17. Groan, moan for the dead, but make no public lament; bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, but do not cover your beard or eat the bread of mourners.
18. I spoke to the people in the morning. In the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19. Then the people asked me, “Will you not tell us what all these things you are doing mean for us?”
20. I said to them, The word of the Lord came to me:
21. Say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: I will now desecrate my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the concern of your soul. The sons and daughters you left behind shall fall by the sword.
22. Then you shall do as I have done, not covering your beards nor eating the bread of mourning.
23. Your turbans shall remain on your heads, your sandals on your feet. You shall not mourn or weep, but you shall waste away because of your sins and groan to one another.