Ezekiel 12:1-16

Ezekiel Portrays the Removal into Captivity

12¹ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² Son of man, you are living among an uncontrolled people, who have eyes to see but see not, and ears for hearing but they do not give ear; for they are an uncontrolled people. ³ And you, O son of man, by day, before their eyes, get ready the vessels of one who is taken away, and go away from your place to another place before their eyes: it may be that they will see, though they are an uncontrolled people. ⁴ By day, before their eyes, take out your vessels like those of one who is taken away: and go out in the evening before their eyes, like those who are taken away as prisoners. ⁵ Make a hole in the wall, before their eyes, and go out through it. ⁶ And before their eyes, take your goods on your back and go out in the dark; go with your face covered: for I have made you a sign to the children of Israel. ⁷ And I did as I was ordered: I took out my vessels by day, like those of one who is taken away, and in the evening I made a hole through the wall with a tent-pin; and in the dark I went out, taking my things on my back before their eyes. ⁸ And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹ Son of man, has not Israel, the uncontrolled people, said to you, What are you doing? ¹⁰ You are to say to them, This is what the Lord has said: This word has to do with the ruler in Jerusalem and all the children of Israel in it. ¹¹ Say, I am your sign: as I have done, so will it be done to them: they will go away as prisoners. ¹² And the ruler who is among them will take his goods on his back in the dark and go out: he will make a hole in the wall through which to go out: he will have his face covered so that he may not be seen. ¹³ And my net will be stretched out on him, and he will be taken in my cords: and I will take him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldaeans; but he will not see it, and there death will come to him. ¹⁴ And all his helpers round about him and all his armies I will send in flight to every wind; and I will let loose a sword after them. ¹⁵ And they will be certain that I am the Lord, when I send them in flight among the nations, driving them out through the countries. ¹⁶ But a small number of them I will keep from the sword, from the need of food, and from disease, so that they may make clear all their disgusting ways among the nations where they come; and they will be certain that I am the Lord.