Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 The Lord spoke to me.
1
The LORD’s word also came to me, saying,
2 "Mortal man," he said, "you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they see nothing; they have ears, but they hear nothing, because they are rebellious.
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“Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house.
3 "Now, mortal man, pack a bundle just as a refugee would and start out before nightfall. Let everyone see you leaving and going to another place. Maybe those rebels will notice you.
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“Therefore, you son of man, prepare your baggage for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.
4 While it is still daylight, pack your bundle for exile, so that they can see you, and then let them watch you leave in the evening as if you were going into exile.
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You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile.
5 While they are watching, break a hole through the wall of your house and take your pack out through it.
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Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your baggage out that way.
6 Let them watch you putting your pack on your shoulder and going out into the dark with your eyes covered, so that you can't see where you are going. What you do will be a warning to the Israelites."
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In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”
7 I did what the Lord told me to do. That day I packed a bundle as a refugee would, and that evening as it was getting dark I dug a hole in the wall with my hands and went out. While everyone watched, I put the pack on my shoulder and left.
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I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.
8 The next morning the Lord spoke to me.
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In the morning, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
9 "Mortal man," he said, "now that those Israelite rebels are asking you what you're doing,
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“Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’
10 tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them. This message is for the prince ruling in Jerusalem and for all the people who live there.
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“Say to them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.”’
11 Tell them that what you have done is a sign of what will happen to them - they will be refugees and captives.
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“Say, ‘I am your sign. As I have done, so will it be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.
12 The prince who is ruling them will shoulder his pack in the dark and escape through a hole that they dig for him in the wall. He will cover his eyes and not see where he is going.
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“‘The prince who is among them will bear his baggage on his shoulder in the dark, and will go out. They will dig through the wall to carry things out that way. He will cover his face, because he will not see the land with his eyes.
13 But I will spread out my net and trap him in it. Then I will take him to the city of Babylon, where he will die without having seen it.
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I will also spread my net on him, and he will be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.
14 I will scatter in every direction all the members of his court and his advisers and bodyguards, and people will search for them to kill them.
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I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands. I will draw out the sword after them.
15 "When I scatter them among the other nations and in foreign countries, they will know that I am the Lord.
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“‘They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.
16 I will let a few of them survive the war, the famine, and the diseases, so that there among the nations they will realize how disgusting their actions have been and will acknowledge that I am the Lord."
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But 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 where they come. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”
17 The Lord spoke to me.
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Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
18 "Mortal man," he said, "tremble when you eat, and shake with fear when you drink.
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“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.
19 Tell the whole nation that this is the message of the Sovereign Lord to the people of Jerusalem who are still living in their land: They will tremble when they eat and shake with fear when they drink. Their land will be stripped bare, because everyone who lives there is lawless.
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Tell the people of the land, ‘The Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with fearfulness and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein.
20 Cities that are now full of people will be destroyed, and the country will be made a wilderness. Then they will know that I am the Lord."
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The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’”
21 The Lord spoke to me.
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The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
22 "Mortal man," he said, "why do the people of Israel repeat this proverb: "Time goes by, and predictions come to nothing'?
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“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?
23 Now tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, have to say about that. I will put an end to that proverb. It won't be repeated in Israel any more. Tell them instead: The time has come, and the predictions are coming true!
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Tell them therefore, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel;”’ but tell them, ‘“The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.
24 "Among the people of Israel there will be no more false visions or misleading prophecies.
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For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
25 I, the Lord, will speak to them, and what I say will be done. There will be no more delay. In your own lifetime, you rebels, I will do what I have warned you I would do. I have spoken," says the Sovereign Lord.
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For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’”
26 The Lord said to me,
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Again the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
27 "Mortal man, the Israelites think that your visions and prophecies are about the distant future.
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“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’
28 So tell them that I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: There will be no more delay. What I have said will be done. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!"
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“Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says the Lord GOD.’”
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.