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word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
3 “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity in their sight during the day. You will go into captivity from your place to another place as they watch. Perhaps they may understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4 During the day you will bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity. Then in the evening you will go out while they watch, like those who go into captivity. 5 As they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. 6 And while they look on, lift your belongings onto your shoulders and carry them out at dusk. You will cover your face so you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”
7 So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my belongings as though going into captivity. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands, and I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulder as they looked on.
8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’
10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are living there” ’. 11 Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.
‘As I have done, so will it be done to them. They will go into exile as captives’.
12 “The prince who is among them will lift his belongings onto his shoulder at dusk and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land with his eyes. 13 But I will spread My net for him, and he will be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he shall die there. 14 And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his attendants and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them.
15 “They will know that I am the Lord, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries. 16 But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, so they can tell about their abominations among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water trembling and anxiety. 19 Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink the water with dread, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live in it. 20 The inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land will become a desolation; and you will know that I am the Lord” ’.”
21 The word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, which goes:
‘The days are prolonged,
and every vision fails’?
23 “Tell them therefore, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “I will put an end to this proverb, and they will not use it as a proverb again in Israel”. But say to them, “The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the Lord, and the word that I speak will be fulfilled. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and fulfil it”, says the Lord God’.”
26 The word of the Lord came to me: 27 “Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about distant times’. 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “None of My words will be delayed any longer; but the word that I speak will be fulfilled”, says the Lord God’.”