for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.

“Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’

“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink water with trembling and with fearfulness;

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days grow long, and every vision comes to nought’?

“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days hence, and he prophesies of times far off.’

“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, prophesy and say to those who prophesy out of their own minds: ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’

“And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own minds; prophesy against them

“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces; should I let myself be inquired of at all by them?

“Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it, and break its staff of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast,

“Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?

“Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations,

“Son of man, propound a riddle, and speak an allegory to the house of Israel;

“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.

Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their fathers,

“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In this again your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me.

“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb;

“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel

Sigh therefore, son of man; sigh with breaking heart and bitter grief before their eyes.

“Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, Say: A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished,

Cry and wail, son of man, for it is against my people; it is against all the princes of Israel; they are delivered over to the sword with my people. Smite therefore upon your thigh.

“Prophesy therefore, son of man; clap your hands and let the sword come down twice, yea thrice, the sword for those to be slain; it is the sword for the great slaughter, which encompasses them,

“Son of man, mark two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them shall come forth from the same land. And make a signpost, make it at the head of the way to a city;

“And you, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; say, A sword, a sword is drawn for the slaughter, it is polished to glitter and to flash like lightning—

“And you, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Then declare to her all her abominable deeds.

“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me; all of them, silver and bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace, have become dross.