Ezekiel 12

1The word of Jehovah also came unto me, saying,

1The word of the LORD came to 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.

2Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, because 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.

3Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. During the day, while they are watching, move from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, even 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.

4Bring your belongings out during the day while they watch, as if you were going into exile. Then in the evening, as they watch, go out yourself like those who go into captivity.

5Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.

5While they are watching, dig a hole through the wall and carry your things out through it.

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.

6In their sight, lift your pack onto your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. Cover your face so you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the people of Israel.

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.

7I did exactly as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. In the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I carried my pack out in the dark, lifting it onto my shoulder while they watched.

8And in the morning came the word of Jehovah unto me, saying,

8The next morning, the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

9Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?

9Son of man, hasn't that rebellious house of Israel asked you, 'What are you doing?'

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.

10Tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This message concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who live there.'

11Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.

11Say, 'I am a sign to you.' Just as I have done, it will be done to them. They will go into exile and 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.

12The prince among them will put his pack on his shoulder in the dark and leave. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so that he cannot 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.

13I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans; but he will not see it, and he will die there.

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.

14I will scatter to the winds all his attendants and all his troops who are around him to help him, and I will pursue them with a sword.

15And they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries.

15They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout 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.

16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine, and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may describe all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

17Moreover the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

17The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

18Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with fearfulness;

18Son of man, eat your food while trembling and drink your water with shaking and fear.

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.

19Tell the people of the land, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there.'

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.

20The inhabited cities will be ruined and the land will become a desert. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

21And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

21The word of the LORD came to 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?

22Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: 'The days go by and every vision comes to nothing'?

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.

23Tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer repeat it in Israel.' Instead, tell them, 'The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.'

24For there shall be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

24For there will no longer be any false visions or flattering prophecies 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.

25But I the LORD will speak whatever I will, and it will be done without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD.

26Again the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

26The word of the LORD 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.

27Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, 'The vision he sees is for many years from now; he is prophesying about the distant future.'

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.

28Therefore say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign LORD.'