1The word of Jehovah also came unto me , saying , 2Son of man , thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house , that have eyes to see , and see not , that have ears to hear , and hear not ; for they are a rebellious house . 3Therefore , thou son of man , prepare thee stuff for removing , and remove by day in their sight ; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight : it may be they will consider , though they are a rebellious house . 4And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight , as stuff for removing ; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight , as when men go forth into exile . 5Dig thou through the wall in their sight , and carry out thereby. 6In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulder , and carry it forth in the dark ; thou shalt cover thy face , that thou see not the land : for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel .
The Response of the People
7And I did so as I was commanded : I brought forth my stuff by day , as stuff for removing , and in the even I digged through the wall with my hand ; I brought it forth in the dark , and bare it upon my shoulder in their sight . 8And in the morning came the word of Jehovah unto me , saying , 9Son of man , hath not the house of Israel , the rebellious house , said unto thee , What doest thou ? 10Say thou unto them , Thus saith the Lord Jehovah : This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem , and all the house of Israel among whom they are . 11Say, I am your sign : like as I have done , so shall it be done unto them ; they shall go into exile , into captivity . 12And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the dark , and shall go forth : they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face , because he shall not see the land with his eyes . 13My net also will I spread upon him , and he shall be taken in my snare ; and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans ; yet shall he not see it , though he shall die there .
The Assurance of Judgment
14And I will scatter toward every wind all that are round about him to help him , and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them . 15And they shall know that I am Jehovah , when I shall disperse them among 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 among the nations whither they come ; and they shall know that I am Jehovah .
The Proclamation of the Word
17Moreover the word of Jehovah came to me , saying , 18Son of man , eat thy bread with quaking , and drink thy water with trembling and with fearfulness; 19and say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem , and the land of Israel : They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate , and despoiled of all that is therein , because of the violence of all them that dwell therein . 20And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste , and the land shall be a desolation ; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah . 21And the word of Jehovah came unto me , saying , 22Son of man , what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel , saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? 23Tell them therefore , Thus saith the Lord Jehovah : I will make this proverb to cease , and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel ; but say unto them , The days are at hand , and the fulfilment of every vision . 24For there shall be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel . 25For I am Jehovah ; I will speak , and the word that I shall speak shall be performed ; it shall be no more deferred : for in your days , O rebellious house , will I speak the word , and will perform it , saith the Lord Jehovah . 26Again the word of Jehovah came to me , saying , 27Son of man , behold , they of the house of Israel say , The vision that he seeth is for many days to come , and he prophesieth of times that are far off . 28Therefore say unto them , Thus saith the Lord Jehovah : There shall none of my words be deferred any more , but the word which I shall speak shall be performed , saith the Lord Jehovah .