Ezekiel 22

1 This message came to me from the LORD:ISV — Ezekiel 22:1

2 “Now, Son of Man, will you truly judge that blood-stained city? Then make her aware of all of her detestable practices.ISV — Ezekiel 22:2

3 “You are to say, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “The city keeps on shedding blood within her, hastening her time to be judged. She crafts idols that defile her.ISV — Ezekiel 22:3

4 “‘“You’re guilty because of the blood that you’ve shed. You were defiled by the idols that you’ve made. You’ve caused your judgment day to draw near and have even come to the end of ^{a22:4 The Heb. lacks the end of} your life. Therefore, I’ve made you an object of derision among the nations and to other ^{b22:4 The Heb. lacks other} lands.ISV — Ezekiel 22:4

5 Those who are both near and far away from you will scoff at you, because your reputation will be infamous and full of turmoil.ISV — Ezekiel 22:5

6 “‘“Watch out! Each of the princes of Israel has misused his authority to shed blood.ISV — Ezekiel 22:6

7 They’ve treated mothers and fathers among you with contempt. They’ve oppressed the foreigner among you. They’ve maltreated the orphan and the widow among you.ISV — Ezekiel 22:7

8 “‘“You have despised my sacred things and profaned my Sabbaths.ISV — Ezekiel 22:8

9 Slanderous men live among you, intent on shedding blood. They’ve eaten at the top of mountain shrines. They’ve crafted plans to do evil things among you.ISV — Ezekiel 22:9

10 They’ve revealed the nakedness of their father in your midst. They’ve humiliated those among you who were unclean due to their impurity.ISV — Ezekiel 22:10

11 One of you commits detestable practices with his neighbor’s wife. Another sexually defiles his daughter-in-law. Another humiliates his sister, his own father’s daughter.ISV — Ezekiel 22:11

12 They take bribes among you to shed blood. You’ve taken usury and exacted interest. You’ve gained control over your neighbor through extortion. And you’ve forgotten me,” declares the Lord GOD.ISV — Ezekiel 22:12

13 “Watch out! I’m vehemently angry about ^{c22:13 Lit. I’m going to strike my hands} the unjust gains that you’ve earned, and about the blood that has been shed among you.ISV — Ezekiel 22:13

14 Can your heart stand up to this? Can your hands remain strong when I deal with you? I, the LORD, have spoken and will fulfill this.ISV — Ezekiel 22:14

15 I’m going to disperse you among the nations and scatter you to other lands. I’m going to put an end to your uncleanness.ISV — Ezekiel 22:15

16 When you’ve been defiled in the sight of the nations, then you’ll know that I am the LORD.”’”ISV — Ezekiel 22:16

17 This message came to me from the LORD:ISV — Ezekiel 22:17

18 “Son of Man, Israel has become like dross to me. All of them are like remnants of bronze, tin, iron, and lead in a furnace—the dross left over from smelting silver.ISV — Ezekiel 22:18

19 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says, ‘Because all of you have become dross, watch out! I’m going to gather all of you at the center of Jerusalem,ISV — Ezekiel 22:19

20 just like a smelter gathers all the silver, bronze, lead, and tin to the center of a furnace and injects fire in order to melt it, I’m going to gather you in my anger and rage, make you settle down—and then I’m going to melt you down.ISV — Ezekiel 22:20

21 Indeed, I’m going to gather you together and exhale the fire of my fury, and then you’ll be melted from the inside outISV — Ezekiel 22:21

22 like melting silver at the center of a furnace. When you’ve been melted from the center out, then you’ll know that I am the LORD. I’ll pour out my anger on you.’”ISV — Ezekiel 22:22

23 This message came to me from the LORD:ISV — Ezekiel 22:23

24 “Son of Man, tell her, ^{d22:24 i.e. Israel personified as a woman} ‘You’re a land that hasn’t been purified, one that hasn’t been rained on in the day of indignation.ISV — Ezekiel 22:24

25 There’s a conspiracy of prophets within her, and like a roaring lion tearing its prey, they’ve devoured people, and confiscated treasures, and taken precious things. They’ve added to the population of widows within her.ISV — Ezekiel 22:25

26 Her priests have violated my Law and profaned my sacred things. They didn’t differentiate between what’s sacred and what’s common. They didn’t instruct others to discern clean from unclean things. They refused to keep ^{e22:26 Lit. refused their eyes from} my Sabbaths. “‘I’m constantly being profaned among them.ISV — Ezekiel 22:26

27 Her princes within her are like wolves tearing their prey apart. They shed blood, destroying souls, and make unjust gain.ISV — Ezekiel 22:27

28 “‘Her prophets whitewashed all of these things through false visions and lying divinations. They kept on saying, “This is what the Lord GOD says…”, when the LORD has not spoken.ISV — Ezekiel 22:28

29 The people of the land were vigorously oppressive and took possession of plunder by violence. They’ve afflicted the poor and the needy and unjustly treated the foreigner.ISV — Ezekiel 22:29

30 I sought for a man among them to build the wall and stand in the breach in my presence on behalf of the land so that it won’t be destroyed, but I found no one,ISV — Ezekiel 22:30

31 so I poured my indignation over them. With my fierce anger, I’ve consumed them. I brought the consequences of ^{f22:31 The Heb. lacks the consequences of} their behavior upon them,’ ^{g22:31 Lit. upon their heads} declares the Lord GOD.”ISV — Ezekiel 22:31