Ezekiel 12

1 The Lord’s word came to me. 2 “Son of man, you live among the wrongdoings of people who have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, because they are a rebellious house.” 3 “Therefore, son of man, prepare baggage for exile during the day while they watch. You will be taken from your place to another place before their eyes, so they may see, because they are a rebellious house.” 4 “Carry out your baggage for exile during the day before their eyes. In the evening, go out before them as a captive goes out.” 5 “Dig through the wall and pass through it while they watch.” 6 “You will be lifted on people’s shoulders and carried out secretly. Cover your face so you do not see the ground, because I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” 7 I did everything he commanded me. During the day I carried out my baggage for exile. In the evening I dug through the wall and went out secretly, lifted on people’s shoulders before them. 8 In the morning, the Lord’s word came to me. 9 “Son of man, did the rebellious house of Israel not ask you, ‘What are you doing?’” 10 “Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says to the ruler and leader in Jerusalem, and to the whole house of Israel among them.’” 11 “Say, ‘I am acting out signs in the city’s midst. What I have done will happen to them: they will go into exile and captivity.’” 12 “The ruler among them will be lifted on shoulders and carried out secretly through the wall. He will dig through it to escape. He will cover his face so no eye sees him, and he himself will not see the ground.” 13 “I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, though he will die there.” 14 “I will scatter to every wind all his attendants and everyone helping him, and I will draw a sword after them.” 15 “They will know that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries.” 16 “I will spare a few of them from sword, famine, and plague, so they may report all their lawless deeds among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” 17 The Lord’s word came to me. 18 “Son of man, eat your bread in sorrow and drink your water in torment and affliction.” 19 “Tell the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord says to Jerusalem’s residents in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread in scarcity and drink their water in ruin. The land and everything in it will be devastated because everyone living there is ungodly.’” 20 “Their inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become a ruin. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” 21 The Lord’s word came to me. 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb you repeat in the land of Israel: ‘The days drag on, and the vision has perished’?” 23 “Therefore tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will put an end to this proverb, and the house of Israel will no longer use it.’ Tell them, ‘The days are near, along with the word of every vision.’” 24 “There will no longer be any false vision or anyone divining flattery among the people of Israel.” 25 “For I, the Lord, will speak my words and carry them out without further delay. In your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and carry it out, says the Lord.” 26 The Lord’s word came to me. 27 “Son of man, look, the rebellious house of Israel keeps saying, ‘The vision this man sees concerns many days from now, and he prophesies about times far away.’” 28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak, I will carry it out,’ says the Lord.”