וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃

The word of the LORD came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֑ם שְׁתַּ֣יִם נָשִׁ֔ים בְּנ֥וֹת אֵם־אַחַ֖ת הָיֽוּ׃

O mortal, once there were two women, daughters of one mother.

וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃

They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore while still young. There their breasts were squeezed, and there their virgin nipples were handled.

וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן אָהֳלָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ וְאָהֳלִיבָ֣ה אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לִ֔י וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֑וֹת וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן שֹׁמְר֣וֹן אָהֳלָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אָהֳלִיבָֽה׃

Their names were: the elder one, Oholah; and her sister, Oholibah. They became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

וַתִּ֥זֶן אָהֳלָ֖ה תַּחְתָּ֑י וַתַּעְגַּב֙ עַֽל־מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ אֶל־אַשּׁ֖וּר קְרוֹבִֽים׃

Oholah whored while she was Mine, and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, warriors

לְבֻשֵׁ֤י תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ פַּח֣וֹת וּסְגָנִ֔ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּ֑ם פָּרָשִׁ֕ים רֹכְבֵ֖י סוּסִֽים׃

clothed in blue, governors and prefects, horsemen mounted on steeds—all of them handsome young fellows.

וַתִּתֵּ֤ן תַּזְנוּתֶ֙יהָ֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מִבְחַ֥ר בְּנֵֽי־אַשּׁ֖וּר כֻּלָּ֑ם וּבְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־עָֽגְבָ֛ה בְּכָל־גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם נִטְמָֽאָה׃

She bestowed her favors upon them—upon all the pick of the Assyrians—and defiled herself with all their fetishes after which she lusted.

וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֤יהָ מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔בָה כִּ֤י אוֹתָהּ֙ שָׁכְב֣וּ בִנְעוּרֶ֔יהָ וְהֵ֥מָּה עִשּׂ֖וּ דַּדֵּ֣י בְתוּלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֥וּ תַזְנוּתָ֖ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃

She did not give up the whoring she had begun with the Egyptians; for they had lain with her in her youth, and they had handled her virgin nipples and had poured out their lust upon her.

לָכֵ֥ן נְתַתִּ֖יהָ בְּיַד־מְאַֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ בְּיַד֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָגְבָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians after whom she lusted.

הֵמָּה֮ גִּלּ֣וּ עֶרְוָתָהּ֒ בָּנֶ֤יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ לָקָ֔חוּ וְאוֹתָ֖הּ בַּחֶ֣רֶב הָרָ֑גוּ וַתְּהִי־שֵׁם֙ לַנָּשִׁ֔ים וּשְׁפוּטִ֖ים עָ֥שׂוּ בָֽהּ׃ (ס)

They exposed her nakedness; they seized her sons and daughters, and she herself was put to the sword. And because of the punishment inflicted upon her, she became a byword among women.

וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ אֲחוֹתָ֣הּ אָהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶת־תַּ֨זְנוּתֶ֔יהָ מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃

Her sister Oholibah saw this; yet her lusting was more depraved than her sister’s, and her whoring more debased.

אֶל־בְּנֵי֩ אַשּׁ֨וּר עָגָ֜בָה פַּח֨וֹת וּסְגָנִ֤ים קְרֹבִים֙ לְבֻשֵׁ֣י מִכְל֔וֹל פָּרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֣י סוּסִ֑ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּֽם׃

She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and prefects, warriors gorgeously clad, horsemen mounted on steeds—all of them handsome young fellows.

וָאֵ֖רֶא כִּ֣י נִטְמָ֑אָה דֶּ֥רֶךְ אֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּיהֶֽן׃

And I saw how she had defiled herself. Both of them followed the same course,

וַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י כשדיים [כַשְׂדִּ֔ים] חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃

but she carried her harlotries further. For she saw men sculptured upon the walls, figures of Chaldeans drawn in vermilion,

חֲגוֹרֵ֨י אֵז֜וֹר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֗ם סְרוּחֵ֤י טְבוּלִים֙ בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם מַרְאֵ֥ה שָׁלִשִׁ֖ים כֻּלָּ֑ם דְּמ֤וּת בְּנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֶ֖רֶץ מוֹלַדְתָּֽם׃

girded with belts round their waists, and with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers—a picture of Babylonians whose native land was Chaldea.

ותעגב [וַתַּעְגְּבָ֥ה] עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַרְאֵ֣ה עֵינֶ֑יהָ וַתִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה׃

At the very sight of them she lusted after them, and she sent messengers for them to Chaldea.

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלֶ֤יהָ בְנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב דֹּדִ֔ים וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם וַתִּ֨טְמָא־בָ֔ם וַתֵּ֥קַע נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מֵהֶֽם׃

So the Babylonians came to her for lovemaking and defiled her with their whoring; and she defiled herself with them until she turned from them in disgust.

וַתְּגַל֙ תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ וַתְּגַ֖ל אֶת־עֶרְוָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֤קַע נַפְשִׁי֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י מֵעַ֥ל אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃

She flaunted her harlotries and exposed her nakedness, and I turned from her in disgust, as I had turned disgusted from her sister.

וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת־יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָנְתָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

But she whored still more, remembering how in her youth she had played the whore in the land of Egypt;

וַֽתַּעְגְּבָ֔ה עַ֖ל פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּשַׂר־חֲמוֹרִים֙ בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְזִרְמַ֥ת סוּסִ֖ים זִרְמָתָֽם׃

she lusted for concubinage with them, whose members were like those of asses and whose organs were like those of stallions.

וַֽתִּפְקְדִ֔י אֵ֖ת זִמַּ֣ת נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ בַּעְשׂ֤וֹת מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ דַּדַּ֔יִךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁדֵ֥י נְעוּרָֽיִךְ׃ (ס)

Thus you reverted to the wantonness of your youth, remembering your youthful breasts, when the men of Egypt handled your nipples.

לָכֵ֣ן אָהֳלִיבָ֗ה כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנְנִ֨י מֵעִ֤יר אֶת־מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶ֑ם וַהֲבֵאתִ֥ים עָלַ֖יִךְ מִסָּבִֽיב׃

Assuredly, Oholibah, thus said the Lord GOD: I am going to rouse against you the lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them upon you from all around—

בְּנֵ֧י בָבֶ֣ל וְכָל־כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים פְּק֤וֹד וְשׁ֙וֹעַ֙ וְק֔וֹעַ כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר אוֹתָ֑ם בַּח֨וּרֵי חֶ֜מֶד פַּח֤וֹת וּסְגָנִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם שָֽׁלִשִׁים֙ וּקְרוּאִ֔ים רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃

the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, [the people of] Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, all of them handsome young fellows, governors and prefects, officers and warriors, all of them riding on horseback.

וּבָ֣אוּ עָלַ֡יִךְ הֹ֠צֶן רֶ֤כֶב וְגַלְגַּל֙ וּבִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֔ים צִנָּ֤ה וּמָגֵן֙ וְקוֹבַ֔ע יָשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלַ֖יִךְ סָבִ֑יב וְנָתַתִּ֤י לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּשְׁפָט֖וּךְ בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃

They shall attack you with fleets of wheeled chariots and a host of troops; they shall set themselves against you on all sides with bucklers, shields, and helmets. And I will entrust your punishment to them, and they shall inflict their punishments on you.

וְנָתַתִּ֨י קִנְאָתִ֜י בָּ֗ךְ וְעָשׂ֤וּ אוֹתָךְ֙ בְּחֵמָ֔ה אַפֵּ֤ךְ וְאָזְנַ֙יִךְ֙ יָסִ֔ירוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפּ֑וֹל הֵ֗מָּה בָּנַ֤יִךְ וּבְנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ תֵּאָכֵ֥ל בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

I will direct My passion against you, and they shall deal with you in fury: they shall cut off your nose and ears. The last of you shall fall by the sword; they shall take away your sons and daughters, and your remnant shall be devoured by fire.

וְהִפְשִׁיט֖וּךְ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י תִפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ׃

They shall strip you of your clothing and take away your dazzling jewels.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י זִמָּתֵךְ֙ מִמֵּ֔ךְ וְאֶת־זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־תִשְׂאִ֤י עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וּמִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֥א תִזְכְּרִי־עֽוֹד׃ (ס)

I will put an end to your wantonness and to your whoring in the land of Egypt, and you shall not long for them or remember Egypt any more.

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ נֹֽתְנָ֔ךְ בְּיַ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את בְּיַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶֽם׃

For thus said the Lord GOD: I am going to deliver you into the hands of those you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned in disgust.

וְעָשׂ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ךְ בְּשִׂנְאָ֗ה וְלָקְחוּ֙ כָּל־יְגִיעֵ֔ךְ וַעֲזָב֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֣ם וְעֶרְיָ֑ה וְנִגְלָה֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת זְנוּנַ֔יִךְ וְזִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְתַזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃

They shall treat you with hate, and they shall take away all you have toiled for, and leave you naked and bare; your naked whoredom, wantonness, and harlotry will be exposed.

עָשֹׂ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ בִּזְנוֹתֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־נִטְמֵ֖את בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃

These things shall be done to you for your harlotries with the nations, for defiling yourself with their fetishes.

בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ אֲחוֹתֵ֖ךְ הָלָ֑כְתְּ וְנָתַתִּ֥י כוֹסָ֖הּ בְּיָדֵֽךְ׃ (ס)

You walked in your sister’s path; therefore I will put her cup into your hand.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֔ה כּ֤וֹס אֲחוֹתֵךְ֙ תִּשְׁתִּ֔י הָעֲמֻקָּ֖ה וְהָרְחָבָ֑ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לִצְחֹ֛ק וּלְלַ֖עַג מִרְבָּ֥ה לְהָכִֽיל׃

Thus said the Lord GOD: You shall drink of your sister’s cup, So deep and wide; It shall cause derision and scorn, It holds so much.

שִׁכָּר֥וֹן וְיָג֖וֹן תִּמָּלֵ֑אִי כּ֚וֹס שַׁמָּ֣ה וּשְׁמָמָ֔ה כּ֖וֹס אֲחוֹתֵ֥ךְ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃

You shall be filled with drunkenness and woe. The cup of desolation and horror, The cup of your sister Samaria—

וְשָׁתִ֨ית אוֹתָ֜הּ וּמָצִ֗ית וְאֶת־חֲרָשֶׂ֛יהָ תְּגָרֵ֖מִי וְשָׁדַ֣יִךְ תְּנַתֵּ֑קִי כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י דִבַּ֔רְתִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ (ס)

You shall drink it and drain it, And gnaw its shards; And you shall tear your breasts. For I have spoken—declares the Lord GOD.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה יַ֚עַן שָׁכַ֣חַתְּ אוֹתִ֔י וַתַּשְׁלִ֥יכִי אוֹתִ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוֵּ֑ךְ וְגַם־אַ֛תְּ שְׂאִ֥י זִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃ (ס)

Assuredly, thus said the Lord GOD: Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, you in turn must suffer for your wanton whoring.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲתִשְׁפּ֥וֹט אֶֽת־אָהֳלָ֖ה וְאֶת־אָהֳלִיבָ֑ה וְהַגֵּ֣ד לָהֶ֔ן אֵ֖ת תוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽן׃

Then the LORD said to me: O mortal, arraign Oholah and Oholibah, and charge them with their abominations.

ע֥וֹד זֹ֖את עָ֣שׂוּ לִ֑י טִמְּא֤וּ אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י חִלֵּֽלוּ׃

At the same time they also did this to Me: they defiled My Sanctuary and profaned My sabbaths.

וּֽבְשַׁחֲטָ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם֙ לְגִלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לְחַלְּל֑וֹ וְהִנֵּה־כֹ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ בְּת֥וֹךְ בֵּיתִֽי׃

On the very day that they slaughtered their children to their fetishes, they entered My Sanctuary to desecrate it. That is what they did in My House.

וְאַ֗ף כִּ֤י תִשְׁלַ֙חְנָה֙ לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים בָּאִ֖ים מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַלְאָ֜ךְ שָׁל֤וּחַ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְהִנֵּה־בָ֔אוּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר רָחַ֛צְתְּ כָּחַ֥לְתְּ עֵינַ֖יִךְ וְעָ֥דִית עֶֽדִי׃

Moreover, they sent for men to come from afar, [men] to whom a messenger was sent; and they came. For them, [Oholibah,] you bathed, painted your eyes, and donned your finery;

וְיָשַׁבְתְּ֙ עַל־מִטָּ֣ה כְבוּדָּ֔ה וְשֻׁלְחָ֥ן עָר֖וּךְ לְפָנֶ֑יהָ וּקְטָרְתִּ֥י וְשַׁמְנִ֖י שַׂ֥מְתְּ עָלֶֽיהָ׃

and you sat on a grand couch with a set table in front of it—and it was My incense and My oil you laid upon it.

וְק֣וֹל הָמוֹן֮ שָׁלֵ֣ו בָהּ֒ וְאֶל־אֲנָשִׁים֙ מֵרֹ֣ב אָדָ֔ם מוּבָאִ֥ים סובאים [סָבָאִ֖ים] מִמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּתְּנ֤וּ צְמִידִים֙ אֶל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ן וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶֽן׃

And the noise of a carefree multitude was there, of numerous men brought drunk from the desert; and they put bracelets on their arms and splendid crowns upon their heads.

וָאֹמַ֕ר לַבָּלָ֖ה נִֽאוּפִ֑ים עת [עַתָּ֛ה] יזנה [יִזְנ֥וּ] תַזְנוּתֶ֖הָ וָהִֽיא׃

Then I said, “To destruction with adultery! Look, they are still going on with those same fornications of hers.”

וַיָּב֣וֹא אֵלֶ֔יהָ כְּב֖וֹא אֶל־אִשָּׁ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה כֵּ֣ן בָּ֗אוּ אֶֽל־אָֽהֳלָה֙ וְאֶל־אָ֣הֳלִיבָ֔ה אִשֹּׁ֖ת הַזִּמָּֽה׃

And they would go to her as one goes to a prostitute; that is how they went to Oholah and Oholibah, wanton women.

וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים צַדִּיקִ֗ם הֵ֚מָּה יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ אֽוֹתְהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּט֙ נֹֽאֲפ֔וֹת וּמִשְׁפַּ֖ט שֹׁפְכ֣וֹת דָּ֑ם כִּ֤י נֹֽאֲפֹת֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְדָ֖ם בִּֽידֵיהֶֽן׃ (ס)

But righteous men shall punish them with the punishments for adultery and for bloodshed, for they are adulteresses and have blood on their hands.

כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הַעֲלֵ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קָהָ֔ל וְנָתֹ֥ן אֶתְהֶ֖ן לְזַעֲוָ֥ה וְלָבַֽז׃

For thus said the Lord GOD: Summon an assembly against them, and make them an object of horror and plunder.

וְרָגְמ֨וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ן אֶ֙בֶן֙ קָהָ֔ל וּבָרֵ֥א אוֹתְהֶ֖ן בְּחַרְבוֹתָ֑ם בְּנֵיהֶ֤ם וּבְנֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ יַהֲרֹ֔גוּ וּבָתֵּיהֶ֖ן בָּאֵ֥שׁ יִשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃

Let the assembly pelt them with stones and cut them down with their swords; let them kill their sons and daughters, and burn down their homes.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנִֽוַּסְּרוּ֙ כָּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה כְּזִמַּתְכֶֽנָה׃

I will put an end to wantonness in the land; and all the women shall take warning not to imitate your wantonness.

וְנָתְנ֤וּ זִמַּתְכֶ֙נָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ן וַחֲטָאֵ֥י גִלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ן תִּשֶּׂ֑אינָה וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֥י אֲנִ֖י אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ (פ)

They shall punish you for your wantonness, and you shall suffer the penalty for your sinful idolatry. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.