9. “ ‘So this is what the Lord God says:How terrible it will be for the city of murderers!I myself will pile the wood high for burning.
10. Pile up the woodand light the fire.Finish cooking the meat.Mix in the spices,and let the bones burn.
11. Then set the empty pot on the coalsso it may become hot and its copper sides glow.The dirty scum stuck inside it may then meltand its rust burn away.
12. But efforts to clean the pot have failed.Its heavy rust cannot be removed,even in the fire.
13. “ ‘By your sinful action you have become unclean. I wanted to cleanse you, but you are still unclean. You will never be cleansed from your sin until my anger against you is carried out.
14. “ ‘I, the Lord, have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back punishment or feel pity or change my mind. I will judge you by your ways and actions, says the Lord God.’ ”
15. Then the Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
16. “Human, I am going to take your wife from you, the woman you look at with love. She will die suddenly, but you must not be sad or cry loudly for her or shed any tears.
17. Groan silently; do not cry loudly for the dead. Tie on your turban, and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your face, and do not eat the food people eat when they are sad about a death.”