1The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
2Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house—those who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
3And you, son of man, make for yourself baggage for exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes; you shall go into exile from your place to another place before their eyes. Perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house.
4You shall bring out your baggage like baggage for exile by day before their eyes, and you yourself shall go out in the evening before their eyes, like those going out into exile.
5Before their eyes dig through the wall, and carry your belongings out through it.
6Before their eyes lift it on your shoulder; carry it out in the dark. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.
7So I did just as I was commanded: I brought out my baggage like baggage for exile by day, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand; in the dark I brought it out, carrying it on my shoulder before their eyes.
8In the morning the word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
9Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’
10Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.’
11Say, ‘I am a sign for you: as I have done, so it will be done to them; into exile, into captivity they will go.’
12And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out; they shall dig through the wall to bring it out through it. He shall cover his face so that he does not see the land with his eyes.
13I will spread my net over him, and he shall be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it, and there he shall die.
14And all who are around him, his helpers, and all his troops, I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheath a sword after them.
15Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the lands.
16But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, so that they may recount all their abominations among the nations where they go; and they will know that I am Yahweh.
17The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
18Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with shaking and with anxiety.
19And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, concerning the soil of Israel: They shall eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in horror, so that her land may be stripped of all its fullness because of the violence of all who dwell in it.’
20And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; then you will know that I am Yahweh.
21The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
22Son of man, what is this proverb you have concerning the soil of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision perishes’?
23Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.’ Rather, say to them, ‘The days have drawn near, and the fulfillment of every vision.’
24For there shall no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.
25For I am Yahweh; I will speak the word that I speak, and it will be done. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak a word and do it, declares the Lord Yahweh.
26The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:
27Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days off, and he prophesies of distant times.’
28Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: None of my words will be delayed any longer; the word that I speak will be done, declares the Lord Yahweh.’
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