Ezekiel 12

The Exile Acted Out

1 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear, because they are a rebellious house.

3 So you, son of man, pack up your exile bag and leave during the day while they are watching. Go from where you are to another place in their sight. Maybe they will understand, even though they are a rebellious house.

4 Bring your belongings out in the daytime like an exile’s gear, right in front of them. Then in the evening, go out in their sight like someone going into exile.

5 Dig through the wall while they are watching and carry your stuff out through it.

6 Lift it onto your shoulder in their sight and carry it out at dusk. Cover your face so you cannot see the land, because I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”

7 So I did exactly as I was told. I brought my belongings out during the day like exile gear, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. At dusk I carried my stuff out on my shoulder while they watched.

8 In the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, asked you, ‘What are you doing?’

10 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: This message is about the prince in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel living there.’

11 Say, ‘I am a sign to you. Just as I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.’

12 The prince who is among them will lift his baggage onto his shoulder at dusk and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land with his eyes.

13 I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans, yet he will not see it, and there he will die.

14 I will scatter to every wind all those around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will draw out a sword after them.

15 Then they will know that I am the LORD when I scatter them among the nations and spread them through the lands.

16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine, and plague, so they can tell about all their disgusting practices among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

False Confidence Exposed

17 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

18 “Son of man, eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with shaking and anxiety.

19 Say to the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says about the people living in Jerusalem and the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in despair, because their land will be stripped of everything in it due to the violence of everyone living there.

20 The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

No More Delay

21 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

22 “Son of man, what is this saying you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days drag on, and every vision fails’,

23 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to this saying, and they will no longer repeat it in Israel.’ But say to them, ‘The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision.’

24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

25 For I am the LORD. I will speak, and whatever word I speak will be done. It will no longer be delayed, because in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and carry it out,” declares the Lord GOD.

26 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

27 “Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies about distant times.’

28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be carried out,’ declares the Lord GOD.”