Ezekiel 22:23-31

Expanded Bible

Sins of the People

²³ The ·Lord spoke his word [^Lword of the Lord came] to me, saying: ²⁴ “·Human [^TSon of man; 2:1], say to the land, ‘You are a land that ·has not had rain or [or is not cleansed with] showers ·when God is angry [^Lin the day of wrath/indignation].’ ²⁵ Like a roaring lion that tears ·the animal it has caught [its prey], Israel’s ·rulers^[a] [princes] ·make evil plans [conspire]. They have ·destroyed [devoured] lives and have taken treasure and ·valuable [precious] things. They have caused many women to become widows. ²⁶ ·Israel’s [^LHer; Its] priests do ·cruel things [violence] to my ·teachings [laws; instructions; ^LTorah] and ·do not honor [profane; ^Critually] my holy things. They make no difference between holy and ·unholy [common; profane; ^Critually] things, and they teach there is no difference between clean and unclean things [^Critually]. They ·do not remember [disregard; ^Lclose their eyes to] my Sabbaths, so I am ·dishonored by [profaned among; ^Critually] them. ²⁷ Like wolves tearing ·a dead animal [their prey], ·Jerusalem’s leaders [^Lher princes/officials] have ·killed people [^Lshed blood and destroy lives] for profit. ²⁸ And the prophets ·try to cover this up by [whitewash their actions with; 13:10–15] false visions and by lying ·messages [divinations]. They say, ‘This is what the Lord God says’ when the Lord has not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land ·cheat others [practice extortion] and ·steal [commit robbery]. They ·hurt [oppress] the poor and needy. They ·cheat [mistreat; extort] foreigners and ·do not treat them fairly [deny them justice].

³⁰ “I looked for someone to ·build up [repair; 13:5] the walls and to stand before me ·where the walls are broken [in the gap/breach] ·to defend these people [^Lon behalf of the land] so I would not have to destroy them. But I could not find anyone. ³¹ So I ·let them see [poured out] my ·anger [wrath]. I destroyed them with an anger that was like fire ·because of all the things [^Lbringing down on their heads all] they have done, says the Lord God.”