Ezekiel 16:24-43

New International Version

²⁴ you built a mound for yourself and made a lofty shrine^(A) in every public square.^{(B) 25} At every street corner^(C) you built your lofty shrines and degraded your beauty, spreading your legs with increasing promiscuity to anyone who passed by.^{(D) 26} You engaged in prostitution^(E) with the Egyptians,^(F) your neighbors with large genitals, and aroused my anger^(G) with your increasing promiscuity.^{(H) 27} So I stretched out my hand^(I) against you and reduced your territory; I gave you over^(J) to the greed of your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines,^(K) who were shocked by your lewd conduct. ²⁸ You engaged in prostitution with the Assyrians^(L) too, because you were insatiable; and even after that, you still were not satisfied.^{(M) 29} Then you increased your promiscuity to include Babylonia,^[a](N) a land of merchants, but even with this you were not satisfied.^(O)

³⁰ “‘I am filled with fury against you,^[b] declares the Sovereign Lord, when you do all these things, acting like a brazen prostitute!^{(P) 31} When you built your mounds at every street corner and made your lofty shrines^(Q) in every public square, you were unlike a prostitute, because you scorned payment.

³² “‘You adulterous wife! You prefer strangers to your own husband! ³³ All prostitutes receive gifts,^(R) but you give gifts^(S) to all your lovers, bribing them to come to you from everywhere for your illicit favors.^{(T) 34} So in your prostitution you are the opposite of others; no one runs after you for your favors. You are the very opposite, for you give payment and none is given to you.

³⁵ “‘Therefore, you prostitute, hear the word of the Lord! ³⁶ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because you poured out your lust and exposed your naked body in your promiscuity with your lovers, and because of all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children’s blood,^{(U) 37} therefore I am going to gather all your lovers, with whom you found pleasure, those you loved as well as those you hated. I will gather them against you from all around and will strip^(V) you in front of them, and they will see you stark naked.^{(W) 38} I will sentence you to the punishment of women who commit adultery and who shed blood;^(X) I will bring on you the blood vengeance of my wrath and jealous anger.^{(Y) 39} Then I will deliver you into the hands^(Z) of your lovers, and they will tear down your mounds and destroy your lofty shrines. They will strip you of your clothes and take your fine jewelry and leave you stark naked.^{(AA) 40} They will bring a mob against you, who will stone^(AB) you and hack you to pieces with their swords. ⁴¹ They will burn down^(AC) your houses and inflict punishment on you in the sight of many women.^(AD) I will put a stop^(AE) to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. 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.^(AF)

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