1 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the LORD came to me: |
2 "Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. |
3 Tell this rebellious house a parable and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: |
4 Put into it the pieces of meat,
all the choice pieces-the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones; |
5 take the pick of the flock.
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
bring it to a boil
and cook the bones in it. |
6 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: |
7 " 'For the blood she shed is in her midst:
She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
where the dust would cover it. |
8 To stir up wrath and take revenge
I put her blood on the bare rock,
so that it would not be covered. |
9 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: |
10 So heap on the wood
and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
mixing in the spices;
and let the bones be charred. |
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
till it becomes hot and its copper glows
so its impurities may be melted
and its deposit burned away. |
12 It has frustrated all efforts;
its heavy deposit has not been removed,
not even by fire. |
13 " 'Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided. |
14 " 'I the LORD have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign LORD .' " |
15 The word of the LORD came to me: |
16 "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. |
17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners ." |
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded. |
19 Then the people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things have to do with us?" |
20 So I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me: |
21 Say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary-the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword. |
22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners . |
23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of1 24:23 Or away in your sins and groan among yourselves. |
24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD .' |
25 "And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart's desire, and their sons and daughters as well- |
26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. |
27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD ." |
