The Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 23יחזקאל 23

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר

The word of YHWH came again to me, saying,

בֶּן אָדָ֑ם שְׁתַּ֣יִם נָשִׁ֔ים בְּנ֥וֹת אֵם אַחַ֖ת הָיֽוּ

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

וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן

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.

וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן אָהֳלָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ וְאָהֳלִיבָ֣ה אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לִ֔י וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֑וֹת וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן שֹׁמְר֣וֹן אָהֳלָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אָהֳלִיבָֽה

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

וַתִּ֥זֶן אָהֳלָ֖ה תַּחְתָּ֑י וַתַּעְגַּב֙ עַֽל מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ אֶל אַשּׁ֖וּר קְרוֹבִֽים

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

לְבֻשֵׁ֤י תְכֵ֨לֶת֙ פַּח֣וֹת וּסְגָנִ֔ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּ֑ם פָּרָשִׁ֕ים רֹכְבֵ֖י סוּסִֽים

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

וַתִּתֵּ֤ן תַּזְנוּתֶ֨יהָ֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מִבְחַ֥ר בְּנֵֽי אַשּׁ֖וּר כֻּלָּ֑ם וּבְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר עָֽגְבָ֛ה בְּכָל גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם נִטְמָֽאָה

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

וְאֶת תַּזְנוּתֶ֤יהָ מִמִּצְרַ֨יִם֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔בָה כִּ֤י אוֹתָהּ֙ שָׁכְב֣וּ בִנְעוּרֶ֔יהָ וְהֵ֥מָּה עִשּׂ֖וּ דַּדֵּ֣י בְתוּלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֥וּ תַזְנוּתָ֖ם עָלֶֽיהָ

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

לָכֵ֥ן נְתַתִּ֖יהָ בְּיַד מְאַֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ בְּיַד֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָגְבָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם

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

הֵמָּה֮ גִּלּ֣וּ עֶרְוָתָהּ֒ בָּנֶ֤יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֨יהָ֙ לָקָ֔חוּ וְאוֹתָ֖הּ בַּחֶ֣רֶב הָרָ֑גוּ וַתְּהִי שֵׁם֙ לַנָּשִׁ֔ים וּשְׁפוּטִ֖ים עָ֥שׂוּ בָֽהּ

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.

וַתֵּ֨רֶא֙ אֲחוֹתָ֣הּ אָהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶת תַּ֨זְנוּתֶ֔יהָ מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י אֲחוֹתָֽהּ

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

אֶל בְּנֵי֩ אַשּׁ֨וּר עָגָ֜בָה פַּח֨וֹת וּסְגָנִ֤ים קְרֹבִים֙ לְבֻשֵׁ֣י מִכְל֔וֹל פָּרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֣י סוּסִ֑ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּֽם

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

וָאֵ֖רֶא כִּ֣י נִטְמָ֑אָה דֶּ֥רֶךְ אֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּיהֶֽן

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

וַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י כשדיים כַשְׂדִּ֔ים חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר

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

חֲגוֹרֵ֨י אֵז֜וֹר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֗ם סְרוּחֵ֤י טְבוּלִים֙ בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם מַרְאֵ֥ה שָׁלִשִׁ֖ים כֻּלָּ֑ם דְּמ֤וּת בְּנֵֽי בָבֶל֙ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֶ֖רֶץ מוֹלַדְתָּֽם

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:

ותעגב וַתַּעְגְּבָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַרְאֵ֣ה עֵינֶ֑יהָ וַתִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה

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

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלֶ֤יהָ בְנֵֽי בָבֶל֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב דֹּדִ֔ים וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם וַתִּ֨טְמָא בָ֔ם וַתֵּ֥קַע נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מֵהֶֽם

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.

וַתְּגַל֙ תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ וַתְּגַ֖ל אֶת עֶרְוָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֤קַע נַפְשִׁי֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י מֵעַ֥ל אֲחוֹתָֽהּ

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.

וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָנְתָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם

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.

וַֽתַּעְגְּבָ֔ה עַ֖ל פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּשַׂר חֲמוֹרִים֙ בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְזִרְמַ֥ת סוּסִ֖ים זִרְמָתָֽם

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

וַֽתִּפְקְדִ֔י אֵ֖ת זִמַּ֣ת נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ בַּעְשׂ֤וֹת מִמִּצְרַ֨יִם֙ דַּדַּ֔יִךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁדֵ֥י נְעוּרָֽיִךְ

Thus you calledst to remembrance the lewdness of your youth, in bruising your teats by the Egyptians for the paps of your youth.

לָכֵ֣ן אָהֳלִיבָ֗ה כֹּֽה אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנְנִ֨י מֵעִ֤יר אֶת מְאַהֲבַ֨יִךְ֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶ֑ם וַהֲבֵאתִ֥ים עָלַ֖יִךְ מִסָּבִֽיב

Therefore, O Aholibah, thus says YHWH YHWH; Behold, I will raise up your lovers against you, from whom your mind is alienated, and I will bring them against you on every side;

בְּנֵ֧י בָבֶ֣ל וְכָל כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים פְּק֤וֹד וְשׁ֨וֹעַ֙ וְק֔וֹעַ כָּל בְּנֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר אוֹתָ֑ם בַּח֨וּרֵי חֶ֜מֶד פַּח֤וֹת וּסְגָנִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם שָֽׁלִשִׁים֙ וּקְרוּאִ֔ים רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם

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

וּבָ֣אוּ עָלַ֡יִךְ הֹ֠צֶן רֶ֤כֶב וְגַלְגַּל֙ וּבִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֔ים צִנָּ֤ה וּמָגֵן֙ וְקוֹבַ֔ע יָשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלַ֖יִךְ סָבִ֑יב וְנָתַתִּ֤י לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּשְׁפָט֖וּךְ בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם

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

וְנָתַתִּ֨י קִנְאָתִ֜י בָּ֗ךְ וְעָשׂ֤וּ אוֹתָךְ֙ בְּחֵמָ֔ה אַפֵּ֤ךְ וְאָזְנַ֨יִךְ֙ יָסִ֔ירוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפּ֑וֹל הֵ֗מָּה בָּנַ֤יִךְ וּבְנוֹתַ֨יִךְ֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ תֵּאָכֵ֥ל בָּאֵֽשׁ

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

וְהִפְשִׁיט֖וּךְ אֶת בְּגָדָ֑יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י תִפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ

They shall also strip you out of your clothes, and take away your fair jewels.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י זִמָּתֵךְ֙ מִמֵּ֔ךְ וְאֶת זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא תִשְׂאִ֤י עֵינַ֨יִךְ֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וּמִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֥א תִזְכְּרִי עֽוֹד

Thus will I make your lewdness to cease from you, and your whoredom from the land of Egypt: so that you shall not lift up your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt any more.

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ נֹֽתְנָ֔ךְ בְּיַ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את בְּיַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶֽם

For thus says YHWH YHWH; Behold, I will deliver you into the hand whom you hatest, into the hand from whom your mind is alienated:

וְעָשׂ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ךְ בְּשִׂנְאָ֗ה וְלָקְחוּ֙ כָּל יְגִיעֵ֔ךְ וַעֲזָב֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֣ם וְעֶרְיָ֑ה וְנִגְלָה֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת זְנוּנַ֔יִךְ וְזִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְתַזְנוּתָֽיִךְ

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

עָשֹׂ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ בִּזְנוֹתֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר נִטְמֵ֖את בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶֽם

I will do these to you, because you have gone a whoring after the heathen, because you are polluted with their idols.

בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ אֲחוֹתֵ֖ךְ הָלָ֑כְתְּ וְנָתַתִּ֥י כוֹסָ֖הּ בְּיָדֵֽךְ

You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore will I give her cup into your hand.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֔ה כּ֤וֹס אֲחוֹתֵךְ֙ תִּשְׁתִּ֔י הָעֲמֻקָּ֖ה וְהָרְחָבָ֑ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לִצְחֹ֛ק וּלְלַ֖עַג מִרְבָּ֥ה לְהָכִֽיל

Thus says YHWH YHWH; You shall drink of your sister's cup deep and large: you shall be laughed to scorn and had in derision; it containeth much.

שִׁכָּר֥וֹן וְיָג֖וֹן תִּמָּלֵ֑אִי כּ֚וֹס שַׁמָּ֣ה וּשְׁמָמָ֔ה כּ֖וֹס אֲחוֹתֵ֥ךְ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן

You shall be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of your sister Samaria.

וְשָׁתִ֨ית אוֹתָ֜הּ וּמָצִ֗ית וְאֶת חֲרָשֶׂ֛יהָ תְּגָרֵ֖מִי וְשָׁדַ֣יִךְ תְּנַתֵּ֑קִי כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י דִבַּ֔רְתִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה

You shall even drink it and suck out, and you shall break the sherds thereof, and pluck off your own breasts: for I have spoken , says YHWH YHWH.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה יַ֚עַן שָׁכַ֣חַתְּ אוֹתִ֔י וַתַּשְׁלִ֥יכִי אוֹתִ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוֵּ֑ךְ וְגַם אַ֛תְּ שְׂאִ֥י זִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְאֶת תַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ

Therefore thus says YHWH YHWH; Because you have forgotten me, and cast me behind your back, therefore bear you also your lewdness and your whoredoms.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י בֶּן אָדָ֕ם הֲתִשְׁפּ֥וֹט אֶֽת אָהֳלָ֖ה וְאֶת אָהֳלִיבָ֑ה וְהַגֵּ֣ד לָהֶ֔ן אֵ֖ת תוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽן

YHWH said moreover to me; Son of man, will you judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare to them their abominations;

כִּ֣י נִאֵ֗פוּ וְדָם֙ בִּֽידֵיהֶ֔ן וְאֶת גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֖ן נִאֵ֑פוּ וְגַ֤ם אֶת בְּנֵיהֶן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָֽלְדוּ לִ֔י הֶעֱבִ֥ירוּ לָהֶ֖ם לְאָכְלָֽה

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

ע֥וֹד זֹ֖את עָ֣שׂוּ לִ֑י טִמְּא֤וּ אֶת מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וְאֶת שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י חִלֵּֽלוּ

Moreover this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.

וּֽבְשַׁחֲטָ֤ם אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם֙ לְגִלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶל מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לְחַלְּל֑וֹ וְהִנֵּה כֹ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ בְּת֥וֹךְ בֵּיתִֽי

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.

וְאַ֗ף כִּ֤י תִשְׁלַ֨חְנָה֙ לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים בָּאִ֖ים מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַלְאָ֜ךְ שָׁל֤וּחַ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְהִנֵּה בָ֔אוּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר רָחַ֛צְתְּ כָּחַ֥לְתְּ עֵינַ֖יִךְ וְעָ֥דִית עֶֽדִי

And furthermore, that you have sent for men to come from far, to whom a messenger sent; and, lo, they came: for whom you didst wash thyself, paintedst your eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,

וְיָשַׁבְתְּ֙ עַל מִטָּ֣ה כְבוּדָּ֔ה וְשֻׁלְחָ֥ן עָר֖וּךְ לְפָנֶ֑יהָ וּקְטָרְתִּ֥י וְשַׁמְנִ֖י שַׂ֥מְתְּ עָלֶֽיהָ

And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon you have set mine incense and mine oil.

וְק֣וֹל הָמוֹן֮ שָׁלֵ֣ו בָהּ֒ וְאֶל אֲנָשִׁים֙ מֵרֹ֣ב אָדָ֔ם מוּבָאִ֥ים סובאים סָבָאִ֖ים מִמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּתְּנ֤וּ צְמִידִים֙ אֶל יְדֵיהֶ֔ן וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת עַל רָאשֵׁיהֶֽן

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

וָאֹמַ֕ר לַבָּלָ֖ה נִֽאוּפִ֑ים עת עַתָּ֛ה יזנה יִזְנ֥וּ תַזְנוּתֶ֖הָ וָהִֽיא

Then said I to old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she ?

וַיָּב֣וֹא אֵלֶ֔יהָ כְּב֖וֹא אֶל אִשָּׁ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה כֵּ֣ן בָּ֗אוּ אֶֽל אָֽהֳלָה֙ וְאֶל אָ֣הֳלִיבָ֔ה אִשֹּׁ֖ת הַזִּמָּֽה

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

וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים צַדִּיקִ֗ם הֵ֚מָּה יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ אֽוֹתְהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּט֙ נֹֽאֲפ֔וֹת וּמִשְׁפַּ֖ט שֹׁפְכ֣וֹת דָּ֑ם כִּ֤י נֹֽאֲפֹת֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְדָ֖ם בִּֽידֵיהֶֽן

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

כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הַעֲלֵ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קָהָ֔ל וְנָתֹ֥ן אֶתְהֶ֖ן לְזַעֲוָ֥ה וְלָבַֽז

For thus says YHWH YHWH; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.

וְרָגְמ֨וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ן אֶ֨בֶן֙ קָהָ֔ל וּבָרֵ֥א אוֹתְהֶ֖ן בְּחַרְבוֹתָ֑ם בְּנֵיהֶ֤ם וּבְנֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ יַהֲרֹ֔גוּ וּבָתֵּיהֶ֖ן בָּאֵ֥שׁ יִשְׂרֹֽפוּ

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.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה מִן הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנִֽוַּסְּרוּ֙ כָּל הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה כְּזִמַּתְכֶֽנָה

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

וְנָתְנ֤וּ זִמַּתְכֶ֨נָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ן וַחֲטָאֵ֥י גִלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ן תִּשֶּׂ֑אינָה וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֥י אֲנִ֖י אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה

And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the sins of your idols: and you shall know that I YHWH YHWH.