Ezekiel 24

1 In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the Lord’s word came to me. 2 “Son of man, record this very day, the day Babylon’s king took his position against Jerusalem.” 3 “Speak a parable to the rebellious house. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: Set the cauldron in place and pour water into it.’” 4 “Put the pieces in it—every choice piece, the leg and shoulder removed from the bones.” 5 “Take them from the choicest cattle and burn the bones beneath them. It has boiled and boiled, and its bones are cooked inside it.” 6 “Therefore, this is what the Lord says: Woe to the city of bloodshed, the cauldron whose scum has not come out! She brought out her pieces one by one; no lot fell on her.” 7 “Her blood is within her. I placed it on bare rock rather than pouring it on the ground where earth could cover it.” 8 “I placed her blood on bare rock so it would not be covered and so my wrath would rise in complete vengeance.” 9 “Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I will also make the fire great.” 10 “I will pile on the wood and kindle the fire so the meat melts away and the broth boils down.” 11 “Then set the cauldron on the coals so its bronze grows hot, its filth melts within it, and its scum is consumed.” 12 “Yet its abundant scum will not come out of it; its scum will be put to shame.” 13 “This is because you defiled yourself. You will not be cleansed again until I bring my wrath against you to its end.” 14 “I, the Lord, have spoken. It will come, and I will carry it out. I will not delay or show mercy. I will judge you according to your conduct and devisings, says the Lord. I will judge you according to your bloodshed and devisings, you who are famously unclean and so thoroughly rebellious.” 15 The Lord’s word came to me. 16 “Son of man, look, I am taking the desire of your eyes from you by force. You must not lament or weep.” 17 “It is a groaning of blood, of the loins, of mourning. Your hair must not be braided, and your sandals stay on your feet. Do not accept comfort from people’s lips or eat their bread.” [a] 18 I spoke to the people in the morning, as he had commanded me, and my wife died that evening. The next morning I did as I had been commanded. 19 The people asked me, 19 “Will you not tell us what these things you are doing mean?” 20 Then I told them, 20 “The Lord’s word came to me.” 21 “Tell the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I will treat my holy place as common—the boast of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the concern of your lives. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’” 22 “You will do as I have done. You will not accept comfort from people’s lips or eat their bread.” 23 “You will keep your hair arranged and your sandals on your feet. You will not lament or weep, but you will waste away in your wrongdoings and comfort one another.” 24 “Ezekiel will serve as a sign for you. When these things happen, you will do everything he has done. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” 25 “Son of man, on the day I take away their strength, proud confidence, the desire of their eyes, the pride of their lives, and their sons and daughters,” 26 “On that day, will a survivor not come to report the news in your hearing?” 27 “on that day your mouth will open when you meet the survivor. You will speak and no longer be silent. You will serve as a sign for them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”