1Herren sagde til mig:2-3„Du menneske, der var engang to søstre, der fra deres tidligste ungdom levede som prostituerede i Egypten. Dér krammede og knugede man deres jomfruelige bryster.4Storesøsteren hed Ohola og lillesøsteren Oholiba. De symboliserer Samaria og Jerusalem.[1] Jeg giftede mig med dem begge, og de fødte mig sønner og døtre.5Men Ohola var mig utro og blev forgabt i assyrerne,6for deres officerer og stormænd var utrolig flotte med purpurfarvede klæder og prægtige heste.7Hun horede med Assyriens fornemste mænd og dyrkede uhæmmet deres afguder.8Allerede da hun var i Egypten, var hun utro imod mig og gav sig hen til afguderne der. Desværre holdt hun fast ved sin utroskab, selv efter at hun havde forladt Egypten.9Derfor lagde jeg hendes skæbne i assyrernes hænder. Hendes elskere kunne nu gøre med hende, hvad de ville.10Som straf ydmygede de hende ved at rive tøjet af hende og gøre hendes børn til slaver. Derpå blev hun slået ned med sværdet, og de andre kvinder hånede hende for den skændsel, hun blev udsat for.11Men selv om hendes søster Oholiba så, hvad der skete med hende, tog hun ikke ved lære. Hendes afgudsliderlighed var forfærdelig, og hun syndede endnu mere end søsteren.12Hun flirtede med de assyriske officerer og stormænd, der havde så flotte uniformer og prægtige heste.13Hun var lige så troløs som sin søster,14-15ja, hun var faktisk værre end søsteren, for hun forelskede sig endog i de babyloniske officerer, hun havde set malerier af på murene med røde uniformer, bælte om livet og turban på hovedet.16Hun blev så forelsket i dem, at hun sendte bud til Babylon om, at de skulle komme til hende.17De kom så og horede med hende, men bagefter følte hun afsky for dem.18Fordi hun blottede sig for dem og gav sig selv hen til dem, blev jeg led ved hende, som jeg var blevet led ved hendes storesøster.19-20Men det generede hende ikke. Hun huskede sin fortid som prostitueret i Egypten og gav sig nu hen til de liderlige egyptere, der var brunstige som æsler og gejle som hingste.21Hun gik tilbage til sin ungdoms lyster, dengang man krammede hendes bryster i Egypten.22Men hør nu Herrens ord, Oholiba: Alle dine elskere, som du vendte dig fra i afsky, hidser jeg op imod dig.23Babylonierne kommer imod dig sammen med alle kaldæerne fra Pekod, Shoa og Koa. Også assyrerne sender jeg mod dig, alle de flotte officerer og stormænd, klædt i purpur og ridende på prægtige heste.24Fra nord kommer stridsvogne og forsyningsvogne rumlende imod dig, og deres fodfolk kommer vrimlende fra alle kanter, bevæbnet til tænderne. Fjenden omringer dig fra alle sider, og jeg overlader det til dem at udføre straffen over dig.25I jalousi vil jeg hævne mig på dig. Jeg lader dem skære næsen og ørerne af dig og bortføre dine børn som slaver. De, der overlever, vil falde for sværdet eller brændes i ilden.26De vil flå tøjet af dig og rive dine juveler til sig.27Sådan vil jeg gøre en ende på dine uhæmmede lidenskaber, den skamløse livsstil du tog med dig fra Egypten. Du skal ikke mere tilbede falske guder eller tænke på Egypten.28Jeg giver dig i dine fjenders vold, dem du afskyr og har taget afstand fra.29I deres raseri vil de frarøve dig alt, hvad du har, og slænge dig bort, nøgen og forladt, så din skandaløse livsstil afsløres.30Al den elendighed er du selv skyld i, fordi du dyrkede fremmede folkeslags guder og gjorde dig selv uren ved at tilbede deres afgudsbilleder.31Du fulgte i din søsters fodspor, og derfor skal du få en straf, der svarer til hendes.32Det er en hård straf, og du bliver genstand for alverdens hån. Du må tømme straffens fyldte bæger til bunds.33Du vil blive fuldstændig omtåget og stønne af gru og rædsel.34Men du skal tømme det til sidste dråbe og derefter smadre det i tusind stykker og rive dig selv til blods i fortvivlelse. Jeg, Herren, har talt.35Fordi du glemte mig og vendte mig ryggen, må du tage konsekvensen af din forfærdelige utroskab.”36Herren fortsatte: „Du menneske, udtal min dom over Ohola og Oholiba. Fortæl om deres frygtelige synder.37De var mig utro og har blod på hænderne, for de dyrkede afguderne og myrdede de børn, som de fødte mig, ved at brænde dem på afgudsaltrene.38Desuden vanærede de mit tempel og overholdt ikke sabbatsbudet.39Tænk, lige efter at have slagtet og brændt deres børn til ære for afguderne kom de til mit tempel for at tilbede mig! Hvilken afskyelig handlemåde!40I to søstre sendte bud til fjerne lande efter flotte mænd. I badede jer, lagde sminke på øjnene og tog jeres fineste smykker på.41I satte jer til bords på elegante puder og stillede min hellige røgelse og olie frem på bordet.42Der var fest og ballade. De mange indbudte mænd fra ørkenen drak sig fulde og satte armringe på jeres arme og en fornem krone på jeres hoved.43Jeg sagde til mig selv: De utro gamle skøger!44Derpå gik mændene ind til Ohola og Oholiba som til prostituerede. Åh, de skamløse kvinder.45Men retskafne mænd skal efter lovens ord idømme dem straffen for ægteskabsbrud og mord, for de har været utro imod mig, og de har blod på hænderne.46Gud Herren siger: Før en hær imod dem, så de bliver terroriseret og udplyndret.47Lad fjenden kaste sten imod dem og hugge dem ned med sværdet, slagte deres børn og brænde deres huse ned til grunden.48For jeg vil sætte en stopper for den afgudsliderlighed, der hersker i landet. I skal være et eksempel til skræk og advarsel for andre til alle tider.49I vil blive straffet hårdt for jeres uanstændige afguderi, og I skal forstå, at jeg er Herren.”
1The word of the Lord came to me:2“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother. (Ez 2,1; Ez 16,45)3They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed and their virgin bosoms[1] handled. (Ez 16,15; Ez 16,22)4Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. (Ez 16,8; Ez 16,46; Ez 23,37)5“Oholah played the whore while she was mine, and she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors (4.Mos 5,19; 2.Kong 15,19; 2.Kong 17,3; Hos 2,5; Hos 8,9)6clothed in purple, governors and commanders, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. (Es 5,28; Ez 23,23; Ez 38,15)7She bestowed her whoring upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them, and she defiled herself with all the idols of everyone after whom she lusted.8She did not give up her whoring that she had begun in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her and handled her virgin bosom and poured out their whoring lust upon her. (Ez 23,3; Ez 23,19)9Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted. (2.Kong 15,29; 2.Kong 17,4; 2.Kong 17,23; 2.Kong 18,9)10These uncovered her nakedness; they seized her sons and her daughters; and as for her, they killed her with the sword; and she became a byword among women, when judgment had been executed on her. (Ez 5,8; Ez 16,14; Ez 16,37; Ez 23,25; Ez 23,29)11“Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she became more corrupt than her sister[2] in her lust and in her whoring, which was worse than that of her sister. (Jer 3,8; Jer 3,11; Ez 16,47)12She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and commanders, warriors clothed in full armor, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men. (Ez 23,6)13And I saw that she was defiled; they both took the same way.14But she carried her whoring further. She saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion, (2.Kong 20,12; 2.Kong 24,1; Ez 8,10; Ez 16,17; Ez 16,29)15wearing belts on their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them having the appearance of officers, a likeness of Babylonians whose native land was Chaldea.16When she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. (Es 57,9; Ez 23,14; Ez 23,40)17And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoring lust. And after she was defiled by them, she turned from them in disgust. (Es 57,7; Ez 17,15; Ez 23,22; Ez 23,28; Ez 23,41)18When she carried on her whoring so openly and flaunted her nakedness, I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned in disgust from her sister.19Yet she increased her whoring, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt (Ez 16,15; Ez 23,3)20and lusted after her lovers there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose issue was like that of horses.21Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom and pressed[3] your young breasts.”22Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will stir up against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side: (Ez 16,37; Ez 23,17)23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses. (Jer 50,21; Ez 23,6; Ez 23,12)24And they shall come against you from the north[4] with chariots and wagons and a host of peoples. They shall set themselves against you on every side with buckler, shield, and helmet; and I will commit the judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments. (2.Kong 19,32; 2.Kong 25,6; Ez 9,5)25And I will direct my jealousy against you, that they may deal with you in fury. They shall cut off your nose and your ears, and your survivors shall fall by the sword. They shall seize your sons and your daughters, and your survivors shall be devoured by fire. (Ez 23,10; Ez 23,29)26They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels. (Ez 16,39)27Thus I will put an end to your lewdness and your whoring begun in the land of Egypt, so that you shall not lift up your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore. (Ez 16,41; Ez 23,3; Ez 23,19; Ez 23,48)28“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will deliver you into the hands of those whom you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned in disgust, (Ez 16,37; Ez 23,17; Ez 23,22)29and they shall deal with you in hatred and take away all the fruit of your labor and leave you naked and bare, and the nakedness of your whoring shall be uncovered. Your lewdness and your whoring (Ez 16,7; Ez 16,22; Ez 16,37; Ez 16,39; Ez 23,10; Ez 23,25)30have brought this upon you, because you played the whore with the nations and defiled yourself with their idols. (2.Mos 34,15; Ez 6,9)31You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand. (Jer 25,15; Ez 23,9)32Thus says the Lord God: “You shall drink your sister’s cup that is deep and large; you shall be laughed at and held in derision, for it contains much;33you will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow. A cup of horror and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria; (Es 51,17; Jer 13,13; Ez 23,4; Åb 14,10)34you shall drink it and drain it out, and gnaw its shards, and tear your breasts; for I have spoken, declares the Lord God. (Salm 75,8)35Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences of your lewdness and whoring.” (1.Kong 14,9; Jer 2,32; Ez 14,10; Ez 16,58; Ez 22,12; Ez 23,49)36The Lord said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Declare to them their abominations. (Ez 2,1; Ez 20,4; Ez 22,2)37For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. With their idols they have committed adultery, and they have even offered up[5] to them for food the children whom they had borne to me. (Ez 7,23; Ez 16,20; Ez 16,38; Ez 22,2)38Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. (Ez 5,11; Ez 20,13)39For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house. (2.Kong 21,4; Jer 23,11; Ez 16,20; Ez 16,36; Ez 23,37; Ez 44,7)40They even sent for men to come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and behold, they came. For them you bathed yourself, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with ornaments. (2.Kong 9,30; Jer 4,30; Ez 16,11; Ez 23,16)41You sat on a stately couch, with a table spread before it on which you had placed my incense and my oil. (Ester 1,6; Ord 7,17; Ez 16,18; Hos 2,8)42The sound of a carefree multitude was with her; and with men of the common sort, drunkards[6] were brought from the wilderness; and they put bracelets on the hands of the women, and beautiful crowns on their heads. (Es 22,2; Ez 16,11; Ez 16,12)43“Then I said of her who was worn out by adultery, ‘Now they will continue to use her for a whore, even her!’[7]44For they have gone in to her, as men go in to a prostitute. Thus they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, lewd women!45But righteous men shall pass judgment on them with the sentence of adulteresses, and with the sentence of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.” (Ez 16,38; Ez 23,24)46For thus says the Lord God: “Bring up a vast host against them, and make them an object of terror and a plunder. (5.Mos 28,25; Ez 7,21; Ez 16,40)47And the host shall stone them and cut them down with their swords. They shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses. (Josva 7,24; 2.Krøn 36,17; 2.Krøn 36,19; Ez 16,40; Ez 24,21)48Thus will I put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done. (Ez 16,41; Ez 23,27)49And they shall return your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the penalty for your sinful idolatry, and you shall know that I am the Lord God.” (Ez 6,7; Ez 23,35)