Study Desk

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

"Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you ^(C1)what is precious to your eyes with a ^(C2)fatal blow; but you shall not ^(C3)mourn and you shall not weep, and your ^(C4)tears shall not come.

"Groan silently; do ^(C1)no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet, and do not ^(F1)cover your mustache, and ^(C2)do not eat the ^(F2)bread of other people."

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded.

And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are doing?"

Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

'Speak to the house of Israel, "This is what the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, ^(C1)that which is precious in your eyes and the longing of your soul; and your ^(C2)sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.

'And you will do just as I have done; you will not ^(F1)cover your mustache, and you will not eat the ^(F2)bread of other people.

'Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You ^(C1)will not mourn and you will not weep; but ^(C2)you will rot away in your guilty deeds, and you will groan ^(F1)to one another.

'So Ezekiel will be a ^(C1)sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When it comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'"

'As for you, son of man, will it not be on the day when I take from them their ^(C1)stronghold, the joy of their splendor, that which is precious in their eyes and their ^(F1)heart's longing, their sons and their daughters,

that on that day the one who ^(C1)escapes will come to you with information for your ears?

'On that day your ^(C1)mouth will be opened to him who escaped, and you will speak and no longer be silenced. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.'"