New Living Translation

Ezekiel 23:8-25 New Living Translation (NLT)

8. For when she left Egypt, she did not leave her spirit of prostitution behind. She was still as lewd as in her youth, when the Egyptians slept with her, fondled her breasts, and used her as a prostitute.

9. “And so I handed her over to her Assyrian lovers, whom she desired so much.

10. They stripped her, took away her children as their slaves, and then killed her. After she received her punishment, her reputation was known to every woman in the land.

11. “Yet even though Oholibah saw what had happened to Oholah, her sister, she followed right in her footsteps. And she was even more depraved, abandoning herself to her lust and prostitution.

12. She fawned over all the Assyrian officers—those captains and commanders in handsome uniforms, those charioteers driving their horses—all of them attractive young men.

13. I saw the way she was going, defiling herself just like her older sister.

14. “Then she carried her prostitution even further. She fell in love with pictures that were painted on a wall—pictures of Babylonian military officers, outfitted in striking red uniforms.

15. Handsome belts encircled their waists, and flowing turbans crowned their heads. They were dressed like chariot officers from the land of Babylonia.

16. When she saw these paintings, she longed to give herself to them, so she sent messengers to Babylonia to invite them to come to her.

17. So they came and committed adultery with her, defiling her in the bed of love. After being defiled, however, she rejected them in disgust.

18. “In the same way, I became disgusted with Oholibah and rejected her, just as I had rejected her sister, because she flaunted herself before them and gave herself to satisfy their lusts.

19. Yet she turned to even greater prostitution, remembering her youth when she was a prostitute in Egypt.

20. She lusted after lovers with genitals as large as a donkey’s and emissions like those of a horse.

21. And so, Oholibah, you relived your former days as a young girl in Egypt, when you first allowed your breasts to be fondled.

22. “Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Sovereign lord says: I will send your lovers against you from every direction—those very nations from which you turned away in disgust.

23. For the Babylonians will come with all the Chaldeans from Pekod and Shoa and Koa. And all the Assyrians will come with them—handsome young captains, commanders, chariot officers, and other high-ranking officers, all riding their horses.

24. They will all come against you from the north with chariots, wagons, and a great army prepared for attack. They will take up positions on every side, surrounding you with men armed with shields and helmets. And I will hand you over to them for punishment so they can do with you as they please.

25. I will turn my jealous anger against you, and they will deal harshly with you. They will cut off your nose and ears, and any survivors will then be slaughtered by the sword. Your children will be taken away as captives, and everything that is left will be burned.