Ezekiel

Contains visions and prophecies of judgment and restoration for Israel and the nations.

Chapter 12

1 The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.

*Son, you live among a disobedient family who can see but don't watch, and can hear but don't listen. They are a rebellious group.

3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.

*So, you, human helper, get ready to move things out, and move them during the day when people can see. Move from one place to another while they watch. Maybe then, this stubborn group of people will think about things.

4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.

*Then you will take your belongings out during the day for them to see, like items being removed. And you will leave at sunset, just like those going into captivity.

5 Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.

*Dig a hole in the wall while they watch, and then remove something from it.

6 In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.

*You will carry it on your shoulders when they can see you, and take it with you during dusk. Cover your face so you don't look at the ground, because I have chosen you to be a symbol for the people of Israel.

7 And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.

*I followed orders and did what I was told. During the day, I took my belongings out as if for captivity. At night, I dug a hole in the wall using my hand. In the twilight, I brought it out and carried it on my shoulder so they could see.

8 And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

*In the morning, the LORD spoke to me, saying,

9 Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?

*Son of man, hasn't the rebellious house of Israel asked you, "What are you doing?"

10 Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.

*Tell them, "This message is from the Lord God: It's about the leader in Jerusalem and all the people of Israel who live there."

11 Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.

*Say, I am the symbol: just as I did it, it will be done to them; they will leave and be taken captive.

12 And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

*The leader among them will carry a heavy load on his shoulders at dusk and leave. They will break through the wall to take something out. He will cover his face so he can't see the ground with his eyes.

13 My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.

*I will set a trap for him, and he will fall into it. Then I will take him to a faraway place called Babylon, where the Chaldeans live. But he won't see that place; he will die before getting there.

14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.

*I will send people in every direction to not help him, and take away his strength; then I will chase them with swords.

15 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.

*They will realize I am God when I spread them out among different nations and 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 heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

*But I will save some people from the dangers of war, hunger, and sickness. They will tell everyone about their bad actions in the places they go to. And the people there will understand that I am the all-powerful God.

17 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

*Additionally, the LORD's message reached me, stating,

18 Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;

*Son, eat your food nervously and carefully drink your water.

19 And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.

*And tell the people living in the area, The Lord God speaks to the people of Jerusalem and Israel. They must eat their food carefully and drink water in amazement. This will make the land empty of everything in it, because of the violence of those who live there.

20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

*The cities with people will be destroyed, and the land will be empty; you will understand that I am the one in charge.

21 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

*And God spoke to me through his message.

22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

*Son of man, what is the common saying in Israel about long days and failed visions?

23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

*Say to the people, God says: This saying will no longer be true, and it won't be used in Israel anymore. Instead, tell them that the time is near, and everything in prophecies will happen soon.

24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

*In the future, there will be no false visions or deceiving predictions in the house of Israel.

25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.

*Because I am the LORD: I will talk, and whatever I say will happen; it won't take long. In your time, you rebellious people, I will speak the word and make it happen, says the Lord God.

26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

*Once more, God's message reached me, saying,

27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.

*Son of man, notice that the people of Israel say, "The vision he sees will happen in the future, and he talks about events that will occur a long time from now."

28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.

*So tell them, God says: My words won't take longer. The words I spoke will happen, promises the Lord God.

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