Ezekiel 12
1 The word of the LORD came to me:
2 “Son of man, you live among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear, because they are a rebellious house.
3 And you, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and leave by day, in their sight. Leave your place for another place, in their sight. Perhaps they will see, though they are a rebellious house.
4 Bring your belongings outside, like the belongings of one going into exile, by day, in their sight. Then leave in the evening, in their sight, like someone setting out into exile.
5 In their sight, dig a hole through the wall and carry your belongings out through it.
6 In their sight, carry them on your shoulders and take them out in the dark. Cover your face and do not look at the ground, because I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.”
7 I did as I was commanded. I brought my belongings out by day, like the belongings of one going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand. In the dark I brought the belongings out and carried them on my shoulders, in their sight.
8 In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:
9 “Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel, that rebellious house, asked you, ‘What are you doing?’
10 Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “This message concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel living there.”’
11 Say, ‘I am a sign for you. What I have done will be done to them: they will go into exile, into captivity.’
12 “The prince among them will carry his belongings on his shoulders in the dark and leave. They will dig through the wall to bring them out through it. He will cover his face so he cannot see the ground.
13 I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it; there he will die.
14 I will scatter to every wind all those around him who help him, and all his troops. I will draw my sword and pursue them.”
15 “They will know that I am the LORD when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the lands.
16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine, and plague, so they can recount all their detestable practices among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”
17 The word of the LORD came to me:
18 “Son of man, eat your bread trembling, and drink your water shaking and in distress.
19 Tell the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says about the people living in Jerusalem, in the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread in distress and drink their water in dismay, because the land will be stripped of everything in it, on account of the violence of all who live there.
20 The inhabited cities will lie in ruins, and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’”
21 The word of the LORD came to me:
22 “Son of man, what is this saying you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days drag on, and every vision comes to nothing’?
23 So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “I will put an end to this saying, and they will no longer repeat it in Israel.”’ Instead, tell them, ‘The days are near, and so is the fulfillment of every vision.’
24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination in the house of Israel.
25 For I, the LORD, will speak, and the word I speak will be fulfilled; it will no longer be delayed. In your days, rebellious house, I will speak a word and fulfill it, declares the Lord GOD.”
26 The word of the LORD came to me:
27 “Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many days from now; he prophesies about distant times.’
28 So tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: “None of my words will be delayed any longer. The word I speak will be fulfilled, declares the Lord GOD.”’”
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