The Prophet Ezekiel

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 12 -

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

“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.

Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.

Bring out your baggage for exile by day, as they watch. Then in the evening, as they watch, go out like those who go into exile.

As they watch, dig through the wall and carry your belongings out through it.

And as they watch, lift your bags to your shoulder and take them out at dusk; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”

So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my bags for exile by day, and in the evening I dug through the wall by hand. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulder as they watched.

And in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, hasn’t the rebellious house of Israel asked you, ‘What are you doing?’

Tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are there.’

You are to say, ‘I am a sign to you.’ Just as it happened here,(a) so will it be done to them; they will go into exile as captives.

And at dusk the prince among them will lift his bags to his shoulder and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land.

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

And I will scatter to every wind all the attendants around him and all his troops, and I will draw a sword to chase after them.

And they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the countries.

But I will spare a few of them from sword and famine and plague, so that in the nations to which they go, they can recount all their abominations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

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

Then tell the people of the land that this is what the Lord GOD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: ‘They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who dwell in it.

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

The Presumptuous Proverb

Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?

Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’ But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.

For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations within the house of Israel,

because I, the LORD, will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass, declares the Lord GOD.’”

Furthermore, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, take note that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now; he prophesies about the distant future.’

Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘None of My words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled, declares the Lord GOD.’”

Footnotes

(a)12:11 Literally ‘I am a sign to you.’ Just as I have done; some translators close the quotation at the end of the verse.

The LORD’s word also came to me, saying,

“Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house.

“Therefore, you son of man, prepare your baggage for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.

You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile.

Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your baggage out that way.

In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”

I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.

In the morning, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’

“Say to them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.”’

“Say, ‘I am your sign. As I have done, so will it be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.

“‘The prince who is among them will bear his baggage on his shoulder in the dark, and will go out. They will dig through the wall to carry things out that way. He will cover his face, because he will not see the land with his eyes.

I will also spread my net on him, and he will be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.

I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands. I will draw out the sword after them.

“‘They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.

But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they come. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.

Tell the people of the land, ‘The Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with fearfulness and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein.

The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’”

The Presumptuous Proverb

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?

Tell them therefore, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel;”’ but tell them, ‘“The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.

For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’”

Again the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’

“Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says the Lord GOD.’”