"Speaka parableto the rebellioushouseand sayto them, 'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"Puton the pot,put[it] on and alsopourwaterin it;
When Elishareturnedto Gilgal,[there was] a faminein the land.As the sonsof the prophetswere sittingbeforehim, he saidto his servant,"Puton the largepotand boilstewfor the sonsof the prophets."
I will openmy mouthin a parable;I will utterdarksayingsof old,
Listen,O heavens,and hear,O earth;For the LORDspeaks,"SonsI have rearedand broughtup, But they have revoltedagainst Me.
I will bringdistressto Ariel,And she will be [a city of] lamentingand mourning;And she will be like an Arielto me.
"Woeto the rebelliouschildren,"declaresthe LORD,"Who executea plan,but not Mine,And makean alliance,but not of My Spirit,In orderto addsinto sin;
For thisis a rebelliouspeople,false~sons,Sonswho refuseto listenTo the instructionof the LORD;
But they rebelledAnd grievedHis HolySpirit;Therefore He turnedHimself to become their enemy,He foughtagainst them.
The wordof the LORDcameto me a secondtimesaying,"Whatdo you see?"And I said,"I seea boilingpot,facingaway from the north."
Then the LORDsaidto me, "Out of the norththe evilwill breakforthon allthe inhabitantsof the land.
"This[city] will not be a potfor you, norwill you be fleshin the midstof it, [but] I will judgeyou to the borderof Israel.
who say,Is not [the time] nearto buildhouses?This[city] is the potand we are the flesh.'
Therefore,thussaysthe LordGOD,"Your slainwhomyou have laidin the midstof the city are the fleshand this[city] is the pot;but I will bringyou out of it.
"Sonof man,you livein the midstof the rebellioushouse,whohave eyesto seebut do not see,earsto hearbut do not hear;for they are a rebellioushouse.
"For I the LORDwill speak,and whateverwordI speakwill be performed.It will nolongerbe delayed,for in your days,O rebellioushouse,I will speakthe wordand performit," declaresthe LordGOD.'"
"Saynowto the rebellioushouse,Do you not knowwhatthesethings[mean]?' Say,'Behold,the kingof Babyloncameto Jerusalem,tookits kingand princesand broughtthem to him in Babylon.
"Sonof man,propounda riddleand speaka parableto the houseof Israel,
As He spoketo me the Spiritenteredme and setme on my feet;and I heard[Him] speakingto me.
Then He saidto me, "Sonof man,I am sendingyou to the sonsof Israel,to a rebelliouspeoplewhohave rebelledagainst Me; they and their fathershave transgressedagainst Me to thisveryday.
"As for them, whetherthey listenornot-- for they are a rebellioushouse--they will knowthat a prophethas beenamongthem.
"And you, sonof man,neitherfearthem norfeartheir words,thoughthistlesand thornsare with you and you siton scorpions;neitherfeartheir wordsnorbe dismayedat their presence,for they are a rebellioushouse.
"Now you, sonof man,listento whatI am speakingto you; do not be rebelliouslike that rebellioushouse.Openyour mouthand eatwhatI am givingyou."
Then I said,"AhLordGOD!They are sayingof me, 'Is he not [just] speakingparables?'"
Therefore,thussaysthe LordGOD,"Woeto the bloodycity,To the potin whichthere is rustAnd whose rusthas not goneout of it! Takeout of it pieceafter piece,Withoutmakinga choice.
"Like emeryharderthanflintI have madeyour forehead.Do not be afraidof them or be dismayedbeforethem, thoughthey are a rebellioushouse."
"On that daythey will takeup againstyou a tauntAnd uttera bitterlamentation[and] say,'We are completelydestroyed!He exchangesthe portionof my people;HowHe removesit from me! To the apostateHe apportionsour fields.'
And they were seekingto seizeHim, and [yet] they fearedthe people,for they understoodthat He spokethe parableagainstthem. And [so] they leftHim and went away.
And He said,"To you it has been grantedto knowthe mysteriesof the kingdomof God,but to the rest[it is] in parables,sothat SEEINGTHEY MAY NOT SEE,AND HEARINGTHEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.
"You men who are stiff-neckedand uncircumcisedin heartand earsare alwaysresistingthe HolySpirit;you are doing justas your fathersdid.
