Ezekiel 24

¹ In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month,[*a] the word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows,

² “Son of man, write down today’s date, since this is the very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.

³ So pronounce a parable for this set of rebels. Say, “The Lord Yahweh says this: Put the pot on the fire; put it on; pour water into it.

⁴ Put cuts of meat in too, the best cuts, leg and shoulder. Fill it with the best bones.

⁵ Take the best of the flock. Then heap wood underneath; make the pot boil and bubble until even the bones are cooked.

⁶ For the Lord Yahweh says this: Trouble for the bloodstained city, that rusty cooking-pot whose rust can never be scoured away! Empty it scrap by scrap, drawing no lots.

⁷ For her blood is in her; she has put it on the naked rock; she has not shed it on the ground to hide it in dust.

⁸ To make my anger overflow, to take revenge, I have put her blood on the naked rock, unhidden.

⁹ So, the Lord Yahweh says this: Trouble for the bloodstained city! I too plan to build a great fire.

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

¹¹ Set the pot empty to heat on the coals; let the bronze glow red-hot, the filth inside melt away, the rust inside be consumed.

¹² But all that rust will not disappear in the flames.

¹³ I have tried to purge you of the filth of your debauchery, but you would not let yourself be purged of your filth. So now you will not be purged until my anger has been exhausted against you.

¹⁴ I, Yahweh, have spoken; my word will come true; I shall act and not relent; I shall show no pity, no compassion. I intend to judge you as your conduct and actions deserve – it is the Lord Yahweh who speaks.”‘

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

¹⁶ ‘Son of man, I am about to deprive you suddenly of the delight of your eyes. But you are not to lament, not to weep, not to let 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 common bread.’

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.

¹⁹ The people then said to me, ‘Are you not going to explain what meaning these actions have for us?’

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

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 passion of your souls. Those of your sons and daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

²² And you are to do as I have done; you must not cover your beards or eat common bread;

²³ ‘you must keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you must not lament or weep. You shall waste away owing to your sins and groan among yourselves.

²⁴ Ezekiel is to be a sign for you. You are to do just as he has done. And when this happens, you will learn that I am Yahweh.”

²⁵ ‘And, son of man, on the very day I deprive them of their sons and daughters who are their strength, their pride and glory, the delight of their eyes, the joy of their hearts,

²⁶ on that very day a fugitive will come and bring you news of this.

²⁷ On that day your mouth will be opened to speak to the fugitive; you will speak and not be dumb any more; you are to be a sign for them, and they will learn that I am Yahweh.’