1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, you are dwelling in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and see not, who have ears to hear, and hear not, for they are a rebellious house. 3 Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile, and in broad daylight in their sight move from your place into exile in their sight. Perhaps they will consider, even though they are a rebellious house. 4 Bring out your bags by day in their sight, as baggage packed for exile; then while they are watching leave, as those who leave into exile. 5 Dig through the wall in their sight and carry your bags out through the hole. 6 In their sight carry it on your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. Cover your face so that you do not see the land, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel." 7 So I did just as I was told. I brought out my bags by day, as bags packed for exile, and that evening I dug through the wall with my own hands; I brought it out in the dark, and carried it on my shoulder in their sight. 8 Then in the morning the word of the LORD came to me, 9 "Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, asked you, 'What are you doing?' 10 Tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: This oracle concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel who are in it.' 11 Say, 'I am your sign: just as I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.' 12 And the prince that is among them will carry his belongings on his shoulder in the dark, and leave. They will dig through the wall to carry it out through the hole. He will cover his face, so that he won't see the land with his eyes. 13 I will spread my net over him, and he will be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, and he will die there. 14 I will scatter to every wind all that are around about him—his aids and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them. 15 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations, and scatter them among the foreign countries. 16 But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, famine and pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they are going; then they will know that I am the LORD." 17 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 18 "Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with anxious shaking. 19 Tell the people of the land, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: They shall eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, because their land will be stripped of everything in it, as a result of the violence of all those who live there. 20 The inhabited towns will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate; then you will know that I am the LORD." 21 Then the word of LORD came to me: 22 "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, 'The days are far off, and every vision fails'? 23 Tell them therefore, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but tell them, 'The days are near, and every vision will be fulfilled.' 24 For there will be no more false visions nor flattering divinations within the house of Israel. 25 For I am the LORD; I will speak, and the word that I speak will happen. There will be no more delay. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word, and will perform it, says the sovereign LORD." 26 The word of the LORD came to me: 27 "Son of man, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for many days in the future, and he prophesied of times that are far off.' 28 Therefore tell them, 'This is what the sovereign LORD says: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word which I speak will be performed, says the sovereign LORD.'"