15. The Lord’s word came to me:
16. Human one, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you in a single stroke. Don’t mourn or weep. Don’t even let your tears well up.
17. Sigh inwardly; be deathly still. Don’t perform mourning rites, but bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet. And don’t cover your upper lip or eat in human company.
18. I spoke with the people in the morning, and by evening my wife was dead. The next morning I did as I was commanded.
19. The people asked, "Won’t you tell us what your actions mean for us?"
20. So I said to them, The Lord’s word came to me: