Ezekiel 24

Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.

Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh,

Gather its pieces into it,

Take the choice of the flock,

“‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh:

“‘“For her blood is in the middle of her.

That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance,

“‘Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh:

Heap on the wood.

Then set it empty on its coals,

She is weary with toil;

“‘“In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you and you weren’t cleansed, you won’t be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.

I, Yahweh, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I won’t go back. I won’t spare. I won’t repent. According to your ways, and according to your doings, they will judge you,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”

Also Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke: yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.

Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your shoes on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.”

So I spoke to the people in the morning; and at evening my wife died. So I did in the morning as I was commanded.

The people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things are to us, that you do so?”

Then I said to them, “Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,

‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord Yahweh: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

You will do as I have done. You won’t cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread.

Your turbans will be on your heads, and your shoes on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.

Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.’”’”

“You, son of man, shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart, their sons and their daughters,

that in that day he who escapes will come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?

In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and you shall speak, and be no more mute. So you will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”