1 Jehovah’s word also came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, you son of man, prepare your stuff for moving, and move by day in their sight; and you shall move from your place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. 4 You shall bring out your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for moving; and you shall go out yourself in the evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile. 5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your stuff out that way. 6 In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark; you shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land: for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”

7 I did so as I was commanded: I brought out my stuff by day, as stuff for removing, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand; I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.

8 In the morning, Jehovah’s word came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Jehovah: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.” 11 Say, ‘I am your sign: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall go into exile, into captivity. 12 The prince who is among them shall bear on his shoulder in the dark, and shall go out: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, because he shall not see the land with his eyes. 13 My net also I will spread on him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there. 14 I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. 15 They shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries. 16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they come; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.’”

17 Moreover Jehovah’s word came to me, saying, 18 “Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness; 19 and tell the people of the land, ‘Thus says the Lord Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein. 20 The cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be a desolation; and you shall know that I am Jehovah.”’”

21 Jehovah’s word came to me, saying, 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?’ 23 Tell them therefore, ‘Thus says the Lord Jehovah: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel;”’ but tell them, ‘The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there shall be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I am Jehovah; I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred: for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word, and will perform it,’ says the Lord Jehovah.”’”

26 Again Jehovah’s word came to me, saying, 27 “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many day to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’ 28 Therefore tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord Jehovah: “None of my words shall be deferred any more, but the word which I shall speak shall be performed,” says the Lord Jehovah.’”