Ezekiel 12

Ezekiel Prepares for Exile

1Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, you live in the 1midst of the 2rebellious house, who 3have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house. 3Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. 4Perhaps they will 5understand though they are a rebellious house. 4Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out 6at evening in their sight, as those going into exile. 5Dig a hole through the wall in their sight and 7go out through it. 6Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall 8cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a 9sign to the house of Israel.”

7I 10did so, as I had been commanded. By day I 11brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the dark and carried the baggage on my shoulder in their sight.

8In the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9“Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the 12rebellious house, said to you, ‘13What are you doing?’ 10Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord 14God, “This 1516burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are 17in it.”’ 11Say, ‘I am 18a 19sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will 20go into exile, into captivity.’ 12The 21prince who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. 22They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out. He will cover his face so that he can not see the land with his eyes. 13I will also spread My 23net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will 24not see it, though he will die there. 14I will 25scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them. 15So they will 26know that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries. 16But I will 27spare a few of them from the 28sword, the famine and the pestilence that they may tell all their abominations among the nations where they go, and 29may 30know that I am the Lord.”

17Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, 18“Son of man, 31eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. 19Then say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because 32their land will be 3334stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it. 20The inhabited 35cities will be laid waste and the 36land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the Lord.”’”

21Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22“Son of man, what is this 37proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The 38days are long and every 39vision fails’? 23Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “40The days draw near as well as the 41fulfillment of every vision. 24For there will no longer be any 4243false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25For I the Lord will speak, and whatever 44word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in 45your days, O 46rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”

26Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27“Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for 47many 48years 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. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord God.