Shared Word Translation
Ezekiel 12
The word of the LORD came to me saying, "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself exile baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will see, even though they are a rebellious house. Bring out your baggage by day in their sight, baggage to go into exile. Then you shall go out at evening in their sight as one goes out into exile. In their sight, dig through the wall, and carry the baggage through it. In their sight, you shall lift the baggage on your shoulder and carry it out in the darkness. You shall cover your face so that you do not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel."
So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as exile baggage, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. In the darkness, I took it out, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.
In the morning, the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Son of man, has not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, said to you, 'What are you doing?' Say to them, 'Thus says the LORD GOD: This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.' Say, 'I am a sign for you; just as I have done, so it shall be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.' The prince who is among them shall lift his baggage on his shoulder in the darkness and go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it; he shall cover his face so that he may not see the land with his eyes.
I will spread my net over him, and he shall be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and there he shall die. I will scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops. I will unsheathe the sword after them. Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the lands. But I will spare a few of them from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go. Then they shall know that I am the LORD."
And the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. And 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 anxious care and drink their water with desolation, for their land shall be stripped of all that fills it, because of the violence of all who dwell in it. And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD.'"
And the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have concerning the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'? Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.' But say to them, 'The days draw near, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I the LORD will speak the word that I speak, and it will come to pass; it will no longer be delayed. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the LORD GOD.'"
And the word of the LORD came to me saying, "Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times far off.' Therefore 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 fulfilled, declares the LORD GOD.'"