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 coals.It will become hot, and its copper sides will 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. “‘In your sinful action there is shame. 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. I will not feel pity. I will judge you by your ways and actions, says the Lord God.’”
15. Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said:
16. “Human being, I am going to take your wife from you. She is the desire of your eyes. She will die suddenly. But you must not be sad or cry loudly for her. You must not 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.”
18. So I spoke to the people in the morning. Then my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19. Then the people asked me, “Tell us, what do the things you are doing mean for us?”