1. "You, son of man, take a sharp sword. You shall take it as a barber's razor to yourself, and shall cause it to pass over your head and over your beard. Then take balances to weigh and divide the hair.

2. A third part you shall burn in the fire in the middle of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled. You shall take a third part, and strike with the sword around it. A third part you shall scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.

3. You shall take of it a few in number, and bind them in the folds of your robe.

4. Of these again you shall take, and cast them into the middle of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From it a fire will come out into all the house of Israel.

5. "Thus says the Lord God: 'This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the middle of the nations, and countries are around her.

6. She has rebelled against my ordinances in doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries that are around her; for they have rejected my ordinances, and as for my statutes, they have not walked in them.'

7. "Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are around you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my ordinances, neither have followed the ordinances of the nations that are around you;

8. therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I, even I, am against you; and I will execute judgments among you in the sight of the nations.

9. I will do in you that which I have not done, and which I will not do anything like it any more, because of all your abominations.

10. Therefore the fathers will eat the sons within you, and the sons will eat their fathers. I will execute judgments on you; and I will scatter the whole remnant of you to all the winds.

11. Therefore as I live,' says the Lord God, 'surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things, and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you. My eye won't spare, and I will have no pity.

12. A third part of you will die with the pestilence, and they will be consumed with famine within you. A third part will fall by the sword around you. A third part I will scatter to all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them.

13. "'Thus my anger will be accomplished, and I will cause my wrath toward them to rest, and I will be comforted. They will know that I, The LORD, have spoken in my zeal, when I have accomplished my wrath on them.

14. "'Moreover I will make you a desolation and a reproach among the nations that are around you, in the sight of all that pass by.

15. So it will be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment, to the nations that are around you, when I execute judgments on you in anger and in wrath, and in wrathful rebukes-I, The LORD, have spoken it-

16. when I send on them the evil arrows of famine that are for destruction, which I will send to destroy you. I will increase the famine on you, and will break your staff of bread.

17. I will send on you famine and evil animals, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood will pass through you. I will bring the sword on you. I, The LORD, have spoken it.'"

1. The LORD's word came to me, saying,

2. "Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy to them,

3. and say, 'You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord the LORD to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: "Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.

4. Your altars will become desolate, and your incense altars will be broken. I will cast down your slain men before your idols.

5. I will lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel before their idols. I will scatter your bones around your altars.

6. In all your dwelling places, the cities will be laid waste and the high places will be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

7. The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am The LORD.

8. "'"Yet I will leave a remnant, in that you will have some that escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.

9. Those of you that escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken with their lewd heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which play the prostitute after their idols. Then they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

10. They will know that I am The LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them."'

11. "Thus says the Lord God: 'Strike with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say, "Alas!" Because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they will fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

12. He who is far off will die of the pestilence. He who is near will fall by the sword. He who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus I will accomplish my wrath on them.

13. You will know that I am The LORD, when their slain men are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the places where they offered pleasant aroma to all their idols.

14. I will stretch out my hand on them, and make the land desolate and waste, from the wilderness toward Diblah, throughout all their habitations. Then they will know that I am The LORD.'"

1. Moreover The LORD's word came to me, saying,

2. "You, son of man, thus says the Lord the LORD to the land of Israel, 'An end! The end has come on the four corners of the land.

3. Now is the end on you, and I will send my anger on you, and will judge you according to your ways. I will bring on you all your abominations.

4. My eye will not spare you, neither will I have pity; but I will bring your ways on you, and your abominations will be among you. Then you will know that I am The LORD.'

5. "Thus says the Lord God: 'An evil! A unique evil! Behold, it comes.

6. An end has come. The end has come! It awakes against you. Behold, it comes.

7. Your doom has come to you, inhabitant of the land! The time has come! The day is near, a day of tumult, and not of joyful shouting, on the mountains.

8. Now I will shortly pour out my wrath on you, and accomplish my anger against you, and will judge you according to your ways. I will bring on you all your abominations.

9. My eye won't spare, neither will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways. Your abominations will be among you. Then you will know that I, The LORD, strike.

10. "'Behold, the day! Behold, it comes! Your doom has gone out. The rod has blossomed. Pride has budded.

11. Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness. None of them will remain, nor of their multitude, nor of their wealth. There will be nothing of value among them.

12. The time has come! The day draws near. Don't let the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for wrath is on all its multitude.

13. For the seller won't return to that which is sold, although they are still alive; for the vision concerns the whole multitude of it. None will return. None will strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life.

14. They have blown the trumpet, and have made all ready; but no one goes to the battle; for my wrath is on all its multitude.

15. "'The sword is outside, and the pestilence and the famine within. He who is in the field will die by the sword. He who is in the city will be devoured by famine and pestilence.

16. But those of those who escape, they will escape and will be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, everyone in his iniquity.

17. All hands will be feeble, and all knees will be weak as water.

18. They will also clothe themselves with sackcloth, and horror will cover them. Shame will be on all faces, and baldness on all their heads.

19. They will cast their silver in the streets, and their gold will be as an unclean thing. Their silver and their gold won't be able to deliver them in the day of The LORD's wrath. They won't satisfy their souls or fill their bellies; because it has been the stumbling block of their iniquity.

20. As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but they made the images of their abominations and their detestable things therein. Therefore I have made it to them as an unclean thing.

21. I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a plunder; and they will profane it.

22. I will also turn my face from them, and they will profane my secret place. Robbers will enter into it, and profane it.

23. "'Make chains; for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

24. Therefore I will bring the worst of the nations, and they will possess their houses. I will also make the pride of the strong to cease. Their holy places will be profaned.

25. Destruction comes! They will seek peace, and there will be none.

26. Mischief will come on mischief, and rumor will be on rumor. They will seek a vision of the prophet; but the law will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

27. The king will mourn, and the prince will be clothed with desolation. The hands of the people of the land will be troubled. I will do to them after their way, and according to their own judgments I will judge them. Then they will know that I am The LORD.'"

1. Again The LORD's word came to me, saying,

2. "Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations;

3. and say, 'Thus says the Lord the LORD to Jerusalem: "Your origin and your birth is of the land of the Canaanite. An Amorite was your father, and your mother was a Hittite.

4. As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut. You weren't washed in water to cleanse you. You weren't salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

5. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you, to have compassion on you; but you were cast out in the open field, because you were abhorred in the day that you were born.

6. "'"When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you, 'Though you are in your blood, live!' Yes, I said to you, 'Though you are in your blood, live!'

7. I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you increased and grew great, and you attained to excellent ornament. Your breasts were formed, and your hair grew; yet you were naked and bare.

8. "'"Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore to you, and entered into a covenant with you," says the Lord God, "and you became mine.

9. "'"Then washed I you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.

10. I clothed you also with embroidered work, and put sealskin shoes on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk.

11. I decked you with ornaments. put bracelets on your hands, and a chain on your neck.

12. I put a ring on your nose, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.

13. Thus you were decked with gold and silver. Your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and you prospered to royal estate.

14. Your renown went out among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you," says the Lord God.

15. "'"But you trusted in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who passed by. It was his.

16. You took some of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them. This shall not happen, neither shall it be.

17. You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and played the prostitute with them.

18. You took your embroidered garments, covered them, and set my oil and my incense before them.

19. My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you even set it before them for a pleasant aroma; and so it was," says the Lord God.

20. "'"Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter,

21. that you have slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them?

22. In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were wallowing in your blood.

23. "'"It has happened after all your wickedness. Woe, woe to you!" says the Lord God,

24. "that you have built for yourselves a vaulted place, and have made yourselves a lofty place in every street.

25. You have built your lofty place at the head of every way, and have made your beauty an abomination, and have opened your feet to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your prostitution.

26. You have also committed sexual immorality with the Egyptians, your neighbors, great of flesh; and have multiplied your prostitution, to provoke me to anger.

27. See therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your portion, and delivered you to the will of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your lewd way.

28. You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren't satisfied.

29. You have moreover multiplied your prostitution to the land of merchants, to Chaldea; and yet you weren't satisfied with this.

30. "'"How weak is your heart," says the Lord God, "since you do all these things, the work of an impudent prostitute;

31. in that you build your vaulted place at the head of every way, and make your lofty place in every street, and have not been as a prostitute, in that you scorn pay.

32. "'"A wife who commits adultery! Who takes strangers instead of her husband!

33. People give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution.

34. You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that no one follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different."'

35. "Therefore, prostitute, hear The LORD's word:

36. 'Thus says the Lord God, "Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness uncovered through your prostitution with your lovers; and because of all the idols of your abominations, and for the blood of your children, that you gave to them;

37. therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you have hated. I will even gather them against you on every side, and will uncover your nakedness to them, that they may see all your nakedness.

38. I will judge you, as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy.

39. I will also give you into their hand, and they will throw down your vaulted place, and break down your lofty places. They will strip you of your clothes, and take your beautiful jewels. They will leave you naked and bare.

40. They will also bring up a company against you, and they will stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords.

41. They will burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women. I will cause you to cease from playing the prostitute, and you will also give no hire any more.

42. So will I cause my wrath toward you to rest, and my jealousy will depart from you. I will be quiet, and will not be angry any more.

43. "'"Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring your way on your head," says the Lord God: "and you shall not commit this lewdness with all your abominations.

44. "'"Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb against you, saying, 'As is the mother, so is her daughter.'

45. You are the daughter of your mother, who loathes her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite.

46. Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells at your left hand, she and her daughters; and your younger sister, who dwells at your right hand, is Sodom with her daughters.

47. Yet you have not walked in their ways, nor done their abominations; but soon you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.

48. As I live," says the Lord God, "Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters.

49. "'"Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters. She also didn't strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50. They were haughty, and committed abomination before me. Therefore I took them away when I saw it.

51. Samaria hasn't committed half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters by all your abominations which you have done.

52. You also bear your own shame yourself, in that you have given judgment for your sisters; through your sins that you have committed more abominable than they, they are more righteous than you. Yes, be also confounded, and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters.

53. "'"I will reverse their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of your captives among them;

54. that you may bear your own shame, and may be ashamed because of all that you have done, in that you are a comfort to them.

55. Your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, will return to their former estate; and Samaria and her daughters will return to their former estate; and you and your daughters will return to your former estate.

56. For your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride,

57. before your wickedness was uncovered, as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria, and of all who are around her, the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you all around.

58. You have borne your lewdness and your abominations," says The LORD.

59. "'For thus says the Lord God: "I will also deal with you as you have done, who have despised the oath in breaking the covenant.

60. Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish to you an everlasting covenant.

61. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your sisters, your elder sisters and your younger; and I will give them to you for daughters, but not by your covenant.

62. I will establish my covenant with you. Then you will know that I am The LORD;

63. that you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth any more, because of your shame, when I have forgiven you all that you have done," says the Lord God.'"

22. "Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I will raise up your lovers against you, from whom your soul is alienated, and I will bring them against you on every side:

23. the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; all of them desirable young men, governors and rulers, princes and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.

24. They will come against you with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and with a company of peoples. They will set themselves against you with buckler, shield, and helmet all around. I will commit the judgment to them, and they will judge you according to their judgments.

25. I will set my jealousy against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will take away your nose and your ears. Your remnant will fall by the sword. They will take your sons and your daughters; and the rest of you will be devoured by the fire.

26. They will also strip you of your clothes, and take away your beautiful jewels.

27. Thus I will make your lewdness to cease from you, and remove your prostitution from the land of Egypt; so that you will not lift up your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt any more.'

28. "For thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I will deliver you into the hand of them whom you hate, into the hand of them from whom your soul is alienated.

29. They will deal with you in hatred, and will take away all your labor, and will leave you naked and bare. The nakedness of your prostitution will be uncovered, both your lewdness and your prostitution.

30. These things will be done to you, because you have played the prostitute after the nations, and because you are polluted with their idols.

31. You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore will I give her cup into your hand.'

32. "Thus says the Lord God:'You will drink of your sister's cup,which is deep and large.You will be ridiculed and held in derision.It contains much.

33. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,with the cup of astonishment and desolation,with the cup of your sister Samaria.

34. You will even drink it and drain it out.You will gnaw the broken pieces of it,and will tear your breasts;for I have spoken it,' says the Lord God.

35. "Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'Because you have forgotten me, and cast me behind your back, therefore you also bear your lewdness and your prostitution.'"

36. The LORD said moreover to me: "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.

37. For they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have also caused their sons, whom they bore to me, to pass through the fire to them to be devoured.

38. Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my Sabbaths.

39. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and behold, they have done this in the middle of my house.

40. "Furthermore you sisters have sent for men who come from far away, to whom a messenger was sent, and behold, they came; for whom you washed yourself, painted your eyes, decorated yourself with ornaments,

41. and sat on a stately bed, with a table prepared before it, whereupon you set my incense and my oil.

42. "The voice of a multitude being at ease was with her. With men of the common sort were brought drunkards from the wilderness; and they put bracelets on their hands, and beautiful crowns on their heads.

43. Then I said of her who was old in adulteries, 'Now they will play the prostitute with her, and she with them.'

44. They went in to her, as they go in to a prostitute. So they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, the lewd women.