Ezekiel 12

An exile’s belongings

1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, you live among a rebellious household. They have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious household. 3So you, son of man, pack an exile’s belongings. Go into exile in daylight, before their eyes. Move from your place to another place before their eyes. Perhaps they will see, though they are a rebellious household. 4Bring your belongings out in daylight before their eyes, as belongings for exile. Then go out in the evening before their eyes, as people go into exile. 5Before their eyes, dig through the wall and carry your belongings out through it. 6Before their eyes, carry them on your shoulder and take them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” 7I did as I was commanded. By day I brought out my belongings as belongings for exile. In the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. In the dark I carried them out on my shoulder before their eyes.

The meaning of the sign

8In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: 9“Son of man, has not the house of Israel, that rebellious household, asked you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10Tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel living there. 11Say, ‘I am a sign to you. What I have done will be done to them: they will go into exile, into captivity.’ 12The prince among them will carry his belongings on his shoulder and leave in the dark. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his own eyes. 13I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. 14I will scatter to every wind all who surround him—his helpers and all his troops—and draw a sword after them. 15They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through other lands. 16But I will spare a few from sword, famine, and plague, so they may recount all their abominations among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Eating in anxiety

17The word of the LORD came to me: 18“Son of man, eat your bread trembling, and drink your water with shaking and anxiety. 19Tell the people of the land: This is what the Lord GOD says about the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread in anxiety and drink their water in dismay, for their land will be stripped of all it holds because of the violence of everyone living in it. 20The inhabited cities will become ruins, and the land will become a waste. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

No more delay

21The word of the LORD came to me: 22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days drag on, and every vision comes to nothing’? 23Therefore tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to this proverb. They will no longer repeat it in Israel. Instead, tell them, ‘The days are near, and so is the fulfillment of every vision.’ 24There will no longer be any empty vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25For I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be done. It will be delayed no longer. In your own days, rebellious household, I will speak a word and carry it out, declares the Lord GOD.” 26The word of the LORD came to me: 27“Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many days from now. He is prophesying about distant times.’ 28Therefore tell them: This is what the Lord GOD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be done, declares the Lord GOD.”