16. “Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears.
17. Groan silently, but let there be no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any food brought to you by consoling friends.”
18. So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did everything I had been told to do.
19. Then the people asked, “What does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?”