¹The LORD ’s word also came to me , saying ,

²“Son of man , you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house , who have eyes to see , and don’t see , who have ears to hear , and don’t hear ; for they are a rebellious house .

³“Therefore , you son of man , prepare your baggage for moving, and move by day in their sight . You shall move from your place to another place in their sight . It may be they will consider , though they are a rebellious house .

⁴You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight , as baggage for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight , as when men go out into exile .

⁵Dig through the wall in their sight , and carry your baggage out that way.

⁶In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder , and carry it out in the dark . You shall cover your face , so that you don’t see the land , for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel .”

⁷I did so as I was commanded . I brought out my baggage by day , as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand . I brought it out in the dark , and bore it on my shoulder in their sight .

⁸In the morning , the LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,

⁹“Son of man , hasn’t the house of Israel , the rebellious house , said to you , ‘What are you doing ?’

¹⁰“Say to them , ‘The Lord GOD says : “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem , and all the house of Israel amongst whom they are .”’

¹¹“Say, ‘I am your sign . As I have done , so will it be done to them . They will go into exile , into captivity .

¹²“‘The prince who is amongst them will bear his baggage on his shoulder in the dark , and will go out . They will dig through the wall to carry things out that way . He will cover his face , because he will not see the land with his eyes .

¹³I will also spread my net on him , and he will be taken in my snare . I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans ; yet he will not see it , though he will die there .

¹⁴I will scatter towards every wind all who are around him to help him , and all his bands. I will draw out the sword after them .

¹⁵“‘They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them amongst the nations and scatter them through the countries.

¹⁶But I will leave a few men of them from the sword , from the famine , and from the pestilence , that they may declare all their abominations amongst the nations where they come . Then they will know that I am the LORD .’”

¹⁷Moreover the LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,

¹⁸“Son of man , eat your bread with quaking , and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.

¹⁹Tell the people of the land, ‘The Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the land of Israel : “They will eat their bread with fearfulness and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate , and all that is therein , because of the violence of all those who dwell therein .

²⁰The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste , and the land will be a desolation . Then you will know that I am the LORD .”’”

²¹The LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,

²²“Son of man , what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel , saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?

²³Tell them therefore , ‘The Lord GOD says : “I will make this proverb to cease , and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel ;”’ but tell them , ‘“The days are at hand , and the fulfilment of every vision .

²⁴For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel .

²⁵For I am the LORD . I will speak , and the word that I speak will be performed . It will be no more deferred ; for in your days , rebellious house , I will speak the word and will perform it ,” says the Lord GOD .’”

²⁶Again the LORD ’s word came to me , saying ,

²⁷“Son of man , behold , they of the house of Israel say , ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come , and he prophesies of times that are far off .’

²⁸“Therefore tell them , ‘The Lord GOD says : “None of my words will be deferred any more , but the word which I speak will be performed ,” says the Lord GOD .’”