17. Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your shoes on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.”
18. So I spoke to the people in the morning; and at evening my wife died. So I did in the morning as I was commanded.
19. The people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things are to us, that you do so?”
20. Then I said to them, “the Lord’s word came to me, saying,
21. ‘Speak to the house of Israel, “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.
22. You will do as I have done. You won’t cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread.
23. Your turbans will be on your heads, and your shoes on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one towards another.
24. Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”’”
25. “You, son of man, shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart, their sons and their daughters,
26. that in that day he who escapes will come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?