The Parable of the Cooking Pot 1 UDB Almost nine years after the Babylonians had taken us Israelites to their land, on the tenth day of the tenth month of that year, Yahweh gave me this message: BSB BSB: In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 UDB "Son of man, write down what day of the month this is. On this day the army of the king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem. BSB BSB: “Son of man, write down today’s date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.
3 UDB Tell those rebellious Israelite people in Babylon a parable. Say this to them: This is what Yahweh the Lord says: 'Pour water into the cooking pot and put the pot on the fire. BSB BSB: Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.
4 UDB Put into the pot some pieces of meat from one of your best sheep: put in the leg and shoulder, which are the best pieces. Then fill the rest of the pot with the best bones. BSB BSB: Put in the pieces of meat, every good piece—thigh and shoulder—fill it with choice bones.
5 UDB Pile wood on the fire, and cook the bones and the meat in the boiling water.' BSB BSB: Take the choicest of the flock and pile the fuel beneath it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’
6 UDB Do that because this is what Yahweh the Lord says: 'Terrible things will happen to Jerusalem; it is city that is full of murderers, a city that is like a corroded copper pot, and the corrosion cannot be removed. Take the pieces of meat out of the pot, but do not choose which pieces to take out. BSB BSB: Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now rusted, whose rust will not come off! Empty it piece by piece; cast no lots for its contents.
7 UDB The blood of the people who were murdered in Jerusalem is still there; they were murdered on the bare rocks, not on the soil, where their blood could be covered. BSB BSB: For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.
8 UDB But I am the one who caused the blood of those who were murdered to be smeared on the bare rock, where their blood could not be covered; I did that in order that I could see it and then be angry and get revenge.' BSB BSB: In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’
9 UDB Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: 'Terrible things will happen to that city that is full of murderers! It will be as though I also will pile high the wood in the fire. BSB BSB: Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the kindling high.
10 UDB So heap on the wood and light the fire! Cook the meat well, and mix some spices with it; cook it until the bones are black. BSB BSB: Pile on the logs and kindle the fire; cook the meat well and mix in the spices; let the bones be burned.
11 UDB Then set the empty pot on the coals of the fire until the pot becomes very hot and the copper glows, so that the corrosion will disappear. BSB BSB: Set the empty pot on its coals until it becomes hot and its copper glows. Then its impurity will melt within; its rust will be consumed.
12 UDB It is as though I tried to get rid of that corrosion, but I was not able to do it, not even by putting that pot on the fire. BSB BSB: It has frustrated every effort; its thick rust has not been removed, even by the fire.
13 UDB The corrosion in the pot represents your immoral behavior. I tried to cleanse you from your wicked behavior, but you did not allow me to do that. So you will not be cleansed from the guilt of your sin until I have punished you and I am no longer angry. BSB BSB: Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
14 UDB I, Yahweh, have said that I will surely punish you. And it is time for me to do that. I will not change my mind; I will not refrain from punishing you, and I will not pity you. I will judge you and punish you as you deserve to be punished for your sinful behavior. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh the Lord, have said it.'" BSB BSB: I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
Ezekiel’s Wife Dies 15 UDB One day Yahweh gave me this message: BSB BSB: Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
17 UDB Groan quietly; do not cry openly for her. Keep your turban wrapped around your head, and instead of being barefoot, keep your sandals on your feet. Do not cover the lower part of your face to show that you are sad. And do not eat the kind of food that people who are mourning usually eat." BSB BSB: Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”
18 UDB So one morning I talked to the people as usual, and that evening my wife suddenly died. The next morning I did what Yahweh had told me to do. BSB BSB: So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19 UDB Then the people asked me, "What do the things that you are doing signify to us?" BSB BSB: Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”
20 UDB I answered them, "This is what Yahweh told me: BSB BSB: So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
21 UDB 'Tell the Israelite people that I am about to destroy the temple, the building that you are very proud of, the building that you delight to look at. Your children whom you left in Jerusalem when you were forced to come to Babylon—your enemies will kill them. BSB BSB: Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’
22 UDB When that happens, you will do as I have done: You will not cover the lower part of your faces, or eat the kinds of food that people who are mourning usually eat. BSB BSB: Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.
23 UDB You will keep your turbans wrapped around your heads and keep your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or cry, but your bodies will become very thin and slowly die; I will not forgive your sins at all. And you will groan for each other. BSB BSB: Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves.
24 UDB Ezekiel will be a warning to you, and you must do what he has done. When that happens, you will know that I, Yahweh the Lord have the power to do what I say that I will do.'" BSB BSB: ‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’
25 UDB Then Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, soon I will destroy their sacred temple, which they rejoice about and which they respect and delight to look at, and I will get rid of their sons and daughters also. BSB BSB: And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy—the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls—and their sons and daughters as well,
26 UDB On that day, someone will escape from Jerusalem and come and tell you what has happened there. BSB BSB: on that day a fugitive will come and tell you the news.
27 UDB When that happens, you will be able to speak again without constraint. You two will talk together. You will be a warning to the people; and they will know that I, Yahweh, have the power to do what I say that I will do." BSB BSB: On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.