1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, you live among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. 3 As for you, son of man, prepare baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight. Move from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will see, though they are a rebellious house. 4 Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, like baggage for exile. You yourself are to go out in the evening in their sight, like those going into exile. 5 Dig through the wall in their sight and carry it out through there. 6 In their sight, lift it onto your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. Cover your face so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” 7 I did just as I was commanded. I brought my baggage out by day, like baggage for exile. In the evening I dug through the wall by hand. I carried it out in the dark, lifting it onto my shoulder in their sight.

8 In the morning the word of the LORD came to me: 9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, asked you, ‘What are you doing?’ 10 Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.’ 11 Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.’ 12 The prince among them will lift his baggage onto his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring it out through there. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the ground with his own eyes. 13 I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. 14 I will scatter to every wind all those around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I will draw the sword after them. 15 They will know that I am the LORD when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the countries. 16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine, and pestilence, so that they may recount all their abominations among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

17 The word of the LORD came to me: 18 “Son of man, eat your bread trembling, and drink your water with shuddering and anxiety. 19 Say to the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: They will eat their bread with anxiety and drink their water in terror, so that its land may be stripped of all it contains because of the violence of all who live in it. 20 The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

21 The word of the LORD came to me: 22 “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days drag on, and every vision comes to nothing’? 23 Therefore tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: I will put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer use it in Israel.’ Tell them instead, ‘The days are near, and so is the fulfillment of every vision. 24 For there will no longer be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25 For I, the LORD, will speak. Whatever word I speak will be done; it will no longer be delayed. In your days, rebellious house, I will speak a word and carry it out, declares the Lord GOD.’ ”

26 The word of the LORD came to me: 27 “Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of distant times.’ 28 Therefore tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be done, declares the Lord GOD.’ ”