Ezekiel 12 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
The of Yahweh came to me:
of you're living among a people. They have eyes but refuse to see, ears but refuse to hear — because they are a
"So, son of man — pack your bags for While they watch, set out during the day. Leave your home and go somewhere else, right in front of them. Maybe they'll finally see it, even though they're a rebellious house."
"Bring out your bags during the day, while they watch — packed for exile. Then in the evening, go out yourself, right in front of them, the way people leave when they're taken into exile."
"While they watch, dig through the and carry your things out through it."
"While they watch, hoist your bags onto your shoulder and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so you can't see the ground — because I've made you a to the house of Israel."
So I did exactly what I was told. During the day I brought out my bags, packed for exile. In the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I carried everything out in the dark, hoisting it onto my shoulder while they watched.
Then in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to me:
"Son of man, didn't the house of Israel — that rebellious house — ask you, 'What are you doing?'"
"Tell them: 'This is what the says — This falls on the in Jerusalem and the entire house of Israel who are there.'"
"Tell them: 'I am your sign. What I've done is what will happen to them — they will go into exile, into
"The prince among them will hoist his bags onto his shoulder in the dark and leave. They'll dig through the wall to bring him out through it. He'll cover his face so he can't see the ground with his own eyes."
"But I will spread my over him, and he will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to the land of the — yet he will not see it. And there he will die."
"And all those around him — his guards and his troops — I will to every and unsheathe a sword behind them."
"Then they will that I am — when I scatter them among the and disperse them across foreign lands."
"But I will spare a few of them from the sword, from from plague — so they can confess all their among the nations where they end up. Then they will know that I am Yahweh."
Then the word of Yahweh came to me:
"Son of man, eat your bread with and drink your water with shaking and dread."
"Then say to the people of the land: 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says about those living in Jerusalem, in the land of Israel — They will eat their bread in dread and drink their water in horror, because their land will be stripped bare of everything in it, on account of the of everyone who lives there.'"
"The inhabited cities will be laid waste and the land will become a Then you will know that I am Yahweh."
The word of Yahweh came to me:
"Son of man, what is this you have in the land of Israel — 'The days drag on, and every fades to nothing'?"
"So tell them: 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says — I am putting an end to this proverb. They will never use it again in Israel.' Instead, tell them: 'The days are close now, and every vision will be fulfilled.'"
"There will be no more empty visions or flattering within the house of Israel."
"Because I am Yahweh. I will speak, and whatever word I speak will be done. It will not be delayed any longer. In your days, you rebellious house, I will speak the word and I will do it — this is the of the Lord Yahweh."
Then the word of Yahweh came to me:
"Son of man, look — the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision he sees is for the distant future. He's prophesying about times far off.'"
"So tell them: 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says — None of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever I speak will be done — this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.'"