EzekielChapter 12

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¹Then the word of the LORD came to me. He said, ²"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but they do not see. They have ears to hear, but they do not hear. For they are a rebellious house. ³So, son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. In broad daylight, while they watch, leave your place and go to another place. Maybe they will understand, even though they are a rebellious house. ⁴During the day, while they watch, bring out your bags packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they watch, go out like people going into exile. ⁵While they watch, dig through the wall. Carry your things out through the hole. ⁶While they watch, put your bags on your shoulder and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel." ⁷So I did what I was commanded. During the day I brought out my bags packed for exile. In the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. At dusk I took my things out. I carried them on my shoulder while they watched. ⁸In the morning the word of the LORD came to me. He said, ⁹"Son of man, hasn't the rebellious house of Israel asked you, 'What are you doing?' ¹⁰Tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: This message is about the prince in Jerusalem. It is about all the house of Israel who live there.' ¹¹Say to them, 'I am a sign to you.' What I have done will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives. ¹²At dusk the prince among them will put his bags on his shoulder and go out. A hole will be dug through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land. ¹³But I will throw my net over him. He will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans. But he will not see it, and he will die there. ¹⁴I will scatter to every wind all the officials around him and all his troops. I will draw a sword and chase after them. ¹⁵They will know that I am the LORD when I spread them out among the nations. They will know it when I scatter them through the countries. ¹⁶But I will spare a few of them from sword, famine, and disease. I will do this so that in the nations where they go, they can tell about all their disgusting acts. Then they will know that I am the LORD." ¹⁷The word of the LORD also came to me. He said, ¹⁸"Son of man, shake as you eat your bread. Tremble with worry as you drink your water. ¹⁹Then speak to the people of the land. Tell them this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: 'They will eat their bread with worry. They will drink their water in fear. For everything in their land will be stripped away. This is because of the violence of all who live there. ²⁰The towns where people live will be ruined. The land will become empty. Then you will know that I am the LORD.'" ²¹The word of the LORD came to me again. He said, ²²"Son of man, what is this saying you have in the land of Israel? You say, 'The days go by, and every vision comes to nothing.' ²³So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to this saying. People in Israel will not say it anymore.' Instead, tell them, 'The days are near when every vision will come true. ²⁴For there will be no more false visions in the house of Israel. There will be no more fortune-telling that only says what people want to hear. ²⁵This is because I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will come true without delay. For in your own days, you rebellious house, I will speak a message and make it happen, says the Lord GOD.'" ²⁶The word of the LORD also came to me. He said, ²⁷"Son of man, listen to what the house of Israel is saying. They say, 'The vision he sees is for many years from now. He is prophesying about times far in the future.' ²⁸So tell them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: None of my words will be put off any longer. The message I speak will come true, says the Lord GOD.'"