12
1 The
LORD’s word also
came to me,
saying,
2 “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 “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 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 Dig
through the wall
in their sight,
and carry
your baggage out
that way.
6 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 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 In
the morning, the
LORD’s word came
to me, saying,
9 “Son
of man, hasn’t the
house of Israel,
the rebellious
house, said to you,
‘What are you
doing?’
10 “Say
to them, ‘The
Lord GOD says: “This
burden concerns the
prince in
Jerusalem, and all
the house of
Israel among whom
they are.” ’
11 “Say, ‘I am
your sign. As
I have done, so
will it be done
to them. They
will go into
exile, into
captivity.
12 “ ‘The
prince who is
among 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 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
Chaldeans; yet he
will not see
it, though he will
die there.
14 I
will scatter toward
every wind all
who are around
him to help
him, and all
his bands. I will
draw out the
sword after them.
15 “ ‘They
will know that
I am the
LORD when I
disperse them among
the nations and
scatter them
through the countries.
16 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 among
the nations where
they come. Then
they will know
that I am
the LORD.’ ”
17 Moreover
the LORD’s word
came to me,
saying,
18 “Son
of man, eat
your bread with
quaking, and drink
your water with
trembling and
with fearfulness.
19 Tell
the people of
the land, ‘The
Lord GOD says
concerning the
inhabitants of
Jerusalem and
the land of 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 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 The
LORD’s word came
to me, saying,
22 “Son
of man, what
is this proverb
that you have
in the land of
Israel, saying, ‘The
days are prolonged,
and every
vision fails’?
23 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
fulfillment of
every vision.
24 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
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 LORD’s word
came to me,
saying,
27 “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 “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.’ ”