New Century Version

Ezekiel 16:1-16 New Century Version (NCV)

1. The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

2. “Human, tell Jerusalem about her hateful actions.

3. Say, ‘This is what the Lord God says to Jerusalem: Your beginnings and your ancestors were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite.

4. On the day you were born, your cord was not cut. You were not washed with water to clean you. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.

5. No one felt sorry enough for you to do any of these things for you. No, you were thrown out into the open field, because you were hated on the day you were born.

6. “ ‘When I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, I said to you, “Live!”

7. I made you grow like a plant in the field. You grew up and became tall and became like a beautiful jewel. Your breasts formed, and your hair grew, but you were naked and without clothes.

8. “ ‘Later when I passed by you and looked at you, I saw that you were old enough for love. So I spread my robe over you and covered your nakedness. I also made a promise to you and entered into an agreement with you so that you became mine, says the Lord God.

9. “ ‘Then I bathed you with water, washed all the blood off of you, and put oil on you.

10. I put beautiful clothes made with needlework on you and put sandals of fine leather on your feet. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk.

11. I put jewelry on you: bracelets on your arms, a necklace around your neck,

12. a ring in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.

13. So you wore gold and silver. Your clothes were made of fine linen, silk, and beautiful needlework. You ate fine flour, honey, and olive oil. You were very beautiful and became a queen.

14. Then you became famous among the nations, because you were so beautiful. Your beauty was perfect, because of the glory I gave you, says the Lord God.

15. “ ‘But you trusted in your beauty. You became a prostitute, because you were so famous. You had sexual relations with anyone who passed by.

16. You took some of your clothes and made your places of worship colorful. There you carried on your prostitution. These things should not happen; they should never occur.