1 T hen the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

The Word of the Lord came to me, saying,

2 “ Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

“Son of man, you live among sinful people. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear. For they are sinful people.

3 T herefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand though they are a rebellious house.

So, son of man, get your things ready to take with you to another land, and let them see you leave during the day. Let them see you leave to go to another place. It may be that they will understand even if they are sinful people.

4 B ring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out at evening in their sight, as those going into exile.

Take your things with you during the day, with them watching you. Take the things you will need for going to another land. Then let them see you go out at evening, like those who go to another land.

5 D ig a hole through the wall in their sight and go out through it.

While they watch, dig a hole through the wall and go out through it.

6 L oad the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel.”

Load your things on your shoulder while they watch, and carry the load out in the dark. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you as something special for the people of Israel to see.”

7 I did so, as I had been commanded. By day I brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the dark and carried the baggage on my shoulder in their sight.

I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my things that I would need to go to another land. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I went out in the dark and carried the load on my shoulder while they watched.

8 I n the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

In the morning the Word of the Lord came to me, saying,

9 “ Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘ What are you doing?’

“Son of man, have not the sinful people of Israel said to you, ‘What are you doing?’

10 S ay to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are in it.”’

Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “This word is about the leader in Jerusalem, as well as all the people of Israel who are in it.”’

11 S ay, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile, into captivity.’

Tell them, ‘I am something special for you to see. As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will be taken to another land and held there.’

12 T he prince who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out. He will cover his face so that he can not see the land with his eyes.

The leader among them will load his things on his shoulder in the dark and go out. A hole will be dug through the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes.

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

I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My trap. I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Babylonians, yet he will not see it. And he will die there.

14 I will scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them.

I will divide all his helpers and all his army who are around him to the four winds and have the sword follow them.

15 S o they will know that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries.

Then they will know that I am the Lord when I divide them among the nations, and spread them among the countries.

16 B ut I will spare a few of them from the sword, the famine and the pestilence that they may tell all their abominations among the nations where they go, and may know that I am the Lord.”

But I will let a few of them get away from the sword, hunger and disease. They will tell about all their sinful ways to the nations where they go. And they will know that I am the Lord.”

17 M oreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying,

The Word of the Lord came to me, saying,

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

“Son of man, shake in fear as you eat your bread and drink your water.

19 T hen say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because their land will be stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it.

Then tell the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: “They will be afraid as they eat their bread, and drink their water in fear. For their land will lay waste because of the fighting of all who live in it.

20 T he inhabited cities will be laid waste and the land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the Lord.”’”

The cities where people live will be laid waste, and the land will be destroyed. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”’”

21 T hen the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

The Word of the Lord came to me, saying,

22 “ Son of man, what is this proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long and every vision fails’?

“Son of man, what is this saying you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are long and every special dream comes to nothing’?

23 T herefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “ The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision.

Tell them, ‘The Lord God says, “I will make this saying come to an end, so that they will no longer use it as a saying in Israel.’” But tell them, ‘The days are near when all the special dreams from God will come true.

24 F or there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.

For there will be no more false dreams or good sounding words that do not come true.

25 F or I the Lord will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.’”

For I the Lord will speak, and whatever I say will be done. It will no longer be held back. For in your days, O sinful people, I will speak the word and do it,’ says the Lord God.”

26 F urthermore, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Again the Word of the Lord came to me, saying,

27 “ Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’

“Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The special dream he sees will not come to pass for many years. He is speaking of times far in the future.’

28 T herefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,”’” declares the Lord God.

So tell them, ‘The Lord God says, “None of My words will be held back any longer. Whatever I say will be done,’” says the Lord God.”