35 ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: since you have forgotten me and turned your back on me, you must bear the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.’

36 The Lord said to me: ‘Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront them with their detestable practices, 37 for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them. 38 They have also done this to me: at that same time they defiled my sanctuary and desecrated my Sabbaths. 39 On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated it. That is what they did in my house.

40 ‘They even sent messengers for men who came from far away, and when they arrived you bathed yourself for them, applied eye makeup and put on your jewellery. 41 You sat on an elegant couch, with a table spread before it on which you had placed the incense and olive oil that belonged to me.

42 ‘The noise of a carefree crowd was around her; drunkards were brought from the desert along with men from the rabble, and they put bracelets on the wrists of the woman and her sister and beautiful crowns on their heads. 43 Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, “Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is.” 44 And they slept with her. As men sleep with a prostitute, so they slept with those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah. 45 But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood, because they are adulterous and blood is on their hands.

46 ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: bring a mob against them and give them over to terror and plunder. 47 The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.

48 ‘So I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you. 49 You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

Jerusalem as a cooking pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘“Put on the cooking pot; put it on
    and pour water into it.
Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces – the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;
    take the pick of the flock.
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to the boil
    and cook the bones in it.

‘“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘“Woe to the city of bloodshed,
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order it comes.

‘“For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    she poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.
To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

‘“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

‘“Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.
12 It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

13 ‘“Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.

14 ‘“I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’

Ezekiel’s wife dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 ‘Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. 17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your moustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.’

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

19 Then the people asked me, ‘Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?’

20 So I said to them, ‘The word of the Lord came to me: 21 say to the people of Israel, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary – the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword. 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your moustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners. 23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves. 24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”

25 ‘And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well – 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.’

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in

35 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you have forgotten(A) me and turned your back on me,(B) you must bear(C) the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”

36 The Lord said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront(D) them with their detestable practices,(E) 37 for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them.(F) 38 They have also done this to me: At that same time they defiled my sanctuary(G) and desecrated my Sabbaths.(H) 39 On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated(I) it. That is what they did in my house.(J)

40 “They even sent messengers for men who came from far away,(K) and when they arrived you bathed yourself for them, applied eye makeup(L) and put on your jewelry.(M) 41 You sat on an elegant couch,(N) with a table(O) spread before it on which you had placed the incense(P) and olive oil that belonged to me.(Q)

42 “The noise of a carefree(R) crowd was around her; drunkards(S) were brought from the desert along with men from the rabble, and they put bracelets(T) on the wrists of the woman and her sister and beautiful crowns on their heads.(U) 43 Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute,(V) for that is all she is.’ 44 And they slept with her. As men sleep with a prostitute, so they slept with those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah. 45 But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood,(W) because they are adulterous and blood is on their hands.(X)

46 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Bring a mob(Y) against them and give them over to terror and plunder.(Z) 47 The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters(AA) and burn(AB) down their houses.(AC)

48 “So I will put an end(AD) to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you.(AE) 49 You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry.(AF) Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.(AG)

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:(AH) “Son of man, record(AI) this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.(AJ) Tell this rebellious people(AK) a parable(AL) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot;(AM) put it on
    and pour water into it.
Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;(AN)
    take the pick of the flock.(AO)
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.(AP)

“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe(AQ) to the city of bloodshed,(AR)
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order(AS) it comes.(AT)

“‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.(AU)
To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.(AV)
12 It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed(AW) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.(AX)

14 “‘I the Lord have spoken.(AY) The time has come for me to act.(AZ) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,(BA) nor will I relent.(BB) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,(BC) declares the Sovereign Lord.(BD)’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow(BE) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.(BF) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.(BG) 17 Groan quietly;(BH) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban(BI) fastened and your sandals(BJ) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard(BK) or eat the customary food of mourners.(BL)

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.(BM)

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?(BN) Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary(BO)—the stronghold in which you take pride,(BP) the delight of your eyes,(BQ) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters(BR) you left behind will fall by the sword.(BS) 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard(BT) or eat the customary food of mourners.(BU) 23 You will keep your turbans(BV) on your heads and your sandals(BW) on your feet. You will not mourn(BX) or weep but will waste away(BY) because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.(BZ) 24 Ezekiel(CA) will be a sign(CB) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,(CC) their heart’s desire,(CD) and their sons and daughters(CE) as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you(CF) the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.(CG) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.(CH)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in