Judah's Captivity Symbolized
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The word of the LORD came to me:
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1"Son of man, you dwell in the midst of 2a rebellious house, 3who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are 4a rebellious house.
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As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself 5an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day 6in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place 7in their sight. 8Perhaps they will understand, thougha they are a rebellious house.
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You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself 9at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile.
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In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you 11a sign for the house of Israel."
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12And I did as I was commanded. 13I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.
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In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:
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14"Son of man, has not the house of Israel, 15the rebellious house, said to you, 16'What are you doing?'
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Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concernsb17the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are in it.'c
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Say, 18'I am a sign for you: 19as I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile, into captivity.'
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20And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder at dusk, and shall go out. 21They shall dig through the wall to bring him out through it. 22He shall cover his face, that he may not see the land with his eyes.
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23And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare. And 24I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, 25yet he shall not see it, and he shall die there.
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26And I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, 27and I will unsheathe the sword after them.
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28And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.
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29But I will let a few of them escape from the sword, from famine and pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they go, 30and may know that I am the LORD."
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And the word of the LORD came to me:
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And say to the people of the land, Thus says the Lord GOD concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel: 33They shall eat their bread with anxiety, 34and drink water in dismay. In this way 35her land will be stripped of all it contains, 36on account of the violence of all those who dwell in it.
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37And the inhabited cities shall be laid waste, and the land shall become a desolation; and you shall know that I am the LORD."
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And the word of the LORD came to me:
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"Son of man, 38what is this proverb that youd have about the land of Israel, saying, 39'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'?
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Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will put an end to this proverb, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.' But say to them, 40The days are near, and the fulfillmente of every vision.
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41For there shall be no more any 42false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel.
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For I am the LORD; I will speak 43the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. 44It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, 45O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD."
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And the word of the LORD came to me:
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)