In
Ken's Guide to the Bible, a book that picks out all the most atrocious and disturbing biblical episodes for the Biblically
illiterate, Ezekiel23:19-20 is used to conveniently demonstrate the differences between the different translations of the bible. The
KJV is openly
smutty, but so
arcane in its language that many people have no idea what it's saying. Newer versions are progressively clearer, but also more
bowdlerized.
Here are some translations (courtesy of the bible gateway):
Young's Literal Translation
19 And she multiplieth her whoredoms, To remember the days of her youth, When she went a-whoring in the land of Egypt.
20 And she doteth on their paramours, Whose flesh is the flesh of asses, And the issue of horses -- their issue.
King James Version
19 Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20 For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
New American Standard BibleYet she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20 "She lusted after their paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
New International VersionYet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.
Amplified Bible
19Yet she multiplied her harlotries, remembering the days of her youth in which she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20For she doted upon her paramours there, whose lust was sensuous and vulgar like that of asses or stallions.
New Living Translation
But that didn't bother her. She turned to even greater prostitution, remembering her youth when she was a prostitute in Egypt. She lusted after lovers whose attentions were gross and bestial.
Personal note: I'll take a sensuous and vulgar lover over a gross and bestial one any day.
/me goes a-whoring