Ezekiel 12:3-16

3“Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people.

4Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile.

5Dig a hole through the wall of your house, and leave through it.

6Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won’t see the land. I’ve made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel.”

7I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders.

8The next morning the Lord spoke his word to me. He said,

9“Son of man, didn’t the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing?

10“Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.’

11“Tell them, ‘I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity.

12The prince who is among you will put his bags on his shoulders in the dark and leave. People will dig holes in the wall to go through. The prince will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.

13I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my net. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, but he will not see it. And that’s where he’ll die.

14I will scatter in every direction all those who are around him—his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword.

15Then they will know that I am the Lord, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries.

16However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am the Lord.’ ”