1 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant LORD} came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, saying {leemor: quotation marker}.
2 Son of man {ben-adam: human messenger}, write for yourself the name {shem: identity marker} of the day, this very day—the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem on this very day.
3 And utter a parable {mashal: symbolic lesson} to the house of rebellion, and you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}: Set on the pot, set it on, and also pour water into it."
4 Gather its pieces into it—all the good pieces—thigh {yarekh: upper leg cut} and shoulder; fill it with choice {mivchar: selected, best quality} bones.
5 Take the choice of the flock, and also pile the bones {atsamim: physical remains} beneath it; make it boil {ratach: intense seething} vigorously, and let its bones also be thoroughly cooked within it.
6 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}: Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot whose filth {khelatah: corrupt impurity} remains within! Bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
7 Because her blood was in her midst; she placed it upon the bare rock {tzechiach: exposed surface}; she did not pour it upon the ground to cover it with dust {afar: loose earth particles}.
8 To bring up wrath, to take vengeance {nakam: retribution}, I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} have set her blood upon the bare rock, so that it will not be covered.
9 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Master}: Woe to the city of bloodshed {ha-damim: violent shedding}! Indeed, I will also make the firewood pile great.
10 Heap up the wood {harbeh: intensifying command}, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice the mixture, and let the bones be burned {yecharu: made white-hot}.
11 Then set the pot empty upon its coals, so that it may be heated and its copper {nechushtah: bronze metal} may burn; its uncleanness {tum'ah: ritual defilement} may be melted within it, and its filth may be consumed.
12 She has wearied herself with efforts {te'unim: exhaustive toil}, but her abundant filth {chela'ah: persistent corrosion} does not go out from her; into the fire with her filth!
13 In your impurity is lewdness {zimmah: moral depravity}. Because I purified you and you were not purified from your impurity, you will not be purified any longer until I cause to rest My wrath {ḥamati: passionate anger} upon you.
14 I, the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge}, have spoken; it will come to pass, and I will do it. I will not hold back, nor will I have pity, nor will I relent; according to your ways {drachayikh: habitual conduct} and according to your deeds {alilotayikh: completed actions}, they will judge you—declares the Lord GOD {YHWH Adonai, Sovereign Master}.
15 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant LORD} came to me, saying {lemor: introducing divine speech}.
16 Son of man, behold, I {YHWH, Executor of Judgment} am taking from you the delight of your eyes {machmad: most cherished one} with a sudden blow; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall any tear come.
17 Groan in silence for the dead, but do not make mourning; bind your turban {peʾer: head covering of distinction} upon yourself and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips {safam: upper lip or mustache} or eat the bread of men.
18 And I spoke {dabar: prophetic declaration} to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening; and I did in the morning as I was commanded {tzuveti: divine directive}.
19 And the people said to me, "Will you not declare{taggid: announce plainly} to us what these things mean, since you are doing{oseh: visible activity} them?"
20 And I said to them, "The word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant LORD} came to me {elai: personal reception}, saying:"
21 Say to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}: Behold, I am profaning my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, and the longing of your souls {nefesh: life force}. And your sons and your daughters whom you left behind will fall by the sword.”
22 And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips {safam: upper lip}, and you shall not eat the bread {lechem: daily sustenance} of men.
23 Your adornments {pe'erekhem: ornamental headgear} will be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away in your iniquities {avonoteikhem: moral guilt}, and each man will groan to his brother.
24 And Ezekiel will be for you a sign {mofet: symbolic action}; you shall do according to all that he has done. When it comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Master}.
25 And you, son of man, is it not in the day when I {YHWH, Stripping Judge} take from them their stronghold {mauzzam: fortified refuge}, the joy of their glory, the delight of their eyes, the burden of their soul, their sons and their daughters?
26 On that day, the fugitive {hapalit: one who escapes} will come to you to cause it to be heard with ears {oznayim: hearing organs}.
27 In that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you will speak and no longer be mute {te-alem: divinely imposed silence}. You will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD {YHWH, Voice Restorer}.