The Father Sends a Sign of Exile
12 1 The word of our Father came to me:
2 "Son of man, you live among a rebellious house—they have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house.
3 So you, son of man, pack your bags for exile, and go into exile by day in their sight. Go into exile from your place to another in their sight. Perhaps they will see, though they are a rebellious house. 4 Bring out your baggage by day in their sight, like exile baggage; and go out yourself in the evening in their sight, like those going into exile. 5 "In their sight dig through the wall, and carry your baggage out through it. 6 "Before their eyes lift it to your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. Cover your face so you can't see the land, for I have made you a sign to Israel's house."
7 So I did as commanded. By day I brought out my baggage, baggage for exile, and in the evening dug through the wall by hand. In the dark I carried it out on my shoulder, in full view.
8 In the morning the word of our Father came to me:
9 Son of man, hasn't the house of Israel, that rebellious house, asked you, 'What are you doing?' 10 Say to them, 'The Sovereign Father says: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.'
11 Say, 'I am your sign. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile, into captivity.' 12 "The prince among them will lift his baggage onto his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land with his eyes. 13 I will spread my net over him; he will be trapped in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, land of the Babylonians, yet he will not see it—and there he will die. a a v13 The prince is Zedekiah, Judah's last king. He was captured fleeing Jerusalem and blinded before being taken to Babylon — so he reached the city but never saw it, exactly as foretold. 14 I will scatter to every wind all around him—his helpers and all his troops—and draw the sword after them. 15 They will know I am their Father when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the lands. 16 But I will spare a few from sword, famine, and plague, so they can recount all their detestable things among the nations they go to. Then they will know that I am their Father.
17 Then the word of our Father came to me:
18 "Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with shuddering and anxiety. 19 Tell the people of the land: This is what the Sovereign Father says about those living in Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread in anxiety and drink their water in dismay, because their land will be stripped of all its fullness, because of the violence of all who live there. 20 The inhabited cities will be ruined, and the land left desolate. Then you will know that I am your Father.'"
The Father Ends the Empty Proverb
21 Then the word of our Father came to me:
22 "Son of man, what is this proverb in Israel: 'The days drag on, and every vision fails'? 23 So tell them: 'This is what the Sovereign Father says: I will end this proverb; they will no longer quote it in Israel.' Instead tell them: 'The days are near, and the fulfillment of every vision.' 24 For no false vision or flattering fortune-telling will remain in the house of Israel. 25 For I am your Father; I will speak the word I speak, and it will be done. No longer delayed—for in your days, you rebellious house, I will speak a word and perform it, declares the Sovereign Father.
26 Then the word of our Father came to me:
27 "Son of man, the house of Israel says, 'The vision he sees is for years away; he prophesies of distant times.'
28 So tell them: This is what the Sovereign Father says: None of my words will be delayed any longer. What I speak will be done, declares the Sovereign Father.
