⁹ “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’^(A)

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

¹² “Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?^(A)’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,^(B) bringing them back with him to Babylon.^(C)

⁴⁹ Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,^(A) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?^(B)’”^[a]

The Exile Symbolized

12 The word of the Lord came to me: ² “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.^(A) They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.^(B)

³ “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps^(C) they will understand,^(D) though they are a rebellious people.^(E)

⁵ And whether they listen or fail to listen^(A)—for they are a rebellious people^(B)—they will know that a prophet has been among them.^{(C) 6} And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(D) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(E) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^{(F) 7} You must speak^(G) my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.^{(H) 8} But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel^(I) like that rebellious people;^(J) open your mouth and eat^(K) what I give you.”