Parable of God’s Adulterous Wife

16 The word of the Lord came to me again: ² “Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her detestable practices.^{(A) 3} You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hethite.^{(B) 4} As for your birth, your umbilical cord wasn’t cut on the day you were born,^(C) and you weren’t washed clean^[a] with water. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.^{(D) 5} No one cared enough about you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. But you were thrown out into the open field because you were despised on the day you were born.

⁶ “‘I passed by you and saw you thrashing around in your blood, and I said to you as you lay in your blood, “Live!” Yes, I said to you as you lay in your blood, “Live!” ^{[b] 7} I made you thrive^[c] like plants of the field.^(E) You grew up and matured and became very beautiful.^[d] Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were stark naked.

⁸ “‘Then I passed by you and saw you, and you were indeed at the age for love. So I spread the edge of my garment over you and covered your nakedness.^(F) I pledged myself to you,^(G) entered into a covenant with you—this is the declaration of the Lord God—and you became mine.^{(H) 9} I washed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ I clothed you in embroidered cloth and provided you with fine leather^[e] sandals. I also wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ I adorned you with jewelry, putting bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck. ¹² I put a ring in your nose,^(I) earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ So you were adorned with gold and silver,^(J) and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became extremely beautiful and attained royalty. ¹⁴ Your fame spread among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through my splendor,^(K) which I had bestowed on you. This is the declaration of the Lord God.

¹⁵ “‘But you trusted in your beauty and acted like a prostitute because of your fame.^(L) You lavished your sexual favors on everyone who passed by.^(M) Your beauty became his.^{[f] 16} You took some of your clothing and made colorful high places for yourself, and you engaged in prostitution on them. These places should not have been built, and this should never have happened!^{[g] 17} You also took your beautiful jewelry made from the gold and silver I had given you, and you made male images so that you could engage in prostitution with them.^{(N) 18} Then you took your embroidered clothing to cover them and set my oil and incense before them. ¹⁹ The food that I gave you—the fine flour, oil, and honey that I fed you—you set it before them as a pleasing aroma.^(O) That is what happened. This is the declaration of the Lord God.

²⁰ “‘You even took your sons and daughters you bore to me and sacrificed them to these images as food.^(P) Wasn’t your prostitution enough? ²¹ You slaughtered my children and gave them up when you passed them through the fire^(Q) to the images. ²² In all your detestable practices and acts of prostitution, you did not remember the days of your youth^(R) when you were stark naked and thrashing around in your blood.

²³ “‘Then after all your evil—Woe, woe to you!—the declaration of the Lord God— ²⁴ you built yourself a mound and made yourself an elevated place in every square.^{(S) 25} You built your elevated place at the head of every street^(T) and turned your beauty into a detestable thing. You spread your legs to everyone who passed by and increased your prostitution. ²⁶ You engaged in promiscuous acts with Egyptian men, your well-endowed neighbors, and increased your prostitution^(U) to anger me.

²⁷ “‘Therefore, I stretched out my hand against you and reduced your provisions. I gave you over to the desire of those who hate you, the Philistine women,^(V) who were embarrassed by your indecent conduct. ²⁸ Then you engaged in prostitution with the Assyrian men because you were not satisfied.^(W) Even though you did this with them, you were still not satisfied. ²⁹ So you extended your prostitution to Chaldea,^(X) the land of merchants, but you were not even satisfied with this!

³⁰ “‘How your heart was inflamed with lust^[h]—the declaration of the Lord God—when you did all these things, the acts of a brazen prostitute, ³¹ building your mound at the head of every street and making your elevated place in every square. But you were unlike a prostitute because you scorned payment.^{(Y) 32} You adulterous wife, who receives strangers instead of her husband! ³³ Men give gifts to all prostitutes, but you gave gifts to all your lovers. You bribed them to come to you from all around for your sexual favors. ³⁴ So you were the opposite of other women in your acts of prostitution; no one solicited you. When you paid a fee instead of one being paid to you, you were the opposite.

³⁵ “‘Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! ³⁶ This is what the Lord God says: Because your lust was poured out and your nakedness exposed by your acts of prostitution with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols and the blood of your children that you gave to them,^{(Z) 37} I am therefore going to gather all the lovers you pleased^(AA)—all those you loved as well as all those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and expose your nakedness^(AB) to them so they see you completely naked. ³⁸ I will judge you the way adulteresses and those who shed blood are judged.^(AC) Then I will bring about the shedding of your blood in jealous wrath.^{(AD) 39} I will hand you over to them, and they will demolish your mounds and tear down your elevated places. They will strip off your clothes,^(AE) take your beautiful jewelry, and leave you stark naked. ⁴⁰ They will bring a mob against you^(AF) to stone you and to cut you to pieces with their swords. ⁴¹ They will burn your houses and execute judgments against you in the sight of many women. I will stop you from being a prostitute,^(AG) and you will never again pay fees for lovers. ⁴² So I will satisfy my wrath against you,^(AH) and my jealousy will turn away from you. Then I will be calm and no longer angry. ⁴³ Because you did not remember the days^(AI) of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will also bring your conduct down on your own head.^(AJ) This is the declaration of the Lord God. Haven’t you committed depravity in addition to all your detestable practices?

⁴⁴ “‘Look, everyone who uses proverbs will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” ⁴⁵ You are the daughter of your mother, who despised her husband and children. You are the sister of your sisters,^(AK) who despised their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hethite and your father an Amorite.^{(AL) 46} Your older sister was Samaria,^(AM) who lived with her daughters to the north of you, and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to the south of you. ⁴⁷ Didn’t you walk in their ways and do their detestable practices? It was only a short time before all your ways were more corrupt than theirs.^(AN)

⁴⁸ “‘As I live—the declaration of the Lord God—your sister Sodom and her daughters have not behaved as you and your daughters have.^{(AO) 49} Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, plenty of food,^(AP) and comfortable security, but didn’t support^[i] the poor and needy. ⁵⁰ They were haughty and did detestable acts before me, so I removed them when I saw this.^{[j](AQ) 51} But Samaria did not commit even half your sins. You have multiplied your detestable practices beyond theirs and made your sisters appear righteous by all the detestable acts you have committed. ⁵² You must also bear your disgrace, since you have helped your sisters out.^[k] For they appear more righteous than you because of your sins, which you committed more detestably than they did. So you also, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, since you have made your sisters appear righteous.

⁵³ “‘I will restore their fortunes,^(AR) the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and those of Samaria and her daughters. I will also restore^[l] your fortunes among them,^{(AS) 54} so you will bear your disgrace and be ashamed of all you did when you comforted them.^{(AT) 55} As for your sisters, Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former state. You and your daughters will also return to your former state. ⁵⁶ Didn’t you treat your sister Sodom as an object of scorn when you were proud, ⁵⁷ before your wickedness was exposed? It was like the time you were scorned by the daughters of Aram^[m](AU) and all those around her, and by the daughters of the Philistines—those who treated you with contempt from every side. ⁵⁸ You yourself must bear the consequences of your depravity and detestable practices^(AV)—this is the Lord’s declaration.

⁵⁹ “‘For this is what the Lord God says: I will deal with you according to what you have done, since you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant.^{(AW) 60} But I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish a permanent covenant with you.^{(AX) 61} Then you will remember your ways^(AY) and be ashamed when you^[n] receive your older and younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. ⁶² I will establish my covenant with you,^(AZ) and you will know that I am the Lord, ⁶³ so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed,^(BA) and never open your mouth again because of your disgrace.^(BB) This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”

Parable of the Eagles

17 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, pose a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel.^{(BC) 3} You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: A huge eagle with powerful wings,^(BD) long feathers, and full plumage of many colors came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.^{(BE) 4} He plucked off its topmost shoot, brought it to the land of merchants, and set it in a city of traders. ⁵ Then he took some of the land’s seed and put it in a fertile field;^(BF) he set it like a willow,^(BG) a plant^[o] by abundant water. ⁶ It sprouted and became a spreading vine, low in height with its branches turned toward him,^(BH) yet its roots stayed under it. So it became a vine, produced branches, and sent out shoots.

⁷ “‘But there was another huge eagle with powerful wings and thick plumage. And this vine bent its roots toward him! It stretched out its branches to him from the plot where it was planted,^(BI) so that he might water it. ⁸ It had been planted in a good field by abundant water in order to produce branches, bear fruit, and become a splendid vine.’

⁹ “You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Will it flourish? Will he not tear out its roots^(BJ) and strip off its fruit so that it shrivels? All its fresh leaves will wither! Great strength and many people will not be needed to pull it from its roots. ¹⁰ Even though it is planted, will it flourish? Won’t it wither completely when the east wind strikes it?^(BK) It will wither on the plot where it sprouted.’”

¹¹ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹² “Now say to that rebellious house,^(BL) ‘Don’t you know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and officials,^(BM) and brought them back with him to Babylon. ¹³ He took one of the royal family^(BN) and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath.^(BO) Then he took away the leading men of the land, ¹⁴ so that the kingdom would be humble and not exalt itself^(BP) but would keep his covenant in order to endure. ¹⁵ However, this king revolted against him^(BQ) by sending his ambassadors to Egypt so they might give him horses and a large army.^(BR) Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still escape?

¹⁶ “‘As I live—this is the declaration of the Lord God—he will die in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne,^(BS) whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke. ¹⁷ Pharaoh with his mighty army and vast company will not help him in battle,^(BT) when ramps are built and siege walls constructed to destroy many lives. ¹⁸ He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. He did all these things even though he gave his hand in pledge.^(BU) He will not escape!

¹⁹ “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: As I live, I will bring down on his head my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke. ²⁰ I will spread my net over him,^(BV) and he will be caught in my snare.^(BW) I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there for the treachery he committed against me.^{(BX) 21} All the fugitives^[p] among his troops will fall by the sword, and those who survive will be scattered to every direction of the wind.^(BY) Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.

²² “‘This is what the Lord God says:

Personal Responsibility for Sin

18 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel:

³ As I live”—this is the declaration of the Lord God—“you will no longer use this proverb in Israel.^{(CH) 4} Look, every life belongs to me.^(CI) The life of the father is like the life of the son—both belong to me. The person who sins is the one who will die.^(CJ)

⁵ “Suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right: ⁶ He does not eat at the mountain shrines^[q](CK) or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife^(CL) or approach a woman during her menstrual impurity.^{(CM) 7} He doesn’t oppress anyone^(CN) but returns his collateral to the debtor.^(CO) He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry^(CP) and covers the naked with clothing. ⁸ He doesn’t lend at interest or for profit^(CQ) but keeps his hand from injustice and carries out true justice between men.^{(CR) 9} He follows my statutes and keeps my ordinances, acting faithfully. Such a person is righteous; he will certainly live.”^(CS) This is the declaration of the Lord God.

¹⁰ “But suppose the man has a violent son, who sheds blood^(CT) and does any of these things, ¹¹ though the father has done none of them. Indeed, when the son eats at the mountain shrines and defiles his neighbor’s wife, ¹² and when he oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, and does not return collateral, and when he looks to the idols, commits detestable acts,^{(CU) 13} and lends at interest or for profit, will he live? He will not live! Since he has committed all these detestable acts, he will certainly die. His death will be his own fault.^[r](CV)

¹⁴ “Now suppose he has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do likewise. ¹⁵ He does not eat at the mountain shrines or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife. ¹⁶ He doesn’t oppress anyone, hold collateral, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. ¹⁷ He keeps his hand from harming the poor, not taking interest or profit on a loan. He practices my ordinances and follows my statutes. Such a person will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will certainly live.

¹⁸ “As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity because he practiced fraud, robbed his brother, and did among his people what was not good.^{(CW) 19} But you may ask, ‘Why doesn’t the son suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ ^(CX) Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all my statutes, he will certainly live. ²⁰ The person who sins is the one who will die.^(CY) A son won’t suffer punishment for the father’s iniquity, and a father won’t suffer punishment for the son’s iniquity.^(CZ) The righteousness of the righteous person will be on him,^(DA) and the wickedness of the wicked person will be on him.^(DB)

²¹ “But if the wicked person turns from all the sins he has committed,^(DC) keeps all my statutes, and does what is just and right, he will certainly live; he will not die. ²² None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him.^(DD) He will live because of the righteousness he has practiced.^{(DE) 23} Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” ^(DF) This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives? ²⁴ But when a righteous person turns from his righteousness^(DG) and acts unjustly, committing the same detestable acts that the wicked do, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered.^(DH) He will die because of the treachery he has engaged in and the sin he has committed.

²⁵ “But you say, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’^(DI) Now listen, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair? ²⁶ When a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, he will die for this. He will die because of the injustice he has committed. ²⁷ But if a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life. ²⁸ He will certainly live because he thought it over and turned from all the transgressions he had committed; he will not die. ²⁹ But the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way isn’t fair.’ Is it my ways that are unfair, house of Israel? Instead, isn’t it your ways that are unfair?

³⁰ “Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each one of you according to his ways.”^(DJ) This is the declaration of the Lord God. “Repent and turn from all your rebellious acts, so they will not become a sinful stumbling block to you. ³¹ Throw off all the transgressions you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.^(DK) Why should you die, house of Israel? ³² For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death.” This is the declaration of the Lord God. “So repent and live!

The Fourth Sign: Feeding of the Five Thousand

6 After^(A) this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee^(B) (or Tiberias^(C)). ² A huge crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was performing by healing the sick. ³ Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with his disciples.

⁴ Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near. ⁵ So when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward him,^(D) he asked Philip,^(E) “Where will we buy bread so that these people can eat?” ⁶ He asked this to test him,^(F) for he himself knew what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii^[a](G) worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.”

⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew,^(H) Simon^(I) Peter’s^(J) brother, said to him, ⁹ “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they for so many?”

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.”

There was plenty of grass in that place; so they sat down. The men numbered about five thousand.^{(K) 11} Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks he distributed them to those who were seated—so also with the fish, as much as they wanted.^(L)

¹² When they were full, he told his disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.”^{(M) 13} So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ When the people saw the sign^[b] he had done, they said, “This truly is the Prophet^(N) who is to come^(O) into the world.”^(P)

¹⁵ Therefore, when Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king,^(Q) he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

The Fifth Sign: Walking on Water

¹⁶ When^(R) evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.^(S) Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸ A high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. ¹⁹ After they had rowed about three or four miles,^[c] they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I.^[d](T) Don’t be afraid.” ²¹ Then they were willing to take him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

The Bread of Life

²² The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw there had been only one boat.^[e](U) They also saw that Jesus had not boarded the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone off alone. ²³ Some boats from Tiberias^(V) came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴ When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. ²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi,^(W) when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw^[f] the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Don’t work for the food that perishes^(X) but for the food that lasts for eternal life,^(Y) which the Son of Man^(Z) will give you, because God the Father^(AA) has set his seal of approval on him.”

²⁸ “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked.

²⁹ Jesus replied, “This is the work^(AB) of God—that you believe in the one he has sent.”^(AC)

³⁰ “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna^(AD) in the wilderness,^(AE) just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”^[g](AF)

³² Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, Moses^(AG) didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

³⁵ “I am^(AH) the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me^(AI) will ever be hungry,^(AJ) and no one who believes in me^(AK) will ever be thirsty^(AL) again. ³⁶ But as I told you, you’ve seen me,^[h] and yet you do not believe. ³⁷ Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.^{(AM) 38} For I have come down from heaven,^(AN) not to do my own will, but the will of him^(AO) who sent me. ³⁹ This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise^(AP) them up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father: ^(AQ) that everyone who sees the Son^(AR) and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise^(AS) him up on the last day.”

⁴¹ Therefore the Jews started grumbling about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They were saying, “Isn’t this Jesus the son of Joseph,^(AT) whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

⁴³ Jesus answered them, “Stop grumbling among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws^[i] him, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ^(AU) And they will all be taught by God.^[j](AV) Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father^(AW) comes to me— ⁴⁶ not that anyone has seen the Father^(AX) except the one who is from God.^(AY) He has seen the Father.^(AZ)

⁴⁷ “Truly I tell you, anyone who believes^[k] has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna^(BA) in the wilderness,^(BB) and they died. ⁵⁰ This is the bread that comes down from heaven so that anyone may eat of it and not die.^{(BC) 51} I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live^(BD) forever.^(BE) The bread that I will give for the life^(BF) of the world is my flesh.”^(BG)

⁵² At that, the Jews argued^(BH) among themselves,^(BI) “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

⁵³ So Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man^(BJ) and drink his blood,^(BK) you do not have life in yourselves. ⁵⁴ The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood^(BL) has eternal life, and I will raise^(BM) him up on the last day, ⁵⁵ because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.^{(BN) 57} Just as the living^(BO) Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live^(BP) because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna^[l] your ancestors ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”^(BQ)

⁵⁹ He said these things while teaching in the synagogue^(BR) in Capernaum.^(BS)

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

⁶⁰ Therefore, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept^[m] it?”

⁶¹ Jesus, knowing in himself^(BT) that his disciples were grumbling about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? ⁶² Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man^(BU) ascending^(BV) to where he was before? ⁶³ The Spirit^(BW) is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning^(BX) those who did not^[n] believe and the one who would betray^(BY) him.) ⁶⁵ He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me^(BZ) unless it is granted to him by the Father.”

⁶⁶ From that moment^[o] many of his disciples turned back and no longer accompanied him. ⁶⁷ So Jesus said to the Twelve,^(CA) “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”

⁶⁸ Simon Peter^(CB) answered, “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”^[p](CC)

⁷⁰ Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve?^(CD) Yet one of you is a devil.”^{(CE) 71} He was referring to Judas,^(CF) Simon Iscariot’s son,^[q] one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray^(CG) him.