EzekielChapter 24

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¹It was the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month. The LORD gave me this message. He said, ²"Son of man, write down today's date. For on this very day the king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem to attack it. ³Now tell a story with a lesson to these rebellious people. Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says:
'Put the pot on the fire.
Put it on and pour in the water. ⁴Put in the pieces of meat,
all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best bones. ⁵Take the best animals from the flock.
Pile the wood under the pot.
Bring it to a boil,
and cook the bones in it.' ⁶So this is what the Lord GOD says:
'How terrible it will be for the city full of killing!
She is a pot that is now rusted.
Its rust will not come off!
Empty it piece by piece.
Do not cast lots for what is in it. ⁷For the blood she spilled is still in her.
She poured it out on the bare rock.
She did not pour it on the ground,
where dust could cover it. ⁸I want to stir up anger and pay her back.
So I have put her blood on the bare rock,
so that it would not be covered.' ⁹Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says:
'How terrible it will be for the city full of killing!
I also will pile the wood up high. ¹⁰Pile on the logs and light the fire.
Cook the meat well.
Mix in the spices.
Let the bones be burned. ¹¹Set the empty pot on the hot coals.
Let it get hot until its copper glows.
Then the filth inside it will melt.
Its rust will be burned away. ¹²Every effort to clean it has failed.
Its thick rust has not come off,
not even in the fire. ¹³Because your filth was so shameful,
I tried to make you clean.
But you would not be cleaned from your filth.
You will not be clean again
until my anger against you has calmed down. ¹⁴I, the LORD, have spoken.
The time is coming, and I will act.
I will not hold back.
I will not show pity.
I will not change my mind.
I will judge you by your ways and your deeds,' declares the Lord GOD." ¹⁵Then the LORD gave me this message. He said, ¹⁶"Son of man, listen. I am about to take away the one you love to look at. It will happen with one sudden blow. But you must not mourn or cry. You must not let your tears flow. ¹⁷Groan quietly. Do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban. Tie your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lips. Do not eat the bread that mourners eat." ¹⁸So I spoke to the people in the morning. And in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did what I had been told to do. ¹⁹Then the people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things you're doing mean for us?" ²⁰So I answered them, "The LORD gave me this message. He said, ²¹'Tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to make my temple unclean. It is the pride of your strength. You love to look at it. It is the joy of your heart. And your sons and daughters you left behind will be killed by the sword. ²²Then you will do what I have done. You will not cover your lips. You will not eat the bread that mourners eat. ²³You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or cry. But you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan to one another. ²⁴So Ezekiel will be a sign for you. You will do everything he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.' ²⁵And you, son of man, listen. I will take away their stronghold. It is their pride and joy. They love to look at it, and it lifts up their hearts. I will take away their sons and daughters too. ²⁶On that day, someone who escaped will come and tell you the news. ²⁷On that day your mouth will be opened to the one who escaped. You will speak and no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them. And they will know that I am the LORD."