Third Millennium Bible TMB
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,
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The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
2 "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see and see not; they have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house.
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"Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can't see. They have ears, but they can't hear because they are rebellious people.
3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee supplies for departure, 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.
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"Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people.
4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy goods by day in their sight, as supplies for removing; and thou shalt go forth at evening in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.
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Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile.
5 Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out through it.
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Dig a hole through the wall of your house, and leave through it.
6 In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders and carry it forth in the twilight. Thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground; for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel."
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Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won't see the land. I've made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel."
7 And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my goods by day, as supplies for captivity, and in the evening I dug through the wall with mine hand. I brought them forth in the twilight, and I bore them upon my shoulder in their sight.
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I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders.
8 And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
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The next morning the LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
9 "Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, `What doest thou?'
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"Son of man, didn't the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing?
10 Say thou unto them, `Thus saith the Lord GOD: This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel that are among them.'
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"Tell them, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.'
11 Say, `I am your sign: as I have done, so shall it be done unto them. They shall remove and go into captivity.'
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"Tell them, 'I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity.
12 And the prince who is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth; they shall dig through the wall to carry out through it. He shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.
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The prince who is among you will put his bags on his shoulders in the dark and leave. People will dig holes in the wall to go through. The prince will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.
13 My 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.
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I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my net. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, but he will not see it. And that's where he'll die.
14 And I will scatter toward every wind all who are about him to help him, and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them.
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I will scatter in every direction all those who are around him--his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword.
15 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations and disperse them in the countries.
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Then they will know that I am the LORD, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries.
16 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 heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD."
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However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"
17 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
18 "Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with sorrow;
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"Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.
19 and say unto the people of the land, `Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and of the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with sorrow, and drink their water with dismay, that her land may be desolate of all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.
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"Tell the people of this land, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says about the people who live in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will be worried as they eat their food and terrified as they drink their water. Their country will be stripped of everything because everyone who lives there is violent.
20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.'"
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The cities where people live will be destroyed, and the country will become a wasteland. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'"
21 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
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The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
22 "Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, `The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth'?
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"Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: 'Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing'?
23 Tell them therefore, `Thus saith the Lord GOD: 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 effect of every vision.
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"Tell the people, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.' Instead, tell them, 'The time is near when every vision will come true.
24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
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There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people.
25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more put off. For in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.'"
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I, the LORD, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares the Almighty LORD.'"
26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
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The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,
27 "Son 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 the times that are far off.'
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"Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, 'The vision that Ezekiel sees won't happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.'
28 Therefore say unto them, `Thus saith the Lord GOD: There shall none of My words be put off any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.'"
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"Tell them, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: Everything that I say will no longer be delayed. Whatever I say will happen, declares the Almighty LORD.'"
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.