"Say,I am a signto you. As I have done,soit will be doneto them; they will gointo exile,into captivity.'
Then the restof the peoplewho were leftin the cityand the deserterswhohad desertedto the kingof Babylonand the restof the people,Nebuzaradanthe captainof the guardcarriedawayinto exile.
They slaughteredthe sonsof Zedekiahbefore his eyes,then putout the eyesof Zedekiahand boundhim with bronzefettersand broughthim to Babylon.
Pickup your bundlefrom the ground,You who dwellunder siege!
"And it shall be that whenthey sayto you, 'Whereshould we go?'then you are to tellthem, 'Thussaysthe LORD:"Those [destined] for death,to death;And those [destined] for the sword,to the sword;And those [destined] for famine,to famine;And those [destined] for captivity,to captivity."'
Then Nebuzaradanthe captainof the guardcarriedawayinto exilesomeof the poorestof the people,the restof the peoplewho were leftin the city,the deserterswhohad desertedto the kingof Babylonand the restof the artisans.
"Therefore, sonof man,preparefor yourself baggagefor exileand gointo exileby dayin their sight;even gointo exilefrom your placeto anotherplacein their sight.Perhapsthey will understandthoughthey are a rebellioushouse.
"Load[the baggage] on [your] shoulderin their sight[and] carry[it] out in the dark.You shall coveryour faceso that you cannotseethe land,for I have setyou as a signto the houseof Israel."
"Now you sonof man,getyourself a brick,placeit beforeyou and inscribea cityon it, Jerusalem.
"Then getyourself an ironplateand setit up as an ironwallbetweenyou and the city,and setyour facetowardit so that it is under siege,and besiegeit. Thisis a signto the houseof Israel.
Nowlisten,Joshuathe highpriest,you and your friendswho are sittingin frontof you-- indeedthey are menwho are a symbol,for behold,I am going to bringin My servantthe Branch.
