Ezekiel 12

The Exile Symbolized

12The word of the Lord came to me: ²“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.^y They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.^z

³“Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps^a they will understand,^b though they are a rebellious people.^{c 4}During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.^{d 5}While they watch, dig through the wall^e and take your belongings out through it. ⁶Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign^f to the Israelites.”

⁷So I did as I was commanded.^g During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.

⁸In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: ⁹“Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’^h

¹⁰“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ ¹¹Say to them, ‘I am a signⁱ to you.’

“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.^j

¹²“The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk^k and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.^{l 13}I will spread my net^m for him, and he will be caught in my snare;ⁿ I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,^o but he will not see^p it, and there he will die.^{q 14}I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.^r

¹⁵“They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations^s and scatter them through the countries. ¹⁶But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.^t”

¹⁷The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁸“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,^u and shudder in fear as you drink your water. ¹⁹Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything^v in it because of the violence of all who live there.^{w 20}The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.^x’ ”

There Will Be No Delay

²¹The word of the Lord came to me: ²²“Son of man, what is this proverb^y you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?^{z 23}Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near^a when every vision will be fulfilled.^{b 24}For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations^c among the people of Israel. ²⁵But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.^d For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill^e whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.^f’ ”

²⁶The word of the Lord came to me: ²⁷“Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’^g

²⁸“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”