Ezekiel 21:23-26

21:23 But those in Jerusalem ¹  will view it as a false omen. They have sworn solemn oaths, ²  but the king of Babylon ³  will accuse them of violations ⁴  in order to seize them. ⁵ 

21:24 “Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you have brought up ⁶  your own guilt by uncovering your transgressions and revealing your sins through all your actions, for this reason you will be taken by force. ⁷ 

21:25 “‘As for you, profane and wicked prince of Israel, ⁸ 

whose day has come, the time of final punishment,

21:26 this is what the sovereign Lord says:

Tear off the turban, ⁹ 

take off the crown!

Things must change! ¹⁰ 

Exalt the lowly,

bring down the proud! ¹¹ 

[21:23]  ¹ tn Heb “they”; the referent (the people in Jerusalem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:23]  ² sn When the people of Judah realized the Babylonians’ intentions, they would object on grounds that they had made a treaty with the Babylonian king (see 17:13).

[21:23]  ³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (the king of Babylon) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[21:23]  ⁴ tn Or “iniquity.”

[21:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “and he will remind of guilt for the purpose of being captured.” The king would counter their objections by pointing out that they had violated their treaty with him (see 17:18).

[21:24]  ⁶ tn Heb “caused to be remembered.”

[21:24]  ⁷ tn Heb “Because you have brought to remembrance your guilt when your transgressions are uncovered so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds – because you are remembered, by the hand you will be seized.”

[21:25]  ⁸ tn This probably refers to King Zedekiah.

[21:26]  ⁹ tn Elsewhere in the Bible the turban is worn by priests (Exod 28:4, 37, 39; 29:6; 39:28, 31; Lev 8:9; 16:4), but here a royal crown is in view.

[21:26]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “This not this.”

[21:26]  ¹¹ tn Heb “the high one.”