أختان زانيتان

23 وَأَوْحَى إِلَيَّ الرَّبُّ بِكَلِمَتِهِ قَائِلاً: «يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، كَانَتْ هُنَاكَ امْرَأَتَانِ، ابْنَتَا أُمٍّ وَاحِدَةٍ، زَنَتَا فِي صِبَاهُمَا فِي مِصْرَ حَيْثُ دُوعِبَتْ ثُدِيُّهُمَا، وَعُبِثَ بِتَرَائِبِ عِذْرَتِهِمَا. اسْمُ الْكُبْرَى أُهُولَةُ وَاسْمُ أُخْتِهَا أُهُولِيبَةُ، وَكَانَتَا لِي وَأَنَجْبَتَا أَبْنَاءَ وَبَنَاتٍ، أَمَّا السَّامِرَةُ فَهِيَ أُهُولَةُ، وَأُورُشَلِيمُ هِيَ أُهُولِيبَةُ. وَزَنَتْ أُهُولَةُ مَعَ أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ لِي، وَعَشِقَتْ مُحِبِّيهَا الأَشُّورِيِّينَ الأَبْطَالَ. الْلّابِسِينَ الأَرْدِيَةَ الأُرْجُوَانِيَّةَ مِنْ وُلاةٍ وَقَادَةٍ. وَكُلُّهُمْ شُبَّانُ شَهْوَةٍ، وَفُرْسَانُ خَيْلٍ. فَأَغْدَقَتْ عَلَى نُخْبَةِ أَبْنَاءِ أَشُورَ زِنَاهَا، وَتَنَجَّسَتْ بِكُلِّ مَنْ عَشِقَتْهُمْ وَبِكُلِّ أَصْنَامِهِمْ. وَلَمْ تَتَخَلَّ عَنْ زِنَاهَا مُنْذُ أَيَّامِ مِصْرَ لأَنَّهُمْ ضَاجَعُوهَا مُنْذُ حَدَاثَتِهَا، وَعَبَثُوا بِتَرَائِبِ عِذْرَتِهَا وَسَكَبُوا عَلَيْهَا شَهْوَاتِهِمْ، لِذَلِكَ سَلَّمْتُهَا لِيَدِ عُشَّاقِهَا أَبْنَاءِ أَشُورَ الَّذِينَ أُوْلِعَتْ بِهِمْ. 10 فَفَضَحُوا عَوْرَتَهَا، وَأَسَرُوا أَبْنَاءَهَا وَبَنَاتِهَا، وَذَبَحُوهَا بِالسَّيْفِ، فَصَارَتْ عِبْرَةً لِلنِّسَاءِ وَنَفَّذُوا فِيهَا قَضَاءً.

11 وَمَعَ أَنَّ أُخْتَهَا أُهُولِيبَةَ شَهِدَتْ هَذَا، فَإِنَّهَا أَوْغَلَتْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهَا فِي عِشْقِهَا وَزِنَاهَا، 12 إِذْ عَشِقَتْ أَبْنَاءَ أَشُّورَ مِنْ وُلاةٍ وَقَادَةٍ، الْمُرْتَدِينَ أَفْخَرَ الثِّيَابِ، فُرْسَانَ خَيْلٍ وَجَمِيعُهُمْ شُبَّانُ شَهْوَةٍ. 13 فَرَأَيْتُ أَنَّهَا قَدْ تَنَجَّسَتْ، وَسَلَكَتَا كِلْتَاهُمَا فِي ذَاتِ الطَّرِيقِ. 14 غَيْرَ أَنَّ أُهُولِيبَةَ تَفَوَّقَتْ فِي زِنَاهَا، إِذْ حِينَ نَظَرَتْ إِلَى صُوَرِ رِجَالِ الْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ الْمَرْسُومَةِ عَلَى الْحَائِطِ بِالْمُغْرَةِ، 15 مُتَحَزِّمِينَ بِمَنَاطِقَ عَلَى خُصُورِهِمْ، وَعَمَائِمُهُمْ مَسْدُولَةٌ عَلَى رُؤُوسِهِمْ، وَكُلُّهُمْ بَدَوْا كَرُؤَسَاءِ مَرْكَبَاتٍ مُمَاثِلِينَ تَمَاماً لأَبْنَاءِ الْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ فِي بَابِلَ أَرْضِ مِيلادِهِمْ، 16 عَشِقَتْهُمْ وَبَعَثَتْ إِلَيْهِمْ رُسُلاً إِلَى أَرْضِ الْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ. 17 فَأَقْبَلَ إِلَيْهَا أَبْنَاءُ بَابِلَ وَعَاشَرُوهَا فِي مَضْجَعِ الْحُبِّ وَنَجَّسُوهَا بِزِنَاهُمْ. وَبَعْدَ أَنْ تَنَجَّسَتْ بِهِمْ كَرِهَتْهُمْ. 18 وَإِذْ وَاظَبَتْ عَلَى زِنَاهَا عَلانِيَةً، وَتَبَاهَتْ بِعَرْضِ عُرْيِهَا، كَرِهْتُهَا كَمَا كَرِهْتُ أُخْتَهَا. 19 وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ أَكْثَرَتْ مِنْ فُحْشِهَا، ذَاكِرَةً أَيَّامَ حَدَاثَتِهَا حَيْثُ زَنَتْ فِي دِيَارِ مِصْرَ. 20 فَأُوْلِعَتْ بِعُشَّاقِهَا هُنَاكَ، الَّذِينَ عَوْرَتُهُمْ كَعَوْرَةِ الْحَمِيرِ وَمَنِيُّهُمْ كَمَنِيِّ الْخَيْلِ. 21 وَتُقْتِ إِلَى فُجُورِ حَدَاثَتِكِ حِينَ كَانَ الْمِصْرِيُّونَ يُدَاعِبُونَ تَرَائِبَ عِذْرَتِكِ طَمَعاً فِي نَهْدِ حَدَاثَتِكِ.

22 لِذَلِكَ يَا أُهُولِيبَةُ، هَذَا مَا يُعْلِنُهُ السَّيِّدُ الرَّبُّ: هَا أَنَا أُثِيرُ عَلَيْكِ عُشَّاقَكِ الَّذِينَ جَفَتْهُمْ نَفْسُكِ، وَآتِي بِهِمْ عَلَيْكِ مِنْ كُلِّ نَاحِيَةٍ. 23 أَبْنَاءَ الْبَابِلِيِّينَ، وَسَائِرَ الْكَلْدَانِيِّينَ مِنْ أَقْوَامِ فَقُودَ وَشُوعَ وَقُوعَ وَمَعَهُمْ جَمِيعُ أَبْنَاءِ أَشُورَ، شُبَّانُ شَهْوَةٍ، مِنْ وُلاةٍ وَقَادَةٍ وَرُؤَسَاءِ مَرْكَبَاتٍ وَذَوِي الشُّهْرَةِ، وَكُلُّهُمْ فُرْسَانُ خَيْلٍ. 24 فَيُهَاجِمُونَكِ بِأَسْلِحَةٍ وَمَرْكَبَاتٍ وَعَرَبَاتٍ وَأَقْوَامِ شُعُوبٍ وَيُحَاصِرُونَكِ بِتُرْسٍ وَمِجَنٍّ وَخُوذَةٍ. وَأَعْهَدُ إِلَيْهِمْ بِمُقَاضَاتِكِ فَيَحْكُمُونَ عَلَيْكِ بِمُقْتَضَى أَحْكَامِهِمْ. 25 وَأَصُبُّ سَخَطِي عَلَيْكِ فَيُعَامِلُونَكِ بِغَيْظٍ. يَجْدَعُونَ أَنْفَكِ وَأُذُنَيْكِ، وَتُقْتَلُ بَقِيَّتُكِ بِالسَّيْفِ. يَأْسِرُونَ أَبْنَاءَكِ وَبَنَاتِكِ، وَتَلْتَهِمُ النَّارُ بَقِيَّتَكِ، 26 وَيُجَرِّدُونَكِ مِنْ ثِيَابِكِ وَيَسْتَوْلُونَ عَلَى حُلِيِّكِ. 27 وَهَكَذَا أَضَعُ حَدّاً لِعَهْرِكِ وَزِنَاكِ اللَّذَيْنِ شَرَعْتِ فِيهِمَا فِي أَرْضِ مِصْرَ، فَلا تَعُودِينَ تَتَعَلَّقِينَ بِهِمْ، أَوْ تَذْكُرِينَ مِصْرَ بَعْدُ. 28 هَا أَنَا أُسَلِّمُكِ إِلَى يَدِ الَّذِينَ كَرِهْتِهِمْ وَإِلَى أَيْدِي الَّذِينَ جَفَتْهُمْ نَفْسُكِ. 29 فَيُعَامِلُونَكِ بِبُغْضٍ وَيَسْتَوْلُونَ عَلَى كُلِّ ثِمَارِ تَعَبِكِ، وَيَتْرُكُونَكِ مُتَجَرِّدَةً عَارِيَةً، فَتَنْفَضِحُ عَوْرَةُ زِنَاكِ وَعَهَرِكِ. 30 وَأُوْقِعُ بِكِ هَذِهِ الأُمُورَ لأَنَّكِ ضَلَلْتِ وَرَاءَ الأُمَمِ، وَتَنَجَّسْتِ بِعِبَادَةِ أَصْنَامِهِمْ، 31 وَسَلَكْتِ فِي أَثَرِ أُخْتِكِ، لِهَذَا أُجَرِّعُكِ كَأْسَهَا 32 وَهَذَا مَا يُعْلِنُهُ السَّيِّدُ الرَّبُّ: سَتَشْرَبِينَ كَأْسَ عِقَابِ أُخْتِكِ الْعَمِيقَةَ، وَتَكُونِينَ مَثَارَ ضَحِكٍ وَاسْتِهْزَاءٍ. لأَنَّ الْكَأْسَ تَسَعُ كَثِيراً. 33 تَمْتَلِئِينَ سُكْراً وَحُزْناً، فَكَأْسُ أُخْتِكِ السَّامِرَةِ، كَأْسُ الرُّعْبِ وَالْخَرَابِ، 34 تَشْرَبِينَهَا وَتَمْتَصِّينَهَا، ثُمَّ تَقْضِمِينَ قِطَعَهَا، وَتَجْتَثِّينَ نَهْدَيْكِ لأَنِّي تَكَلَّمْتُ، يَقُولُ السَّيِّدُ الرَّبُّ. 35 لأَنَّكِ نَسِيتِنِي وَنَبَذْتِنِي وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِكِ، تَحَمَّلِي عَوَاقِبَ عَهَرِكِ وَزِنَاكِ».

36 وَقَالَ الرَّبُّ لِي: «يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ، أَتَدِينُ أَهُولَةَ وَأَهُولِيبَةَ؟ إِذَنْ أَطْلِعْهُمَا عَلَى مَا ارْتَكَبَتَاهُ مِنْ رِجْسٍ، 37 لأَنَّهُمَا قَدْ زَنَتَا وَسَفَكَتَا دِمَاءً، فَقَدْ زَنَتَا بِعِبَادَةِ أَصْنَامِهِمَا وَأَجَازَتَا أَبْنَاءَهُمَا الَّذِينَ أَنْجَبَتَاهُمْ فِي النَّارِ، لِيَكُونُوا وَقُوداً لَهَا. 38 وَأَثِمَتَا فِي حَقِّي إِذْ أَنَّهُمَا فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ نَجَّسَتَا مُقَدَّسَاتِي وَدَنَّسَتَا أَيَّامَ سُبُوتِي. 39 وَبَعْدَ أَنْ ذَبَحَتَا أَبْنَاءَهُمَا قَرَابِينَ لأَصْنَامِهِمَا قَدِمَتَا فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ إِلَى مَقْدِسِي لِتُنَجِّسَاهُ. فَانْظُرْ! هَذَا مَا ارْتَكَبَتَاهُ فِي هَيْكَلِي. 40 بَلِ اسْتَدْعَيْتُمَا رِجَالاً قَادِمِينَ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ، بَعْدَ أَنْ أَرْسَلْتُمَا إِلَيْهِمْ رَسُولاً، وَهَا هُمْ قَدْ أَقْبَلُوا، وَمِنْ أَجْلِهِمْ اسْتَحْمَمْتِ وَكَحَّلْتِ عَيْنَيْكِ وَتَزَيَّنْتِ بِالْحُلِيِّ. 41 وَتَرَبَّعْتِ عَلَى سَرِيرٍ فَاخِرٍ، بُسِطَتْ أَمَامَهُ مَائِدَةٌ مُنَضَّضَةٌ وَضَعْتِ عَلَيْهَا بَخُورِي وَزَيْتِي. 42 وَأَحَاطَتْ بِها جَلَبَةُ قَوْمٍ لاهِينَ، وَاسْتُجْلِبَ مِنَ الْبَرِّيَّةِ سُكَارَى مَعَ أُنَاسٍ مِنْ رَعَاعِ الْخَلْقِ، زَيَّنُوا أَيْدِي الْمُذْنِبَتَيْنِ بِأَسْوِرَةٍ، وَوَضَعُوا عَلَى رَأْسَيْهِمَا تَاجَ جَمَالٍ. 43 فَقُلْتُ عَنِ الْعَرِيقَةِ فِي الزِّنَى: الآنَ يَزْنُونَ مَعَهَا وَهِي مَعَهُمْ، 44 لأَنَّهُمْ تَهَافَتُوا عَلَيْهَا كَمَا يُتَهَافَتُ عَلَى امْرَأَةٍ زَانِيَةٍ. هَكَذَا تَهَافَتُوا عَلَى أَهُولَةَ وَأَهُولِيبَةَ الْمَرْأَتَيْنِ الْعَاهِرَتَيْنِ. 45 وَلَكِنْ سَيَدِينُهُمَا الرِّجَالُ الصِّدِّيقُونَ، فَيُصْدِرُونَ عَلَيْهِمَا حُكْمَ الزَّانِيَةِ وَحُكْمَ سَافِكَةِ الدَّمِ، لأَنَّهُمَا عَاهِرَتَانِ تَلَطَّخَتْ أَيْدِيهِمَا بِالدَّمِ. 46 لأَنَّ هَذَا مَا يُعْلِنُهُ السَّيِّدُ الرَّبُّ: هَا أَنَا أَجْلِبُ عَليْهِمَا قَوْماً مِنَ الأَعْدَاءِ، وَأُوْقِعُ بِهِمَا الرُّعْبَ وَالنَّهْبَ، 47 فَيَرْجُمُهُمَا الْقَوْمُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ، وَيُمَزِّقُونَهُمَا بِالسُّيُوفِ وَيَذْبَحُونَ أَبْنَاءَهُمَا وَبَنَاتِهِمَا، وَيُحْرِقُونَ بُيُوتَهُمَا بِالنَّارِ. 48 فَأَضَعُ حَدّاً لِلرَّذِيلَةِ فِي الأَرْضِ، فَتَعْتَبِرُ جَميِعُ النِّسَاءِ وَلا يَرْتَكِبْنَ الْفَحْشَاءَ كَمَا فَعَلْتُمَا. 49 وَتَلْقَيَانِ جَزَاءَ زِنَاكُمَا وَتَحْمِلانِ خَطَايَا عِبَادَةِ أَصْنَامِكُمَا، وَتُدْرِكَانِ أَنِّي أَنَا السَّيِّدُ الرَّبُّ».

23 La parola dell'Eterno mi fu rivolta, dicendo:

«Figlio d'uomo, c'erano due donne figlie della stessa madre,

che si prostituirono in Egitto. Si prostituirono nella loro giovinezza; là furono compresse le loro mammelle e là fu stretto il loro vergine seno.

I loro nomi sono: Oholah la maggiore e Oholibah sua sorella. Esse erano mie e partorirono figli e figlie. I loro nomi sono: Oholah è Samaria, Oholibah è Gerusalemme.

Anche se era mia, Oholah si prostituí e si infiammò per i suoi amanti, gli Assiri suoi vicini,

vestiti di porpora, governatori e principi, tutti giovani attraenti, cavalieri montati su cavalli.

Ella si prostituí con loro, con tutti i migliori uomini di Assiria, e si contaminò con tutti quelli per i quali si era infiammata, con tutti i loro idoli.

Non abbandonò le prostituzioni dell'Egitto, quando si erano coricati con lei nella sua giovinezza, avevano stretto il suo vergine seno e riversato su di lei la loro prostituzione.

Perciò l'abbandonai in mano dei suoi amanti, in mano dei figli di Assiria, per i quali si era infiammata.

10 Essi scoprirono la sua nudità, presero i suoi figli e le sue figlie e li uccisero con la spada. Ella divenne una favola fra le donne ed eseguirono su di lei la punizione.

11 Sua sorella Oholibah vide questo, ma nei suoi amoreggiamenti divenne piú corrotta di lei e le sue prostituzioni furono peggiori di quelle della sua sorella.

12 Si infiammò per i figli di Assiria suoi vicini, governatori e principi vestiti splendidamente, cavalieri montati su cavalli, tutti giovani attraenti.

13 Io vidi che si era contaminata, entrambe seguivano la stessa via.

14 Ma essa aumentò le sue prostituzioni; vide uomini ritratti sulla parete, immagini di Caldei dipinte in rosso,

15 con cinture intorno ai lombi, con ampi turbanti in capo, tutti con l'aspetto di capitani, somiglianti ai figli di Babilonia in Caldea, loro terra natìa.

16 Appena li vide, essa si infiammò per loro e mandò loro messaggeri in Caldea.

17 Allora i figli di Babilonia vennero da lei al letto degli amori e la contaminarono con le loro prostituzioni. Essa si contaminò con loro, ma poi si allontanò da loro.

18 Essa mise a nudo le sue prostituzioni e mise a nudo la sua vergogna, perciò io mi allontanai da lei, come mi ero allontanato da sua sorella.

19 Tuttavia essa moltiplicò le sue prostituzioni, ricordandosi dei giorni della sua giovinezza, quando si era prostituita nel paese di Egitto.

20 Si infiammò per i suoi amanti, la cui carne è come la carne degli asini e la cui emissione è come quella dei cavalli.

21 Cosí tu ricordasti la dissolutezza della tua gioventú, quando gli Egiziani stringevano il tuo seno per le tue mammelle giovanili.

22 Perciò, Oholibah, cosí dice il Signore, l'Eterno: Ecco, io susciterò contro di te i tuoi amanti, dai quali ti sei allontanata, e li farò venire contro di te da tutte le parti:

23 i figli di Babilonia e tutti i Caldei, quelli di Pekod, Shoa e Koa, tutti i figli di Assiria con loro, tutti giovani attraenti, governatori e principi, capitani e uomini famosi, tutti montati su cavalli.

24 Essi verranno contro di te con armi, carri e ruote e con una moltitudine di popoli; disporranno tutt'intorno contro di te scudi piccoli e grandi ed elmi. Rimetterò loro il giudizio, ed essi ti giudicheranno secondo le loro leggi.

25 Indirizzerò la mia gelosia contro di te, ed essi ti tratteranno con furore: ti asporteranno il naso e gli orecchi, e i tuoi superstiti cadranno di spada, prenderanno i tuoi figli e le tue figlie e i tuoi superstiti saranno divorati dal fuoco.

26 Ti spoglieranno delle tue vesti e porteranno via i tuoi bei gioielli.

27 Cosí farò cessare la tua dissolutezza e la tua prostituzione iniziata nel paese d'Egitto; non alzerai piú gli occhi verso di loro e non ti ricorderai piú dell'Egitto».

28 Poiché cosí dice il Signore, l'Eterno: «Ecco, io ti do in mano di quelli che odii, in mano di quelli dai quali ti sei allontanata.

29 Essi ti tratteranno con odio, porteranno via tutto il frutto del tuo lavoro e ti lasceranno nuda e nel bisogno. Sarà messa a nudo la torpitudine delle tue prostituzioni, sí, la dissolutezza delle tue prostituzioni.

30 Queste cose ti saranno fatte, perché ti sei prostituita andando dietro alle nazioni perché ti sei contaminata con i loro idoli.

31 Tu hai camminato per la via di tua sorella, perciò ti metterò in mano la sua stessa coppa».

32 Cosí dice il Signore l'Eterno: «Tu berrai la coppa di tua sorella, profonda e larga; sarai derisa e schernita, perché la coppa ha grande capacità.

33 Sarai ricolma di ubriachezza e di dolore, la coppa della desolazione e della devastazione la coppa di tua sorella Samaria.

34 Tu la berrai, la scolerai, ne romperai i cocci e ti lacererai il seno, perché io ho parlato». dice il Signore, l'Eterno.

35 Perciò cosí dice il Signore, l'Eterno: «Poiché mi hai dimenticato e mi hai gettato dietro le spalle, porterai anche tu la pena della tua dissolutezza e delle tue prostituzioni».

36 Quindi l'Eterno mi disse: «Figlio d'uomo non giudicherai tu Oholah, e Oholibah? Dichiara dunque loro le loro abominazioni.

37 Infatti hanno commesso adulterio, hanno sangue sulle loro mani, hanno commesso adulterio con i loro idoli e hanno addirittura fatto passare per il fuoco per essere divorati gli stessi loro figli che mi avevano partorito.

38 E anche questo mi hanno fatto: in quello stesso giorno hanno contaminato il mio santuario e profanato i miei sabati,

39 Dopo aver immolato i loro figli ai loro idoli, in quello stesso giorno sono venute nel mio santuario per profanarlo ecco cosa hanno fatto in mezzo al mio tempio.

40 Inoltre hanno mandato a chiamare uomini da paesi lontani, ai quali è stato mandato un messaggero, ed ecco, quelli sono venuti. Per loro ti sei lavata, ti sei tinta gli occhi e ti sei abbigliata con splendidi ornamenti.

41 Ti sei adagiata su un letto sontuoso con una tavola imbandita davanti, su cui hai posto il mio incenso, e il mio olio.

42 Attorno ad essa c'era il rumore di una moltitudine spensierata; assieme a uomini della folla fecero pure venire ubriachi dal deserto che misero braccialetti ai loro polsi e splendide corone sui loro capi.

43 Poi dissi di quella ormai logorata ne gli adulteri: Commetteranno ora prostituzione con lei, ed essa con loro?

44 Essi entrarono quindi da lei come si entra da una prostituta, cosí entrarono da Oholah e da Oholibah, donne dissolute.

45 Ma uomini giusti le giudicheranno come si giudicano le adultere, come si giudicano donne che versano sangue, perché sono adultere e hanno sangue sulle mani».

46 Perciò cosí dice il Signore, l'Eterno: «Fa' salire contro di loro una moltitudine e dalle in balìa del terrore e del saccheggio.

47 Quella moltitudine le lapiderà con pietre e le farà a pezzi con le sue spade; ucciderà i loro figli e le loro figlie e darà alle fiamme le loro case.

48 Farò cessare la dissolutezza nel paese, e tutte le donne saranno ammaestrate a non commettere piú le vostre dissolutezze.

49 Faranno ricadere la vostra dissolutezza su di voi, e porterete cosí la pena dei peccati con i vostri idoli. Allora riconoscerete che io sono il Signore, l'Eterno».

Two Adulterous Sisters

23 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.(A) They became prostitutes in Egypt,(B) engaging in prostitution(C) from their youth.(D) In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed.(E) The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.(F)

“Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians(G)—warriors(H) clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen. She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.(I) She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt,(J) when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her.(K)

“Therefore I delivered her into the hands(L) of her lovers,(M) the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.(N) 10 They stripped(O) her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women,(P) and punishment was inflicted(Q) on her.(R)

11 “Her sister Oholibah saw this,(S) yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.(T) 12 She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men.(U) 13 I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way.(V)

14 “But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall,(W) figures of Chaldeans[a] portrayed in red,(X) 15 with belts(Y) around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea.[b] 16 As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers(Z) to them in Chaldea.(AA) 17 Then the Babylonians(AB) came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.(AC) 18 When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her naked body,(AD) I turned away(AE) from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.(AF) 19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. 21 So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.[c](AG)

22 “Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will stir up your lovers(AH) against you, those you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side(AI) 23 the Babylonians(AJ) and all the Chaldeans,(AK) the men of Pekod(AL) and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, all of them governors and commanders, chariot officers and men of high rank, all mounted on horses.(AM) 24 They will come against you with weapons,[d] chariots and wagons(AN) and with a throng of people; they will take up positions against you on every side with large and small shields and with helmets. I will turn you over to them for punishment,(AO) and they will punish you according to their standards. 25 I will direct my jealous anger(AP) against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears, and those of you who are left will fall by the sword. They will take away your sons and daughters,(AQ) and those of you who are left will be consumed by fire.(AR) 26 They will also strip(AS) you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry.(AT) 27 So I will put a stop(AU) to the lewdness and prostitution you began in Egypt. You will not look on these things with longing or remember Egypt anymore.

28 “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to deliver you into the hands(AV) of those you hate, to those you turned away from in disgust. 29 They will deal with you in hatred and take away everything you have worked for. They will leave you stark naked,(AW) and the shame of your prostitution will be exposed.(AX) Your lewdness(AY) and promiscuity(AZ) 30 have brought this on you, because you lusted after the nations and defiled yourself with their idols.(BA) 31 You have gone the way of your sister; so I will put her cup(BB) into your hand.(BC)

32 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“You will drink your sister’s cup,
    a cup large and deep;
it will bring scorn and derision,(BD)
    for it holds so much.(BE)
33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,
    the cup of ruin and desolation,
    the cup of your sister Samaria.(BF)
34 You will drink it(BG) and drain it dry
    and chew on its pieces—
    and you will tear your breasts.

I have spoken, declares the Sovereign Lord.(BH)

35 “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Since you have forgotten(BI) me and turned your back on me,(BJ) you must bear(BK) the consequences of your lewdness and prostitution.”

36 The Lord said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then confront(BL) them with their detestable practices,(BM) 37 for they have committed adultery and blood is on their hands. They committed adultery with their idols; they even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to me, as food for them.(BN) 38 They have also done this to me: At that same time they defiled my sanctuary(BO) and desecrated my Sabbaths.(BP) 39 On the very day they sacrificed their children to their idols, they entered my sanctuary and desecrated(BQ) it. That is what they did in my house.(BR)

40 “They even sent messengers for men who came from far away,(BS) and when they arrived you bathed yourself for them, applied eye makeup(BT) and put on your jewelry.(BU) 41 You sat on an elegant couch,(BV) with a table(BW) spread before it on which you had placed the incense(BX) and olive oil that belonged to me.(BY)

42 “The noise of a carefree(BZ) crowd was around her; drunkards(CA) were brought from the desert along with men from the rabble, and they put bracelets(CB) on the wrists of the woman and her sister and beautiful crowns on their heads.(CC) 43 Then I said about the one worn out by adultery, ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute,(CD) for that is all she is.’ 44 And they slept with her. As men sleep with a prostitute, so they slept with those lewd women, Oholah and Oholibah. 45 But righteous judges will sentence them to the punishment of women who commit adultery and shed blood,(CE) because they are adulterous and blood is on their hands.(CF)

46 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Bring a mob(CG) against them and give them over to terror and plunder.(CH) 47 The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords; they will kill their sons and daughters(CI) and burn(CJ) down their houses.(CK)

48 “So I will put an end(CL) to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not imitate you.(CM) 49 You will suffer the penalty for your lewdness and bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry.(CN) Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.(CO)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 23:14 Or Babylonians
  2. Ezekiel 23:15 Or Babylonia; also in verse 16
  3. Ezekiel 23:21 Syriac (see also verse 3); Hebrew caressed because of your young breasts
  4. Ezekiel 23:24 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

23 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,

Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:

And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.

And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.

And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,

Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.

Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.

Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.

Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.

10 These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became famous among women; for they had executed judgment upon her.

11 And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.

12 She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all of them desirable young men.

13 Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,

14 And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion,

15 Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity:

16 And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.

17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.

18 So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.

19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.

20 For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.

21 Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

22 Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;

23 The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses.

24 And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.

25 And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy remnant shall fall by the sword: they shall take thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire.

26 They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.

27 Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.

28 For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated:

29 And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

30 I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.

31 Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.

32 Thus saith the Lord God; Thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.

33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria.

34 Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.

35 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.

36 The Lord said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;

37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.

38 Moreover this they have done unto 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, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

40 And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,

41 And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.

42 And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.

43 Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?

44 Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.

45 And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.

46 For thus saith the Lord God; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.

47 And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.

48 Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.

49 And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.