³ and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem: Your ancestry^(A) and birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father^(B) was an Amorite^(C) and your mother a Hittite.^(D)

⁸ “‘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^(A) over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant^(B) with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine.^(C)

²² In all your detestable practices and your prostitution you did not remember the days of your youth,^(A) when you were naked and bare,^(B) kicking about in your blood.^(C)

³⁸ I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and who shed blood;^(A) I will bring on you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger.^{(B) 39} Then I will deliver you into the hands^(C) 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.^{(D) 40} They will bring a mob against you, who will stone^(E) you and hack you to pieces with their swords. ⁴¹ They will burn down^(F) your houses and inflict punishment on you in the sight of many women.^(G) I will put a stop^(H) 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.^(I)

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

⁴⁶ Your older sister^(A) 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.^{(B) 47} You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they.^(C)

⁵⁰ They were haughty^(A) and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.^{(B) 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.^{(C) 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^(D) than you. So then, be ashamed and bear^(E) your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

⁵⁸ You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the Lord.^(A)

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.^(B)

Two Adulterous Sisters

23 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.^{(A) 3} They became prostitutes in Egypt,^(B) engaging in prostitution^(C) from their youth.^(D) In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.^{(E) 4} The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.^(F)

⁹ “Therefore I delivered her into the hands^(A) of her lovers,^(B) the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.^{(C) 10} They stripped^(D) her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women,^(E) and punishment was inflicted^(F) on her.^(G)

¹¹ “Her sister Oholibah saw this,^(H) yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.^(I)