1The word of the Lord came to me:2‘Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.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 they will understand, though they are a rebellious people.4During 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.5While they watch, dig through the wall 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 to the Israelites.’7So I did as I was commanded. 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?”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 sign to you.” ‘As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.12‘The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk 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.13I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die.14I will scatter to the winds all those around him – his staff and all his troops – and I will pursue them with drawn sword.15‘They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations 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.’17The word of the Lord came to me:18‘Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, 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 in it because of the violence of all who live there.20The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” ’
There will be no delay
21The word of the Lord came to me:22‘Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing”?23Say 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 when every vision will be fulfilled.24For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel.25But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfil whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.” ’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.”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.” ’
Ezekiel 12
English Standard Version
Judah’s Captivity Symbolized
1The word of the Lord came to me:2“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. (Isa 42:18; Eze 2:1; Eze 2:3; Eze 2:5; Mt 13:13)3As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though[1] they are a rebellious house. (Jer 36:3; Eze 4:12; Eze 12:4; Eze 12:7; Eze 21:6; Eze 37:20; Eze 43:11)4You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. (2Ki 25:4; Jer 39:4; Jer 52:7)5In their sight dig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. (Eze 8:8)6In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.” (Eze 4:3)7And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight. (Eze 12:3; Eze 24:18; Eze 37:7)8In the morning the word of the Lord came to me:9“Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ (Eze 2:1; Eze 2:3; Eze 2:5; Eze 17:12; Eze 24:19; Eze 37:18)10Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: This oracle concerns[2] the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’[3] (2Ch 36:11; Eze 21:25)11Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ (Eze 12:6; Eze 24:24)12And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. (2Ki 25:4; Eze 12:5; Eze 12:6)13And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. (2Ki 25:7; Jer 32:4; Jer 52:11; Eze 17:20; Eze 19:8; Eze 32:3; Ho 7:12)14And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. (2Ki 25:5; Eze 5:2; Eze 5:10)15And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. (Eze 6:7)16But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord.” (Eze 6:7; Eze 6:8; Eze 14:22)17And the word of the Lord came to me:18“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. (Eze 2:1; Eze 4:10)19And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink water in dismay. In this way her land will be stripped of all it contains, on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it. (Eze 4:16; Eze 7:11; Eze 7:23; Eze 32:15; Zec 7:14)20And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” (Eze 6:6)21And the word of the Lord came to me:22“Son of man, what is this proverb that you[4] have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? (Eze 11:3; Eze 12:27; Eze 16:44; Eze 18:2; 2Pe 3:4)23Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, The days are near, and the fulfillment[5] of every vision. (Eze 7:7; Eze 7:12)24For there shall be no more any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. (Eze 13:6; Eze 13:23)25For I am the Lord; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.” (Isa 13:22; Isa 55:11; Eze 2:3; Eze 2:5)26And the word of the Lord came to me:27“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ (Eze 12:22; Eze 38:8; Da 8:26; Da 10:14; Am 6:3; 2Pe 3:4)28Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God.” (Eze 12:25)