24:1 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:
24:2 “Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
24:3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
24:4 Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces - the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;
24:5 take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.
24:6 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.
24:7 “‘For the blood she shed is in her midst: She poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it.
24:8 To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.
24:9 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.
24:10 So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.
24:11 Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.
24:12 It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.
24:13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.
24:14 “‘I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
24:15 The word of the Lord came to me:
24:16 “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.
24:17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”
24:18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
24:19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?”
24:20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me:
24:21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary - the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.
24:22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.
24:23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of* your sins and groan among yourselves. / *Or away in
24:24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’
24:25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well -
24:26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news.
24:27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”