Ezekiel 16

God’s Grace to Unfaithful Jerusalem

1Then the wordH1697 of the LordH3068 cameH1961 to me, sayingH559, 2“SonH1121 of manH120, 1makeH3045 knownH3045 to JerusalemH3389 her abominationsH8441, 3and sayH559, ‘ThisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH136 2GodH3068 saysH559 to JerusalemH3389: “Your originH4351 and your birthH4138 are from the landH776 of the CanaaniteH3669; your fatherH1 was an AmoriteH567 and your motherH517 a HittiteH2850. 4As for your birthH4138, 3on the dayH3117 you were bornH3205 your navelH8270 cordH8270 was not cutH3772, norH3808 were you washedH7364 with waterH4325 for cleansingH4935; you were not rubbedH4414 withH4414 saltH4414 or even wrappedH2853 inH2853 clothsH2853. 5NoH3808 eyeH5869 lookedH2347 withH2347 pityH2347 on you to doH6213 anyH259 of theseH428 thingsH428 for you, to haveH2550 compassionH2550 on you. Rather you were thrownH7993 outH7993 into the 45openH6440 fieldH7704, 6for you were abhorredH1604 on the dayH3117 you were bornH3205.

6“When I passedH5674 by you and sawH7200 you squirmingH947 in your bloodH1818, I saidH559 to you while you were in your bloodH1818, ‘LiveH2421!’ Yes, I saidH559 to you while you were in your bloodH1818, ‘LiveH2421!’ 7I 7madeH5414 you 8veryH7233 numerousH7233, like plantsH6780 of the fieldH7704. Then you grewH7235 upH7235, becameH1431 tallH1431 and reachedH935 the age for fineH5716 jewelryH5716; your breastsH7699 were formedH3559 and your hairH8181 had grownH6779. Yet you were nakedH5903 and bareH6181.

8“Then I passedH5674 by you and sawH7200 you, and beholdH2009, 9you were at the timeH6256 for loveH1730; so I 10spreadH6566 My 11garmentH3671 overH5921 you and coveredH3680 your nakednessH6172. I also 12sworeH7650 anH7650 oathH7650 to you and 13enteredH935 into a covenantH1285 with you so that you 14becameH1961 Mine,” declaresH5002 the LordH136 GodH3068. 9“Then I bathedH7364 you with waterH4325, washedH7857 offH7857 your bloodH1818 from you, and 15anointedH5480 you with oilH8081. 10I also clothedH3847 you with 16colorfullyH7553 wovenH7553 clothH7553 and putH5274 sandalsH5274 of 17fineH8476 leatherH8476 on your feet; and I wrappedH2280 you with fineH8336 linenH8336 and coveredH3680 you with silkH4897. 11I adornedH5710 you with jewelryH5716, putH5414 18braceletsH6781 on your wristsH3027, and a 19necklaceH7242 aroundH5921 your neckH1627. 12I also putH5414 a 20ringH5141 in your noseH639, earringsH5694 in your earsH241, and a 21beautifulH8597 crownH5850 on your headH7218. 13So you were adornedH5710 with 22goldH2091 and silverH3701, and your dressH4403 was of fineH8336 linenH8336, silkH4897, and colorfullyH7553 wovenH7553 clothH7553. You ateH398 fineH5560 flourH5560, honeyH1706, and oilH8081; so you wereH3302 exceedinglyH3966 beautifulH3302 and advancedH6743 to 23royaltyH4410. 14Then your 24fameH8034 spreadH3318 among the nationsH1471 on account of your beautyH3308, for it was 25perfectH3632 because of My splendorH1926 whichH834 I bestowedH7760 on you,” declaresH5002 the LordH136 GodH3068.

15“But you 26trustedH982 in your beautyH3308 and 27becameH2181 unfaithfulH2181 becauseH5921 of your fameH8034, and you pouredH8210 outH8210 your 28obsceneH8457 practicesH8457 on everyH3605 passer-byH5674 to whom it might be tempting. 16You tookH3947 someH4480 of your clothesH899, madeH6213 for yourself 29highH1116 placesH1116 of variousH2921 colorsH2921, and committedH2181 prostitutionH2181 on them, which should not comeH935 aboutH935 norH3808 happenH1961. 17You also tookH3947 your beautifulH8597 3031jewelsH3627 made of My goldH2091 and of My silverH3701, whichH834 I had givenH5414 you, and madeH6213 for yourself maleH2145 imagesH6754 so that you might commitH2181 prostitutionH2181 with them. 18Then you tookH3947 your colorfullyH7553 wovenH7553 clothH899 and coveredH3680 them, and offeredH5414 My oilH8081 and My incenseH7004 beforeH6440 them. 19Also 32My breadH3899 whichH834 I gaveH5414 you, fineH5560 flourH5560, oilH8081, and honeyH1706 with which I fedH398 you, 33you would offerH5414 beforeH6440 them for a soothingH5207 aromaH7381; so it happenedH1961,” declaresH5002 the LordH136 GodH3068. 20“Furthermore, you tookH3947 your sonsH1121 and daughtersH1323 whomH834 you had borneH3205 to 34Me and 35sacrificedH2076 them to 36idols to be devouredH398. Were your obsceneH8457 practicesH8457 a trivialH4592 matter? 21You slaughteredH7819 37My childrenH1121 and offeredH5414 them to 38idols by 39making them passH5674 throughH5674 the fire. 22And besidesH854 allH3605 your abominationsH8441 and obsceneH8457 practicesH8457, you did not rememberH2142 the daysH3117 of 40your youthH5271, when you were nakedH5903 and bareH6181 and squirmingH947 in your bloodH1818.

23“Then it cameH1961 aboutH1961 afterH310 allH3605 your wickednessH7463 (‘WoeH188, woeH188 to you!’ declaresH5002 the LordH136 GodH3068), 24that you builtH1129 yourself a 41shrineH1354 and madeH6213 yourself a 42highH7413 placeH7413 in everyH3605 publicH7339 squareH7339. 25You builtH1129 yourself a highH7413 placeH7413 at the beginningH7218 of 43everyH3605 streetH1870 and madeH8581 your beautyH3308 abominableH8581, and you spreadH6589 your legsH7272 to everyH3605 passer-byH5674 and multipliedH7235 your obsceneH8457 practiceH8457. 26You also committedH2181 prostitutionH2181 with the EgyptiansH1121H4714, your 44lustfulH1320H1432 neighborsH7934, and multipliedH7235 your obsceneH8457 practiceH8457 to 45provokeH3707 Me toH3707 angerH3707. 27So beholdH2009, I have stretchedH5186 outH5186 My handH3027 againstH5921 you and cutH1639 backH1639 your rationsH2706. And I turnedH5414 you overH5414 to the desireH5315 of those who hateH8130 you, the 46daughtersH1323 of the PhilistinesH6430, who are ashamedH3637 of your outrageousH2154 conductH1870. 28Moreover, you committedH2181 prostitutionH2181 with the 47AssyriansH1121H804 becauseH4480 you were not satisfiedH7654; you committedH2181 prostitutionH2181 with them and stillH1571 wereH7646 not satisfiedH7646. 29You also multipliedH7235 your obsceneH8457 practiceH8457 with the landH776 of merchantsH3667, ChaldeaH3778; yet evenH1571 with thisH2088 you wereH7646 not satisfiedH7646.”’”

30“HowH4100 48feverishH535 is your heartH3826,” declaresH5002 the LordH136 GodH3068, “while you doH6213 allH3605 theseH428 thingsH4639, the actionH4639 of a 4950boldH7989 prostituteH802H2181! 31When you builtH1129 your shrineH1354 at the beginningH7218 of everyH3605 streetH1870 and madeH6213 your highH7413 placeH7413 in everyH3605 publicH7339 squareH7339, in 51spurningH7046 a prostitute’sH868 feeH868, you were not like a prostituteH2181. 32You adulteressH5003 wifeH802, who takesH3947 strangersH2114 insteadH8478 ofH8478 her husbandH376! 33Men giveH5414 giftsH5078 to allH3605 prostitutesH2181, but you 52giveH5414 your giftsH5083 to allH3605 your loversH157 and lavishH7809 favorsH7809 on them so that they will comeH935 to you from everyH5439 directionH5439 for your obsceneH8457 practicesH8457. 34So it is the oppositeH2016 for you from those womenH802 in your obsceneH8457 practicesH8457, in that you are not approachedH2181H310 forH2181 prostitutionH2181, and in the fact that you payH5414 a prostitute’sH868 feeH868, and noH3808 feeH868 is paidH5414 to you; so you are the oppositeH2016.”

35ThereforeH3651, you prostituteH2181, hearH8085 the wordH1697 of the LordH3068. 36ThisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH136 GodH3068 saysH559: “BecauseH3282 your lewdnessH5179 was pouredH8210 outH8210 and your nakednessH6172 uncoveredH1540 through your obsceneH8457 practicesH8457 with your loversH157 and with allH3605 your detestableH8441 53idolsH1544, and because of the bloodH1818 of your sonsH1121 thatH834 you gaveH5414 to 54idols, 37thereforeH3651, beholdH2009, I am going to 55gatherH6908 allH3605 your loversH157 whomH834 you pleasedH6149, allH3605 those whomH834 you lovedH157 asH5921 wellH5921 asH5921 allH3605 those whomH834 you 56hatedH8130. So I will gatherH6908 them againstH5921 you from everyH5439 directionH5439 and 57exposeH1540 your nakednessH6172 to them so that they may seeH7200 allH3605 your nakednessH6172. 38So I will 58judgeH8199 you as women who commitH5003 adulteryH5003 or shedH8210 bloodH1818 are judgedH4941; and I will bringH5414 on you the bloodH1818 of 59wrathH2534 and jealousyH7068. 39I will also handH5414H3027 you overH5414 to 60your lovers, and they will tearH2040 downH2040 your shrinesH1354, demolishH5422 your highH7413 placesH7413, 61stripH6584 you of your clothingH899, takeH3947 away your 62jewelsH3627H8597, and will leaveH5117 you nakedH5903 and bareH6181. 40They will 63inciteH5927 a 64crowdH6951 againstH5921 you, and they will stoneH7275H68 you and cutH1333 you toH1333 piecesH1333 with their swordsH2719. 41And they will 65burnH8313 your housesH1004 with fireH784 and executeH6213 judgmentsH8201 against you in the sightH5869 of manyH7227 womenH802. Then I will 66putH7673 anH7673 endH7673 to your prostitutionH2181, and you will alsoH1571 noH3808 longerH5750 payH5414 67your loversH868. 42So I 68will satisfyH5117 My furyH2534 against you and My jealousyH7068 will leaveH5493 you, and I will be pacifiedH8252 and 69noH3808 longerH5750 be angryH3707. 43SinceH3282H834 you have 70not rememberedH2142 the daysH3117 of your youthH5271 but 71have 72causedH7264 Me unrestH7264 by allH3605 theseH428 thingsH428, beholdH1887, I inH1571 turnH1571 will 73bringH5414 your conductH1870 down on your own headH7218,” declaresH5002 the LordH136 GodH3068, “so that you will not commitH6213 this outrageousH2154 sinH2154 inH5921 additionH5921 toH5921 allH3605 your other abominationsH8441.

44“BeholdH2009, everyoneH3605 who quotesH4911 74proverbsH4911 will quoteH4911 this proverbH4911 aboutH5921 you, sayingH559, ‘Like 75motherH517, like daughterH1323.’ 45You are the daughterH1323 of your motherH517, who loathedH1602 her husbandH376 and childrenH1121. You are also the 76sisterH269 of your sistersH269, whoH834 77loathedH1602 their husbandsH376 and childrenH1121. Your motherH517 was a HittiteH2850 and your fatherH1 an AmoriteH567. 46Now your 78olderH1419 sisterH269 is SamariaH8111, who livesH3427 79northH8040 of you with her 80daughtersH1323; and your youngerH6996 sisterH269, who livesH3427 81southH3225 of you, is 82SodomH5467 with her 83daughtersH1323. 47Yet you have not merely walkedH1980 in their waysH1870 and 84committedH6213 their abominationsH8441; but, as if that were 85tooH6985 littleH4592, you also actedH7843 86moreH4480 corruptlyH7843 in allH3605 your conductH1870 thanH4480 they. 48As I liveH2416,” declaresH5002 the LordH136 GodH3068, “SodomH5467, your sisterH269 and her daughtersH1323 have 87not doneH6213 as you and your daughtersH1323 have doneH6213! 49BeholdH2009, thisH2088 was the guiltH5771 of your sisterH269 SodomH5467: she and her daughtersH1323 hadH1961 88arroganceH1347, 89plentyH7654 of foodH3899, and 90carefreeH8252 easeH7962, but she did not 91helpH2388H3027 the 92poorH6041 and needyH34. 50So they wereH1361 haughtyH1361 and committedH6213 93abominationsH8441 beforeH6440 Me. Therefore I 94removedH5493 them 95whenH3512 I sawH7200 it. 51Furthermore, SamariaH8111 did not commitH2398 halfH2677 of your sinsH2403, for you have multipliedH7235 your abominationsH8441 moreH4480 thanH4480 they. So you have madeH6663 your sistersH269 appearH6663 96innocentH6663 by allH3605 your abominationsH8441 whichH834 you have committedH6213. 52AlsoH1571, bearH5375 your disgraceH3639 in that you have 97madeH6419 judgmentH6419 favorableH6419 for your sistersH269. Because of your sinsH2403 in whichH834 you actedH8581 98moreH4480 abominablyH8581 thanH4480 they, they areH6663 moreH4480 inH6663 theH6663 rightH6663 thanH4480 you. YesH1571, beH954 alsoH1571 ashamedH954 and bearH5375 your disgraceH3639, in that you madeH6663 your sistersH269 appearH6663 innocentH6663.

53“Nevertheless, I will restoreH7725 their fortunesH7622, the fortunesH7622 of SodomH5467 and her daughtersH1323, the fortunesH7622 of SamariaH8111 and her daughtersH1323, and 99alongH8432 with them your own fortunesH7622, 54soH4616 thatH4616 you will bearH5375 your disgraceH3639 and feelH3637 100ashamedH3637 for allH3605 that you have doneH6213 when you becomeH5162 101aH5162 consolationH5162 to them. 55Your sistersH269, SodomH5467 with her daughtersH1323 and SamariaH8111 with her daughtersH1323, 102will returnH7725 to their formerH6927 stateH6927, and you with your daughtersH1323 will also returnH7725 to your formerH6927 stateH6927. 56As the name of your sisterH269 SodomH5467 was not heardH8052 from your lipsH6310 in your dayH3117 of prideH1347, 57beforeH2962 your 103wickednessH7463 was uncoveredH1540, 104soH3644 nowH6256 you have become the 105disgraceH2781 of the daughtersH1323 of 106EdomH112 and of allH3605 who are aroundH5439 her, of the daughtersH1323 of the PhilistinesH6430--those surroundingH5439 you who despiseH7751 you. 58You have 107sufferedH5375 the penalty of your outrageousH2154 sinH2154 and abominationsH8441,” the LordH3068 declaresH5002. 59For thisH3541 isH3541 whatH3541 the LordH136 GodH3068 saysH559: “I will also doH6213 with you as you have doneH6213, you whoH834 have 108despisedH959 the oathH423 by breakingH6565 the covenantH1285.

The Covenant Remembered

60“Nevertheless, I will rememberH2142 My covenantH1285 with you in the daysH3117 of your youthH5271, and I will establishH6965 an 109everlastingH5769 covenantH1285 with you. 61Then you will 110rememberH2142 your waysH1870 and be ashamedH3637 when you receiveH3947 your sistersH269, both your olderH1419 and your youngerH6996; and I will giveH5414 them to you as daughtersH1323, but not becauseH4480 of your covenantH1285. 62So I will 111establishH6965 My covenantH1285 with you, and you shall 112knowH3045 that I am the LordH3068, 63soH4616 thatH4616 you may 113rememberH2142 and beH954 ashamedH954, and 114not openH6610 your mouthH6310 againH5750 becauseH4480H6440 of your disgraceH3639, when I have 115116forgivenH3722 you for allH3605 that you have doneH6213,” the LordH136 GodH3068 declaresH5002.