The Boiling Pot

24:1 The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month1: 24:2 “Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege2 to Jerusalem3 this very day. 24:3 Recite a proverb to this rebellious house4 and say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says:

“ ‘Set on the pot,5 set it on,

pour water in it too;

24:4 add the pieces of meat to it,

every good piece,

the thigh and the shoulder;

fill it with choice bones.

24:5 Take the choice bone of the flock,

heap up bones under it;

boil rapidly,

and boil its bones in it.

24:6 “ ‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says:

Woe to the city of bloodshed,

the pot whose rot6 is in it,

whose rot has not been removed7 from it!

Empty it piece by piece.

No lot has fallen on it.8

24:7 For her blood was in it;

she poured it on an exposed rock;

she did not pour it on the ground to cover it up with dust.

24:8 To arouse anger, to take vengeance,

I have placed her blood on an exposed rock so that it cannot be covered up.

24:9 “ ‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says:

Woe to the city of bloodshed!

I will also make the pile high.

24:10 Pile up the bones, kindle the fire;

cook the meat well, mix in the spices,

let the bones be charred.

24:11 Set the empty pot on the coals,9

until it becomes hot and its copper glows,

until its uncleanness melts within it and its rot10 is consumed.

24:12 It has tried my patience;11

yet its thick rot is not removed12 from it.

Subject its rot to the fire!13

24:13 You mix uncleanness with obscene conduct.14

I tried to cleanse you,15 but you are not clean.

You will not be cleansed from your uncleanness16

until I have exhausted my anger on you.

24:14 “ ‘I the Lord have spoken; judgment17 is coming and I will act! I will not relent, or show pity, or be sorry!18 I will judge you19 according to your conduct20 and your deeds, declares the sovereign Lord.’ ”