Book of Ezekiel_Chapter 8

On the fifth day of June in the sixth year, I sat at home. The elders of Judah sat before me. There the hand of the Lord Jehovah descended on me.

I looked and saw an image resembling the shape of fire. From below his waist, there was fire, and from above his waist, there was a shining shape, like shining fine gold.

He stretched out like a hand, grabbed a strand of my hair, and the spirit lifted me up to the center of heaven and earth. In the vision of God, he took me to the entrance of the inner courtyard facing north in Jerusalem, where there was a seat that provoked the wrath of the Lord’s idols, which provoked jealousy.

But to my surprise, there was the glory of the God of Israel, shaped like what I had seen in the plain.

God said to me, Son of man, lift up your eyes and look north. I lifted my eyes and looked north, and saw this idol, who provoked jealousy, at the north entrance of the altar gate.

And he said to me, Son of man, have you seen what the house of Israel has done, this great detestable thing that has taken me far from my sanctuary? You also have to see something else that is very detestable.

He led me to the gate of the hospital. I looked and saw a hole on the wall.

He said to me, Son of man, you must dig the wall. As I dug the wall, I saw a door.

He said, Go in and see the detestable evil things they have done here.

I went in and saw, but to my surprise, all kinds of crawling creatures and detestable beasts were painted on the four walls, along with all the idols of the house of Israel.

Seventy elders of the house of Israel stood in front of these statues, and Jazaniah son of Shaphan also stood among them. Everyone holds a censer, and the aroma of smoke rises.

And he said to me, Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel have done in secret in every man’s portrait room? They often say, ‘The Lord cannot see us.’. The Lord has abandoned this land.

He also said, “You will see them do other heinous things.”.

He led me to the entrance of the outer courtyard of the Lord’s house facing north. Unexpectedly, there were women sitting there, crying for Damus.

He said to me, Son of man, have you seen it? You will see even more detestable things than this.

He also brought me to the inner courtyard of the house of the Lord. Unexpectedly, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, there were about twenty-five people who turned their backs to the temple of the Lord and worshipped the sun in the east.

He said to me, Son of man, have you seen it? Is this detestable thing still considered small for everyone on this trip? They have committed violence in this land, repeatedly provoking me to anger. They have raised branches in their hands towards their noses.

Therefore, I will also act with anger, and my eyes will not spare or pity them. Although they shouted loudly in my ears, I still didn’t listen.