Jerusalem Is Unfaithful
1 The Lord said:
2 Ezekiel, son of man, remind the people of Jerusalem of their disgusting sins 3 and tell them that I, the Lord God, am saying:
Jerusalem, you were born in the country where Canaanites lived. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. 4 When you were born, no one cut you loose from your mother or washed your body. No one rubbed your skin with salt and olive oil, and wrapped you in warm blankets. 5 Not one person loved you enough to do any of these things, and no one even felt sorry for you. You were despised, thrown into a field, and forgotten.
6 I saw you lying there, rolling around in your own blood, and I couldn't let you die. 7 I took care of you, like someone caring for a tender, young plant. You grew up to be a beautiful young woman with mature breasts and hair, but you were still naked.
8 When I saw you again, you were old enough to have sex. So I covered your naked body with my own robe. Then I solemnly promised that you would belong to me and that I, the Lord God, would take care of you.
9 I washed the blood off you and rubbed your skin with olive oil. 10 I gave you the finest clothes and the most expensive robes, as well as sandals made from the best leather. 11 I gave you bracelets, a necklace, 12 a ring for your nose, some earrings, and a beautiful crown. 13 Your jewelry was gold and silver, and your clothes were made of only the finest material and embroidered linen. Your bread was baked from fine flour, and you ate honey and olive oil. You were as beautiful as a queen, 14 and everyone on earth knew it. I, the Lord God, had helped you become a lovely young woman.
15 You learned that you were attractive enough to have any man you wanted, so you offered yourself to every passerby. 16 You made shrines for yourself and decorated them with some of your clothes. That's where you took your visitors to have sex with them. These things should never have happened! 17 You made idols out of the gold and silver jewelry I gave you, then you sinned by worshiping those idols. 18 You dressed them in the clothes you got from me, and you offered them the olive oil and incense I gave you. 19 I supplied you with fine flour, olive oil, and honey, but you sacrificed it all as offerings to please those idols. I, the Lord God, watched this happen.
20 But you did something even worse than that—you sacrificed your own children to those idols! 21 You slaughtered my children, so you could offer them as sacrifices. 22 You were so busy sinning and being a prostitute that you refused to think about the days when you were young and were rolling around naked in your own blood.
23 Now I, the Lord God, say you are doomed! Not only did you do these evil things, 24 but you also built places on every street corner 25 where you disgraced yourself by having sex with anyone who walked by. And you did that more and more every day! 26 To make me angry, you even offered yourself to Egyptians, who were always ready to sleep with you.
27 So I punished you by letting those greedy Philistine enemies take over some of your territory. But even they were offended by your repulsive behavior.
28 You couldn't get enough sex, so you chased after Assyrians and slept with them. You still weren't satisfied, 29 so you went after Babylonians. But those merchants could not satisfy you either.
30 I, the Lord God, say that you were so disgusting that you would have done anything to get what you wanted. 31 You had sex on every street corner, and when you finished, you refused to accept money. That's worse than being a prostitute! 32 You are nothing but an unfaithful wife who would rather have sex with strangers than with your own husband. 33 Prostitutes accept money for having sex, but you bribe men from everywhere to have sex with you. 34 You're not like other prostitutes. Men don't ask you for sex—you offer to pay them!
Jerusalem Must Be Punished
The Lord said:
35 Jerusalem, you prostitute, listen to me. 36 You chased after lovers, then took off your clothes and had sex. You even worshiped disgusting idols and sacrificed your own children as offerings to them. 37 So I, the Lord God, will gather every one of your lovers, those you liked and those you hated. They will stand around you, and I will rip off your clothes and let all of those lovers stare at your nakedness. 38 I will find you guilty of being an unfaithful wife and a murderer, and in my fierce anger I will sentence you to a violent death! 39 Then I will hand you over to your lovers, who will tear down the places where you had sex. They will take your clothes and jewelry, leaving you naked and empty-handed.
40 Your lovers and an angry mob will stone you to death; they will cut your dead body into pieces 41 and burn down your houses. Other women will watch these terrible things happen to you. I promise to stop you from being a prostitute and paying your lovers for sex.
42 Only then will I calm down and stop being angry and jealous. 43 You made me furious by doing all these disgusting things and by forgetting how I took care of you when you were young. Then you made things worse by acting like a prostitute. You must be punished! I, the Lord God, have spoken.
Jerusalem's Two Sisters
The Lord said:
44 People will use this saying about you, Jerusalem: “If the mother is bad, so is her daughter.” 45 You are just like your mother, who hated her husband and her own children. You are also like your sisters, who hated their husbands and children. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. 46 Your older sister was Samaria, that city to your north with her nearby villages. Your younger sister was Sodom, that city to your south with her nearby villages. 47 You followed their way of life and their wicked customs, and soon you were more repulsive than they were.
48 As surely as I am the living Lord God, the people of Sodom and its nearby villages were never as sinful as you. 49 They were arrogant and spoiled; they had everything they needed and still refused to help the poor and needy. 50 They thought they were better than everyone else, and they did things I hate. And so I destroyed them.
51 You people of Jerusalem have sinned twice as much as the people of Samaria. In fact, your evil ways have made both Sodom and Samaria look innocent. 52 So their punishment will seem light compared to yours. You will be disgraced and put to shame because of your disgusting sins.
Jerusalem Will Be Ashamed
The Lord said to Jerusalem:
53 Someday I will bless Sodom and Samaria and their nearby villages. I will also bless you, Jerusalem. 54 Then you will be ashamed of how you've acted, and Sodom and Samaria will be relieved that they weren't as sinful as you. 55 When that day comes, you and Sodom and Samaria will once again be well-off, and all nearby villages will be restored.
56 Jerusalem, you were so arrogant that you sneered at Sodom. 57 But now everyone has learned how wicked you really are. The countries of Syria and Philistia, as well as your other neighbors, hate you and make insulting remarks. 58 You must pay for all the vulgar and disgusting things you have done. I, the Lord, have spoken.
The Lord Makes a Promise to Jerusalem
The Lord said:
59 Jerusalem, you deserve to be punished, because you broke your promises and ignored our agreement. 60 But I remember the agreement I made with you when you were young, and so I will make you a promise that will last forever. 61 When you think about how you acted, you will be ashamed, especially when I return your sisters to you as daughters, even though this was not part of our agreement. 62 I will keep this solemn promise, and you will know that I am the Lord. 63 I will forgive you, but you will think about your sins and be too ashamed to say a word. I, the Lord God, have spoken.
Jeruzāleme – Dieva neuzticīgā līgava
1 Kunga vārds nāca pār mani: 2 “Cilvēka dēls, paziņo Jeruzālemei par viņas preteklībām, 3 saki: tā saka Kungs Dievs par Jeruzālemi: tava dzimta un tava izcelsme ir no Kanaāna zemes, tavs tēvs ir amorietis, un tava māte ir hetiete! 4 Tā tu piedzimi – todien, kad tu piedzimi, tev nabassaiti nepārgrieza, ar ūdeni tevi nemazgāja, lai tu būtu tīra, arī ar sāli tevi nenoberza un autos tevi neietina. 5 Neviens uz tevi pat nepaskatījās līdzcietībā, lai darītu tev to kaut aiz līdzjūtības – tavā piedzimšanas dienā tie nometa tevi uz lauka, nicinādami tavu dzīvību. 6 Tad es gāju tev garām, es ieraudzīju, ka tu ķepurojies savās asinīs, un tev, kas gulēji savās asinīs, es sacīju: dzīvo! – tev, kas gulēji savās asinīs. 7 Tad es vairoju tevi bez skaita kā zāli laukā, tu izaugi stalta un kļuvi jo krāšņa, piebrieda tavas krūtis, mati tev sakuploja – bet tu biji plika un nabaga!
8 Kad es gāju tev garām, es skatījos, un redzi – jau klāt tavs laiks mīlēt! Un es ar saviem svārkiem apklāju tavu kailumu, un es tev zvērēju, es stājos derībā ar tevi, saka Kungs Dievs, un tu biji mana! 9 Es mazgāju tevi ūdenī, noskaloju tavas asinis un ieziedu tevi ar eļļu. 10 Es tevi ietērpu rakstītās drānās, apāvu ādas sandales, uzvilku tev vieglbalta lina drānas un apklāju tevi ar zīdu. 11 Es tevi rotāju ar rokassprādzēm, kakla ķēdītēm, 12 ar deguna riņķi, auskariem un brīnišķīgu vainagu. 13 Tu biji izrotāta ar zeltu un sudrabu, tavas drānas bija no vieglbalta lina, ar zīdu izrakstītas! Tava barība bija smalki milti, medus un eļļa, un tu kļuvi arvien skaistāka, līdz stājies ķēniņienes godā. 14 Tautas daudzināja tavu vārdu skaistuma dēļ, jo ar manis doto krāšņumu tavs skaistums bija nevainojams, saka Kungs Dievs.
15 Tu paļāvies uz savu skaistumu, savu slavu tu izmantoji, lai maukotu, tu atdevies maucībai ar katru garāmgājēju – tu piederēji tiem! 16 Tu ņēmi savas drānas un darināji raibas segas augstieņu altāriem, un tur tu tā maukoji kā neviens vēl līdz šim, nedz arī turpmāk! 17 Tu arī ņēmi manis dotās krāšņās rotas, manu zeltu un sudrabu, un darināji sev vīrišķā atveidus un maukoji ar tiem. 18 Tu ņēmi izrakstītas drānas, ko uzsegt tiem, tu atdevi tiem manu eļļu un manu kvēpināmo. 19 Un barību, ko es tev devu, smalkos miltus, eļļu un medu, ko es tev devu ēst, tu cēli tiem priekšā par tīkamu smaržu! Tā bija, saka Kungs Dievs. 20 Tu ņēmi manus dēlus un meitas, ko man dzemdējusi, un upurēji tiem par ēdamo upuri. Vai tad maukot vien tev bija par maz?! 21 Tu nokāvi manus dēlus un upurēji tos elkiem! 22 Visā savā preteklībā un maucībā tu pat nepieminēji savas jaunības dienas, kad tu biji plika un nabaga un ķepurojies savās asinīs.
23 Ak, vai tev! Ak, vai! – visa tava ļaunuma dēļ, saka Kungs Dievs. 24 Tu sev cēli augstienes un ikvienā līdzenākā vietā taisīji paaugstinājumus. 25 Katra ceļa galā tu cēli paaugstinājumus un sagānīji savu skaistumu – kad vien kāds gāja garām, tu atpleti savas kājas un maukoji, cik spēji! 26 Tu maukoji ar saviem kaimiņiem ēģiptiešiem, kam branga miesa, un vairoji savu maucību, lai mani sadusmotu. 27 Redzi, es izstiepu roku un atņēmu tev pienākošos daļu, un es tevi atdevu tavām ienaidniecēm filistiešu meitām – tās kaunējās par tavu negantību. 28 Tad tu maukoji ar asīriešiem, jo biji neapmierināma – tu maukoji, bet arī tie tevi neapmierināja. 29 Tu vairoji savu maucību ar kaldiešiem no tirgoņu zemes, bet arī tie tevi neapmierināja.
30 Cik zemas tev vēlmes, saka Kungs Dievs, ka tu tā esi darījusi – tu, mauku mauka! 31 Tu cēli augstienes katra ceļa galā un taisīji paaugstinājumus uz visām ielām, un tu pat nebiji kā citas maukas, jo nicināji samaksu, – 32 laulības pārkāpēja, kas sava vīra vietā pieņem svešos! 33 Jo visām maukām tiek dotas dāvanas, bet tu dod dāvanas saviem mīļākajiem, tu piekukuļo viņus, lai tie nāk pie tevis no visām malām maukot ar tevi. 34 Tu ar savu maucību atšķiries no visām citām sievām – neviens nealkst maukot ar tevi, un tad tu maksā, bet tev nemaksā! Tā tu atšķiries! 35 Tādēļ tu, mauka, klausies Kunga vārdu!
36 Tā saka Kungs Dievs: tādēļ, ka tava kaisle ir izvirdusi un atsedzies tavs kailums, maukojot ar taviem mīļākajiem, un visu tavu pretīgo elku un tavu dēlu asiņu dēļ, ko tu šiem elkiem atdevi, – 37 tādēļ, redzi, es sapulcēšu visus tavus mīļākos, gan tos, kas tev vēl tīkami, gan tos, kas tev jau apriebušies. Es tos pulcināšu pret tevi no visām pusēm, un es atsegšu tavu kailumu – lai tie ierauga tavu kailumu! 38 Un es tevi tiesāšu par laulības pārkāpšanu un asins izliešanu – es izliešu tava niknuma un dusmības asinis! 39 Es tevi atdošu viņiem, un tie nopostīs tavas augstienes un sagāzīs tavas svētnīcas, tie noraus tev drānas un paņems tavas rotas, un tad pametīs tevi galīgi pliku! 40 Tie sapulcinās pret tevi veselu pulku un nomētās tevi akmeņiem, un tad sacirtīs zobeniem. 41 Tavus namus tie nodedzinās ar uguni, un daudz sievu noraudzīsies, kā tie tev izpilda spriedumu! Es izbeigšu tavu maucību, un maukas algu tu vairs nedāļāsi. 42 Tikai tad es rimšos savā niknumā pret tevi un novērsīšu savu greizsirdību, es mitēšos un vairs nedusmošu. 43 Tādēļ ka tu pat nepieminēji savas jaunības dienas, bet skumdināji mani ar visām šīm lietām, redzi, es pavērsīšu tavu nodarījumu pret tevi, saka Kungs Dievs, tad tu vairs negudrosi par savām preteklībām!
44 Redzi, ikviens parunu teicējs par tevi teiks: kāda māte, tāda meita! 45 Tu esi meita savai mātei, kurai riebās gan pašas vīrs, gan bērni; tu esi māsa savām māsām, kurām riebj viņu vīri un bērni! Jūsu māte ir hetiete un jūsu tēvs – amorietis. 46 Tava vecākā māsa ir Samarija, kas dzīvo ziemeļos no tevis, un tava jaunākā māsa dzīvo dienvidos – tava māsa Sodoma! 47 Tu nestaigāji viņu ceļus un nedarīji viņu preteklības – viss, ko tu darīji, bija daudz nešķīstāks! 48 Kā es esmu dzīvs! – saka Kungs Dievs, ne tava māsa Sodoma, ne viņas meitas tā nav darījušas, kā tu un tavas meitas. 49 Redzi nu, šī ir tavas māsas Sodomas vaina – lepnība, rijība un pašpaļāvība; tāda bija viņa un viņas meitas, nabagam un cietējam tās vis nepalīdzēja, 50 bet turēja augstu prātu un darīja preteklības. Es to redzēju un tādēļ tās aizslaucīju!
51 Samarija nav darījusi pat ne pusi no taviem grēkiem, tu esi darījusi daudz vairāk preteklību nekā viņas. Un ar visām šīm tevis darītajām preteklībām tu esi pierādījusi, ka tavas māsas ir par tevi taisnīgākas. 52 Tad nu arī nes savu kaunu, jo tu attaisnoji savas māsas ar saviem grēkiem, rīkojoties pretīgāk nekā viņas, – viņas ir taisnīgākas par tevi. Tad nu esi apkaunota un nes savu kaunu, jo tavas māsas ir taisnīgākas. 53 Tomēr es atbrīvošu viņas no gūsta – Sodomu un viņas meitas, Samariju un viņas meitas – un tevi kopā ar viņām. 54 Lai tu nes savu kaunu un esi apkaunota par visu, ko esi darījusi viņām par mierinājumu. 55 Tava māsa Sodoma un viņas meitas atkal būs tādas kā agrāk, un Samarija un viņas meitas arī būs tādas kā agrāk, un arī tavas meitas būs tādas kā agrāk. 56 Savas lepnības dienās tu pat nepieminēji savas māsas Sodomas vārdu, 57 pirms atklājās tavs ļaunums, kā tagad Edoma meitas un visas viņu kaimiņienes, un filistiešu meitas no visas apkārtnes nicina tevi, 58 bet tev jānes tava negantība un tavas preteklības,” saka Kungs.
Mūžīga derība
59 Tā saka Kungs Dievs: “Es tev darīšu tāpat, kā tu esi darījusi – tu nonievāji zvērestu, tu lauzi derību! 60 Es atceros savu derību, ko es noslēdzu ar tevi tavas jaunības dienās – es to nostiprināju uz mūžiem! 61 Tad tu atcerēsies savus nodarījumus un kaunēsies. Tu pieņemsi gan savu vecāko, gan jaunāko māsu, jo es tev tās došu par meitām – bet ne pēc manas derības ar tevi. 62 Es nostiprināšu savu derību ar tevi, tad tu zināsi, ka es esmu Kungs! 63 Tādēļ atceries un kaunies, un neatdari savu muti aiz kauna, kad es piedošu visu, ko tu esi darījusi!” saka Kungs Dievs.
