1  And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

2  'Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own heart: Hear ye the word of YHWH

2  “Son of man, prophesy to the prophets of Israel who are prophesying, and you shall say to those who prophesy from their own heart: Hear the word of the Lord

3  Thus saith YHWH GOD: Woe unto the vile prophets, that follow their own spirit, and things which they have not seen!

3  Thus saith the Lord, Woe to them that prophesy out of their own heart, and who see nothing at all.

3  Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets, who are following their own spirit, and who see nothing.

4  O Israel, thy prophets have been like foxes in ruins.

4  Thy prophets, O Israel, are like foxes in the deserts.

5  Ye have not gone up into the breaches, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the day of YHWH.

5  They have not continued steadfast, and they have gathered flocks against the house of Israel, they that say,

5  You have not gone up against the adversary, and you have not established a wall for the house of Israel, so as to stand in battle on the day of the Lord.

6  They have seen vanity and lying divination, that say: YHWH saith; and YHWH hath not sent them, yet they hope that the word would be confirmed!

6  In the day of the Lord, have not stood, seeing false visions, prophesying vanities, who say, The Lord saith, and the Lord has not sent them, and they began to try to confirm the word.

6  For they say, Thus says the LORD; and the LORD has not sent them; and they persist in confirming a false word.

7  Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say: YHWH saith; albeit I have not spoken?

7  Have ye not seen a false vision? and spoken vain prophecies?

8  Therefore thus saith YHWH GOD: Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

8  And therefore say, Thus saith the Lord; Because your words are false, and your prophecies are vain, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord.

8  Because of this, thus says the Lord God: Since you have spoken emptiness and have seen falsehoods, therefore: behold, I am against you, says the Lord God.

9  And My hand shall be against the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies; they shall not be in the council of My people, neither shall they be written in the register of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am YHWH GOD.

9  And I will stretch forth my hand against the prophets that see false visions, and those that utter vanities: they shall not partake of the instruction of my people, neither shall they be written in the roll of the house of Israel, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

10  Because, even because they have led My people astray, saying: Peace, and there is no peace; and when it buildeth up a slight wall, behold, they daub it with whited plaster;

10  For they have deceived my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ and there is no peace. And they have built a wall, but they have covered it in clay without straw.

11  say unto them that daub it with whited plaster, that it shall fall; there shall be an overflowing shower, and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall, and a stormy wind shall break forth,

11  Say to them that plaster it, It shall fall; and there shall be a flooding rain; and I will send great stones upon their joinings, and they shall fall; and there shall be a sweeping wind, and it shall be broken.

11  Say to those who spread mortar without mixing, that it will fall apart. For there will be an inundating rain, and I will cause full-grown hailstones to rush down from above, and a windstorm to dissipate it.

12  and, lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you: Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?

13  Therefore thus saith YHWH GOD: I will even cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in Mine anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it.

13  Because of this, thus says the Lord God: And I will cause a violent wind to burst forth in my indignation, and there will be an inundating rain in my fury, and great hailstones in wrath, to consume.

14  So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with whited plaster, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be uncovered; and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I am YHWH.

14  And I will destroy the wall that you have covered without tempering it. And I will level it to the ground, and its foundation will be revealed. And it will fall and be consumed in its midst. And you shall know that I am the Lord.

15  Thus will I spend My fury upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with whited plaster; and I will say unto you: The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;

15  And I will accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that plaster it; it shall fall: and I said to you, The wall is not, nor they that plaster it,

15  And I will fulfill my indignation against the wall, and against those who cover it without mixing the mortar, and I will say to you: The wall is no more, and those who covered it are no more

16  to wit, the prophets of Israel that prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and that see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith YHWH GOD.

16  the prophets of Israel, who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace, says the Lord God.

16  Such are the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, says the LORD God.

17  And thou, son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, that prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

17  And as for you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy from their own heart. And prophesy about them,

17  Likewise, you Son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them, and say to them,

18  and say: Thus saith YHWH GOD: Woe to the women that sew cushions upon all elbows, and make pads for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of My people, and save souls alive for yourselves?

18  And thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord, Woe to the women that sew pillows under every elbow, and make kerchiefs on the head of every stature to pervert souls! The souls of my people are perverted, and they have saved souls alive.

18  and say: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to those who sew together little pillows under every forearm, and who make little cushions for the heads of every stage of life, in order to capture souls. And when they have seized the souls of my people, they became the life of their souls.

19  And ye have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for crumbs of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to My people that hearken unto lies.

19  You have polluted my people for a handful of barley and a piece of bread, to kill persons who were not guilty of death, and to save the lives of those who should not live, and you have lied to a people who listen to lies.

20  Wherefore thus saith YHWH GOD: Behold, I am against your cushions, wherewith ye hunt the souls as birds, and I will tear them from your arms; and I will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt as birds.

20  Because of this, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against your little pillows, with which you catch flying souls. And I will tear them away from your arms. And I will release the souls that you are capturing, the souls that should fly.

21  Your pads also will I tear, and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am YHWH.

21  And I will tear your Kerchiefs, and will rescue my people out of your hands, and they shall no longer be in your hands to be confounded; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

22  Because with lies ye have cowed the heart of the righteous, when I have not grieved him; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, that he be saved alive;

22  Because ye have perverted the heart of the righteous, whereas I perverted him not, and that in order to strengthen the hands of the wicked, that he should not at all turn from his evil way and live

22  For by deception you have caused the heart of the just to grieve, whom I would not sadden. And I have strengthened the hands of the impious, so that he would not be turned back from his evil way and live.

23  therefore ye shall no more see vanity, nor divine divinations; and I will deliver My people out of your hand; and ye shall know that I am YHWH.'

14:1  Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

1  And there came to me men of the people of Israel, of the elders, and sat before me.

1  And men among the elders of Israel came to me, and they sat down before me.

14:2  And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

14:3  'Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their mind, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of at all by them?

3  Son of man, these men have conceived their devices in their hearts, and have set before their faces the punishment of their iniquities: shall I indeed answer them?

3  “Son of man, these men have placed their uncleanness in their hearts, and they have stationed the scandal of their iniquities before their face. So why should I respond when they inquire of me?

14:4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them: Thus saith YHWH GOD: Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his mind, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet--I YHWH will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

4  Because of this, speak to them, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: The man, the man of the house of Israel, who places his uncleanness in his heart, and who stations the scandal of his iniquities before his face, and who approaches a prophet, so as to inquire of me through him: I, the Lord, will respond to him in accord with the multitude of his uncleannesses,

14:5  that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all turned away from Me through their idols.

5  that he should turn aside the house of Israel, according to their hearts that are estranged from me in their thoughts.

5  so that the house of Israel may be seized within their own heart, by which they have withdrawn from me to all their idols.

14:6  Therefore say unto the house of Israel: Thus saith YHWH GOD: Return ye, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

6  Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Be converted, and turn from your evil practices, and from all your sins, and turn your faces back again.

6  Because of this, say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Be converted, and withdraw from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.

14:7  For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from Me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet, that he inquire for him of Me--I YHWH will answer him by Myself,

7  For any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, who shall separate himself from me, and conceive his imaginations in his heart, and set before his face the punishment of his iniquity, and come to the prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him, according to the things wherein he is entangled.

7  For the man, the man of the house of Israel, and the new arrival among the converts who may be in Israel, if he is alienated from me, and he sets his idols in his heart, and he stations the scandal of his iniquity before his face, and he approaches the prophet, so that he may inquire of me through him: I, the Lord, will respond to him through myself.

14:8  and I will set My face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people; and ye shall know that I am YHWH.

14:9  And when the prophet is enticed and speaketh a word, I YHWH have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of My people Israel.

9  And if a prophet should cause to err and should speak, I the Lord have caused that prophet to err, and will stretch out my hand upon him, and will utterly destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

9  And when a prophet has gone astray and has spoken a word: I, the Lord, have deceived that prophet. And I will extend my hand over him, and I will wipe him away from the midst of my people, Israel.

14:10  And they shall bear their iniquity; the iniquity of the prophet shall be even as the iniquity of him that inquireth;

10  And they shall bear their iniquity according to the trespass of him that asks; and it shall be in like manner to the prophet according to the trespass

10  And they shall both bear the punishment of their iniquity; the punishment of him who seeks to inquire shall be like the punishment of the prophet,

14:11  that the house of Israel may go no more astray from Me, neither defile themselves any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be My people, and I may be their God, saith YHWH GOD.'

11  So may the house of Israel no longer go astray from me, nor be polluted by all their transgressions. Instead, may they be my people, and may I be their God, says the Lord of hosts.”

14:12  And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

12  The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

14:13  'Son of man, when a land sinneth against Me by trespassing grievously, and I stretch out My hand upon it, and break the staff of the bread thereof, and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast;

13  Son of man, if a land shall sin against me by committing a trespass, then will I stretch out my hand upon it, and will break its staff of bread, and will send forth famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast.

13  “Son of man, when a land will have sinned against me, so that it transgresses grievously, I will extend my hand over it, and I will crush the staff of its bread. And I will send a famine upon it, and I will destroy from it both man and beast.

14:14  though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith YHWH GOD.

14  And though these three men should be in the midst of it, Noe, and Daniel, and Job, they alone should be delivered by their righteousness, saith the Lord.

14:15  If I cause evil beasts to pass through the land, and they bereave it, and it be desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the beasts;

15  If again I bring evil beasts upon the land, and take vengeance upon it, and it be ruined, and there be no one to pass through for fear of the wild beasts

15  And if I also lead in very harmful beasts upon the land, so that I devastate it, and it becomes impassable, so that no one may cross through it because of the beasts,

14:16  though these three men were in it, as I live, saith YHWH GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

16  and if these three men should be in the midst of it, as I live, saith the Lord, neither sons nor daughters shall be saved, but these only shall be saved, and the land shall be destroyed.

16  if these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord God, they will deliver neither sons, nor daughters. But only they themselves will be delivered, for the land shall be desolated.

14:17  Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say: Let the sword go through the land, so that I cut off from it man and beast;

17  Or if I lead in the sword upon that land, and if I say to the sword, ‘Pass through the land,’ and so I destroy from it both man and beast,

14:18  though these three men were in it, as I live, saith YHWH GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

14:19  Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out My fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast;

19  Then, if I also send the pestilence upon that land, and I pour out my indignation upon it with blood, so that I take away from it both man and beast,

14:20  though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith YHWH GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

20  and should Noe, and Daniel, and Job, be in the midst of it, as I live, saith the Lord, there shall be left them neither sons nor daughters; only they by their righteousness shall deliver their souls.

20  and if Noah, and Daniel, and Job were in its midst, as I live, says the Lord God, they will deliver neither son, nor daughter, but they will deliver only their own souls by their justice.

14:21  For thus saith YHWH GOD: How much more when I send My four sore judgments against Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil beasts, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast.

21  Thus saith the Lord, And if I even send upon Jerusalem my four sore judgements, sword, and famine, and evil beasts, and pestilence, to destroy from out of it man and beast;

21  For thus says the Lord God: Even though I will send upon Jerusalem my four most grievous judgments, sword and famine and harmful beasts and pestilence, so that I destroy from it both man and beast,

14:22  And, behold, though there be left a remnant therein that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters; behold, when they come forth unto you, and ye see their way and their doings, then ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it;

22  yet still there shall be left within it some who will be saved, who shall lead away their own sons and daughters. Behold, they will enter to you, and you will see their way and their accomplishments. And you shall be consoled concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, concerning all the things that I have brought to bear upon it.

14:23  and they shall comfort you, when ye see their way and their doings, and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith YHWH GOD.'

15:1  And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

15:2  'Son of man, what is the vine-tree more than any tree, the vine branch which grew up among the trees of the forest?

2  And thou, son of man—of all the wood, of the branches that are among the trees of the forest, what shall be made of the wood of the vine?

2  “Son of man, what can be made from the stalk of a vine, compared to all the plants of the woods that are among the trees of the forests?

15:3  Shall wood be taken thereof to make any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?

3  Will they take wood of it to make it fit for work? will they take of it a peg to hang any vessel upon it?

3  Can any wood be taken from it, so that it may be made into a work, or formed into a peg so as to hang some kind of vessel upon it?

15:4  Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire hath devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is singed; is it profitable for any work?

4  It is only given to the fire to be consumed; the fire consumes that which is yearly pruned of it, and it is utterly gone. Will it be useful for any work?

4  Behold, it is used in the fire as fuel. The fire consumes both its ends; and its middle is reduced to ashes. So how can it be useful for any work?

15:5  Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work; how much less, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is singed, shall it yet be meet for any work?

5  Not even while it is yet whole will it be useful for any work: if the fire shall have utterly consumed it, will it still be fit for work?

5  Even when it was whole, it was unsuitable for a work. How much more so, when fire has devoured it and burned it up, will nothing of it be useful?

15:6  Therefore thus saith YHWH GOD: As the vine-tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so do I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

6  Therefore, thus says the Lord God: Like the stalk of the vine among the trees of the forests, which I have given to be devoured by fire, so will I deliver the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

15:7  And I will set My face against them; out of the fire are they come forth, and the fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am YHWH, when I set My face against them.

7  And I will pour out my anger against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall consume them; and you shall know that I am the LORD, when I pour out my anger against them.

15:8  And I will make the land desolate, because they have acted treacherously, saith YHWH GOD.'

8  And I will give up the land to ruin, because they have utterly transgressed, saith the Lord.

8  and when I will have made their land impassable and desolate. For they have stood forth as transgressors, says the Lord God.”

16:1  Again the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

1  Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

1  And the word of the Lord came to me, saying

16:2  'Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

2  Son of man, testify to Jerusalem of her iniquities;

16:3  and say: Thus saith YHWH GOD unto Jerusalem: Thine origin and thy nativity is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was thy father, and thy mother was a Hittite.

3  And you shall say: Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: Your root and your lineage is from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Cethite.

16:4  And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water for cleansing; thou was not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

4  And as for thy birth in the day wherein thou wast born, thou didst not bind thy breasts, and thou wast not washed in water, neither wast thou salted with salt, neither wast thou swathed in swaddling-bands.

4  And when you were born, on the day of your nativity, your umbilical cord was not cut, and you were not washed with water for health, nor salted with salt, nor wrapped with cloths.

16:5  No eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field in the loathsomeness of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.

5  Nor did mine eye pity thee, to do for thee one of all these things, to feel at all for thee; but thou wast cast out on the face of the field, because of the deformity of thy person, in the day wherein thou wast born.

5  No eye took pity on you, so as to do even one of these things to you, out of compassion for you. Instead, you were cast upon the face of the earth, in the abjection of your soul, on the day when you were born.

16:6  And when I passed by thee, and saw thee wallowing in thy blood, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live;

6  And I passed by to thee, and saw thee polluted in thy blood; and I said to thee, Let there be life out of thy blood

6  But, passing by you, I saw that you were wallowing in your own blood. And I said to you, when you were in your blood: ‘Live.’ I tell you that I said to you, in your blood: ‘Live.’

16:7  I cause thee to increase, even as the growth of the field. And thou didst increase and grow up, and thou camest to excellent beauty: thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare.

7  I multiplied you like the seedling of the field. And you were multiplied and became great, and you advanced and arrived at the ornament of a woman. Your breasts rose up, and your hair grew. And you were naked and full of shame.

7  And multiply like the grass of the field. And you have increased and grown great; then you went into the cities. Your breasts were formed and your hair had grown, but you were naked and bare.

16:8  Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, and, behold, thy time was the time of love, I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness; yea, I swore unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith YHWH GOD, and thou becamest Mine.

8  And I passed by you and saw you. And behold, your time was the time of lovers. And I spread my garment over you, and I covered your disgrace. And I swore to you, and I entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord God, and you became mine.

16:9  Then washed I thee with water; yea, I cleansed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

9  And I washed thee in water, and washed thy blood from thee, and anointed thee with oil.

9  Then I bathed you with water, and I washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil.

16:10  I clothed thee also with richly woven work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I wound fine linen about thy head, and covered thee with silk.

10  And I clothed thee with embroidered garments, and clothed thee beneath with purple, and girded thee with fine linen, and clothed thee with silk,

10  And I covered you with embroidery, and I put violet shoes upon you, and I wrapped you in fine linen, and I clothed you with delicate garments.

16:11  I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

11  I adorned you with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands and a necklace around your neck.

16:12  And I put a ring upon thy nose, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head.

12  And I put a jewel on your forehead and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.

16:13  Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and richly woven work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and thou didst wax exceeding beautiful, and thou wast meet for royal estate.

13  And you were adorned with gold and silver, and you were clothed in fine linen, woven with many colors. You ate fine flour, and honey, and oil. And you became very beautiful. And you advanced to royal power.

13  Thus you were decked with gold and gems, and you were clothed with fine linen and purple and embroidered cloth; and you ate fine flour and honey and oil; and you became exceedingly beautiful, and you grew prosperous among the kingdoms.

16:14  And thy renown went forth among the nations for thy beauty; for it was perfect, through My splendour which I had put upon thee, saith YHWH GOD.

14  And thy name went forth among the nations for thy beauty: because it was perfected with elegance, and in the comeliness which I put upon thee, saith the Lord.

14  And your renown went forth among the Gentiles, because of your beauty. For you were perfected by my beauty, which I had placed upon you, says the Lord God.

16:15  But thou didst trust in thy beauty and play the harlot because of thy renown, and didst pour out thy harlotries on every one that passed by; his it was.

15  But, having confidence in your own beauty, you fornicated in your fame. And you presented your fornication to every passer-by, so as to become his.

16:16  And thou didst take of thy garments, and didst make for thee high places decked with divers colours, and didst play the harlot upon them; the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.

16  And taking from your garments, you made for yourself exalted things, having sewed together disparate pieces. And you fornicated upon them, in a way that has not been done before, nor will be in the future.

16  And you took some of my garments and decorated the high places for yourself, and played the harlot upon them; they shall not be brought back, neither shall they be yours.

16:17  Thou didst also take thy fair jewels of My gold and of My silver, which I had given thee, and madest for thee images of men, and didst play the harlot with them;

17  And you took your beautiful items, made of my gold and my silver, which I gave to you, and you made for yourself images of men, and you fornicated with them.

17  You have also taken your costly jewels of gold and silver which I had given you, and made to yourself images of men, and committed whoredom with them;

16:18  and thou didst take thy richly woven garments and cover them, and didst set Mine oil and Mine incense before them.

18  And you used your multicolored vestments to cover these things. And you placed my oil and my incense before them.

18  And you took your embroidered garments and covered them; and you have set my oil and my incense before them.

16:19  My bread also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou didst even set it before them for a sweet savour, and thus it was; saith YHWH GOD.

19  And my bread, which I gave to you, the fine flour, and the oil, and the honey, by which I nourished you, you placed in their sight as a sweet fragrance. And so it was done, says the Lord God.

19  And the food which I gave you, the fine flour and oil and honey with which I fed you, you have set before them for a sweet savor; says the LORD God.

16:20  Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto Me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy harlotries a small matter,

20  And thou tookest thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou borest, land didst sacrifice these to them to be destroyed. Thou didst go a-whoring as if that were little,

20  And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore for me, and you immolated them to be devoured. Is your fornication a small matter?

16:21  that thou hast slain My children, and delivered them up, in setting them apart unto them?

21  You have immolated my sons, and you have consecrated and delivered my sons to them.

21  That you have slaughtered my children, and offered them to the idols after you had been ravished by them.

16:22  And in all thine abominations and thy harlotries thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast wallowing in thy blood.

22  This is beyond all thy fornication, and thou didst not remember thine infancy, when thou wast naked and bare, and didst live though defiled in thy blood.

22  And after all your abominations and fornications, you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and full of shame, wallowing in your own blood.

16:23  And it came to pass after all thy wickedness--woe, woe unto thee! saith YHWH GOD--

23  And it happened that, after all your wickedness, (woe, woe to you, says the Lord God)

23  And after all your wickedness, woe, woe to you! says the LORD God;

16:24  that thou hast built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee a lofty place in every street.

24  that thou didst build thyself a house of fornication, and didst make thyself a public place in every street;

24  you built for yourself a brothel, and you made for yourself a place of prostitution in every street.

16:25  Thou hast built thy lofty place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty an abomination, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy harlotries.

25  At the head of every way, you set up a banner of your prostitution. And you caused your beauty to become abominable. And you distributed your feet to every passer-by. And you multiplied your fornications.

25  You have built yourself small temples for idol worship at every head of the way, and defiled your beauty and exposed yourself to every one that passed by, and multiplied your fornications.

16:26  Thou hast also played the harlot with the Egyptians, thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast multiplied thy harlotry, to provoke Me.

26  And thou didst go a-whoring after the children of Egypt thy neighbors, great of flesh; and didst go a-whoring, often to provoke me to anger.

26  And you fornicated with the sons of Egypt, your neighbors, who have large bodies. And you multiplied your fornications, so as to provoke me.

16:27  Behold, therefore I have stretched out My hand over thee, and have diminished thine allowance, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, that are ashamed of thy lewd way.

27  And if I stretch out my hand against thee, then will I abolish thy statutes, and deliver thee up to the wills of them that hate thee, even to the daughters of the Philistines that turned thee aside from the way wherein thou sinned.

27  Behold, I will extend my hand over you, and I will take away your justification. And I will give you to the souls of those who hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, who are ashamed of your wicked way.

16:28  Thou hast played the harlot also with the Assyrians, without having enough; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet thou wast not satisfied.

28  You also fornicated with the sons of the Assyrians, for you were not yet done. And after you fornicated, even then, you were not satisfied.

16:29  Thou hast moreover multiplied thy harlotry with the land of traffic, even with Chaldea; and yet thou didst not have enough herewith.

29  And thou didst multiply thy covenants with the land of the Chaldeans; and not even with these wast thou satisfied.

29  And you multiplied your fornications in the land of Canaan with the Chaldeans. And even then, you were not satisfied.

16:30  How weak is thy heart, saith YHWH GOD, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of a wanton harlot;

30  Why should I make a covenant with thy daughter, saith the Lord, while thou doest all these things, the works of a harlot? and thou hast gone a-whoring in a threefold degree with thy daughters.

30  With what can I cleanse your heart, says the Lord God, since you do all these things, the works of a woman who is a shameless prostitute?

16:31  in that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thy lofty place in every street; and hast not been as a harlot that enhanceth her hire.

31  For you have built your brothel at the head of every way, and you have made your exalted place on every street. And you have not even been like a choosy prostitute, increasing her price,

31  In that you built your notorious shrines at the head of every way, and set your altars in every street; and yet you were not as clever as a harlot who charges a price;

16:32  Thou wife that committest adultery, that takest strangers instead of thy husband--

32  An adulteress resembles thee, taking rewards of her husband.

32  but instead like a woman who is an adulteress, who prefers strangers to her own husband.

16:33  to all harlots gifts are given; but thou hast given thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hast bribed them to come unto thee from every side in thy harlotries.

33  She has even given rewards to all that went a-whoring after her, and thou hast given rewards to all thy lovers, yea, thou didst load them with rewards, that they should come to thee from every side for thy fornication.

33  Men pay a price to all harlots; but instead you pay a price to all your lovers and bribe them with your whoredom, that they may come to you from every side round about you.

16:34  And the contrary is in thee from other women, in that thou didst solicit to harlotry, and wast not solicited; and in that thou givest hire, and no hire is given unto thee, thus thou art contrary.

34  And it is done with you, in your fornications, contrary to the custom of women, and even after you, there will be no such fornication. For in as much as you have given payment, and not taken payment, what has been done in you is the contrary.”

34  So you are different from other women in your whoredoms, in that you pay others a price, and no one pays a price to you.

16:35  Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of YHWH!

35  Therefore, harlot, hear the word of the Lord

35  Because of this, O harlot, listen to the word of the Lord.

16:36  Thus saith YHWH GOD: Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness uncovered through thy harlotries with thy lovers; and because of all the idols of thy abominations, and for the blood of thy children, that thou didst give unto them;

36  Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast poured forth thy money, therefore thy shame shall be discovered in thy harlotry with thy lovers, and with regard to all the imaginations of thine iniquities, and for the blood of thy children which thou hast given to them.

36  Thus says the Lord God: “Because your money has been poured out, and your disgrace has been uncovered, in your fornications with your lovers and with the idols of your abominations, in the blood of your sons, whom you gave to them

16:37  therefore behold, I will gather all thy lovers, unto whom thou hast been pleasant, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them against thee from every side, and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.

37  Behold, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have united, and all those whom you have loved, together with all those whom you have hated. And I will gather them together against you on every side. And I will uncover your disgrace before them, and they will see all your indecency.

16:38  And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of fury and jealousy.

38  And I will be avenged on thee with the vengeance of an adulteress, and I will bring upon thee blood of fury and jealousy.

38  And I will judge you with the judgment of an adulteress, and as those who shed blood are judged; and I will deliver you to slaughter and to fury and indignation.

16:39  I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and break down thy lofty places; and they shall strip thee of thy clothes, and take thy fair jewels; and they shall leave thee naked and bare.

39  And I will deliver you into their hands. And they will destroy your brothel and demolish your place of prostitution. And they will strip you of your vestments. And they will take away the ornaments of your beauty. And they will leave you behind, naked and full of disgrace.

16:40  They shall also bring up an assembly against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

40  and they shall bring multitudes upon thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and pierce thee with their swords.

40  And they will lead over you a multitude. And they will stone you with stones, and massacre you with their swords.

16:41  And they shall burn thy houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women; and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou shalt also give no hire any more.

41  And they will burn up your houses with fire, and they will carry out judgments against you in the sight of many women. And you will cease from fornication, and no longer give payment.

16:42  So will I satisfy My fury upon thee, and My jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.

42  And my indignation will be quieted in you. And my zeal will be taken from you. And I will rest, and no longer be angry.

16:43  Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted Me in all these things; lo, therefore I also will bring thy way upon thy head, saith YHWH GOD; or hast thou not committed this lewdness above all thine abominations?

43  Because thou didst not remember thine infancy, and thou didst grieve me in all these things; therefore, behold, I have recompensed thy ways upon thine head, saith the Lord: for thus hast thou wrought ungodliness above all thine other iniquities.

43  For you have not remembered the days of your youth, and you have provoked me in all these things. Because of this, I also have delivered all your ways upon your head, says the Lord God, but I have not acted in accord with your wickedness in all your abominations.

16:44  Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying: As the mother, so her daughter.

44  These are all the things they have spoken against thee in a proverb, saying,

44  Behold, all who speak a common proverb will take this up against you, saying: ‘Like the mother, so also is her daughter.’

16:45  Thou art thy mother's daughter, that loatheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, who loathed their husbands and their children; your mother was a Hittite, and your father an Amorite.

45  As is the mother, so is thy mother’s daughter: thou art she that has rejected her husband and her children; and the sisters of thy sisters have rejected their husbands and their children: your mother was a Chettite, and your father an Amorite.

45  You are your mother’s daughter, for she cast away her husband and her children. And you are the sister of your sisters, for they cast away their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Cethite, and your father was an Amorite.

16:46  And thine elder sister is Samaria, that dwelleth at thy left hand, she and her daughters; and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

46  Your elder sister who dwells on thy left hand is Samaria, she and her daughters: and thy younger sister, that dwells on the right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

46  And your older sister is Samaria, she and her daughters are those who live to your left. But your younger sister, who lives to your right, is Sodom and her daughters.

16:47  Yet hast thou not walked in their ways, nor done after their abominations; but in a very little while thou didst deal more corruptly than they in all thy ways.

47  Yet notwithstanding thou hast not walked in their ways, neither hast thou done according to their iniquities within a little, but thou hast exceeded them in all thy ways.

47  But neither have you walked in their ways. For you have done only a little less compared to their wickedness. You have acted almost more wickedly, in all your ways, than they have acted.

16:48  As I live, saith YHWH GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

48  As I live, says the Lord God, your sister Sodom herself, and her daughters, have not done as you and your daughters have done.

16:49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and careless ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

49  Moreover this was the sin of thy sister Sodom, pride: she and her daughters lived in pleasure, in fullness of bread and in abundance: this belonged to her and her daughters, and they helped not the hand of the poor and needy.

49  Behold, this is the iniquity of Sodom your proud sister: she and her daughters had abundant food and lived in tranquillity, but she did not help the poor and needy.

16:50  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me; therefore I removed them when I saw it.

50  And they boasted, and wrought iniquities before me: so I cut them off as I saw fit.

50  And they were exalted, and they committed abominations before me. And so I took them away, just as you have seen.

16:51  Neither hath Samaria committed even half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters by all thine abominations which thou hast done.

51  But Samaria has not committed even half of your sins. For you have exceeded them in your wickedness, and you have justified your sisters by all your abominations, which you have wrought.

16:52  Thou also, bear thine own shame, in that thou hast given judgment for thy sisters; through thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they, they are more righteous than thou; yea, be thou also confounded, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.

52  Therefore, you also bear your shame, for you have exceeded your sisters with your sins, acting more wickedly than they did. So they have been justified above you. By this also, you are confounded, and you bear your disgrace, for you have justified your sisters.

52  You also shall endure the shame because you have outdone your sisters in your sins, and have polluted yourself more than they; they are more righteous than you; you must be confounded also and bear your shame, for your sisters are more righteous than you.

16:53  And I will turn their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, and the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them;

53  But I will convert and restore them, by converting Sodom with her daughters, and by converting Samaria and her daughters. And I will convert your return in their midst.

53  I will bring back their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters; then I will cause the captivity of your exiles to be carried among them,

16:54  that thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be ashamed because of all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.

54  So may you bear your disgrace and be confounded over all that you have done, consoling them.

54  That you may bear shame and be confounded in all that you have done to provoke my anger.

16:55  And thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, and thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

55  And thy sister Sodom and her daughters shall be restored as they were at the beginning, and thou and thy daughters shall be restored as ye were at the beginning.

55  And your sister Sodom and her daughters will return to their ancient state. And Samaria and her daughters will return to their ancient state. And you and your daughters will be returned to your ancient state.

16:56  For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride;

56  Your sister Sodom was not heard from your mouth, then, in the day of your pride,

16:57  before thy wickedness was uncovered, as at the time of the taunt of the daughters of Aram, and of all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, that have thee in disdain round about.

57  before your malice was revealed, as it is at this time, with the reproach of the daughters of Syria and of all the daughters of Palestine, who surround you, who encircle you on every side.

16:58  Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith YHWH.

58  As for thine ungodliness and thine iniquities, thou hast borne them, saith the Lord.

58  You have borne your wickedness and your disgrace, says the Lord God.”

16:59  For thus saith YHWH GOD: I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, who hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.

59  Thus saith the Lord; I will even do to thee as thou hast done, as thou hast dealt shamefully in these things to transgress my covenant.

59  For thus says the Lord God: “I will act toward you, just as you have despised the oath, so that you would make void the covenant.

16:60  Nevertheless I will remember My covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.

60  And I will remember my covenant made with thee in the days of thine infancy, and I will establish to thee an everlasting covenant.

16:61  Then shalt thou remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder sisters and thy younger; and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not because of thy covenant.

61  And you shall remember your ways and be confounded, when you will have received your sisters, your elder with your younger. And I will give them to you as daughters, but not by your covenant.

61  Then you shall remember your evil ways and be ashamed, when I take your sisters, the elder and the younger, and give them to you for daughters, but not because of your covenant.

16:62  And I will establish My covenant with thee, and thou shalt know that I am YHWH;

62  And I will raise up my covenant with you. And you shall know that I am the Lord.

16:63  that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame; when I have forgiven thee all that thou hast done, saith YHWH GOD.'

63  So may you remember and be confounded. And it will no longer be for you to open your mouth, because of your shame, when I will have been pacified toward you over all that you have done, says the Lord God.”

63  Because you shall remember and be ashamed, and never open your mouth any more because of your shame, for I have forgiven you for all that you have done, says the LORD God.

17:1  And the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

17:2  'Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel,

2  Son of man, relate a tale, and speak a parable to the house of Israel

2  “Son of man, propose an enigma and describe a parable to the house of Israel,

17:3  and say: Thus saith YHWH GOD: A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers, which had divers colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the top of the cedar;

3  and thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; A great eagle with large wings, spreading them out very far, with many claws, which has the design of entering into Libanus—and he took the choice branches of the cedar

3  and you shall say: Thus says the Lord God: A large eagle, with great wings and elongated pinions, full of feathers with many colors, came to Lebanon. And he took the kernel of the cedar.

17:4  He cropped off the topmost of the young twigs thereof, and carried it into a land of traffic; he set it in a city of merchants.

4  He tore off the summit of its branches, and he transported it to the land of Canaan; he placed it in a city of merchants.

17:5  He took also of the seed of the land, and planted it in a fruitful soil; he placed it beside many waters, he set it as a slip.

5  And he took of the seed of the land, and sowed it in a field planted by much water; he set it in a conspicuous place.

5  And he took from the seed of the land and placed it in the ground for seed, so that it might take firm root above many waters; he placed it at the surface.

17:6  And it grew, and became a spreading vine of low stature, whose tendrils might turn toward him, and the roots thereof be under him; so it became a vine, and brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.

6  And when it had germinated, it increased into a more extensive vine, low in height, with its branches facing toward itself. And its roots were underneath it. And so, it became a vine, and sprouted branches, and produced shoots.

17:7  There was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers; and, behold, this vine did bend its roots toward him, and shot forth its branches toward him, from the beds of its plantation, that he might water it.

7  And there was another great eagle, with great wings and many claws: and, behold, this vine bent itself round toward him, and her roots were turned towards him, and she sent forth her branches towards him, that he might water her together with the growth of her plantation.

17:8  It was planted in a good soil by many waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a stately vine.

8  She thrives in a fair field by much water, to produce shoots and bear fruit, that she might become a great vine.

8  It had been planted in a good land, above many waters, so that it would produce branches and bear fruit, so that it would become a large vine.

17:9  Say thou: Thus saith YHWH GOD: Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither, yea, wither in all its sprouting leaves? neither shall great power or much people be at hand when it is plucked up by the roots thereof.

9  Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord; Shall it prosper? shall not the roots of her tender stem and her fruit be blighted? yea, all her early shoots shall be dried up, and that not by a mighty arm, nor by many people, to tear her up from her roots.

9  Say now, Thus says the LORD God: It shall not prosper, but its roots shall be cut off, and its fruit shall dry up; and all the foliage which it has put forth shall wither; and it will not require a strong arm, nor many people to pluck it up by its roots.

17:10  Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? Shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? In the beds where it grew it shall wither.'

10  And, behold, it thrives: shall it prosper? shall it not wither as soon as the east wind touches it? it shall be withered together with the growth of its shoots.

10  Behold, it has been planted. What if it does not prosper? Should it not be dried up when the burning wind touches it, and should it not wither in the garden of its germination?”

17:11  Moreover the word of YHWH came unto me, saying

11  And the word of the Lord came to me, saying

17:12  'Say now to the rebellious house: Know ye not what these things mean? tell them: Behold, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, and took the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and brought them to him to Babylon;

12  Son of man, say now to the provoking house, Know ye not what these things were? say to them, Whenever the king of Babylon shall come against Jerusalem, then he shall take her king and her princes, and shall take them home to Babylon.

12  “Say to the provoking house: Do you not know what these things signify? Say: Behold, the king of Babylon arrives in Jerusalem. And he will take away its king and princes, and he will lead them away to himself in Babylon.

17:13  and he took of the seed royal, and made a covenant with him, and brought him under an oath, and the mighty of the land he took away;

13  And he shall take of the seed royal, and shall make a covenant with him, and shall bind him with an oath: and he shall take the princes of the land

13  And he will take one from the offspring of the king, and he will strike a pact with him and receive an oath from him. Moreover, he will take away the strong ones of the land,

17:14  that his might be a lowly kingdom, that it might not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand.

14  that it may become a weak kingdom, so as never to lift itself up, that he may keep his covenant, and establish it.

14  That the kingdom might be humbled, and that they might keep his covenant, and stand by him.

17:15  But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt, that they might give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? shall he escape that doeth such things? shall he break the covenant, and yet escape?

15  And if he shall revolt from him, to send his messengers into Egypt, that they may give him horses and much people; shall he prosper? shall he that acts as an adversary be preserved? and shall he that transgresses the covenant be preserved?

15  But, withdrawing from him, he sent messengers to Egypt, so that it would give him horses and many people. Should he who has done these things prosper and obtain safety? And should he who has broken the pact go free?

17:16  As I live, saith YHWH GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke, even with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die.

16  As I live, says the Lord God, in the place of the king, who appointed him as king, whose oath he has made void, and whose pact he has broken, under which he was living with him, in the midst of Babylon, he shall die.

16  As I live, says the LORD God, surely in the very place where dwells the king of Babylon, who made him king and he despised my oath and nullified my covenant, even in the midst of Babylon, he shall die.

17:17  Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company succour him in the war, when they cast up mounds and build forts, to cut off many souls;

17  And Pharao shall make war upon him not with a large force or great multitude, in throwing up a mound, and in building of forts, to cut off souls.

17  And not with a great army, nor with many people will Pharaoh undertake a battle against him, when he will cast up ramparts and build defenses, in order to put to death many souls.

17:18  seeing he hath despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape.

18  Because he has despised the oaths and nullified the covenant, he shall surrender, but he shall not be delivered, because he has done all these things.

17:19  Therefore thus saith YHWH GOD: As I live, surely Mine oath that he hath despised, and My covenant that he hath broken, I will even bring it upon his own head.

19  Because of this, thus says the Lord God: As I live, I will place upon his head the oath that he has spurned and the pact that he has betrayed.

17:20  And I will spread My net upon him, and he shall be taken in My snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his treachery that he hath committed against Me.

20  And I will spread a net upon him, and he shall be caught in its snare.

17:21  And all his mighty men in all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward every wind; and ye shall know that I YHWH have spoken it.

21  In every battle of his they shall fall by the sword, and I will scatter his remnant to every wind: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it.

21  And all his fugitives, with all his procession, will fall by the sword. Then the remainder will be scattered into every wind. And you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”

17:22  Thus saith YHWH GOD: Moreover I will take, even I, of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high mountain and eminent;

22  For thus saith the Lord; I will even take of the choice branches of the cedar from the top thereof, I will crop off their hearts, and I will plant it on a high mountain

22  Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take from the kernel of the exalted cedar, and I will establish it. I will tear off a tender twig from the top of its branches, and I will plant it on a mountain, lofty and exalted.

17:23  in the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a stately cedar; and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing, in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

23  and I will hang it on a lofty mountain of Israel: yea, I will plant it, and it shall put forth shoots, and shall bear fruit, and it shall be a great cedar: and every bird shall rest beneath it, even every fowl shall rest under its shadow: its branches shall be restored.

23  On the sublime mountains of Israel, I will plant it. And it shall spring forth in buds and bear fruit, and it shall be a great cedar. And all the birds will live under it, and every bird will make its nest under the shadow of its branches.

17:24  And all the trees of the field shall know that I YHWH have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I the YHWH have spoken and have done it.'