9. “Go in,” God said, “and see what horrible and evil things the people are doing.”
10. Inside, I saw that the walls were covered with pictures of reptiles and disgusting, unclean animals, as well as with idols that the Israelites were worshipping.
11. Seventy Israelite leaders were standing there, including Jaazaniah son of Shaphan. Each of these leaders was holding an incense burner, and the smell of incense filled the room.
12. God said, “Ezekiel, do you see what horrible things Israel's leaders are doing in secret? They have filled their rooms with idols. And they say I can't see them, because they think I have already deserted Israel.
13. But I will show you something even worse than this.”
14. He took me to the north gate of the temple, where I saw women mourning for the god Tammuz.
15. God asked me, “Can you believe what these women are doing? But now I want to show you something worse.”
16. I was then led into the temple's inner courtyard, where I saw about twenty-five men standing near the entrance, between the porch and the altar. Their backs were to the Lord's temple, and they were bowing down to the rising sun.
17. God said, “Ezekiel, it's bad enough that the people of Judah are doing these disgusting things. But they have also spread violence and injustice everywhere in Israel and have made me very angry. They have disgraced and insulted me in the worst possible way.
18. So in my fierce anger, I will punish them without mercy and refuse to help them when they cry out to me.”