Ezekiel 24

The word of the LORD came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month: “Son of man, write down the date of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Tell a parable to the rebellious house and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Put on the pot, put it on, and pour water into it. Gather its pieces into it, every good piece, thigh and shoulder. Fill it with choice bones. Take the best of the flock and pile bones beneath it as well. Make it boil vigorously; let its bones cook within it. Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the city of bloodshed, the pot whose corrosion is in it and whose corrosion has not left it! Empty it piece by piece, piece by piece, without casting lots for it. For her blood was within her. She put it on bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust. To stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have put her blood on bare rock so that it will not be covered. Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Woe to the city of bloodshed! I too will make the fire pile great. Heap up the wood, kindle the fire, cook the meat thoroughly, mix the spices, and let the bones burn. Then set the pot empty on its coals, so that its copper grows hot and burns, its uncleanness melts within it, and its corrosion is consumed. She has wearied herself with toil, yet her heavy corrosion will not leave her. Into the fire with her corrosion! There is lewdness in your uncleanness. Because I cleansed you but you were not clean, you will not be cleansed of your uncleanness again until I bring my wrath to rest upon you. I, the LORD, have spoken. It is coming, and I will act. I will not hold back, spare, or relent. They will judge you according to your ways and your deeds, declares the Lord GOD.’” The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, I am taking away the delight of your eyes with a blow. You must not mourn or weep, and your tears must not flow. Groan in silence. Make no mourning for the dead. Tie on your turban and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of others.” I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did as I had been commanded. The people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?” I said to them, “The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Say to the house of Israel, “This is what the Lord GOD says: I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, and the longing of your soul. Your sons and daughters whom you left behind will fall by the sword.”’ You will do as I have done. You will not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of others. Your turbans will be on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away in your iniquities and groan to one another. ‘Ezekiel will be a sign to you. You will do all that he has done. When it comes, you will know that I am the Lord GOD. As for you, son of man, on the day I take from them their stronghold, the joy of their splendor, the delight of their eyes, and the longing of their soul, their sons and daughters, will not a survivor come to you on that day to bring news to your ears? On that day your mouth will be opened to the survivor. You will speak and no longer be mute. You will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.’”

Rights and attribution