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God Brews His Judgment

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, this message came to me from the Lord:

“Son of Man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem on this very day. So compose a parable for the rebellious house. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

“Prepare your pot for boiling!
    Set it in place.
        Fill it up with water, too.
Gather together the best pieces of meat on it—
    including the thighs and the shoulders—
        and fill it with the choicest bones.
Take the best bones from the flock,
    pile wood[a] under the pot[b] for the bones,
bring it to a boil,
    and then cook the bones in it.”’”

Woe to Jerusalem

“This is what the Lord God says:

‘How terrible it is for that blood-filled city,
    to the pot whose rust remains in it,
        whose rust won’t come off.
Empty it one piece at a time.
    Don’t let a lot fall on it.
Her blood was in it.
    She poured it out onto bare rock.
She didn’t pour it out on the ground,
    intending to cover it with dirt.
In order to stir up my anger
    and in order to take vengeance,
I set the blood on a bare rock
    so that it cannot be covered.’

“Therefore this is what the Lord God says:

‘How terrible it is for that blood-filled city—
    I’m also going to add to my[c] pile of kindling.
10 Pile up the wood!
    Make the fire burn hot.
Boil the meat!
    Mix the seasonings.
Burn those bones to a crisp!
11 Make the pot stand empty on the coals
    until its bronze glows red,[d]
its rust can be scoured off,[e]
    and its dross completely removed.
12 The pot[f] wearies me,[g]
    but its thick[h] rust won’t come off,
        even with fire.
13 There is wickedness in your obscene conduct.
    Even though I’ve cleansed you,
        your uncleanness cannot be washed away.
You cannot be cleansed again
    until my rage against you has subsided.’

14 “‘I, the Lord have spoken. It will happen, because I’m going to do it. I won’t hold back, have compassion, or change my mind.[i] They’ll judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord God.”

The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife

15 This message came to me from the Lord: 16 “Son of Man, pay attention! I’m about to take away your most precious treasure[j] with a single, fatal stroke, but you are not to mourn, weep, nor even let tears well up in your eyes.[k] 17 You are to weep in silence, but you are not to participate in mourning rituals.[l] You are to keep your turban on your head and your sandals on your feet. You are not to cover your mouth[m] or eat what your comforters bring to you.”[n]

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died that evening. The next[o] morning, I did as I had been commanded.

19 Then the people told me, “Are you going to explain what these things that you’re doing should mean to us?”

20 So I responded, “This message came to me from the Lord: 21 ‘Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: “Look! I’m about to profane my sanctuary, the source of your proud strength, the desire of your eyes, and the object of your affection. Your sons and daughters, whom you’ve left behind, will die by the sword. 22 That’s why you will soon be doing what I’ve just done. You are not to cover your mouth[p] or eat what your comforters bring to you.[q] 23 Your turbans will be on your heads and your sandals will be on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep. Instead, you’ll waste away in your sins. Every one of you will groan to his relative. 24 That’s how Ezekiel will be an example for you. You’ll be doing exactly what he has done. When it happens, then you’ll know that I am the Lord God.”’

25 “And now, Son of Man, on the day that I take their strength, joy, and glory from them, those whom they love to watch, the focus of their affection—their sons and daughters— 26 at that time,[r] a fugitive will come to you and will bring you the news.[s] 27 Your mouth will freely speak to the fugitive. You won’t be silent any longer. You’ll be a sign to them. Then they’ll know that I am the Lord.”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:5 The Heb. lacks wood
  2. Ezekiel 24:5 Lit. under it
  3. Ezekiel 24:9 The Heb. lacks my
  4. Ezekiel 24:11 Lit. its copper burns hot
  5. Ezekiel 24:11 Or is poured out
  6. Ezekiel 24:12 Lit. She
  7. Ezekiel 24:12 The Heb. lacks me
  8. Ezekiel 24:12 Lit. great
  9. Ezekiel 24:14 Or repent
  10. Ezekiel 24:16 Lit. away the desire of your eyes
  11. Ezekiel 24:16 Or tears come
  12. Ezekiel 24:17 Lit. to mourn the dead
  13. Ezekiel 24:17 Lit. moustache
  14. Ezekiel 24:17 Lit. eat the food of men
  15. Ezekiel 24:18 The Heb. lacks next
  16. Ezekiel 24:22 Lit. moustache
  17. Ezekiel 24:22 Lit. eat the food of men
  18. Ezekiel 24:26 Lit. day
  19. Ezekiel 24:26 Lit. will make ears hear

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:(A) “Son of man, record(B) this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.(C) Tell this rebellious people(D) a parable(E) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot;(F) put it on
    and pour water into it.
Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;(G)
    take the pick of the flock.(H)
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.(I)

“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe(J) to the city of bloodshed,(K)
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order(L) it comes.(M)

“‘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.(N)
To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
11 Then 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.(O)
12 It 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(P) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.(Q)

14 “‘I the Lord have spoken.(R) The time has come for me to act.(S) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,(T) nor will I relent.(U) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,(V) declares the Sovereign Lord.(W)’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow(X) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.(Y) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.(Z) 17 Groan quietly;(AA) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban(AB) fastened and your sandals(AC) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard(AD) or eat the customary food of mourners.(AE)

18 So 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.(AF)

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?(AG) Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary(AH)—the stronghold in which you take pride,(AI) the delight of your eyes,(AJ) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters(AK) you left behind will fall by the sword.(AL) 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard(AM) or eat the customary food of mourners.(AN) 23 You will keep your turbans(AO) on your heads and your sandals(AP) on your feet. You will not mourn(AQ) or weep but will waste away(AR) because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.(AS) 24 Ezekiel(AT) will be a sign(AU) 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,(AV) their heart’s desire,(AW) and their sons and daughters(AX) as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you(AY) the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.(AZ) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.(BA)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in