"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.
"Ohthat My peoplewould listento Me, That Israelwould walkin My ways!
Pickup your bundlefrom the ground,You who dwellunder siege!
Perhapsthey will listenand everyonewill turnfrom his evilway,that I may repentof the calamitywhichI am planningto doto them becauseof the evilof their deeds.'
thussaysthe LORDto me-- "Makefor yourself bondsand yokesand putthem on your neck,
"Perhapsthe houseof Judahwill hearallthe calamitywhichI planto bringon them, in orderthat everymanwill turnfrom his evilway;then I will forgivetheir iniquityand their sin."
"Perhapstheir supplicationwill comebeforethe LORD,and everyonewill turnfrom his evilway,for greatis the angerand the wraththat the LORDhas pronouncedagainstthispeople."
"Yet they did not listento Me or inclinetheir ear,but stiffenedtheir neck;they did moreevilthantheir fathers.
I didso,as I had been commanded.By dayI broughtout my baggagelike the baggageof an exile.Then in the eveningI dugthrough the wallwith my hands;I wentout in the dark[and] carried[the baggage] on [my] shoulderin their sight.
"Moreover, I will make your tonguestickto the roofof your mouthso that you will be muteand cannotbe a manwho rebukesthem, for they are a rebellioushouse.
"But when I speakto you, I will openyour mouthand you will sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LordGOD.'He who hears,let him hear;and he who refuses,let him refuse;for they are a rebellioushouse.
"Sayto them, 'As I live!'declaresthe LordGOD,'I takenopleasurein the deathof the wicked,but ratherthat the wickedturnfrom his wayand live.Turnback,turnbackfrom your evilways!Whythen will you die,O houseof Israel?'
"Ifthey are ashamedof allthat they have done,makeknownto them the designof the house,its structure,its exits,its entrances,allits designs,allits statutes, and allits laws.And write[it] in their sight,so that they may observeits wholedesignand allits statutesand dothem.
"O Jerusalem,Jerusalem,[the city] that killsthe prophetsand stonesthosesentto her! How oftenI wantedto gatheryour childrentogether,justas a hen[gathers] her broodunderher wings,and you wouldnot [have it]!
"The ownerof the vineyardsaid,'Whatshall I do?I will sendmy belovedson;perhapsthey will respecthim.'
"Wouldthat they were wise,that they understoodthis,That they would discerntheir future!
Ohthat they hadsucha heartin them, that they would fearMe and keepallMy commandmentsalways,that it may be wellwith them and with their sonsforever!
with gentlenesscorrectingthosewho are in opposition,if perhapsGodmay grantthem repentanceleadingto the knowledgeof the truth,
