Bible in 90 Days
21 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22 “Son of man, what is this (A)proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The (B)days are long and every (C)vision fails’? 23 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “(D)The days draw near as well as the [a]fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there will no longer be any [b](E)false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I the Lord will speak, and whatever (F)word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in (G)your days, O (H)rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”
26 Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 “Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for (I)many [c]years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord God.
False Prophets Condemned
13 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the (J)prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own [d]inspiration, ‘(K)Listen to the word of the Lord! 3 Thus says the Lord [e]God, “Woe to the (L)foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have (M)seen nothing. 4 O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. 5 You have not (N)gone up into the (O)breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the (P)day of the Lord. 6 They see [f](Q)falsehood and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord has not sent them; (R)yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. 7 (S)Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘The Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”’”
8 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken [g]falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, (T)I am against you,” declares the Lord God. 9 “So My hand will be against the (U)prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will [h]have no place in the council of My people, (V)nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, [i]that you may know that I am the Lord God. 10 It is definitely because they have (W)misled My people by saying, ‘(X)Peace!’ when there is (Y)no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; 11 so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A (Z)flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out. 12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?’” 13 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and (AA)hailstones to consume it in wrath. 14 So I will tear down the wall which you plastered over with whitewash and bring it down to the ground, so that its (AB)foundation is laid bare; and when it falls, you will be (AC)consumed in its midst. And you will (AD)know that I am the Lord. 15 Thus I will spend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I will say to you, ‘The wall [j]is gone and its plasterers are gone, 16 along with the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who (AE)see visions of peace for her when there is (AF)no peace,’ declares the Lord God.
17 “Now you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who are (AG)prophesying (AH)from their own [k]inspiration. Prophesy against them 18 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on [l]all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to (AI)hunt down [m]lives! Will you hunt down the [n]lives of My people, but preserve the [o]lives of others for yourselves? 19 (AJ)For handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned Me to My people to put to death [p]some who should not die and to (AK)keep [q]others alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies.”’”
20 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against your magic bands by which you hunt [r]lives there as [s]birds and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let [t]them go, even those [u]lives whom you hunt as [v]birds. 21 I will also tear off your veils and (AL)deliver My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your hands to be hunted; and you will know that I am the Lord. 22 Because you (AM)disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have [w](AN)encouraged the wicked not to (AO)turn from his wicked way and preserve his life, 23 therefore, you women will no longer see [x](AP)false visions or practice divination, and I will (AQ)deliver My people out of your hand. Thus you will (AR)know that I am the Lord.”
Idolatrous Elders Condemned
14 Then some (AS)elders of Israel came to me and (AT)sat down before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 3 “Son of man, these men have (AU)set up their idols in their hearts and have (AV)put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be (AW)consulted by them at all? 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord [y]God, “Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will be brought to give him an answer in [z]the matter in view of the (AX)multitude of his idols, 5 in order to lay hold of [aa](AY)the hearts of the house of Israel who are [ab](AZ)estranged from Me through all their idols.”’
6 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “(BA)Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your (BB)abominations. 7 For anyone of the house of Israel or of the (BC)immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, (BD)I the Lord will be brought to answer him in My own person. 8 I will (BE)set My face against that man and make him a (BF)sign and [ac]a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people. So you will know that I am the Lord.
9 “But if the prophet is [ad]prevailed upon to speak a word, it is I, the Lord, who have [ae]prevailed upon that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and (BG)destroy him from among My people Israel. 10 They will bear the punishment of their iniquity; as the iniquity of the inquirer is, so the iniquity of the prophet will be, 11 in order that the house of Israel may no longer (BH)stray from Me and no longer (BI)defile themselves with all their transgressions. Thus they will be (BJ)My people, and I shall be their God,”’ declares the Lord God.”
The City Will Not Be Spared
12 Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 13 “Son of man, if a country sins against Me by (BK)committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, [af]destroy its (BL)supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, 14 even (BM)though these three men, (BN)Noah, (BO)Daniel and (BP)Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver (BQ)themselves,” declares the Lord God. 15 “If I were to cause (BR)wild beasts to pass through the land and they [ag]depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts, 16 though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters. (BS)They alone would be delivered, but the country would be desolate. 17 Or if I should (BT)bring a sword on that country and say, ‘Let the sword pass through the country and (BU)cut off man and beast from it,’ 18 even though these three men were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be delivered. 19 Or if I should send a (BV)plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it to cut off man and beast from it, 20 even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live,” declares the Lord God, “they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness.”
21 For thus says the Lord God, “How much more when (BW)I send My four [ah]severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it! 22 Yet, behold, [ai]survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come forth to you and you will (BX)see their conduct and actions; then you will be (BY)comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it. 23 Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done (BZ)in vain whatever I did [aj]to it,” declares the Lord God.
Jerusalem like a Useless Vine
15 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, how is the wood of the (CA)vine better than any wood of a branch which is among the trees of the forest? 3 Can wood be taken from it to make [ak]anything, or can men take a peg from it on which to hang any vessel? 4 [al]If it has been put into the (CB)fire for fuel, and the fire has consumed both of its ends and its middle part has been charred, is it then useful for [am]anything? 5 Behold, while it is intact, it is not made into [an]anything. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it still be made into [ao]anything! 6 Therefore, thus says the Lord [ap]God, ‘As the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 7 and I (CC)set My face against them. Though they have (CD)come out of the fire, yet the fire will consume them. Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I set My face against them. 8 Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have (CE)acted unfaithfully,’” declares the Lord God.
God’s Grace to Unfaithful Jerusalem
16 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, (CF)make known to Jerusalem her abominations 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord [aq]God to Jerusalem, “Your origin and your birth are from the land of the Canaanite, your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4 As for your birth, (CG)on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing; you were not rubbed with salt or even wrapped in cloths. 5 No eye looked with pity on you to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you. Rather you were thrown out into the [ar](CH)open field, [as]for you were abhorred on the day you were born.
6 “When I passed by you and saw you squirming in your blood, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you while you were in your blood, ‘Live!’ 7 I (CI)made you [at]numerous like plants of the field. Then you grew up, became tall and reached the age for fine ornaments; your breasts were formed and your hair had grown. Yet you were naked and bare.
8 “Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold, [au]you were at the time for love; so I (CJ)spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness. I also (CK)swore to you and (CL)entered into a covenant with you so that you (CM)became Mine,” declares the Lord God. 9 “Then I bathed you with water, washed off your blood from you and (CN)anointed you with oil. 10 I also clothed you with (CO)embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11 I adorned you with ornaments, put (CP)bracelets on your hands and a (CQ)necklace around your neck. 12 I also put a (CR)ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a (CS)beautiful crown on your head. 13 Thus you were adorned with (CT)gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to (CU)royalty. 14 Then your (CV)fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was (CW)perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you,” declares the Lord God.
15 “But you (CX)trusted in your beauty and (CY)played the harlot because of your fame, and you poured out your harlotries on every passer-by [av]who might be willing. 16 You took some of your clothes, made for yourself high places of various colors and played the harlot on them, [aw]which should never come about nor happen. 17 You also took your beautiful [ax](CZ)jewels made of My gold and of My silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them. 18 Then you took your embroidered cloth and covered them, and offered My oil and My incense before them. 19 Also (DA)My bread which I gave you, fine flour, oil and honey with which I fed you, [ay]you would offer before them for a soothing aroma; so it happened,” declares the Lord God. 20 “Moreover, you took your sons and daughters whom you had borne to (DB)Me and (DC)sacrificed them to [az]idols to be devoured. Were your harlotries so small a matter? 21 You slaughtered (DD)My children and offered them up to [ba]idols by (DE)causing them to pass through the fire. 22 Besides all your abominations and harlotries you did not remember the days of (DF)your youth, when you were naked and bare and squirming in your blood.
23 “Then it came about after all your wickedness (‘Woe, woe to you!’ declares the Lord God), 24 that you built yourself a (DG)shrine and made yourself a (DH)high place in every square. 25 You built yourself a high place at the top of (DI)every street and made your beauty abominable, and you spread your legs to every passer-by to multiply your harlotry. 26 You also played the harlot with the Egyptians, your [bb]lustful neighbors, and multiplied your harlotry to (DJ)make Me angry. 27 Behold now, I have stretched out My hand against you and diminished your rations. And I delivered you up to the desire of those who hate you, the (DK)daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd conduct. 28 Moreover, you played the harlot with the (DL)Assyrians because you were not satisfied; you played the harlot with them and still were not satisfied. 29 You also multiplied your harlotry with the land of merchants, Chaldea, yet even with this you were not satisfied.”’”
30 “How (DM)languishing is your heart,” declares the Lord God, “while you do all these things, the actions of a [bc](DN)bold-faced harlot. 31 When you built your shrine at the beginning of every street and made your high place in every square, in (DO)disdaining money, you were not like a harlot. 32 You adulteress wife, who takes strangers instead of her husband! 33 [bd]Men give gifts to all harlots, but you (DP)give your gifts to all your lovers to bribe them to come to you from every direction for your harlotries. 34 Thus you are different from those women in your harlotries, in that no one plays the harlot [be]as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.”
35 Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord. 36 Thus says the Lord God, “Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers and with all your detestable (DQ)idols, and because of the blood of your sons which you gave to [bf]idols, 37 therefore, behold, I will (DR)gather all your lovers with whom you took pleasure, even all those whom you loved and all those whom you (DS)hated. So I will gather them against you from every direction and (DT)expose your nakedness to them that they may see all your nakedness. 38 Thus I will (DU)judge you like women who commit adultery or shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of (DV)wrath and jealousy. 39 I will also give you into [bg]the hands of your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, (DW)strip you of your clothing, take away your [bh]jewels, and will leave you naked and bare. 40 They will [bi]incite a (DX)crowd against you and they will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. 41 They will (DY)burn your houses with fire and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women. Then I will (DZ)stop you from playing the harlot, and you will also no longer pay [bj]your lovers. 42 So I (EA)will calm My fury against you and My jealousy will depart from you, and I will be pacified and angry (EB)no more. 43 Because you have (EC)not remembered the days of your youth but [bk]have (ED)enraged Me by all these things, behold, I in turn will (EE)bring your conduct down on your own head,” declares the Lord God, “so that you will not commit this lewdness on top of all your other abominations.
44 “Behold, everyone who quotes (EF)proverbs will quote this proverb concerning you, saying, ‘[bl]Like mother, [bm]like daughter.’ 45 You are the daughter of your mother, who loathed her husband and children. You are also the (EG)sister of your sisters, who (EH)loathed their husbands and children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. 46 Now your (EI)older sister is Samaria, who lives [bn]north of you with her [bo]daughters; and your younger sister, who lives [bp]south of you, is (EJ)Sodom with her [bq]daughters. 47 Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or done according to their abominations; but, as if that were (EK)too little, you acted (EL)more corruptly in all your conduct than they. 48 As I live,” declares the Lord God, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have (EM)not done as you and your daughters have done. 49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had (EN)arrogance, (EO)abundant food and (EP)careless ease, but she did not [br]help the (EQ)poor and needy. 50 Thus they were haughty and committed (ER)abominations before Me. Therefore I (ES)removed them [bs]when I saw it. 51 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. Thus you have made your sisters appear (ET)righteous by all your abominations which you have committed. 52 Also bear your disgrace in that you have [bt]made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted (EU)more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear righteous.
53 “Nevertheless, I will restore their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and [bu]along with them [bv]your own captivity, 54 in order that you may bear your humiliation and feel (EV)ashamed for all that you have done when you become (EW)a consolation to them. 55 Your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, [bw]will return to their former state, and you with your daughters will also return to your former state. 56 As the name of your sister Sodom was not heard from your lips in your day of pride, 57 before your (EX)wickedness was uncovered, [bx]so now you have become the (EY)reproach of the daughters of [by]Edom and of all who are around her, of the daughters of the Philistines—those surrounding you who despise you. 58 You have (EZ)borne the penalty of your lewdness and abominations,” the Lord declares. 59 For thus says the Lord God, “I will also do with you as you have done, you who have (FA)despised the oath by breaking the covenant.
The Covenant Remembered
60 “Nevertheless, I will remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an (FB)everlasting covenant with you. 61 Then you will (FC)remember your ways and be ashamed when you receive your sisters, both your older and your younger; and I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant. 62 Thus I will (FD)establish My covenant with you, and you shall (FE)know that I am the Lord, 63 so that you may (FF)remember and be ashamed and (FG)never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have (FH)forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord God declares.
Parable of Two Eagles and a Vine
17 Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, propound a riddle and speak a (FI)parable to the house of Israel, 3 [bz]saying, ‘Thus says the Lord [ca]God, “A great (FJ)eagle with (FK)great wings, long pinions and a full plumage of many colors came to (FL)Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar. 4 He plucked off the topmost of its young twigs and brought it to a land of merchants; he set it in a city of traders. 5 He also took some of the seed of the land and planted it in [cb](FM)fertile soil. He [cc]placed it beside abundant waters; he set it like a (FN)willow. 6 Then it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine with its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and yielded shoots and sent out branches.
7 “But there was [cd]another great eagle with great wings and much plumage; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him and sent out its branches toward him from the beds where it was (FO)planted, that he might water it. 8 It was planted in good [ce]soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.”’ 9 Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will it thrive? Will he not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers—so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great [cf]strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again. 10 Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not (FP)completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it—wither on the beds where it grew?”’”
Zedekiah’s Rebellion
11 Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 “Say now to the (FQ)rebellious house, ‘Do you not (FR)know what these things mean?’ Say, ‘Behold, the (FS)king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, took its king and princes and brought them to him in Babylon. 13 He took one of the royal [cg](FT)family and made a covenant with him, [ch]putting him under (FU)oath. He also took away the (FV)mighty of the land, 14 that the kingdom might (FW)be [ci]in subjection, not exalting itself, but keeping his covenant that it might continue. 15 But he (FX)rebelled against him by sending his envoys to Egypt that they might give him horses and many [cj]troops. Will he succeed? Will he who does such things (FY)escape? Can he indeed break the covenant and escape? 16 As I live,’ declares the Lord God, ‘Surely in the [ck]country of the king who [cl]put him on the throne, whose oath he (FZ)despised and whose covenant he broke, [cm](GA)in Babylon he shall die. 17 (GB)Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not [cn]help him in the war, when they cast up ramps and build siege walls to cut off many lives. 18 Now he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and behold, he [co](GC)pledged his allegiance, yet did all these things; he shall not escape.’” 19 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “As I live, surely My oath which he despised and My covenant which he broke, I will [cp]inflict on his head. 20 I will spread My (GD)net over him, and he will be (GE)caught in My snare. Then I will bring him to Babylon and (GF)enter into judgment with him there regarding the unfaithful act which he has committed against Me. 21 All the [cq](GG)choice men in all his troops will fall by the sword, and the survivors will be scattered to every wind; and you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”
22 Thus says the Lord God, “I will also take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and set it out; I will pluck from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one and I will plant it on a (GH)high and lofty mountain. 23 On the high mountain of Israel I will plant it, that it may bring forth boughs and bear fruit and become a stately (GI)cedar. And birds of every [cr]kind will [cs]nest under it; they will [ct]nest in the shade of its branches. 24 All the (GJ)trees of the field will know that I am the Lord; I bring down the high tree, exalt the low tree, dry up the green tree and make the dry tree (GK)flourish. I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will perform it.”
God Deals Justly with Individuals
18 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “(GL)What do you mean by using this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying,
3 As I live,” declares the Lord [cv]God, “you are surely not going to use this proverb in Israel anymore. 4 Behold, (GN)all [cw]souls are Mine; the [cx]soul of the father as well as the [cy]soul of the son is Mine. The [cz]soul who (GO)sins will die.
5 “But if a man is righteous and practices justice and righteousness, 6 and does not (GP)eat at the mountain shrines or (GQ)lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or (GR)defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period— 7 if a man does not oppress anyone, but (GS)restores to the debtor his pledge, (GT)does not commit robbery, but (GU)gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 8 if he does not lend money on (GV)interest or take (GW)increase, if he keeps his hand from iniquity and (GX)executes true justice between man and man, 9 if he walks in (GY)My statutes and My ordinances so as to deal faithfully—(GZ)he is righteous and will surely (HA)live,” declares the Lord God.
10 “Then he may [da]have a violent son who sheds blood and who does any of these things to a brother 11 (though he himself did not do any of these things), that is, he even eats at the mountain shrines, and (HB)defiles his neighbor’s wife, 12 oppresses the (HC)poor and needy, (HD)commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and (HE)commits abomination, 13 he (HF)lends money on interest and takes increase; will he live? He will not live! He has committed all these abominations, he will surely be put to death; his (HG)blood will be [db]on his own head.
14 “Now behold, he [dc]has a son who has observed all his father’s sins which he committed, and (HH)observing does not do likewise. 15 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor’s wife, 16 or oppress anyone, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery, but he (HI)gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing, 17 he keeps his hand from [dd]the poor, does not take interest or increase, but executes My ordinances, and walks in My statutes; (HJ)he will not die for his father’s iniquity, he will surely live. 18 As for his father, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother and did what was not good among his people, behold, he will die for his iniquity.
19 “Yet you say, ‘(HK)Why should the son not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity?’ When the son has practiced (HL)justice and righteousness and has observed all My statutes and done them, he shall surely live. 20 The person who (HM)sins will die. The (HN)son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the (HO)righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
21 “But if the (HP)wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed and observes all My statutes and practices justice and righteousness, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 (HQ)All his transgressions which he has committed will not be remembered against him; because of his (HR)righteousness which he has practiced, he will live. 23 (HS)Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” declares the Lord God, “[de]rather than that he should (HT)turn from his ways and live?
24 “But when a righteous man (HU)turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that a wicked man does, will he live? (HV)All his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered for his (HW)treachery which he has committed and his sin which he has committed; for them he will die. 25 Yet you say, ‘(HX)The way of the Lord is not right.’ Hear now, O house of Israel! Is (HY)My way not right? Is it not your ways that are not right? 26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. 27 Again, when a wicked man turns away (HZ)from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 But the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not right.’ Are My ways not right, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not right?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, each according to his conduct,” declares the Lord God. “(IA)Repent and turn away from all your transgressions, so that iniquity may not become a stumbling block to you. 31 (IB)Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a (IC)new heart and a new spirit! For why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have (ID)no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”
Lament for the Princes of Israel
19 “As for you, take up a (IE)lamentation for the (IF)princes of Israel 2 and say,
‘[df]What was your mother?
A lioness among lions!
She lay down among young lions,
She reared her cubs.
3 ‘When she brought up one of her cubs,
He became a lion,
And he learned to tear his prey;
He devoured men.
4 ‘Then nations heard about him;
He was captured in their pit,
And they (IG)brought him with hooks
To the land of Egypt.
5 ‘When she saw, as she waited,
That her hope was lost,
She took [dg]another of her cubs
And made him a young lion.
6 ‘And he (IH)walked about among the lions;
He became a young lion,
He learned to tear his prey;
He devoured men.
7 ‘He [dh]destroyed their [di]fortified towers
And laid waste their cities;
And the land and its fullness were appalled
Because of the sound of his roaring.
8 ‘Then (II)nations set against him
On every side from their provinces,
And they spread their net over him;
He was captured in their pit.
9 ‘(IJ)They put him in a cage with hooks
And (IK)brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in hunting nets
So that his voice would be heard no more
On the mountains of Israel.
10 ‘Your mother was (IL)like a vine in your [dj]vineyard,
Planted by the waters;
It was fruitful and full of branches
Because of abundant waters.
11 ‘And it had [dk](IM)strong branches fit for scepters of rulers,
And its (IN)height was raised above the clouds
So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches.
12 ‘But it was (IO)plucked up in fury;
It was (IP)cast down to the ground;
And the (IQ)east wind dried up its fruit.
Its [dl](IR)strong branch [dm]was torn off
So that [dn]it withered;
The fire consumed it.
13 ‘And now it is planted in the (IS)wilderness,
In a dry and thirsty land.
14 ‘And (IT)fire has gone out from its branch;
It has consumed its shoots and fruit,
So that there is not in it a [do]strong branch,
A scepter to rule.’”
This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation.
God’s Dealings with Israel Rehearsed
20 Now in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, [dp]certain of the (IU)elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord [dq]God, “Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “(IV)I will not be inquired of by you.”’ 4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? (IW)Make them know the abominations of their fathers; 5 and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day when I (IX)chose Israel and [dr]swore to the [ds]descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I [dt]swore to them, saying, (IY)I am the Lord your God, 6 on that day I swore to them, (IZ)to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had [du]selected for them, (JA)flowing with milk and honey, which is (JB)the glory of all lands. 7 I said to them, ‘(JC)Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and (JD)do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; (JE)I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they (JF)rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; [dv]they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the (JG)idols of Egypt.
Then I [dw]resolved to (JH)pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted (JI)for the sake of My name, that it should (JJ)not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the (JK)wilderness. 11 I gave them My (JL)statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by (JM)which, if a man [dx]observes them, he will live. 12 Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a (JN)sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. 13 But the house of Israel (JO)rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, (JP)by which, if a man [dy]observes them, he will live; and My (JQ)sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I [dz]resolved to (JR)pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. 15 Also (JS)I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their (JT)heart continually went after their idols. 17 Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their (JU)annihilation in the wilderness.
18 “I said to their [ea](JV)children in the wilderness, ‘(JW)Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 (JX)I am the Lord your God; (JY)walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and [eb]observe them. 20 (JZ)Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ 21 But the (KA)children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I [ec]resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I (KB)withdrew My hand and acted (KC)for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would (KD)scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands, 24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and (KE)their eyes were [ed]on the idols of their fathers. 25 I also gave them statutes that were (KF)not good and ordinances by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them (KG)unclean because of their gifts, in that they (KH)caused all [ee]their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might (KI)know that I am the Lord.”’
27 “Therefore, son of man, (KJ)speak to the house of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Yet in this your fathers have (KK)blasphemed Me by (KL)acting treacherously against Me. 28 When I had (KM)brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every (KN)high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called [ef]Bamah to this day.”’ 30 Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Will you defile yourselves [eg]after the manner of your (KO)fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things? 31 [eh]When you offer your gifts, when you (KP)cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” declares the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you. 32 What (KQ)comes [ei]into your mind will not come about, when you say: ‘We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, (KR)serving wood and stone.’
God Will Restore Israel to Her Land
33 “As I live,” declares the Lord God, “surely with a mighty hand and with an (KS)outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be (KT)king over you. 34 I will (KU)bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with (KV)wrath poured out; 35 and I will bring you into the (KW)wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. 36 As I (KX)entered into judgment with your fathers in the (KY)wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” declares the Lord God. 37 “I will make you (KZ)pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; 38 and I will (LA)purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will (LB)not enter the [ej]land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord God, “(LC)Go, serve everyone his idols; [ek]but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will (LD)profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols. 40 For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” declares the Lord God, “there the whole house of Israel, (LE)all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will (LF)accept them and there I will [el]seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things. 41 [em]As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I (LG)bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will prove Myself (LH)holy among you in the sight of the nations. 42 And (LI)you will know that I am the Lord, (LJ)when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the (LK)land which I swore to give to your forefathers. 43 There you will (LL)remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will (LM)loathe yourselves in your own [en]sight for all the evil things that you have done. 44 Then (LN)you will know that I am the Lord when I have dealt with you (LO)for My name’s sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel,” declares the Lord God.’”
45 [eo]Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 46 “Son of man, set your face toward [ep]Teman, and speak out against the (LP)south and (LQ)prophesy against the (LR)forest [eq]land of the Negev, 47 and say to the forest of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am about to (LS)kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every [er]green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched and [es](LT)the whole surface from south to north will be burned by it. 48 All flesh will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall (LU)not be quenched.”’” 49 Then I said, “Ah Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking (LV)parables?’”
Parable of the Sword of the Lord
21 [et]And the word of the Lord came to me saying, 2 “Son of man, (LW)set your face toward Jerusalem, and [eu](LX)speak against the sanctuaries and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, (LY)I am against you; and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off from you the (LZ)righteous and the wicked. 4 Because I will cut off from you the righteous and the wicked, therefore My sword will go forth from its sheath against (MA)all flesh from south to north. 5 Thus all flesh will know that I, the Lord, have drawn My sword out of its sheath. It will (MB)not return to its sheath again.”’ 6 As for you, son of man, groan with breaking [ev]heart and bitter grief, groan in their sight. 7 And when they say to you, ‘Why do you groan?’ you shall say, ‘Because of the (MC)news that is coming; and (MD)every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will [ew]faint and all knees will [ex]be weak as water. Behold, it comes and it will happen,’ declares the Lord [ey]God.”
8 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord.’ Say,
‘(ME)A sword, a sword sharpened
And also polished!
10 ‘Sharpened to make a (MF)slaughter,
Polished [ez]to flash like lightning!’
Or shall we rejoice, the [fa]rod of My son (MG)despising every tree? 11 It is given to be polished, that it may be handled; the sword is sharpened and polished, to give it into the hand of the slayer. 12 (MH)Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the (MI)officials of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people, therefore strike your thigh. 13 For there is a testing; and what if even the [fb]rod which despises will be no more?” declares the Lord God.
14 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together; and let the sword be (MJ)doubled the third time, the sword for the slain. It is the sword for the great one slain, which surrounds them, 15 that their (MK)hearts may melt, and many (ML)fall at all their (MM)gates. I have given the glittering sword. Ah! It is made for striking like lightning, it is wrapped up in readiness for slaughter. 16 [fc]Show yourself sharp, go to the right; set yourself; go to the left, wherever your [fd]edge is appointed. 17 I will also clap My hands together, and I will [fe](MN)appease My wrath; I, the Lord, have spoken.”
The Instrument of God’s Judgment
18 The word of the Lord came to me saying, 19 “As for you, son of man, [ff](MO)make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And [fg]make a signpost; [fh]make it at the head of the way to the city. 20 You shall [fi]mark a way for the sword to come to (MP)Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into (MQ)fortified Jerusalem. 21 For the king of Babylon stands at the [fj]parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use (MR)divination; he (MS)shakes the arrows, he consults the [fk](MT)household idols, he looks at the liver. 22 Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to (MU)set battering rams, to open the mouth [fl]for slaughter, to lift up the voice with a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall. 23 And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; (MV)they have sworn solemn oaths. But he (MW)brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized.
24 “Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your deeds your sins appear—because you have come to remembrance, you will be seized with the hand. 25 And you, O slain, wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose (MX)day has come, in the time of the [fm]punishment of the end,’ 26 thus says the Lord God, ‘Remove the turban and take off the (MY)crown; this will [fn]no longer be the same. (MZ)Exalt that which is low and abase that which is high. 27 (NA)A ruin, a ruin, a ruin, I will make it. This also will be no more until (NB)He comes whose right it is, and I will give it to Him.’
28 “And you, son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the sons of Ammon and concerning their (NC)reproach,’ and say: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn, polished for the slaughter, to cause it [fo]to (ND)consume, that it may be like lightning— 29 while they see for you (NE)false visions, while they divine lies for you—to place you on the necks of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, in the (NF)time of the [fp]punishment of the end. 30 (NG)Return it to its sheath. In the (NH)place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you. 31 I will (NI)pour out My indignation on you; I will (NJ)blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and I will give you into the hand of brutal men, [fq](NK)skilled in destruction. 32 You will be [fr](NL)fuel for the fire; your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will (NM)not be remembered, for I, the Lord, have spoken.’”
The Sins of Israel
22 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then cause her to know all her abominations. 3 You shall say, ‘Thus says the Lord [fs]God, “A city (NN)shedding blood in her midst, so that her time will come, and that makes idols, contrary to her interest, for defilement! 4 You have become (NO)guilty by [ft]the blood which you have shed, and defiled by your idols which you have made. Thus you have brought your [fu]day near and have come to your years; therefore I have made you a (NP)reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the lands. 5 Those who are near and those who are far from you will mock you, you of ill repute, full of (NQ)turmoil.
6 “Behold, the (NR)rulers of Israel, each according to his [fv]power, have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood. 7 They have (NS)treated father and mother lightly within you. The (NT)alien they have oppressed in your midst; the (NU)fatherless and the widow they have wronged in you. 8 You have (NV)despised My holy things and (NW)profaned My sabbaths. 9 Slanderous men have been in you for the purpose of shedding blood, and in you they have eaten at the mountain shrines. In your midst they have (NX)committed acts of lewdness. 10 In you [fw]they have (NY)uncovered their fathers’ nakedness; in you they have humbled her who was (NZ)unclean in her menstrual impurity. 11 One has committed abomination with his (OA)neighbor’s wife and another has lewdly defiled his (OB)daughter-in-law. And another in you has (OC)humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. 12 In you they have (OD)taken bribes to shed blood; you have taken (OE)interest and profits, and you have injured your neighbors for gain by (OF)oppression, and you have (OG)forgotten Me,” declares the Lord God.
13 “Behold, then, I smite My hand at your (OH)dishonest gain which you have acquired and at [fx]the bloodshed which is among you. 14 Can (OI)your heart endure, or can your hands be strong in the days that I will deal with you? (OJ)I, the Lord, have spoken and will act. 15 I will (OK)scatter you among the nations and I will disperse you through the lands, and I will (OL)consume your uncleanness from you. 16 You will profane yourself in the sight of the nations, and you will (OM)know that I am the Lord.”’”
17 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, the house of Israel has become (ON)dross to Me; all of them are (OO)bronze and tin and iron and lead in the (OP)furnace; they are the dross of silver. 19 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because all of you have become dross, therefore, behold, I am going to gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 20 As they gather silver and bronze and iron and lead and tin into the (OQ)furnace to blow fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in My anger and in My wrath and I will lay you there and melt you. 21 I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it. 22 As silver is melted in the furnace, so you will be melted in the midst of it; and you will know that I, the Lord, have (OR)poured out My wrath on you.’”
23 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 24 “Son of man, say to her, ‘You are a land that is (OS)not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ 25 There is a (OT)conspiracy of her prophets in her midst like a roaring lion tearing the prey. They have (OU)devoured lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many (OV)widows in the midst of her. 26 Her (OW)priests have done violence to My law and have (OX)profaned My holy things; they have made no (OY)distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the (OZ)unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and (PA)destroying lives in order to get (PB)dishonest gain. 28 Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing (PC)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 have practiced (PD)oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have (PE)oppressed the sojourner without justice. 30 I (PF)searched for a man among them who would (PG)build up the wall and (PH)stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found [fy]no one. 31 Thus I have poured out My (PI)indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; (PJ)their way I have brought upon their heads,” declares the Lord God.
Oholah and Oholibah’s Sin and Its Consequences
23 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, there were (PK)two women, the daughters of one mother; 3 and they played the harlot in Egypt. They (PL)played the harlot in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and there their virgin bosom was handled. 4 Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister. And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah.
5 “Oholah played the harlot [fz]while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the (PM)Assyrians, her neighbors, 6 who were clothed in purple, (PN)governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7 She bestowed her harlotries on them, all of whom were the choicest [ga]men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she (PO)defiled herself. 8 She did not forsake her harlotries (PP)from the time in Egypt; for in her youth [gb]men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their [gc]lust on her. 9 Therefore, I gave her into the hand of her (PQ)lovers, into the hand of the [gd]Assyrians, after whom she lusted. 10 They (PR)uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters, but they slew her with the sword. Thus she became a [ge]byword among women, and they executed judgments on her.
11 “Now her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was (PS)more corrupt in her lust than she, and her harlotries were more than the harlotries of her sister. 12 She lusted after the [gf](PT)Assyrians, governors and officials, the ones near, magnificently dressed, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. 13 I saw that she had defiled herself; they both took [gg]the same way. 14 So she increased her harlotries. And she saw men (PU)portrayed on the wall, images of the (PV)Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion, 15 girded with belts on their loins, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers, [gh]like the [gi]Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth. 16 [gj]When she saw them she (PW)lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 17 The [gk](PX)Babylonians came to her to the bed of love and defiled her with their harlotry. And when she had been defiled by them, [gl]she became disgusted with them. 18 She (PY)uncovered her harlotries and uncovered her nakedness; then [gm]I became (PZ)disgusted with her, as [gn]I had become disgusted with her (QA)sister. 19 Yet she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. 20 She (QB)lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses. 21 Thus you longed for the (QC)lewdness of your youth, when [go]the Egyptians handled your bosom because of the breasts of your youth.
22 “Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord [gp]God, ‘Behold I will arouse your lovers against you, from whom [gq]you were alienated, and I will bring them against you from every side: 23 the [gr](QD)Babylonians and all the (QE)Chaldeans, (QF)Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the [gs](QG)Assyrians with them; desirable young men, governors and officials all of them, officers and [gt]men of renown, all of them riding on horses. 24 They will come against you with weapons, (QH)chariots and [gu]wagons, and with a company of peoples. They will set themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet; and I will commit the (QI)judgment to them, and they will judge you according to their customs. 25 I will set My (QJ)jealousy against you, that they may deal with you in wrath. They will remove your nose and your ears; and your [gv]survivors will fall by the sword. They will take your (QK)sons and your daughters; and your [gw]survivors will be consumed by the fire. 26 They will also (QL)strip you of your clothes and take away your (QM)beautiful jewels. 27 Thus (QN)I will make your lewdness and your harlotry brought from the land of Egypt to cease from you, so that you will not lift up your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’ 28 For thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I will give you into the hand of those whom you (QO)hate, into the hand of those from whom [gx]you were alienated. 29 They will (QP)deal with you in hatred, take all your property, and leave you naked and bare. And the nakedness of your harlotries will be uncovered, both your lewdness and your harlotries. 30 These things will be done to you because you have (QQ)played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols. 31 You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will give (QR)her cup into your hand.’ 32 Thus says the Lord God,
‘You will (QS)drink your sister’s cup,
Which is deep and wide.
[gy]You will be (QT)laughed at and held in derision;
It contains much.
33 ‘You will be filled with (QU)drunkenness and sorrow,
The cup of horror and desolation,
The cup of your sister Samaria.
34 ‘You will (QV)drink it and drain it.
Then you will gnaw its fragments
And tear your breasts;
for I have spoken,’ declares the Lord God. 35 Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have (QW)forgotten Me and (QX)cast Me behind your back, bear now the punishment of your lewdness and your harlotries.’”
36 Moreover, the Lord said to me, “Son of man, will you (QY)judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then (QZ)declare to them their abominations. 37 For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. Thus they have committed adultery with their idols and even caused their sons, (RA)whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire to [gz]them as food. 38 Again, they have done this to Me: they have (RB)defiled My sanctuary on the same day and have (RC)profaned My sabbaths. 39 For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My (RD)sanctuary on the same day to profane it; and lo, thus they did within My house.
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