8. In order to stir up my fury so that I would pay that city back,I put the blood of its victims on a bare rock.Now that blood can’t be covered.
9. “‘This is what the Almighty Lord says:How horrible it will be for that city of murderers.I, too, will pile the wood high.
10. Pile it high, and light the fire.Cook the meat thoroughly, stir the mixture,and let the bones burn.
11. Then set the empty pot on the coalsso that it gets hot and its copper glows.Its impurities will melt away,and its tarnish will burn off.
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.