20. Then I said to them, “The Lord spoke his word to me. He said,
21. ‘Say to the people of Israel, This is what the Lord God says: I am going to dishonor my Temple. You think it gives you strength. You are proud of it, and you look at it with love and tenderness. But your sons and daughters that you left behind in Jerusalem will fall dead by the sword.
22. When that happens, you are to act as I have: you are not to cover your face, and you are not to eat the food people eat when they are sad about a death.
23. Your turbans must stay on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You must not cry loudly, but you must rot away in your sins and groan to each other.
24. So Ezekiel is to be an example for you. You must do all the same things he did. When all this happens, you will know that I am the Lord God.’
25. “And as for you, human, this is how it will be. I will take away the Temple that gives them strength and joy, that makes them proud. They look at it with love, and it makes them happy. And I will take away their sons and daughters also.
26. At that time a person who escapes will come to you with information for you to hear.
27. At that very time your mouth will be opened. You will speak and be silent no more. So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”