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Ezekiel 12
Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel 12
Christian Standard Bible
Ezekiel Dramatizes the Exile
12 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house.(A) They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear,(B) for they are a rebellious house.(C)
3 “Now you, son of man, get your bags ready for exile and go into exile in their sight during the day. You will go into exile from your place to another place while they watch; perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4 During the day, bring out your bags like an exile’s bags while they look on. Then in the evening go out in their sight like those going into exile. 5 As they watch, dig through the wall and take the bags out through it. 6 And while they look on, lift the bags to your shoulder and take them out in the dark; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”(D)
7 So I did just as I was commanded. In the daytime I brought out my bags like an exile’s bags. In the evening I dug through the wall by hand; I took them out in the dark, carrying them on my shoulder in their sight.
8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel, that rebellious house,(E) asked you, ‘What are you doing?’ (F) 10 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: This pronouncement concerns the prince[a] in Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel living there.’[b] 11 You are to say, ‘I am a sign for you. Just as I have done, it will be done to them; they will go into exile,(G) into captivity.’ 12 The prince who is among(H) them will lift his bags to his shoulder in the dark and go out. They[c] 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 But I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, yet he will not see it,(I) and he will die there. 14 I will also scatter all the attendants who surround him and all his troops to every direction of the wind,(J) and I will draw a sword to chase after them. 15 They will know that I am the Lord(K) when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.(L) 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword,(M) famine, and plague, so that among the nations where they go they can tell about all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Ezekiel Dramatizes Israel’s Anxiety
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, eat your bread with(N) trembling and drink your water with anxious shaking. 19 Then say to the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord God says about the residents of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in dread, for their[d][e] land will be stripped of everything(O) in it because of the violence of all who live there. 20 The inhabited cities will be destroyed, and the land will become dreadful. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
A Deceptive Proverb Stopped
21 Again the word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb you people have about the land of Israel,(P) which goes, ‘The days keep passing by,(Q) and every vision fails’? 23 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will put a stop to this proverb, and they will not use it again in Israel.’(R) But say to them, ‘The days have arrived,(S) as well as the fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination(T) within the house of Israel. 25 But I, the Lord, will speak whatever message I will speak, and it will be done.(U) It will no longer be delayed.(V) For in your days, rebellious house, I will speak a message and bring it to pass. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
26 The word of the Lord came to me: 27 “Son of man, notice that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees concerns many years from now;(W) he prophesies about distant times.’ 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: None of my words will be delayed any longer. The message I speak will be fulfilled. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’”
Ezekiel 12
New King James Version
Ezekiel 12
New King James Version
Judah’s Captivity Portrayed
12 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2 “Son of man, you dwell in the midst of (A)a rebellious house, which (B)has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear; (C)for they are a rebellious house.
3 “Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity by day in their sight. You shall go from your place into captivity to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. 4 By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity. 5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your belongings out through it. 6 In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, (D)for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”
7 So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought them out at twilight, and I bore them on my shoulder in their sight.
8 And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, (E)the rebellious house, said to you, (F)‘What are you doing?’ 10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “This (G)burden[a] concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.” ’ 11 Say, (H)‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them; (I)they shall be carried away into captivity.’ 12 And (J)the prince who is among them shall bear his belongings on his shoulder at twilight and go out. They shall dig through the wall to carry them out through it. He shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground with his eyes. 13 I will also spread My (K)net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare. (L)I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there. 14 (M)I will scatter to every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his troops; and (N)I will draw out the sword after them.
15 (O)“Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. 16 (P)But I will spare a few of their men from the sword, from famine, and from pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the Gentiles wherever they go. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”
Judgment Not Postponed
17 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, (Q)eat your bread with [b]quaking, and drink your water with trembling and anxiety. 19 And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with dread, so that her land may (R)be emptied of all who are in it, (S)because of the violence of all those who dwell in it. 20 Then the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall become desolate; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
21 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, (T)‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? 23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” ’ But say to them, ‘ (U)“The days are at hand, and the [c]fulfillment of every vision. 24 For (V)no more shall there be any (W)false[d] vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the Lord. I speak, and (X)the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and (Y)perform it,” says the Lord God.’ ”
26 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 27 (Z)“Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is (AA)for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’ 28 (AB)Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak (AC)will be done,” says the Lord God.’ ”
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 12:10 oracle, prophecy
- Ezekiel 12:18 shaking
- Ezekiel 12:23 Lit. word
- Ezekiel 12:24 Lit. vain
Ezekiel 12
New International Version
Ezekiel 12
New International Version
The Exile Symbolized
12 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.(A) They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.(B)
3 “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(C) they will understand,(D) though they are a rebellious people.(E) 4 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.(F) 5 While they watch, dig through the wall(G) and take your belongings out through it. 6 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(H) to the Israelites.”
7 So I did as I was commanded.(I) 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.
8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9 “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’(J)
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(K) to you.’
“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.(L)
12 “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk(M) 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.(N) 13 I will spread my net(O) for him, and he will be caught in my snare;(P) I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans,(Q) but he will not see(R) it, and there he will die.(S) 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.(T)
15 “They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations(U) 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.(V)”
17 The word of the Lord came to me: 18 “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food,(W) 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(X) in it because of the violence of all who live there.(Y) 20 The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(Z)’”
There Will Be No Delay
21 The word of the Lord came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb(AA) you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?(AB) 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(AC) when every vision will be fulfilled.(AD) 24 For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations(AE) among the people of Israel. 25 But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.(AF) For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill(AG) whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AH)’”
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.’(AI)
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.’”
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.