23 And the word of the Lord came to me: 24 “Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is (A)not cleansed (B)or rained upon in the day of indignation. 25 (C)The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is (D)like a roaring lion (E)tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. 26 (F)Her priests (G)have done violence to my law and (H)have profaned my holy things. (I)They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and (J)they have disregarded my Sabbaths, (K)so that I am profaned among them. 27 (L)Her princes in her midst are like wolves (M)tearing the prey, (N)shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. 28 And (O)her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, (P)seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. 29 The people of the land (Q)have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and (R)have extorted from the sojourner without justice. 30 (S)And I sought for a man among them (T)who should build up the wall (U)and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. 31 Therefore (V)I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned (W)their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.”

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 22:25 Septuagint; Hebrew prophets