Ezekiel 12

1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

The LORD’s word also came to me, saying,

2 Son of man, you are living among an uncontrolled people, who have eyes to see but see not, and ears for hearing but they do not give ear; for they are an uncontrolled people.

“Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house.

3 And you, O son of man, by day, before their eyes, get ready the vessels of one who is taken away, and go away from your place to another place before their eyes: it may be that they will see, though they are an uncontrolled people.

“Therefore, you son of man, prepare your baggage for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.

4 By day, before their eyes, take out your vessels like those of one who is taken away: and go out in the evening before their eyes, like those who are taken away as prisoners.

You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile.

5 Make a hole in the wall, before their eyes, and go out through it.

Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your baggage out that way.

6 And before their eyes, take your goods on your back and go out in the dark; go with your face covered: for I have made you a sign to the children of Israel.

In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”

7 And I did as I was ordered: I took out my vessels by day, like those of one who is taken away, and in the evening I made a hole through the wall with a tent-pin; and in the dark I went out, taking my things on my back before their eyes.

I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.

8 And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

In the morning, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

9 Son of man, has not Israel, the uncontrolled people, said to you, What are you doing?

“Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’

10 You are to say to them, This is what the Lord has said: This word has to do with the ruler in Jerusalem and all the children of Israel in it.

“Say to them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel amongst whom they are.”’

11 Say, I am your sign: as I have done, so will it be done to them: they will go away as prisoners.

“Say, ‘I am your sign. As I have done, so will it be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.

12 And the ruler who is among them will take his goods on his back in the dark and go out: he will make a hole in the wall through which to go out: he will have his face covered so that he may not be seen.

“‘The prince who is amongst them will bear his baggage on his shoulder in the dark, and will go out. They will dig through the wall to carry things out that way. He will cover his face, because he will not see the land with his eyes.

13 And my net will be stretched out on him, and he will be taken in my cords: and I will take him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldaeans; but he will not see it, and there death will come to him.

I will also spread my net on him, and he will be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Kasdim; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.

14 And all his helpers round about him and all his armies I will send in flight to every wind; and I will let loose a sword after them.

I will scatter towards every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands. I will draw out the sword after them.

15 And they will be certain that I am the Lord, when I send them in flight among the nations, driving them out through the countries.

“‘They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them amongst the nations and scatter them through the countries.

16 But a small number of them I will keep from the sword, from the need of food, and from disease, so that they may make clear all their disgusting ways among the nations where they come; and they will be certain that I am the Lord.

But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations amongst the nations where they come. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

17 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

18 Son of man, take your food with shaking fear, and your water with trouble and care;

“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.

19 And say to the people of the land, This is what the Lord has said about the people of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: They will take their food with care and their drink with wonder, so that all the wealth of their land may be taken from it because of the violent ways of the people living in it.

Tell the people of the land, ‘The Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Eretz-Israel: “They will eat their bread with fearfulness and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein.

20 And the peopled towns will be made waste, and the land will become a wonder; and you will be certain that I am the Lord.

The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’”

21 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

22 Son of man, what is this saying which you have about the land of Israel, The time is long and every vision comes to nothing?

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in Eretz-Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?

23 For this cause say to them, This is what the Lord has said: I have made this saying come to an end, and it will no longer be used as a common saying in Israel; but say to them, The days are near, and the effect of every vision.

Tell them therefore, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel;”’ but tell them, ‘“The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision.

24 For there will be no more false visions or smooth use of secret arts in Israel.

For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

25 For I am the Lord; I will say the word and what I say I will do; it will not be put off: for in your days, O uncontrolled people, I will say the word and do it, says the Lord.

For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’”

26 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Again the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

27 Son of man, see, the children of Israel say, The vision which he sees is for the days which are a long way off, and his words are of times still far away.

“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’

28 Say to them then, This is what the Lord has said: Not one of my words will be put off any longer, but what I say I will do, says the Lord.

“Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says the Lord GOD.’”