Ezekiel

FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE PROPHET II

Into Exile

This word from the Lord came to me,

“Son of man, you live among a rebellious house: they have eyes to see but do not see; they have ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house.

Because of this, son of man, prepare your exile’s baggage in their sight, like an exile would; and go into exile, to another place, in their presence. I wish they might understand, because they are a rebellious house.

You will gather your belongings, an exile’s baggage, during the day, to be seen by them; and you will leave in the evening, like for a deportee’s departure.

While they watch, dig a hole in the wall and leave through it.

As they watch, shoulder your baggage and depart in the dark. Cover your face and do not look at the land, for I have made you a sign for Israel.

I followed my orders, gathering my belongings during the day, like an exile’s baggage, and in the evening, I made a hole in the wall with my hand. I left in the dark, in front of them, carrying my baggage.

In the morning, the word of the Lord came to me:

“Son of man, did not the Israelites, these rebels, ask you, ‘What are you doing there?’

Answer them on behalf of the Lord: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites remaining in the city.

Say, ‘I am a sign for you,’ for what I have done will happen to them: they will be deported and exiled.

The prince among them shall carry his baggage in the dark and depart. They will dig a hole in the wall to let him escape through it. He will cover his face because he must not see the land with his eyes.

I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in its mesh. I will bring him to Babylon, in the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and it is there that he will die.

As for all those who make up his court, his guards, and his troops, I will scatter them to the winds and chase after them with the sword.

They will realize I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them in foreign lands.

However, I will allow a small number of them to escape the sword, famine, and disease; so they may confess their sins among the nations where they go, and they will know I am the Lord.

This word of the Lord came to me:

“Son of man, trembling, you will eat your bread and drink water in fear and anxiety.

Say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord says about those who live in Jerusalem, in the land of Israel: In fear, they will eat their bread; and in distress, they will drink their water, because the land will be desolate, stripped of all it contains, due to the violence of its inhabitants.

Cities that were once inhabited will become ruins, the country a wasteland; and you will know that I am the Lord.”

Refrains

The word of the Lord came to me in these terms:

“Son of man, what do you mean by this proverb: The days pass and the visions do not come true? Why do you refer to what happens in Israel this way?

You are to say to them this message from the Lord: No more of this proverb. It will not be used in Israel because the day is near when every vision will be fulfilled.

No longer will there be false visions or misleading divinations in Israel.

I, the Lord, will say what I want to say, and my words will come true. There will be no more delay, for it is in your days, rebellious people, that I will speak; and it will happen—word of the Lord.”

The word of the Lord was revealed to me in these terms:

“Son of man, this is what Israel says: ‘Ezekiel’s visions refer to the distant future; he prophesies for times far off.’

Therefore, speak to them: This is what the Lord says: There will be no more delay regarding my words; what I say will be accomplished—word of the Lord.”