Ezekiel 24:15-27

New International Reader's Version

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

¹⁵A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, ¹⁶“Son of man, I will take away from you the wife you delight in. It will happen very soon. But do not sing songs of sadness. Do not let any tears flow from your eyes. ¹⁷Groan quietly. Do not mourn for your wife when she dies. Keep your turban on your head. Keep your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your mustache and beard. Do not eat the food people eat to comfort them when someone dies.”

¹⁸So I spoke to my people in the morning. And in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did what I had been commanded to do.

¹⁹Then the people said to me, “Tell us what these things have to do with us. Why are you acting like this?”

²⁰So I told them. I said, “A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, ²¹‘Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, “The Lord and King says, ‘I am about to make my temple “unclean.” I will let the Babylonians burn it down. It is the beautiful building you are so proud of. You take delight in it. You love it. The sons and daughters you left behind will be killed by swords. ²²So do what Ezekiel did. Do not cover your mustache and beard. Do not eat the food people eat to comfort them when someone dies. ²³Keep your turbans on your heads. Keep your sandals on your feet. Do not mourn or weep. You will waste away because you have sinned so much. You will groan among yourselves. ²⁴What Ezekiel has done will show you what is going to happen to you. You will do just as he has done. Then you will know that I am the Lord and King.’ ” ’

²⁵“Son of man, I will take away their beautiful temple. It is their joy and glory. They take delight in it. Their hearts long for it. I will also take away their sons and daughters. ²⁶On the day I destroy everything, a man will escape. He will come and tell you the news. ²⁷At that time I will open your mouth. Then you will no longer be silent. You will speak with the man. That will show them what will happen to them. And they will know that I am the Lord.”

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Ezekiel 24:15-27

New International Version

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

¹⁵The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶“Son of man, with one blow^(A) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.^(B) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.^(C) ¹⁷Groan quietly;^(D) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban^(E) fastened and your sandals^(F) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard^(G) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(H)”

¹⁸So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.^(I)

¹⁹Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?^(J) Why are you acting like this?”

²⁰So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: ²¹Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary^(K)—the stronghold in which you take pride,^(L) the delight of your eyes,^(M) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters^(N) you left behind will fall by the sword.^(O) ²²And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard^(P) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(Q) ²³You will keep your turbans^(R) on your heads and your sandals^(S) on your feet. You will not mourn^(T) or weep but will waste away^(U) because of^[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.^(V) ²⁴Ezekiel^(W) will be a sign^(X) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

²⁵“And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,^(Y) their heart’s desire,^(Z) and their sons and daughters^(AA) as well— ²⁶on that day a fugitive will come to tell you^(AB) the news. ²⁷At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.^(AC) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.^(AD)”