42 So (A)I will lay to rest My fury toward you, and My jealousy shall depart from you. I will be quiet, and be angry no more. 43 Because (B)you did not remember the days of your youth, but [a]agitated Me with all these things, surely (C)I will also recompense your [b]deeds on your own head,” says the Lord God. “And you shall not commit lewdness in addition to all your abominations.

More Wicked than Samaria and Sodom

44 “Indeed everyone who quotes proverbs will use this proverb against you: ‘Like mother, like daughter!’ 45 You are your mother’s daughter, [c]loathing husband and children; and you are the (D)sister of your sisters, who loathed their husbands and children; (E)your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.

46 “Your elder sister is Samaria, who dwells with her daughters to the north of you; and (F)your younger sister, who dwells to the south of you, is Sodom and her daughters. 47 You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, (G)you became more corrupt than they in all your ways.

48 As I live,” says the Lord God, “neither (H)your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done. 49 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, (I)fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and (J)committed abomination before Me; therefore (K)I took them away as [d]I saw fit.

51 “Samaria did not commit (L)half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and (M)have justified your sisters by all the abominations which you have done. 52 You who judged your sisters, bear your own shame also, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than theirs; they are more righteous than you. Yes, be disgraced also, and bear your own shame, because you justified your sisters.

53 (N)“When I bring back their captives, the captives of Sodom and her daughters, and the captives of Samaria and her daughters, then I will also bring back (O)the captives of your captivity among them, 54 that you may bear your own shame and be disgraced by all that you did when (P)you comforted them. 55 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, return to their former state, and Samaria and her daughters return to their former state, then you and your daughters will return to your former state. 56 For your sister Sodom was not a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride, 57 before your wickedness was uncovered. It was like the time of the (Q)reproach of the daughters of [e]Syria and all those around her, and of (R)the daughters of the Philistines, who despise you everywhere. 58 (S)You have paid for your lewdness and your abominations,” says the Lord. 59 For thus says the Lord God: “I will deal with you as you have done, who (T)despised (U)the oath by breaking the covenant.

An Everlasting Covenant

60 “Nevertheless I will (V)remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish (W)an everlasting covenant with you. 61 Then (X)you will remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive your older and your younger sisters; for I will give them to you for (Y)daughters, (Z)but not because of My covenant with you. 62 (AA)And I will establish My covenant with you. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, 63 that you may (AB)remember and be ashamed, (AC)and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I provide you an atonement for all you have done,” says the Lord God.’ ”

The Eagles and the Vine

17 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a (AD)parable to the house of Israel, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

(AE)“A great eagle with large wings and long pinions,
Full of feathers of various colors,
Came to Lebanon
And (AF)took from the cedar the highest branch.
He cropped off its topmost young twig
And carried it to a land of trade;
He set it in a city of merchants.
Then he took some of the seed of the land
And planted it in (AG)a fertile field;
He placed it by abundant waters
And set it (AH)like a willow tree.
And it grew and became a spreading vine (AI)of low stature;
Its branches turned toward him,
But its roots were under it.
So it became a vine,
Brought forth branches,
And put forth shoots.

“But there was [f]another great eagle with large wings and many feathers;
And behold, (AJ)this vine bent its roots toward him,
And stretched its branches toward him,
From the garden terrace where it had been planted,
That he might water it.
It was planted in [g]good soil by many waters,
To bring forth branches, bear fruit,
And become a majestic vine.” ’

“Say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Will it thrive?
(AK)Will he not pull up its roots,
Cut off its fruit,
And leave it to wither?
All of its spring leaves will wither,
And no great power or many people
Will be needed to pluck it up by its roots.
10 Behold, it is planted,
Will it thrive?
(AL)Will it not utterly wither when the east wind touches it?
It will wither in the garden terrace where it grew.” ’ ”

11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 12 “Say now to (AM)the rebellious house: ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Tell them, ‘Indeed (AN)the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and took its king and princes, and led them with him to Babylon. 13 (AO)And he took the king’s offspring, made a covenant with him, (AP)and put him under oath. He also took away the mighty of the land, 14 that the kingdom might be (AQ)brought low and not lift itself up, but that by keeping his covenant it might stand. 15 But (AR)he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt, (AS)that they might give him horses and many people. (AT)Will he prosper? Will he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still be delivered?

16 As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely (AU)in the place where the king dwells who made him king, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke—with him in the midst of Babylon he shall die. 17 (AV)Nor will Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company do anything in the war, (AW)when they heap up a siege mound and build a [h]wall to cut off many persons. 18 Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact (AX)gave[i] his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.’ ”

19 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “As I live, surely My oath which he despised, and My covenant which he broke, I will recompense on his own head. 20 I will (AY)spread My net over him, and he shall be taken in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon and (AZ)try him there for the [j]treason which he committed against Me. 21 (BA)All his [k]fugitives with all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be (BB)scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Israel Exalted at Last(BC)

22 Thus says the Lord God: “I will take also one of the highest (BD)branches of the high cedar and set it out. I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs (BE)a tender one, and will (BF)plant it on a high and prominent mountain. 23 (BG)On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. (BH)Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell. 24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, (BI)have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; (BJ)I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 16:43 So with LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT were agitated with Me
  2. Ezekiel 16:43 Lit. way
  3. Ezekiel 16:45 Or despising
  4. Ezekiel 16:50 Vg. you saw; LXX he saw; Tg. as was revealed to Me
  5. Ezekiel 16:57 Heb. Aram; so with MT, LXX, Tg., Vg.; many Heb. mss., Syr. Edom
  6. Ezekiel 17:7 So with LXX, Syr., Vg.; MT, Tg. one
  7. Ezekiel 17:8 Lit. a good field
  8. Ezekiel 17:17 Or siege wall
  9. Ezekiel 17:18 Took an oath
  10. Ezekiel 17:20 Lit. unfaithful act
  11. Ezekiel 17:21 So with MT, Vg.; many Heb. mss., Syr. choice men; Tg. mighty men; LXX omits All his fugitives

42 Then my wrath against you will subside and my jealous anger will turn away from you; I will be calm and no longer angry.(A)

43 “‘Because you did not remember(B) the days of your youth but enraged me with all these things, I will surely bring down(C) on your head what you have done, declares the Sovereign Lord. Did you not add lewdness to all your other detestable practices?(D)

44 “‘Everyone who quotes proverbs(E) will quote this proverb about you: “Like mother, like daughter.” 45 You are a true daughter of your mother, who despised(F) her husband(G) and her children; and you are a true sister of your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.(H) 46 Your older sister(I) was Samaria, who lived to the north of you with her daughters; and your younger sister, who lived to the south of you with her daughters, was Sodom.(J) 47 You not only followed their ways and copied their detestable practices, but in all your ways you soon became more depraved than they.(K) 48 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign(L) Lord, your sister Sodom(M) and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done.(N)

49 “‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom:(O) She and her daughters were arrogant,(P) overfed and unconcerned;(Q) they did not help the poor and needy.(R) 50 They were haughty(S) and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.(T) 51 Samaria did not commit half the sins you did. You have done more detestable things than they, and have made your sisters seem righteous by all these things you have done.(U) 52 Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished some justification for your sisters. Because your sins were more vile than theirs, they appear more righteous(V) than you. So then, be ashamed and bear(W) your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

53 “‘However, I will restore(X) the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and of Samaria and her daughters, and your fortunes along with them,(Y) 54 so that you may bear your disgrace(Z) and be ashamed of all you have done in giving them comfort. 55 And your sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to what they were before; and you and your daughters will return to what you were before.(AA) 56 You would not even mention your sister Sodom in the day of your pride, 57 before your wickedness was uncovered. Even so, you are now scorned(AB) by the daughters of Edom[a](AC) and all her neighbors and the daughters of the Philistines—all those around you who despise you. 58 You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the Lord.(AD)

59 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you as you deserve, because you have despised my oath by breaking the covenant.(AE) 60 Yet I will remember the covenant(AF) I made with you in the days of your youth,(AG) and I will establish an everlasting covenant(AH) with you. 61 Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed(AI) when you receive your sisters, both those who are older than you and those who are younger. I will give them to you as daughters,(AJ) but not on the basis of my covenant with you. 62 So I will establish my covenant(AK) with you, and you will know that I am the Lord.(AL) 63 Then, when I make atonement(AM) for you for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed(AN) and never again open your mouth(AO) because of your humiliation, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AP)’”

Two Eagles and a Vine

17 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable.(AQ) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: A great eagle(AR) with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon.(AS) Taking hold of the top of a cedar, he broke off(AT) its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.

“‘He took one of the seedlings of the land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water,(AU) and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches(AV) turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.(AW)

“‘But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water.(AX) It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches,(AY) bear fruit and become a splendid vine.’

“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will it thrive? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers? All its new growth will wither. It will not take a strong arm or many people to pull it up by the roots.(AZ) 10 It has been planted,(BA) but will it thrive? Will it not wither completely when the east wind strikes it—wither away in the plot where it grew?(BB)’”

11 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 12 “Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?(BC)’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,(BD) bringing them back with him to Babylon.(BE) 13 Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty(BF) with him, putting him under oath.(BG) He also carried away the leading men(BH) of the land, 14 so that the kingdom would be brought low,(BI) unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. 15 But the king rebelled(BJ) against him by sending his envoys to Egypt(BK) to get horses and a large army.(BL) Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?(BM)

16 “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, he shall die(BN) in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.(BO) 17 Pharaoh(BP) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps(BQ) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.(BR) 18 He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge(BS) and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

19 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.(BT) 20 I will spread my net(BU) for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment(BV) on him there because he was unfaithful(BW) to me. 21 All his choice troops will fall by the sword,(BX) and the survivors(BY) will be scattered to the winds.(BZ) Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken.(CA)

22 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will take a shoot(CB) from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.(CC) 23 On the mountain heights(CD) of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit(CE) and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.(CF) 24 All the trees of the forest(CG) will know that I the Lord bring down(CH) the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.(CI)

“‘I the Lord have spoken, and I will do it.(CJ)’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 16:57 Many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate Aram