1This word of the LORD also came to me, 2“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see, but do not see; they have ears to hear, but do not hear; they are a rebellious bunch! 3Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings as if about to go into exile, and leave your home in daylight - in plain sight of the people; and you shall move from place to place in plain view of them. Perhaps they will take note, despite being a rebellious people. 4Then during the daytime, you shall bring out your baggage as if moving into captivity; and then go out at evening, well within their sight, like one going into captivity. 5While they watch, dig through the wall, and carry your baggage out through the hole in wall. 6In their sight, lift your baggage pack up on your shoulders, and carry it out in the twilight, as they watch. Cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground; for I have made you to be a sign to the people of Israel.”7So I did as God said: I brought out baggage as if for captivity by day; and in the evening, I dug through the wall with my hand; I brought out my baggage in the twilight, and I carried it upon my shoulder in their sight.

8And the morning this word of the LORD came to me, 9“Son of man, have those rebellious Israelites not asked you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10Say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “This prophecy, illustrated by Ezekiel’s peculiar actions, contains a message for King Zedekiah in Jerusalem, and all the Israelites who live there. 11He is a sign to you; as he has done, so shall it be done to them; they shall go into exile as captives. 12And even King Zedekiah shall carry his things on his shoulder in the twilight, and leave Jerusalem. They shall dig a hole through the wall for him to pull his belongings through; and he shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground. 13I will also spread My net upon him, and he shall be caught in My trap; and I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; thought he shall never see it, and he shall die there. 14And I will scatter all his aides and the soldiers that are with him to the four winds; and I will pursue them with drawn sword. 15And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations, and throughout the countries. 16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, the famine, and the pestilence; so that they may acknowledge and confess all their detestable practices among the nations to which they go; and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

17Moreover, this word of the LORD came to me: 18“Son of man, eat your bread and drink your water with trembling and with anxiety; 19And say to the people of the land, ‘Thus says the LORD God of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with anxiety, and drink their water with consternation, for their land shall become desolate - stripped of all that is in it, because of the violence of all those that dwell there. 20And the cities that are now inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”’”

21Again, this word of the LORD came to me: 22“Son of man, what is that proverb that the people in the land of Israel have, that says, ‘The days pass;, and every vision comes to nothing’? 23Say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no longer use that proverb in Israel. But tell them, ‘The days are at hand, when every vision (prophecy) shall be fulfilled’. 24For there shall no longer be any vain visions, nor false flattering divination within the nation of Israel. 25For I am the LORD; I will speak, and the word that I speak shall come to pass; it shall be delayed no longer; for in your days, O rebellious people, I will say the word, and will promptly perform it’”, says the LORD God.

26Then this word of the LORD came to me, 27“Son of man, look, the Israelites say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of times that are far in the future’. 28Therefore, say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God: “None of My words shall be delayed any longer; but what I have spoken shall be promptly fulfilled”, says the LORD God.’”’”