Ezekiel 24:15-27

The Voice

Eternal One: ¹⁶ Son of man, in the blink of an eye, I am going to take away the delight of your eyes. Do not weep or grieve or shed a tear. ¹⁷ Any groaning must be inward and silent, but do not grieve for the dead. Dress as you always dress: with a turban on your head and sandals on your feet. Don’t do any of the things mourners do. Don’t eat the food others bring to comfort you or cover your upper lip.

People: ¹⁹ Tell us what all of this has to do with us. Why are you acting this way?

Ezekiel: ²⁰ The word of the Eternal came to me ²¹ with a message for the people of Israel: “Look! I will desecrate My sanctuary—the magnificent house in which you take pride, the desire of your eyes, your complete delight—and all of the children you left behind in Jerusalem will be put to the sword and slaughtered.” ²² You will do exactly as I have done in hiding your grief: You will not eat the food others bring to comfort you or cover your upper lips. ²³ You will dress as you always dress: with turbans on your heads and sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or grieve. God tells me, “Instead, you will rot away from within because of your wickedness and moan among yourselves. ²⁴ In this way, Ezekiel will be a living example for you. You must do exactly as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Eternal Lord.”

Eternal One: ²⁵ As for you, son of man, on the day I seize their fortress—the joyous aspect of their pride, the desire of their eyes, their complete delight—and all of their children, ²⁶ a fugitive will escape from the destruction and will come to you in Babylon with news of what happened. ²⁷ The day you learn of My judgment, your mouth will be opened, and your silence will be broken. Then you will be able to converse with the fugitive. You will be a living example to them, and they will know that I am the Eternal One.