some survivors(AQ)—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it.(AR) They will come to you, and when you see their conduct(AS) and their actions, you will be consoled(AT) regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it. 23 You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AU)

Jerusalem as a Useless Vine

15 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how is the wood of a vine(AV) different from that of a branch from any of the trees in the forest? Is wood ever taken from it to make anything useful?(AW) Do they make pegs(AX) from it to hang things on? And after it is thrown on the fire as fuel and the fire burns both ends and chars the middle, is it then useful for anything?(AY) If it was not useful for anything when it was whole, how much less can it be made into something useful when the fire has burned it and it is charred?

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As I have given the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest as fuel for the fire, so will I treat the people living in Jerusalem. I will set my face against(AZ) them. Although they have come out of the fire(BA), the fire will yet consume them. And when I set my face against them, you will know that I am the Lord.(BB) I will make the land desolate(BC) because they have been unfaithful,(BD) declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Jerusalem as an Adulterous Wife

16 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, confront(BE) Jerusalem with her detestable practices(BF) and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry(BG) and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father(BH) was an Amorite(BI) and your mother a Hittite.(BJ) On the day you were born(BK) your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised.

“‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”[b](BL) I made you grow(BM) like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked.(BN)

“‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment(BO) over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant(BP) with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.(BQ)

“‘I bathed you with water and washed(BR) the blood from you and put ointments on you. 10 I clothed you with an embroidered(BS) dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linen(BT) and covered you with costly garments.(BU) 11 I adorned you with jewelry:(BV) I put bracelets(BW) on your arms and a necklace(BX) around your neck, 12 and I put a ring on your nose,(BY) earrings(BZ) on your ears and a beautiful crown(CA) on your head.(CB) 13 So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes(CC) were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil(CD) and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.(CE) 14 And your fame(CF) spread among the nations on account of your beauty,(CG) because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CH)

15 “‘But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by(CI) and your beauty became his.(CJ) 16 You took some of your garments to make gaudy high places,(CK) where you carried on your prostitution.(CL) You went to him, and he possessed your beauty.[c] 17 You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them.(CM) 18 And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense(CN) before them. 19 Also the food I provided for you—the flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat—you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CO)

20 “‘And you took your sons and daughters(CP) whom you bore to me(CQ) and sacrificed them as food to the idols. Was your prostitution not enough?(CR) 21 You slaughtered my children and sacrificed them to the idols.(CS) 22 In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth,(CT) when you were naked and bare,(CU) kicking about in your blood.(CV)

23 “‘Woe!(CW) Woe to you, declares the Sovereign Lord. In addition to all your other wickedness, 24 you built a mound for yourself and made a lofty shrine(CX) in every public square.(CY) 25 At every street corner(CZ) you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty, spreading your legs with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by.(DA) 26 You engaged in prostitution(DB) with the Egyptians,(DC) your neighbors with large genitals, and aroused my anger(DD) with your increasing promiscuity.(DE) 27 So I stretched out my hand(DF) against you and reduced your territory; I gave you over(DG) to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines,(DH) who were shocked by your lewd conduct. 28 You engaged in prostitution with the Assyrians(DI) too, because you were insatiable; and even after that, you still were not satisfied.(DJ) 29 Then you increased your promiscuity to include Babylonia,[d](DK) a land of merchants, but even with this you were not satisfied.(DL)

30 “‘I am filled with fury against you,[e] declares the Sovereign Lord, when you do all these things, acting like a brazen prostitute!(DM) 31 When you built your mounds at every street corner and made your lofty shrines(DN) in every public square, you were unlike a prostitute, because you scorned payment.

32 “‘You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband! 33 All prostitutes receive gifts,(DO) but you give gifts(DP) to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.(DQ) 34 So in your prostitution you are the opposite of others; no one runs after you for your favors. You are the very opposite, for you give payment and none is given to you.

35 “‘Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! 36 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your naked body in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood,(DR) 37 therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will strip(DS) you in front of them, and they will see you stark naked.(DT) 38 I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and who shed blood;(DU) I will bring on you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger.(DV) 39 Then I will deliver you into the hands(DW) of your lovers, and they will tear down your mounds and destroy your lofty shrines. They will strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry and leave you stark naked.(DX) 40 They will bring a mob against you, who will stone(DY) you and hack you to pieces with their swords. 41 They will burn down(DZ) your houses and inflict punishment on you in the sight of many women.(EA) I will put a stop(EB) to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. 42 Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry.(EC)

43 “‘Because you did not remember(ED) the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring down(EE) on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign Lord. Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices?(EF)

44 “‘Everyone who quotes proverbs(EG) will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” 45 You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised(EH) her husband(EI) and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.(EJ) 46 Your older sister(EK) was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom.(EL) 47 You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they.(EM) 48 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign(EN) Lord, your sister Sodom(EO) and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.(EP)

49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:(EQ) She and her daughters were arrogant,(ER) overfed and unconcerned;(ES) they did not help the poor and needy.(ET) 50 They were haughty(EU) and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.(EV) 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.(EW) 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(EX) than you. So then, be ashamed and bear(EY) your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

53 “‘However, I will restore(EZ) the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them,(FA) 54 so that you may bear your disgrace(FB) and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort. 55 And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before.(FC) 56 You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, 57 before your wickedness was uncovered. Even so, you are now scorned(FD) by the daughters of Edom[f](FE) and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. 58 You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the Lord.(FF)

59 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant.(FG) 60 Yet I will remember the covenant(FH) I made with you in the days of your youth,(FI) and I will establish an everlasting covenant(FJ) with you. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed(FK) when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters,(FL) but not on the basis of my covenant with you. 62 So I will establish my covenant(FM) with you, and you will know that I am the Lord.(FN) 63 Then, when I make atonement(FO) for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed(FP) and never again open your mouth(FQ) because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.(FR)’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 14:14 Or Danel, a man of renown in ancient literature; also in verse 20
  2. Ezekiel 16:6 A few Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts repeat and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!”
  3. Ezekiel 16:16 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
  4. Ezekiel 16:29 Or Chaldea
  5. Ezekiel 16:30 Or How feverish is your heart,
  6. Ezekiel 16:57 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram