The Exile Symbolized
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.
3“Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. 4During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. 5While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. 6Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites.”
7So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
8In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9“Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’
10“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ 11Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.’
“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.
12“The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. 13I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. 14I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.
15“They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
17The word of the Lord came to me: 18“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water. 19Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. 20The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
There Will Be No Delay
21The word of the Lord came to me: 22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? 23Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. 25But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
26The word of the Lord came to me: 27“Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’
28“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
Kutekwa Kwa Yuda Kwaelezewa
1Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema: 212:2 Isa 6:10; Mk 8:18; Yer 5:21; Mt 13:15; Za 78:40; Yer 42:21; Mk 4:12“Mwanadamu, unaishi miongoni mwa watu waasi. Wana macho ya kuona, lakini hawaoni na masikio ya kusikia lakini hawasikii, kwa kuwa ni watu waasi.
312:3 Yer 36:3; 26:3; Eze 3:27; 2Tim 2:25-26“Kwa hiyo, mwanadamu, funga mizigo yako kwa kwenda uhamishoni tena wakati wa mchana, wakiwa wanakutazama, toka nje na uende mahali pengine kutoka hapo ulipo. Labda wataelewa, ingawa wao ni nyumba ya kuasi. 412:4 2Fal 25:4; Yer 39:4Wakati wa mchana, wakiwa wanakutazama, toa nje mizigo yako iliyofungwa kwa ajili ya kwenda uhamishoni. Kisha wakati wa jioni, wakiwa wanakutazama toka nje kama wale waendao uhamishoni. 512:5 Yer 52:7; Amo 4:3Wakiwa wanakutazama, toboa ukuta utolee mizigo yako hapo. 612:6 Isa 8:18; 20:3Beba mizigo hiyo begani mwako wakikuangalia uichukue nje wakati wa giza la jioni. Funika uso wako ili usione nchi, kwa maana nimekufanya ishara kwa nyumba ya Israeli.”
712:7 Eze 24:18; 37:10Basi nikafanya kama nilivyoamriwa. Wakati wa mchana nilitoa vitu vyangu nje vilivyofungwa tayari kwa uhamishoni. Kisha wakati wa jioni nikatoboa ukuta kwa mikono yangu. Nikachukua mizigo yangu nje wakati wa giza la jioni, nikiwa nimeibeba mabegani mwangu huku wakinitazama.
8Asubuhi neno la Bwana likanijia kusema: 912:9 Eze 20:49; 24:19; 7:12“Mwanadamu, je, nyumba ile ya kuasi ya Israeli haikukuuliza, ‘Unafanya nini?’
1012:10 Mal 1:1“Waambie, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Neno hili linamhusu mkuu aliye katika Yerusalemu na nyumba yote ya Israeli ambao wako huko.’ 1112:11 2Fal 25:7; Yer 15:2; Isa 8:18; Zek 3:8; Yer 52:15Waambie, ‘Mimi ndiye ishara kwenu.’
“Kama vile nilivyotenda, basi litatendeka vivyo hivyo kwao. Watakwenda uhamishoni kama mateka.
1212:12 Yer 39:4; 52:7“Naye mkuu aliye miongoni mwao atabeba mizigo yake begani mwake kwenye giza la jioni na kuondoka na tundu litatobolewa ukutani kwa ajili yake ili kupitia hapo. Atafunika uso wake ili kwamba asiweze kuiona nchi. 1312:13 Ay 19:6; Eze 32:3; Hos 7:12; Isa 24:17-18; Mao 4:20; Yer 39:7; 24:8; Eze 17:20; 19:8; 17:16Nitatandaza wavu wangu kwa ajili yake, naye atanaswa kwenye mtego wangu, nitamleta mpaka Babeli, nchi ya Wakaldayo, lakini hataiona, naye atafia huko. 1412:14 Eze 5:10; 2Fal 25:5; Yer 21:7; Eze 17:21Wote wanaomzunguka nitawatawanya pande zote, watumishi wake na majeshi yake yote, nami nitawafuatilia kwa upanga uliofutwa.
1512:15 Za 9:16; Eze 6:7, 14; 11:10“Wao watajua kwamba Mimi ndimi Bwana, nitakapowatawanya miongoni mwa mataifa na kuwafukuza huku na huko katika nchi zote. 1612:16 Yer 4:27; 22:8-9; Eze 36:20; 6:8-10; 14:22Lakini nitawaacha wachache wao waokoke na upanga, njaa na tauni, ili kwamba katika mataifa watakakokwenda waweze kutambua matendo ya machukizo waliotenda. Ndipo watajua kuwa Mimi ndimi Bwana.”
17Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema: 1812:18 Mao 5:9; Eze 4:16“Mwanadamu, tetemeka wakati ulapo chakula chako, tetemeka kwa hofu wakati unywapo maji yako. 1912:19 Yer 10:22; Zek 7:14; Eze 4:16; 6:6-14; Mik 7:13Waambie watu wa nchi: ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo kuhusu hao wanaoishi Yerusalemu na katika nchi ya Israeli: Watakula chakula chao kwa wasiwasi na kunywa maji yao kwa kufadhaika, kwa kuwa nchi yao itanyangʼanywa kila kitu chake kwa sababu ya udhalimu wa wote wanaoishi humo. 2012:20 Isa 7:23-24; Yer 4:7; 25:9Miji inayokaliwa na watu itaharibiwa na nchi itakuwa ukiwa. Ndipo mtakapojua kwamba Mimi ndimi Bwana.’ ”
21Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema: 2212:22 Isa 5:19; 2Pet 3:4; Za 37:13; 49:4; Eze 3:11; Amo 6:3“Mwanadamu, ni nini hii mithali mlio nayo katika nchi ya Israeli: ‘Siku zinapita na hakuna maono yoyote yanayotimia?’ 2312:23 Yoe 2:1; Sef 1:14; Eze 7:7; 18:3; Za 37:13Waambie, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Nitaikomesha mithali hii, nao hawataitumia tena katika Israeli.’ Waambie, ‘Siku zimekaribia wakati kila maono yatakapotimizwa. 2412:24 Mik 3:6; Zek 13:2-4; Mao 2:14; Yer 14:14; Eze 13:23Kwa maana hapatakuwepo tena na maono ya uongo wala ubashiri wa udanganyifu miongoni mwa watu wa Israeli. 2512:25 Hes 14:28-32; Dan 9:12; Hab 1:5; Hes 11:23; Eze 13:6; Isa 14:24; Yer 15:9Lakini Mimi Bwana nitasema neno nitakalo, nalo litatimizwa bila kuchelewa. Kwa maana katika siku zako, wewe nyumba ya kuasi, nitatimiza kila nisemalo, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.’ ”
26Neno la Bwana likanijia kusema: 2712:27 Dan 10:14; Mt 24:48-50; Isa 5:19; Eze 11:3“Mwanadamu, nyumba ya Israeli inasema, ‘Maono yale anayoyaona ni kwa ajili ya miaka mingi ijayo, naye hutabiri kuhusu siku zijazo zilizo mbali.’
28“Kwa hiyo, waambie, ‘Hili ndilo Bwana Mwenyezi asemalo: Hakuna maneno yangu yatakayocheleweshwa tena zaidi, lolote nisemalo litatimizwa, asema Bwana Mwenyezi.’ ”
