Daily Bread

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:^{(A) 2} “Son of man, record^(B) this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.^{(C) 3} Tell this rebellious people^(D) a parable^(E) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

⁶ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

⁹ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

¹³ “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed^(P) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.^(Q)

¹⁴ “‘I the Lord have spoken.^(R) The time has come for me to act.^(S) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,^(T) nor will I relent.^(U) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,^(V) declares the Sovereign Lord.^(W)’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

¹⁵ The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶ “Son of man, with one blow^(X) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.^(Y) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.^{(Z) 17} Groan quietly;^(AA) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban^(AB) fastened and your sandals^(AC) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard^(AD) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(AE)”

¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.^(AF)

¹⁹ Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?^(AG) Why are you acting like this?”

²⁰ So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: ²¹ Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary^(AH)—the stronghold in which you take pride,^(AI) the delight of your eyes,^(AJ) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters^(AK) you left behind will fall by the sword.^{(AL) 22} And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard^(AM) or eat the customary food of mourners.^{(AN) 23} You will keep your turbans^(AO) on your heads and your sandals^(AP) on your feet. You will not mourn^(AQ) or weep but will waste away^(AR) because of^[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.^{(AS) 24} Ezekiel^(AT) will be a sign^(AU) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

²⁵ “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,^(AV) their heart’s desire,^(AW) and their sons and daughters^(AX) as well— ²⁶ on that day a fugitive will come to tell you^(AY) the news. ²⁷ At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.^(AZ) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.^(BA)”