The Man of God Leaves

12 The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ² “Son of man, you live among sinful people. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear. For they are sinful people. ³ So, son of man, get your things ready to take with you to another land, and let them see you leave during the day. Let them see you leave to go to another place. It may be that they will understand even if they are sinful people. ⁴ Take your things with you during the day, with them watching you. Take the things you will need for going to another land. Then let them see you go out at evening, like those who go to another land. ⁵ While they watch, dig a hole through the wall and go out through it. ⁶ Load your things on your shoulder while they watch, and carry the load out in the dark. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you as something special for the people of Israel to see.”

⁷ I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my things that I would need to go to another land. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I went out in the dark and carried the load on my shoulder while they watched.

⁸ In the morning the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁹ “Son of man, have not the sinful people of Israel said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ ¹⁰ Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “This word is about the leader in Jerusalem, as well as all the people of Israel who are in it.”’ ¹¹ Tell them, ‘I am something special for you to see. As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will be taken to another land and held there.’ ¹² The leader among them will load his things on his shoulder in the dark and go out. A hole will be dug through the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes. ¹³ I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My trap. I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Babylonians, yet he will not see it. And he will die there. ¹⁴ I will divide all his helpers and all his army who are around him to the four winds and have the sword follow them. ¹⁵ Then they will know that I am the Lord when I divide them among the nations, and spread them among the countries. ¹⁶ But I will let a few of them get away from the sword, hunger and disease. They will tell about all their sinful ways to the nations where they go. And they will know that I am the Lord.”

¹⁷ The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹⁸ “Son of man, shake in fear as you eat your bread and drink your water. ¹⁹ Then tell the people of the land, ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: “They will be afraid as they eat their bread, and drink their water in fear. For their land will lay waste because of the fighting of all who live in it. ²⁰ The cities where people live will be laid waste, and the land will be destroyed. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”’”

²¹ The Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²² “Son of man, what is this saying you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are long and every special dream comes to nothing’? ²³ Tell them, ‘The Lord God says, “I will make this saying come to an end, so that they will no longer use it as a saying in Israel.’” But tell them, ‘The days are near when all the special dreams from God will come true. ²⁴ For there will be no more false dreams or good sounding words that do not come true. ²⁵ For I the Lord will speak, and whatever I say will be done. It will no longer be held back. For in your days, O sinful people, I will speak the word and do it,’ says the Lord God.”

²⁶ Again the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²⁷ “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The special dream he sees will not come to pass for many years. He is speaking of times far in the future.’ ²⁸ So tell them, ‘The Lord God says, “None of My words will be held back any longer. Whatever I say will be done,’” says the Lord God.”