1In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:2‘Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.3Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘ “Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.4Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces – the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;5take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to the boil and cook the bones in it.6‘ “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘ “Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.7‘ “For the blood she shed is in her midst: she poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it.8To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.9‘ “Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘ “Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.10So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.11Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.12It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.13‘ “Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.14‘ “I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.” ’
Ezekiel’s wife dies
15The word of the Lord came to me:16‘Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.17Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your moustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.’18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.19Then the people asked me, ‘Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?’20So I said to them, ‘The word of the Lord came to me:21say to the people of Israel, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary – the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.22And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your moustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.23You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of[1] your sins and groan among yourselves.24Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.”25‘And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well –26on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news.27At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.’
Ezekiel 24
English Standard Version
The Siege of Jerusalem
1In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me: (Eze 20:1)2“Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. (Eze 2:1)3And utter a parable to the rebellious house and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: “Set on the pot, set it on; pour in water also; (2Ki 4:38; Eze 2:5; Eze 11:3; Eze 11:7; Eze 11:11; Eze 17:2; Eze 20:49)4put in it the pieces of meat, all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with choice bones. (1Sa 9:24)5Take the choicest one of the flock; pile the logs[1] under it; boil it well; seethe also its bones in it.6“Therefore thus says the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice.[2] (Eze 22:2; Eze 24:3; Na 3:1)7For the blood she has shed is in her midst; she put it on the bare rock; she did not pour it out on the ground to cover it with dust. (Le 17:13; De 12:16; De 12:24; Eze 26:4; Eze 26:14)8To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it may not be covered.9Therefore thus says the Lord God: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great. (Isa 30:33)10Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil the meat well, mix in the spices,[3] and let the bones be burned up.11Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, that its uncleanness may be melted in it, its corrosion consumed. (Eze 22:15)12She has wearied herself with toil;[4] its abundant corrosion does not go out of it. Into the fire with its corrosion! (Jer 2:22)13On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my fury upon you. (Isa 22:14; Eze 5:13)14I am the Lord. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord God.” (Nu 23:19; 1Sa 15:29; Eze 5:11; Eze 17:24; Eze 20:43; Eze 23:45)
Ezekiel’s Wife Dies
15The word of the Lord came to me:16“Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. (Eze 2:1)17Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” (Le 10:6; 2Sa 15:30; Isa 20:2; Jer 16:5; Ho 9:4)18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded. (Eze 12:7; Eze 24:16; Eze 37:7)19And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?” (Eze 12:9)20Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me:21‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword. (2Ch 36:17; Jer 7:14; Eze 7:21; Eze 23:47)22And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. (Eze 12:11; Eze 24:17)23Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another. (Eze 4:17; Eze 24:22)24Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’ (Eze 4:3; Eze 6:7; Eze 24:22; Eze 24:27)25“As for you, son of man, surely on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their soul’s desire, and also their sons and daughters, (Eze 2:1; Eze 24:21)26on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news. (Eze 33:21)27On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.” (Eze 3:26; Eze 4:3; Eze 6:7; Eze 24:24; Eze 29:21)