Chapter 24
1 Again , in the ninth year , in the tenth month , in the tenth day of the month , the LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,
2 " Son of man , write the name of the day , this same day . The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day .
3 Utter a parable to the rebellious house , and tell them, ‘ The Lord GOD says , " Put the cauldron on the fire. Put it on , and also pour water into it .
4 Gather its pieces into it , even every good piece : the thigh and the shoulder . Fill it with the choice bones .
5 Take the choice of the flock , and also a pile of wood for the bones under the cauldron. Make it boil well . Yes , let its bones be boiled within it ."
6 "‘ Therefore the Lord GOD says : "Woe to the bloody city , to the cauldron whose rust is in it , and whose rust hasn’t gone out of it ! Take out of it piece after piece without casting lots for it .
7 "‘" For the blood she shed is in the middle of her . She set it on the bare rock . She didn’t pour it on the ground , to cover it with dust .
8 That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance , I have set her blood on the bare rock , that it should not be covered ."
9 "‘ Therefore the Lord GOD says : "Woe to the bloody city ! I also will make the pile great .
10 Heap on the wood . Make the fire hot. Boil the meat well . Make the broth thick, and let the bones be burnt.
11 Then set it empty on its coals , that it may be hot , and its bronze may burn , and that its filthiness may be molten in it , that its rust may be consumed .
12 She is weary with toil ; yet her great rust , rust by fire, doesn’t leave her .
13 "‘" In your filthiness is lewdness . Because I have cleansed you and you weren’t cleansed , you won’t be cleansed from your filthiness any more , until I have caused my wrath towards you to rest .
14 "‘" I , the LORD , have spoken it . It will happen , and I will do it . I won’t go back . I won’t spare . I won’t repent . According to your ways and according to your doings , they will judge you ," says the Lord GOD .’"
15 Also the LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,
16 " Son of man , behold , I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke ; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep , neither shall your tears run down.
17 Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead . Bind your headdress on you , and put your sandals on your feet . Don’t cover your lips , and don’t eat mourner’s bread ."
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning , and at evening my wife died . So I did in the morning as I was commanded .
19 The people asked me , "Won’t you tell us what these things mean to us , that you act like this ?"
20 Then I said to them , " The LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,
21 ‘Speak to the house of Israel , " The Lord GOD says : ‘ Behold , I will profane my sanctuary , the pride of your power , the desire of your eyes , and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword .
22 You will do as I have done . You won’t cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread .
23 Your turbans will be on your heads , and your sandals on your feet . You won’t mourn or weep ; but you will pine away in your iniquities , and moan one towards another .
24 Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you ; according to all that he has done , you will do . When this comes , then you will know that I am the Lord GOD .’"’"
25 " You , son of man , shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength , the joy of their glory , the desire of their eyes , and that whereupon they set their heart — their sons and their daughters —
26 that in that day he who escapes will come to you , to cause you to hear it with your ears?
27 In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped , and you will speak and be no more mute. So you will be a sign to them . Then they will know that I am the LORD ."