Ezekiel, 24

1. In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows,

1. In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:

2. 'Son of man, write down today's date, yes, today's, for this very day the king of Babylon began his attack on Jerusalem.

2. "Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.

3. So pronounce a parable for this tribe of rebels. Say, "The Lord Yahweh says this: Put the pot on the fire; put it on; pour the water in!

3. And utter an allegory to the rebellious house and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Set on the pot, set it on, pour in water also;

4. Now put the cuts of meat all in together, all the best cuts, leg and shoulder. Fill it with the best bones.

4. put in it the pieces of flesh, all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with choice bones.

5. Take the best of the flock, then heap wood underneath; boil it thoroughly until even the bones are cooked.

5. Take the choicest one of the flock, pile the logs under it; boil its pieces, seethe also its bones in it.

6. "For the Lord Yahweh says this: Disaster is in store for the bloody city, for that rusty cooking pot whose rust will not come off! Empty it, bit by bit, not bothering to draw lots;

6. "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose rust is in it, and whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice.

7. for she is still full of bloodshed, she has put blood on the naked rock; she did not pour it on the ground so as to cover it with dust.

7. For the blood she has shed is still in the midst of her; she put it on the bare rock, she did not pour it upon the ground to cover it with dust.

8. To make anger rise, to exact vengeance, I have put her blood on the naked rock, so that it should not be covered:

8. To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it may not be covered.

9. "So, the Lord Yahweh says this: Disaster is in store for the bloody city! I too plan to build a great fire.

9. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.

10. Heap on the wood, light it, cook the meat, prepare the seasoning let the bones burn!

10. Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil well the flesh, and empty out the broth, and let the bones be burned up.

11. Put the empty pot on the coals to make it hot, until the bronze glows, the filth inside melts and the rust is burnt away!

11. Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, that its filthiness may be melted in it, its rust consumed.

12. "But all that rust would not come off in the fire.

12. In vain I have wearied myself; its thick rust does not go out of it by fire.

13. Your filth is infamous. Since I have tried to purge you and you would not let yourself be purged of your filth, so now you will never be purged of your filth until I have sated my anger on you.

13. Its rust is your filthy lewdness. Because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your filthiness, you shall not be cleansed any more till I have satisfied my fury upon you.

14. I, Yahweh, have spoken; this will happen; I shall act and not relent; I shall show no pity, no compassion. You will be judged as your conduct and actions deserve -- declares the Lord Yahweh." '

14. I the LORD have spoken; it shall come to pass, I will do it; I will not go back, I will not spare, I will not repent; according to your ways and your doings I will judge you, says the Lord GOD."

15. The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows,

15. Also the word of the LORD came to me:

16. 'Son of man, at a blow I am about to deprive you of the delight of your eyes. But you are not to lament, not to weep, not to let your tears run down.

16. "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep nor shall your tears run down.

17. Groan in silence, do not go into mourning for the dead, knot your turban round your head, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, do not eat the usual food.'

17. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of mourners."

18. I told this to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening, and the next morning I did as I had been ordered.

18. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.

19. The people then said to me, 'Will you not explain what meaning these actions have for us?'

19. And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?"

20. I replied, 'The word of Yahweh has been addressed to me as follows,

20. Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:

21. "Say to the House of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says this: I am about to profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the joy of your hearts. Your sons and daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

21. `Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

22. Then you will do as I have done: you will not cover your beards or eat the usual food;

22. And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of mourners.

23. you will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you will not lament or weep but will waste away for your crimes, groaning among yourselves.

23. Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and groan to one another.

24. Thus Ezekiel is a sign for you. You will do exactly what he has done. And when this happens, you will know that I am Lord Yahweh!"

24. Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'

25. 'And, son of man, the day that I deprive them of their strength, their crowning joy, the delight of their eyes, the joy of their hearts, their sons and daughters,

25. "And you, son of man, on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their heart's desire, and also their sons and daughters,

26. that day a survivor will bring you the news.

26. on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news.

27. That day your mouth will be opened to speak to the survivor; you will speak and no longer be dumb; you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'

27. On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer dumb. So you will be a sign to them; and they will know that I am the LORD."