Tell this rebellious people(A) a parable(B) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot;(C) put it on
    and pour water into it.
Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;(D)
    take the pick of the flock.(E)
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.(F)

“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe(G) to the city of bloodshed,(H)
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order(I) it comes.(J)

“‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.(K)
To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.(L)
12 It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed(M) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.(N)

14 “‘I the Lord have spoken.(O) The time has come for me to act.(P) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,(Q) nor will I relent.(R) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,(S) declares the Sovereign Lord.(T)’”

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So compose a parable for the rebellious house. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says:

“Prepare your pot for boiling!
    Set it in place.
        Fill it up with water, too.
Gather together the best pieces of meat on it—
    including the thighs and the shoulders—
        and fill it with the choicest bones.
Take the best bones from the flock,
    pile wood[a] under the pot[b] for the bones,
bring it to a boil,
    and then cook the bones in it.”’”

Woe to Jerusalem

“This is what the Lord God says:

‘How terrible it is for that blood-filled city,
    to the pot whose rust remains in it,
        whose rust won’t come off.
Empty it one piece at a time.
    Don’t let a lot fall on it.
Her blood was in it.
    She poured it out onto bare rock.
She didn’t pour it out on the ground,
    intending to cover it with dirt.
In order to stir up my anger
    and in order to take vengeance,
I set the blood on a bare rock
    so that it cannot be covered.’

“Therefore this is what the Lord God says:

‘How terrible it is for that blood-filled city—
    I’m also going to add to my[c] pile of kindling.
10 Pile up the wood!
    Make the fire burn hot.
Boil the meat!
    Mix the seasonings.
Burn those bones to a crisp!
11 Make the pot stand empty on the coals
    until its bronze glows red,[d]
its rust can be scoured off,[e]
    and its dross completely removed.
12 The pot[f] wearies me,[g]
    but its thick[h] rust won’t come off,
        even with fire.
13 There is wickedness in your obscene conduct.
    Even though I’ve cleansed you,
        your uncleanness cannot be washed away.
You cannot be cleansed again
    until my rage against you has subsided.’

14 “‘I, the Lord have spoken. It will happen, because I’m going to do it. I won’t hold back, have compassion, or change my mind.[i] They’ll judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord God.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:5 The Heb. lacks wood
  2. Ezekiel 24:5 Lit. under it
  3. Ezekiel 24:9 The Heb. lacks my
  4. Ezekiel 24:11 Lit. its copper burns hot
  5. Ezekiel 24:11 Or is poured out
  6. Ezekiel 24:12 Lit. She
  7. Ezekiel 24:12 The Heb. lacks me
  8. Ezekiel 24:12 Lit. great
  9. Ezekiel 24:14 Or repent