Ezekiel 24

1 On the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year, a message from the Lord came to me, saying,

Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, write down today's date, because this is the day that the king of Babylon started his siege of Jerusalem.

“Son of man, write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.

3 Then repeat the following parable to these rebellious people. Tell them that this is what the Lord God says: Get a pot and set it on the fire. Pour in some water.

Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says, “Put the cauldron on the fire. Put it on, and also pour water into it.

4 Fill it with some good cuts of meat from the thigh and the shoulder. Put in the best bones.

Gather its pieces into it, even every good piece: the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with the choice bones.

5 Choose the best animal from the flock. Pile up the fuel underneath it. Get it boiling and cook the bones in it.

Take the choice of the flock, and also a pile of wood for the bones under the cauldron. Make it boil well. Yes, let its bones be boiled within it.”

6 So this is what the Lord God says: Disaster is coming to the city of that has shed so much blood! It is symbolized by the rusted pot, whose rust can't be cleaned off. Take out the meat bit by bit as it comes—don't choose which piece.

“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the bloody city, to the cauldron whose rust is in it, and whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece without casting lots for it.

7 For the blood she shed is still inside the city. She shed it openly on bare rock—she didn't even spill it on the ground and cover it up with dirt.

“‘“For the blood she shed is in the middle of her. She set it on the bare rock. She did not pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust.

8 In my anger and to punish, I have spilled her blood openly on bare rock, so it wouldn't be covered up.

That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the bare rock, that it should not be covered.”

9 So this is what the Lord God says: Disaster is coming to the city of that has shed so much blood. I will also pile up a large heap of firewood.

“‘Therefore the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.

10 Put on plenty of wood and light the fire. Make sure the meat is well cooked and add spices. Burn the bones.

Heap on the wood. Make the fire hot. Boil the meat well. Make the broth thick, and let the bones be burned.

11 Then put the empty pot back on the burning coals until it's hot and the copper metal glows. This will melt the dirt inside it and get rid of the rust.

Then set it empty on its coals, that it may be hot, and its bronze may burn, and that its filthiness may be molten in it, that its rust may be consumed.

12 So far it's been impossible to clean it —even fire couldn't burn out all its rust.

She is weary with toil; yet her great rust, rust by fire, does not leave her.

13 Because of your immorality you had made yourself unclean and I tried to clean you, but you refused to let me clean away your filth. So now you won't be pure again until I've finished being angry with you.

“‘“In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you and you were not cleansed, you will not be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.

14 I, the Lord, have spoken. The time is soon coming when I will do what I say. I won't change my mind or show pity, I won't stop. I will judge you by your attitude and actions, declares the Lord God.”

“‘“I, the LORD, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I will not go back. I will not spare. I will not repent. According to your ways and according to your doings, they will judge you,” says the Lord GOD.’”

15 A message from the Lord came to me, saying,

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

16 “Son of man, look, I'm about to take away the one you love the most. She will die. But you must not mourn or weep. Don't cry any tears.

“Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.

17 Mourn in silence. Don't have any rituals for the dead. Dress normally—have your turban on and put your sandals on your feet. Don't veil your face and don't eat the bread used by mourners.”

Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lips, and do not eat mourner’s bread.”

18 I talked to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did as I'd been told.

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. So I did in the morning as I was commanded.

19 The people asked me, “What are you doing? Aren't you going to explain to us what this means?”

The people asked me, “Will not you tell us what these things mean to us, that you act like this?”

20 So I told them, “A message from the Lord came to me, saying:

Then I said to them, “The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

21 Tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: I am about to make my sanctuary unclean, this place you're so proud of that you think gives you power, the place you love so much, the place that makes you happy. Your sons and daughters that you left behind will be killed by the sword.

‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

22 Then you'll do what I did. You won't veil your face or eat the bread used by mourners.

You will do as I have done. You will not cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread.

23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You won't mourn or weep, but you will die inside because of your sins, and you will groan to one another.

Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.

24 In this way Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he did. When this happens, then you will know that I am the Lord God.

Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”’”

25 You, son of man, should know that when I destroy their fortress that is their pride and joy, the place they looked to for comfort and happiness —and their sons and daughters too—

“You, son of man, should not it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart—their sons and their daughters—

26 when that happens someone who managed to get away will come and give you the news.

that in that day he who escapes will come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?

27 On that day you will be able to speak; you won't be mute any longer. This is how you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”

In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and you will speak and be no more mute. So you will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”