Ezekiel 12
1 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
A message from the Lord came to me, saying,
2 'Son of man, in the midst of the rebellious house thou art dwelling, that have eyes to see, and they have not seen; ears they have to hear, and they have not heard; for a rebellious house [are] they.
“Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes to see but they don't see, and ears to hear but they don't hear, because they are rebellious people.
3 And thou, son of man, make to thee vessels of removal, and remove by day before their eyes, and thou hast removed from thy place unto another place before their eyes, it may be they consider, for a rebellious house they [are].
So, son of man, go and pack your bags as if you're going into exile. As people watch, get everything ready during the day so you can leave where you are and go somewhere else. Maybe they will realize what this means, even though they are rebellious people.
4 And thou hast brought forth thy vessels as vessels of removal by day before their eyes, and thou, thou dost go forth at even before their eyes, as the goings forth of a removal.
Take your bags out for traveling into exile during the day while they watch. But you yourself are to leave in the evening as they watch, just like someone going into exile.
5 Before their eyes dig for thee through the wall, and thou hast brought forth by it.
While they go on watching, knock down part of the wall of your house and take your belongings out through the hole.
6 Before their eyes on the shoulder thou dost bear, in the darkness thou dost bring forth, thy face thou dost cover, and thou dost not see the earth, for a type I have given thee to the house of Israel.'
When it gets dark, as they continue to watch, put your bags on your shoulder and carry them as you leave. Cover your face so that you can't see the country you're leaving behind, because I'm providing you as a sign to warn the people of Israel.”
7 And I do so, as I have been commanded; my vessels I have brought forth as vessels of removal by day, and at even I have dug for me through the wall with the hand; in the darkness I have brought forth, on the shoulder I have borne away, before their eyes.
So I did as I was told. I took my bags out to go into exile during the day, and in the evening I knocked down part of the wall of my house with my bare hands. I took my belongings out when it got dark, carrying them on my shoulder while they watched.
8 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, in the morning, saying,
In the morning a message from the Lord came to me, saying,
9 'Son of man, have they not said unto thee — the house of Israel — the rebellious house — What art thou doing?
“Son of man, haven't those rebellious Israelites asked you, ‘What are you doing?’
10 say unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: 'The prince [is] this burden in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel who are in their midst.
Tell them that this is what the Lord God says: ‘This prophetic sign concerns the prince who is ruling in Jerusalem and all the people of Israel who are living there.’
11 Say: I [am] your type; as I have done so it is done to them, into a removal, into a captivity, they do go.
You are to say to them, ‘I'm a sign to you.’ Just as it was demonstrated here, so it will happen to them—they will go into exile as prisoners.
12 As to the prince who [is] in their midst, on the shoulder he beareth in the darkness, and he goeth forth, through the wall they dig to bring forth by it, his face he covereth, that he may not look on the very surface of the land.
When it gets dark, their prince will also put his bags on his shoulder and leave. They will knock down the wall to take him away. He will cover his face so he can't see the country he's leaving behind.
13 And I have spread My net for him, and he hath been caught in My snare, and I have brought him in to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, and it he doth not see — and there doth he die.
But I will catch him in my net; I will trap him in my snare. I will take him to Babylon in the country of Babylonia. However, won't see it, and he'll die there.
14 'And all who are round about him to help him, and all his bands, I do scatter to every wind, and a sword I draw out after them.
I'm going to scatter all his attendants and all his troops in every direction, and I will chase after them with a drawn sword.
15 And they have known that I [am] Jehovah, in My scattering them among nations, and I have spread them through lands;
They will know that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the different nations and countries.
16 and I have left of them, a few in number, from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, so that they recount all their abominations among the nations whither they have come, and they have known that I [am] Jehovah.'
But I will let a few of them survive war, famine, and disease so that they can tell the nations where they're exiled about all their disgusting sins. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
17 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
A message from the Lord came to me, saying,
18 'Son of man, thy bread in haste thou dost eat, and thy water with trembling and with fear thou dost drink;
“Son of man, tremble as you eat your bread; shake with worry as you drink your water.
19 and thou hast said unto the people of the land, Thus said the Lord Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, concerning the land of Israel: Their bread with fear they do eat, and their water with astonishment drink, because its land is desolate, because of its fulness, because of the violence of all who are dwelling in it.
Then explain to the people of this country that this is what the Lord God says to those living in Jerusalem and in the country of Israel: They will be worried as eat their bread and they will be in despair as they drink their water, for their land will be stripped bare because of the violent crimes committed by everyone who lives there.
20 And the cities that are inhabited are laid waste, and the land is a desolation, and ye have known that I [am] Jehovah.'
The towns will be destroyed, and the countryside turned into a wasteland. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
21 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,
22 'Son of man, what [is] this simile to you, concerning the land of Israel, saying, Prolonged are the days, and perished hath every vision?
“Son of man, what's this proverb you people have in the land of Israel: ‘Time goes by, and no vision comes true’?
23 therefore say unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: I have caused this simile to cease, And they use it not as a simile again in Israel, But speak to them: Drawn near have the days, And spoken hath every vision.
So tell them that this is what the Lord God says: ‘I will put a stop to this proverb. No one in Israel will quote it anymore.’ Instead tell them: The time is soon coming when every vision will come true.
24 For there is no more any vain vision, and flattering divination, In the midst of the house of Israel.
There won't be any more false visions or fake prophecies among the Israelites,
25 For I [am] Jehovah, I speak, The word that I speak — it is done, It is not prolonged any more, For, in your days, O rebellious house, I speak a word, and I have done it, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.'
because I, the Lord, will say whatever I choose to say, and it will happen immediately. Right now, you rebellious people, I will say something and make sure it happens, declares the Lord God.”
26 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying:
An additional message from the Lord came to me, saying,
27 'Son of man, lo, the house of Israel are saying, The vision that he is seeing [is] for many days, and of times far off he is prophesying,
“Son of man, notice what the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that he's describing won't happen for a long time. He's prophesying about a time in the distant future.’
28 therefore say unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: None of my words are prolonged any more, When I speak a word — it is done, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah!'
So tell them that this is what the Lord God says: Everything I've said is about to happen. There won't be any more delay, declares the Lord God.”
