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Ezekiel 12

Judah’s Captivity Symbolized

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 ^a“Son of man, you dwell in the midst of ^ba rebellious house ^cwho have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are ^da rebellious house. 3 As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself ^ean exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day ^fin their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place ^gin their sight. ^hPerhaps they will understand, though ^{▼

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Or will see that} they are a rebellious house. 4 You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself ^jat evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile. 5 In their sight ^kdig through the wall, and bring your baggage out through it. 6 In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you ^la sign for the house of Israel.”

7 ^mAnd I did as I was commanded. ⁿI brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.

8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9 ^o“Son of man, has not the house of Israel ^pthe rebellious house, said to you, ^q‘What are you doing?’ 10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: This oracle concerns ^{▼

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Or This burden is} ^sthe prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.’ ^{▼

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Hebrew in the midst of them} 11 Say ^u‘I am a sign for you: ^vas I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.’ 12 ^wAnd the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. ^xThey shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. ^yHe shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes. 13 ^zAnd I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And ^aaI will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans ^abyet he shall not see it, and he shall die there. 14 ^acAnd I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops ^adand I will unsheathe the sword after them. 15 ^aeAnd they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries. 16 ^afBut I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go ^agand may know that I am the Lord.”

17 And the word of the Lord came to me: 18 ^ah“Son of man ^aieat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with anxiety. 19 And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: ^ajThey shall eat their bread with anxiety, ^akand drink water in dismay. In this way ^alher land will be stripped of all it contains, ^amon account of the violence of all those who dwell in it. 20 ^anAnd the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

21 And the word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man ^aowhat is this proverb that you ^{▼

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The Hebrew for you is plural} have about the land of Israel, saying ^aq‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing’? 23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, ^arThe days are near, and the fulfillment ^{▼

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Hebrew word} of every vision. 24 ^atFor there shall be no more any ^aufalse vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the Lord; I will speak ^avthe word that I will speak, and it will be performed. ^awIt will no longer be delayed, but in your days ^axO rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord God.”

26 And the word of the Lord came to me: 27 “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say ^ay‘The vision that he sees is ^azfor many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: ^baNone of my words will be delayed any longer ^bbbut the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God.”