1
The word of the Lord came again to me, saying:
2
"Son of man, there were two women, The daughters of one mother.
3
They committed harlotry in Egypt, They committed harlotry in their youth; Their breasts were there embraced, Their virgin bosom was there pressed.
4
Their names: Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister; They were Mine, And they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah
5
"Oholah played the harlot even though she was Mine; And she lusted for her lovers, the neighboring Assyrians,
6
Who were clothed in purple, Captains and rulers, All of them desirable young men, Horsemen riding on horses.
7
Thus she committed her harlotry with them, All of them choice men of Assyria; And with all for whom she lusted, With all their idols, she defiled herself.
8
She has never given up her harlotry brought from Egypt, For in her youth they had lain with her, Pressed her virgin bosom, And poured out their immorality upon her.
9
"Therefore I have delivered her Into the hand of her lovers, Into the hand of the Assyrians, For whom she lusted.
10
They uncovered her nakedness, Took away her sons and daughters, And slew her with the sword; She became a byword among women, For they had executed judgment on her.
11
"Now although her sister Oholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her lust than she, and in her harlotry more corrupt than her sister's harlotry.
12
"She lusted for the neighboring Assyrians, Captains and rulers, Clothed most gorgeously, Horsemen riding on horses, All of them desirable young men.
13
Then I saw that she was defiled; Both took the same way.
14
But she increased her harlotry; She looked at men portrayed on the wall, Images of Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion
15
Girded with belts around their waists, Flowing turbans on their heads, All of them looking like captains, In the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, The land of their nativity.
16
As soon as her eyes saw them, She lusted for them And sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
17
"Then the Babylonians came to her, into the bed of love, And they defiled her with their immorality; So she was defiled by them, and alienated herself from them.
18
She revealed her harlotry and uncovered her nakedness. Then I alienated Myself from her, As I had alienated Myself from her sister.
19
"Yet she multiplied her harlotry In calling to remembrance the days of her youth, When she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt
20
For she lusted for her paramours, Whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, And whose issue is like the issue of horses.
21
Thus you called to remembrance the lewdness of your youth, When the Egyptians pressed your bosom Because of your youthful breasts
22
"Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: 'Behold, I will stir up your lovers against you, From whom you have alienated yourself, And I will bring them against you from every side:
23
The Babylonians, All the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, All the Assyrians with them, All of them desirable young men, Governors and rulers, Captains and men of renown, All of them riding on horses.
24
And they shall come against you With chariots, wagons, and war-horses, With a horde of people. They shall array against you Buckler, shield, and helmet all around. 'I will delegate judgment to them, And they shall judge you according to their judgments.