Ezekiel 22:17-31

New International Version

¹⁷ Then the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸ “Son of man, the people of Israel have become dross^(A) to me; all of them are the copper, tin, iron and lead left inside a furnace.^(B) They are but the dross of silver.^{(C) 19} Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you have all become dross,^(D) I will gather you into Jerusalem. ²⁰ As silver, copper, iron, lead and tin are gathered into a furnace to be melted with a fiery blast, so will I gather you in my anger and my wrath and put you inside the city and melt you.^{(E) 21} I will gather you and I will blow^(F) on you with my fiery wrath, and you will be melted inside her.^{(G) 22} As silver is melted^(H) in a furnace, so you will be melted inside her, and you will know that I the Lord have poured out my wrath^(I) on you.’”^(J)

²³ Again the word of the Lord came to me: ²⁴ “Son of man, say to the land, ‘You are a land that has not been cleansed or rained on in the day of wrath.’^{(K) 25} There is a conspiracy^(L) of her princes^[a] within her like a roaring lion^(M) tearing its prey; they devour people,^(N) take treasures and precious things and make many widows^(O) within her. ²⁶ Her priests do violence to my law^(P) and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common;^(Q) they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean;^(R) and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned^(S) among them.^{(T) 27} Her officials^(U) within her are like wolves^(V) tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people^(W) to make unjust gain.^{(X) 28} Her prophets whitewash^(Y) these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations.^(Z) They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says’—when the Lord has not spoken.^{(AA) 29} The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery;^(AB) they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the foreigner,^(AC) denying them justice.^(AD)

³⁰ “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall^(AE) and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.^{(AF) 31} So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger,^(AG) bringing down^(AH) on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AI)”