Ezekiel 12

Ezekiel Prepares for Exile

1Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2Son of man, you live in the amidst of the brebellious house, who chave eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house. 3Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. dPerhaps they will
Or see that they are
understand though they are a rebellious house.
4Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out fat evening in their sight, as those going into exile. 5Dig a hole through the wall in their sight and
Lit bring it out
go out through it.
6Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall hcover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a isign to the house of Israel.”

7I jdid so, as I had been commanded. By day I kbrought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the dark and carried the baggage on my shoulder in their sight.

8In the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the lrebellious house, said to you, ‘ mWhat are you doing?’ 10Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord
Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord , and so throughout the ch
God, “This
Or oracle
,
pburden concerns the prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are
Lit in their midst
in it.”’
11Say, ‘I am
Lit your sign
a ssign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will tgo into exile, into captivity.’
12“The uprince who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out.
I.e. the king’s attendants
They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out. He will cover his face so that he can not see the land with his eyes.
13I will also spread My wnet over him, and he will be caught in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will xnot see it, though he will die there. 14“I will yscatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them. 15“So they will zknow that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries. 16“But I will
Lit leave over
spare a few of them from the absword, the famine and the pestilence that they may tell all their abominations among the nations where they go, and
Or they will know
may adknow that I am the Lord.”

17Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying, 18Son of man, aeeat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety. 19Then say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because
Lit her
their land will be
Lit desolate
,
ahstripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it.
20The inhabited aicities will be laid waste and the ajland will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the Lord.”’”

21Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22Son of man, what is this akproverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The aldays are long and every amvision fails’? 23Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, anThe days draw near as well as the
Lit word
fulfillment of every vision.
24For there will no longer be any
Lit vain
,
aqfalse vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.
25“For I the Lord will speak, and whatever arword I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in asyour days, O atrebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”

26Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for aumany
Lit days
years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’
28Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord God.
Copyright information for NASB1995