耶和华的荣耀离开圣殿

10 我观看,只见基路伯天使头顶上的穹苍之中好像有一个蓝宝石宝座。 耶和华对那穿细麻衣的人说:“你到基路伯天使下边旋转的轮子中间,双手拿满火炭,撒在城上。”我见他进去了。

当他进去的时候,基路伯天使站在殿的南边,内院充满了云彩。 耶和华的荣耀从基路伯天使的上面升起,停在殿的门口,殿里充满了云彩,院子也充满了耶和华荣耀的光辉。 基路伯天使展翅的响声好像全能上帝说话的声音,在外院也可以听见。

祂对那穿细麻衣的人说:“你要从基路伯天使下面旋转的轮子中取火。”那人便进去,站在一个轮子旁边。 有一个基路伯天使伸手到他们中间的火里,取了些火放在那人手里,那人就拿了出去。 基路伯天使的翅膀下仿佛有人的手。

我又看见四个基路伯天使旁各有一个闪耀如绿宝石的轮子。 10 四个轮子结构一样,好像轮套轮。 11 基路伯天使移动时,不必转身就可以向四方移动。前轮朝哪个方向移动,其他的轮子也朝哪个方向移动,不必转向。 12 这四个基路伯天使的全身,包括他们的手、背、翅膀和轮子都布满了眼睛。 13 我听见他们称这些轮子为“旋转轮”。 14 每一个基路伯天使都有四张脸:第一张是基路伯天使的脸,第二张是人的脸,第三张是狮子的脸,第四张是鹰的脸。

15 然后,这些基路伯天使都向上升去,他们就是我在迦巴鲁河边所见的活物。 16 基路伯天使移动,轮子也随之移动;基路伯天使展翅飞离地面,轮子也随之离开地面; 17 基路伯天使停住,轮子也随之停住;基路伯天使上升,轮子也随之上升。因为活物的灵在轮子中。

18 那时,耶和华的荣耀离开了殿的门口,停在基路伯天使上面。 19 我看见基路伯天使展翅飞离地面,轮子也随之飞离。他们停在耶和华殿的东门,以色列上帝的荣耀在他们上面。 20 这些是我在迦巴鲁河边所看见的活物,他们在以色列上帝的下面。我知道他们是基路伯天使。 21 他们各有四张脸,两对翅膀,翅膀下仿佛有人的手, 22 他们的面貌和我在迦巴鲁河边所见的一样,每一个都向前直走。

审判以色列的首领

11 那时,灵将我举起,带我到耶和华殿的东门,我见那里有二十五个人,当中有百姓的首领押朔的儿子雅撒尼亚和比拿雅的儿子毗拉提。 耶和华对我说:“人子啊,这些人在这城里专给人出毒计,设恶谋。 他们说,‘建造房屋的时候不是到了吗?我们的城像铁锅一样坚固,我们像在锅里的肉一样得到保护。’ 人子啊,你要说预言,说预言斥责他们。”

耶和华的灵降在我身上,并吩咐我说:“耶和华这样说,‘以色列人啊,我知道你们口中在说什么,心里在想什么。 你们在城中杀人无数,大街小巷遍地尸体。 所以,主耶和华说,你们在城中杀死的人就是肉,这城就是锅,但我必把你们从锅中拉出来。 你们惧怕刀剑,我必使刀剑临到你们。这是主耶和华说的。 我必把你们从城中赶出去,交给外族人。我必惩罚你们, 10 使你们死于刀下。我要审判整个以色列,这样你们就知道我是耶和华。 11 这城必不是你们的锅,你们也必不是其中的肉,我必在全以色列施行审判。 12 这样你们就知道我是耶和华。因为你们没有遵行我的律例,没有顺从我的典章,却效法你们四邻外族的规矩。’”

13 我正在说预言的时候,比拿雅的儿子毗拉提就死了。我便俯伏在地大喊:“唉,主耶和华啊,你要灭绝以色列的余民吗?”

14 耶和华对我说: 15 “人子啊,留在耶路撒冷的居民会这样谈论你、你的亲人和一切被掳的以色列人,说,‘他们远离了耶和华,这地方已经给了我们。’ 16 因此,你要说,‘主耶和华这样说,我虽然把以色列人赶到远方各国,分散在列邦,却要在他们所去的国家暂作他们的圣所。’

17 “你要说,‘主耶和华这样说,我必从各国召集你们,从你们被驱散到的列邦中聚集你们,将以色列再赐给你们。’ 18 他们回来后,必除掉一切丑恶可憎的事。 19 我必赐给他们一颗专一的心,将新灵放在他们里面,除去他们的石心,赐给他们肉心, 20 使他们恪守我的律例,谨遵我的典章。他们将做我的子民,我将做他们的上帝。 21 至于那些心里恋慕丑恶可憎之物的人,我必按他们所行的报应他们。这是主耶和华说的。”

22 于是,基路伯天使展开翅膀,轮子跟在他们旁边,在他们上面有以色列上帝的荣耀。 23 耶和华的荣耀从城中升起,停在城东的山上。 24 灵将我举起,在异象中把我带到迦勒底被掳的人那里,我所见的异象从我面前上升消失了。 25 我把耶和华让我看到的一切都告诉了那些被掳的人。

被掳的预兆

12 耶和华对我说: “人子啊,你住在叛逆的人当中。他们有眼睛却视而不见,有耳朵却听而不闻,因为他们是叛逆的人。 所以,人子啊,你要准备流亡的行装,在白天当着他们的面从你住的地方搬到别处。他们虽然叛逆,或许还会明白其中的意思。 你要在白天当着他们的面把预备流亡的行装拿出来,你要在晚上当着他们的面像流亡的人一样出去。 你要当着他们的面在墙上挖一个洞,带着行装钻出去。 你要在天黑时当着他们的面背着行装出发。你要蒙着脸使自己看不见地,因为我要使你成为以色列人被掳的预兆。”

于是,我遵命而行。白天我把预备流亡的行装拿出来,晚上用手挖通了墙,当着他们的面背着行装在夜色中出发。

第二天早晨,耶和华对我说: “人子啊,那些叛逆的以色列人不是问你在做什么吗? 10 你要对他们说,‘主耶和华说,这是关于耶路撒冷的首领和城中以色列人的预兆。’ 11 你要说,‘我就是给你们的预兆,我所做的必发生在你们身上,你们必被掳流亡。’ 12 他们当中的首领必在黑夜背着行装出发,在墙上挖洞钻出去,而且必蒙着脸,看不见地。 13 我必撒开网罗捕捉他,把他带到迦勒底人的巴比伦。他必看不见那地方,却要死在那里。 14 我要把他周围的随从和所有军队驱散到四方,并且拔刀追杀他们。 15 当我把他们驱赶到各国,分散到列邦时,他们就知道我是耶和华。 16 然而,我要使他们当中一些人免遭刀剑、饥荒和瘟疫,使他们可以在各国供述自己一切可憎的事。他们就知道我是耶和华。”

17 耶和华对我说: 18 “人子啊,你要战战兢兢地吃饭,惶惶恐恐地喝水, 19 然后对这地方的人说,‘关于耶路撒冷和以色列的居民,主耶和华这样说,他们必焦虑不安地吃饭,惶恐不已地喝水,他们的土地必因其中居民的暴行而荒无人烟。 20 他们居住的城邑必沦为废墟,土地必一片荒凉,他们就知道我是耶和华。’”

21 耶和华对我说: 22 “人子啊,你们以色列有一句俗语,‘光阴流逝,异象都落空。’ 23 主耶和华这样宣告,我要废掉这句俗语,使它从以色列人的口中消失。你要对他们说,‘日子已近,异象都要应验。’ 24 在以色列人中必不再有虚假的异象和谄媚的预言。 25 我是耶和华,我的话都必实现,决不迟延。你们这叛逆的人啊,我说的话必在你们有生之年应验!”这是主耶和华说的。

26 耶和华对我说: 27 “人子啊,你看,以色列人在说,‘他见的异象是关乎多年后的事,他说的预言是针对遥远的未来。’ 28 因此,你要对他们说,‘主耶和华这样说,我的话必应验,不再迟延。’这是主耶和华说的。”

God’s Glory Departs From the Temple

10 I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne(A) of lapis lazuli(B) above the vault(C) that was over the heads of the cherubim.(D) The Lord said to the man clothed in linen,(E) “Go in among the wheels(F) beneath the cherubim. Fill(G) your hands with burning coals(H) from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.” And as I watched, he went in.

Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord(I) rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the Lord. The sound of the wings of the cherubim could be heard as far away as the outer court, like the voice(J) of God Almighty[a] when he speaks.(K)

When the Lord commanded the man in linen, “Take fire from among the wheels,(L) from among the cherubim,” the man went in and stood beside a wheel. Then one of the cherubim reached out his hand to the fire(M) that was among them. He took up some of it and put it into the hands of the man in linen, who took it and went out. (Under the wings of the cherubim could be seen what looked like human hands.)(N)

I looked, and I saw beside the cherubim four wheels, one beside each of the cherubim; the wheels sparkled like topaz.(O) 10 As for their appearance, the four of them looked alike; each was like a wheel intersecting a wheel. 11 As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about[b] as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went. 12 Their entire bodies, including their backs, their hands and their wings, were completely full of eyes,(P) as were their four wheels.(Q) 13 I heard the wheels being called “the whirling wheels.” 14 Each of the cherubim(R) had four faces:(S) One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion,(T) and the fourth the face of an eagle.(U)

15 Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures(V) I had seen by the Kebar River.(W) 16 When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. 17 When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.(X)

18 Then the glory(Y) of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.(Z) 19 While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them.(AA) They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Lord’s house, and the glory(AB) of the God of Israel was above them.

20 These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River,(AC) and I realized that they were cherubim. 21 Each had four faces(AD) and four wings,(AE) and under their wings was what looked like human hands. 22 Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River.(AF) Each one went straight ahead.

God’s Sure Judgment on Jerusalem

11 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the Lord that faces east. There at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah(AG) son of Benaiah, leaders(AH) of the people.(AI) The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil(AJ) and giving wicked advice in this city.(AK) They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot,(AL) and we are the meat in it.’(AM) Therefore prophesy(AN) against them; prophesy, son of man.”

Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.(AO) You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead.(AP)

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot,(AQ) but I will drive you out of it.(AR) You fear the sword,(AS) and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AT) I will drive you out of the city and deliver you into the hands(AU) of foreigners and inflict punishment on you.(AV) 10 You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.(AW) Then you will know that I am the Lord. 11 This city will not be a pot(AX) for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. 12 And you will know that I am the Lord,(AY) for you have not followed my decrees(AZ) or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.(BA)

13 Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah(BB) son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?(BC)

The Promise of Israel’s Return

14 The word of the Lord came to me: 15 “Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’(BD)

16 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary(BE) for them in the countries where they have gone.’

17 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’(BF)

18 “They will return to it and remove all its vile images(BG) and detestable idols.(BH) 19 I will give them an undivided heart(BI) and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone(BJ) and give them a heart of flesh.(BK) 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(BL) They will be my people,(BM) and I will be their God.(BN) 21 But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols,(BO) I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.(BP)

22 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory(BQ) of the God of Israel was above them.(BR) 23 The glory(BS) of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain(BT) east of it. 24 The Spirit(BU) lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia[c] in the vision(BV) given by the Spirit of God.

Then the vision I had seen went up from me, 25 and I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.(BW)

The Exile Symbolized

12 The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.(BX) They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.(BY)

“Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps(BZ) they will understand,(CA) though they are a rebellious people.(CB) During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.(CC) While they watch, dig through the wall(CD) and take your belongings out through it. Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign(CE) to the Israelites.”

So I did as I was commanded.(CF) During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.

In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’(CG)

10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ 11 Say to them, ‘I am a sign(CH) to you.’

“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.(CI)

12 “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk(CJ) and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.(CK) 13 I will spread my net(CL) for him, and he will be caught in my snare;(CM) I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,(CN) but he will not see(CO) it, and there he will die.(CP) 14 I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.(CQ)

15 “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations(CR) and scatter them through the countries. 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.(CS)

17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,(CT) and shudder in fear as you drink your water. 19 Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything(CU) in it because of the violence of all who live there.(CV) 20 The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(CW)’”

There Will Be No Delay

21 The word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb(CX) you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?(CY) 23 Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near(CZ) when every vision will be fulfilled.(DA) 24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations(DB) among the people of Israel. 25 But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.(DC) For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill(DD) whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.(DE)’”

26 The word of the Lord came to me: 27 “Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’(DF)

28 “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 10:5 Hebrew El-Shaddai
  2. Ezekiel 10:11 Or aside
  3. Ezekiel 11:24 Or Chaldea

10 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.

And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.

Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.

Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory.

And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.

And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.

And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.

And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings.

And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.

10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.

11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.

12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.

13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.

14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.

16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.

17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.

18 Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.

19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.

21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

11 Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the Lord's house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:

Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.

Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.

And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.

Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.

Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord God.

And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.

10 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

11 This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:

12 And ye shall know that I am the Lord: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.

13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

14 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession.

16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.

19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord God.

22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

23 And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

25 Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the Lord had shewed me.

12 The word of the Lord also came unto me, saying,

Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, 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 be a rebellious house.

Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.

Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.

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.

And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.

And in the morning came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,

Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?

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.

11 Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.

12 And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

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.

14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.

15 And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the 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.

17 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

18 Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;

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 carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.

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.

21 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

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?

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.

24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

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 prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.

26 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying.

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.

28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord God.