2
"Son of man, you live in the 1midst of the 2rebellioushouse, who3have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellioushouse.
3
"Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to anotherplace in their sight. 4Perhaps they will understandthough they are a rebellioushouse.
4
"Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out 5at evening in their sight, as those going into exile.
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"Dig a hole through the wall in their sight and go out through it.
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"Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight and carry it out in the dark. You shall 6cover your face so that you cannotsee the land, for I have set you as a 7sign to the house of Israel."
7
I 8didso, as I had been commanded. By day I 9brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands; I went out in the dark and carried the baggage on my shoulder in their sight.
8
In the morning the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,
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"Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the 10rebellioushouse, said to you, '11What are you doing?'
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"Say to them, 'Thussays the LordGOD, "This12burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israelwho are in it."'
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"Say, 'I am a 13sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will 14go into exile, into captivity.'
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"The 15princewho is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out. He will cover his faceso* that he can not see the land with his eyes.
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"I will also spread My 16netover him, and he will be caught in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will 17not see it, though he will diethere.
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"I will 18scatter to everywindallwho are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a swordafter them.
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"So they will 19know that I am the LORD when I scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries.
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"But I will spare a few of them from the 20sword, the famine and the pestilence that they may tellall their abominations among the nationswhere* they go, and may 21know that I am the LORD."
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Moreover, the word of the LORDcame to me saying,
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"Son of man, 22eat your bread with trembling and drink your water with quivering and anxiety.
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"Then say to the people of the land, 'Thussays the LordGOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel, "They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water with horror, because their land will be 23stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it.
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"The inhabited24cities will be laidwaste and the 25land will be a desolation. So you will know that I am the LORD.""'
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"Son of man, what is this26proverb you people have concerning the land of Israel, saying, 'The 27days are long and every28visionfails '?
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"Thereforesay to them, 'Thussays the LordGOD, "I will make thisproverbcease so that they will nolongeruse it as a proverb in Israel." But tell them, "29The daysdrawnear as well as the fulfillment of everyvision.
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"For there will nolonger be any30falsevision or flatteringdivinationwithin the house of Israel.
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"For I the LORD will speak, and whatever31word I speak will be performed. It will nolonger be delayed, for in 32your days, O 33rebellioushouse, I will speak the word and perform it," declares the LordGOD.' "
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Furthermore, the word of the LORDcame to me, saying,
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"Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for 34manyyears from now, and he prophesies of timesfaroff.'
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"Thereforesay to them, 'Thussays the LordGOD, "None* of My words will be delayedanylonger. Whatever*word I speak will be performed,""' declares the LordGOD.