Ezekiel 24

¹Ezekiel 24:1. In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,²Ezekiel 24:2. “Son of man, write down today’s date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.³Ezekiel 24:3. Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.⁴Ezekiel 24:4. Put in the pieces of meat, every good piece—thigh and shoulder—fill it with choice bones.⁵Ezekiel 24:5. Take the choicest of the flock and pile the fuel beneath it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’⁶Ezekiel 24:6. Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now rusted, whose rust will not come off! Empty it piece by piece; cast no lots for its contents.⁷Ezekiel 24:7. For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.⁸Ezekiel 24:8. In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’⁹Ezekiel 24:9. Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the kindling high.¹⁰Ezekiel 24:10. Pile on the logs and kindle the fire; cook the meat well and mix in the spices; let the bones be burned.¹¹Ezekiel 24:11. Set the empty pot on its coals until it becomes hot and its copper glows. Then its impurity will melt within; its rust will be consumed.¹²Ezekiel 24:12. It has frustrated every effort; its thick rust has not been removed, even by the fire.¹³Ezekiel 24:13. Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.¹⁴Ezekiel 24:14. I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

¹⁵Ezekiel 24:15. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,¹⁶Ezekiel 24:16. “Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow.¹⁷Ezekiel 24:17. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”¹⁸Ezekiel 24:18. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.¹⁹Ezekiel 24:19. Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”²⁰Ezekiel 24:20. So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying:²¹Ezekiel 24:21. Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’²²Ezekiel 24:22. Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.²³Ezekiel 24:23. Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves.²⁴Ezekiel 24:24. ‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’²⁵Ezekiel 24:25. And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy—the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls—and their sons and daughters as well,²⁶Ezekiel 24:26. on that day a fugitive will come and tell you the news.²⁷Ezekiel 24:27. On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”