Ezekiel 24

New International Version

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:^(A) ²“Son of man, record^(B) this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.^(C) ³Tell this rebellious people^(D) a parable^(E) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot;^(F) put it on
    and pour water into it.
⁴Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;^(G)
⁵    take the pick of the flock.^(H)
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.^(I)

⁶“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe^(J) to the city of bloodshed,^(K)
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order^(L) it comes.^(M)

⁷“‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.^(N)
⁸To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

⁹“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
¹⁰So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
¹¹Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.^(O)
¹²It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

¹³“‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed^(P) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.^(Q)

¹⁴“‘I the Lord have spoken.^(R) The time has come for me to act.^(S) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,^(T) nor will I relent.^(U) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,^(V) declares the Sovereign Lord.^(W)’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

¹⁵The word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁶“Son of man, with one blow^(X) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.^(Y) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.^(Z) ¹⁷Groan quietly;^(AA) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban^(AB) fastened and your sandals^(AC) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard^(AD) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(AE)”

¹⁸So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.^(AF)

¹⁹Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?^(AG) Why are you acting like this?”

²⁰So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: ²¹Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary^(AH)—the stronghold in which you take pride,^(AI) the delight of your eyes,^(AJ) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters^(AK) you left behind will fall by the sword.^(AL) ²²And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard^(AM) or eat the customary food of mourners.^(AN) ²³You will keep your turbans^(AO) on your heads and your sandals^(AP) on your feet. You will not mourn^(AQ) or weep but will waste away^(AR) because of^[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.^(AS) ²⁴Ezekiel^(AT) will be a sign^(AU) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

²⁵“And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,^(AV) their heart’s desire,^(AW) and their sons and daughters^(AX) as well— ²⁶on that day a fugitive will come to tell you^(AY) the news. ²⁷At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.^(AZ) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.^(BA)”