Ezekiel 12

¹The word of the Lord came to me:

²Son of man , you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house , who have eyes to see , but see not , who have ears to hear , but hear not , for they are a rebellious house .

³As for you, son of man , prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage , and go into exile by day in their sight . You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight . Perhaps they will understand , though they are a rebellious house .

⁴You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight , as baggage for exile , and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight , as those do who must go into exile .

⁵In their sight dig through the wall , and bring your baggage out through it.

⁶In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk . You shall cover your face that you may not see the land , for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel .

⁷And I did as I was commanded . I brought out my baggage by day , as baggage for exile , and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands . I brought out my baggage at dusk , carrying it on my shoulder in their sight .

⁸In the morning the word of the Lord came to me:

⁹Son of man , has not the house of Israel , the rebellious house , said to you, What are you doing ?

¹⁰Say to them, Thus says the Lord God: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it .

¹¹Say , I am a sign for you: as I have done , so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile , into captivity .

¹²And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk , and shall go out . They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face , that he may not see the land with his eyes .

¹³And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare . And I will bring him to Babylon , the land of the Chaldeans , yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there .

¹⁴And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops , and I will unsheathe the sword after them.

¹⁵And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries .

¹⁶But I will let a few of them escape from the sword , from famine and pestilence , that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go , and may know that I am the Lord.

¹⁷And the word of the Lord came to me:

¹⁸Son of man , eat your bread with quaking , and drink water with trembling and with anxiety .

¹⁹And say to the people of the land , Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel : They shall eat their bread with anxiety , and drink water in dismay . In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains , on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it.

²⁰And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste , and the land shall become a desolation ; and you shall know that I am the Lord.

²¹And the word of the Lord came to me:

²²Son of man , what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel , saying , The days grow long , and every vision comes to nothing ?

²³Tell them therefore , Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb , and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel . But say to them, The days are near , and the fulfillment of every vision .

²⁴For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel .

²⁵For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak , and it will be performed . It will no longer be delayed , but in your days , O rebellious house , I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.

²⁶And the word of the Lord came to me:

²⁷Son of man , behold , they of the house of Israel say , The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.

²⁸Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of my words will be delayed any longer , but the word that I speak will be performed , declares the Lord God.