A parable about meat cooking in a pot

24 Almost nine yearsafter we had been taken to Babylonia, on the tenth day of the tenth month of that year, Yahweh gave me this message: 2 “You human, write down what day of the month this is. On this daythe army ofthe King of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem. 3 Tell those rebellious Israeli people [MTY] in Babylon a parable. Say this to them: This is what Yahweh the Lord says:

‘Pour water into the cooking pot

and put the pot onthe fire.

4 Put into the pot some pieces of meatfrom one of your best sheep:

Put in the leg and shoulder, which are the best pieces.

Then fill the rest of the pot with the best bones.

5 Pile wood on the fire,

and cook the bones and the meat in the boiling water.’

6 Do that because this is what Yahweh the Lord says:

‘Terrible things will happen toJerusalem;

it is city that is full of murderers [MTY],

a city that is like [MET] a scorched pot

whose black residue inside cannot be removed.

Take the pieces of meat out of the pot,

but do not choose which pieces to take out.

7 The blood of the people who were murdered in Jerusalem is still there;

they were murdered on the bare rocks,

not on the soil, where their blood could be covered.

8 But I am the one who caused the blood of those who were murdered [MTY] to be smeared on the bare rock,

where their blood could not be covered;

I did that in order thatI could see it and

then be angry and get revenge.’

9 Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord say:

‘Terrible things will happen to that city that is full of murderers [MTY]!

It will be as though I also will pile high the wood in the fire.

10 So, heap on the wood

and light the fire!

Cook the meat well,

and mix some spices with it;

cook it until the bones are charred.

11 Then set the empty pot on the coalsof the fire

until the pot becomes very hot and the copper glows,

with the result that the impurities and the rust will be burned up.

12 It is as though I tried to get rid of that rust,

but I was not able to do it,

not even by putting that pot in a fire.

13 The rustin the pot represents your immoral behavior. I tried to cleanse you from your wicked behavior, but you did not allow me to do that. So you will not be cleansedfrom the guilt of your sin untilI have punished you and I am no longer angry.

14 I, Yahweh, have said that I will surely punish you. And it is time for me to do that. I will not change my mind; I will not refrain from punishing you, and I will not pity you. I will judge you and punish you as you deserve to be punished for your sinful behavior. That will surely happen because I, Yahweh the Lord, have said it.” ’ ”