1Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

2“Son of man, write down the name of the day, this very day—the king of Babylon started his siege against Jerusalem this very day.

3And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

6‘Therefore thus says the Lord God:

9‘Therefore thus says the Lord God:

15Also the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

16“Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down.

17Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead; bind your turban on your head, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your 24:17 Lit. moustachelips, and do not eat man’s bread of sorrow.”

18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died; and the next morning I did as I was commanded.

19And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things signify to us, that you behave so?”

20Then I answered them, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

21‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, 24:21 Lit. the pride of your strengthyour arrogant boast, the desire of your eyes, the 24:21 Lit. compassiondelight of your soul; and your sons and daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

22And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your 24:22 Lit. moustachelips nor eat man’s bread of sorrow.

23Your turbans shall be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you shall neither mourn nor weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and mourn with one another.

24Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you; according to all that he has done you shall do; and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord God.’ ”

25‘And you, son of man—will it not be in the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and their glory, the desire of their eyes, and 24:25 Lit. the lifting up of their soulthat on which they set their minds, their sons and their daughters:

26that on that day one who escapes will come to you to let you hear it with your ears?

27On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”