12. “‘I have worn myself out trying to clean this pot. Even the fire can’t take away its thick tarnish.
13. I tried to clean you of your filthy lust, but you wouldn’t clean yourself from your filth. You will never be clean until I unleash my fury on you.
14. I, the Lord, have spoken. It will happen, and I will do it. I will not ignore you, pity you, or change my plans. I will punish you because of the way you lived and because of everything you have done,’” declares the Almighty Lord.
15. Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
16. “Son of man, with one blow I’m going to take away from you the person you love the most. But you must not mourn, cry, or let tears run down your face.
17. Groan silently. Don’t grieve for the person who dies. Tie on your turban, and put on your sandals. Don’t cover your face or eat the food that mourners eat.”
18. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I was ordered.
19. The people asked me, “Tell us, what do these things that you are doing mean to us?”
20. I told them, “The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
21. ‘Tell the nation of Israel, “This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’m going to dishonor my holy place. You brag that my holy place gives you strength. It’s the thing you love the most. It’s your hearts’ desire. So the sons and daughters that you left behind will die in battle.
22. Then you must do as I did. Don’t cover your faces or eat the food that mourners eat.
23. Leave your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. Don’t grieve or cry! You will waste away because of your guilt and groan to one another.