Ezekiel 16:1–11

Jerusalem the Unfaithful

16The Lord spoke to me again. ²“Mortal man,” he said, “point out to Jerusalem what disgusting things she has done. ³Tell Jerusalem what the Sovereign Lord is saying to her:

“You were born in the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite.^{z 4}When you were born, no one cut your umbilical cord or washed you^a or rubbed you with salt or wrapped you in cloth. ⁵No one took enough pity on you to do any of these things for you. When you were born, no one loved you. You were thrown out in an open field.

⁶“Then I passed by and saw you squirming in your own blood. You were covered with blood, but I wouldn’t let you die. ⁷I made you grow like a healthy plant. You grew strong and tall and became a young woman.^b Your breasts were well formed, and your hair had grown, but you were naked.

⁸“As I passed by again, I saw that the time had come for you to fall in love. I covered your naked body with my coat and promised to love you. Yes, I made a marriage covenant with you, and you became mine.” This is what the Sovereign Lord says.

⁹“Then I took water and washed the blood off you. I rubbed olive oil on your skin. ¹⁰I dressed you in embroidered gowns and gave you shoes of the best leather, a linen headband, and a silk cloak. ¹¹I put jewels on you—bracelets and necklaces.