1. Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looks eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
2. Then said he unto me,
3. Who say, It is not near for us to build houses: this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.
4. Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
5. And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me,
6. You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled its streets with the slain.
7. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
8. You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, says the Lord GOD.
9. And I will bring you out of its midst, and deliver you into the hands of foreigners, and will execute judgments among you.
10. You shall fall by the sword; I will judge you at the border of Israel; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
11. This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall you be the flesh in its midst; but I will judge you at the border of Israel:
12. And you shall know that I am the LORD: for you have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the nations that are round about you.
13. And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
14. Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
15. Son of man, your brethren, even your brethren, the men of your kindred, and all the house of Israel entirely, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.
16. Therefore say, Thus says the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the nations, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
17. Therefore say, Thus says the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.