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 The Lord’s word came to me: 24 Human one, say to her, You are an unclean land without rain on the day of reckoning. 25 The conspiracy of princes[a] in her is like a roaring lion ripping up prey. They’ve piled up wealth and precious goods and made many widows in her. 26 Her priests have done violence to my instructions and made my holy things impure. They have not clearly separated the holy from the ordinary, and they have not taught the difference between unclean and clean things. They’ve disregarded my sabbaths. So I’ve been degraded among them. 27 The officials in her are like wolves ripping up prey. They shed blood and destroy lives for unjust riches. 28 Her prophets have whitewashed everything for them, seeing false visions and making wrong predictions for them, saying, “This is what the Lord God says,” when the Lord hasn’t spoken. 29 The important people of the land have practiced extortion and have committed robbery. They’ve oppressed the poor and mistreated the immigrant. They’ve oppressed and denied justice. 30 I looked for anyone to repair the wall and stand in the gap for me on behalf of the land, so I wouldn’t have to destroy it. But I couldn’t find anyone. 31 So I’ve poured out my anger on them. With my furious fire I’ve finished them off. I’ve held them accountable. This is what the Lord God proclaims.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 22:25 LXX; MT prophets