Ezekiel 11:1-12

EasyEnglish Bible

What will happen to Jerusalem

11 Then a spirit lifted me up and took me to the east gate of the Lord's temple.^[a] When I was there, near the entrance of the gate, I could see 25 men. Azzur's son Jaazaniah and Benaiah's son Pelatiah were among them. They were leaders of the people. ² The Lord said to me. ‘Son of man, these are the men who decide to do evil things in this city. They also give wicked advice to the people. ³ They say, “It is not the right time now to build houses. This city is like a pot to cook meat on a fire. We are like the meat in that pot.”

⁴ Son of man, you must speak my message to warn them.’

⁵ Then the Lord's Spirit took hold of me. He said to me, ‘This is the Lord's message to the people: Tell them, “People of Israel, I know what you are saying. I know the thoughts that you have in your minds. ⁶ You have killed many people in this city. The streets are full of the dead bodies of people that you have killed.”

⁷ So this is what the Almighty Lord says: “The dead bodies that you have put in this city are the meat. And the city is the pot to cook them in. But as for you, I will remove you from it! ⁸ You are afraid that an enemy will attack you. So I will bring an army to attack you.” That is what the Almighty Lord says.

⁹ “I will remove you from this city. I will put you under the power of a foreign army. I will use them to punish you. ¹⁰ Enemy soldiers will use their swords to kill you. I will punish you in your own country. Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹¹ This city will not be like a pot where you can be safe. You will not be like the meat in that pot. I will punish you while you are still inside Israel. ¹² Then you will know that I am the Lord. You have not obeyed my rules or my laws. Instead, you have lived in the same wicked way as the nations around you.” ’