^{16 Ref} Son of man, see, I am taking away the desire of your eyes by disease: but let there be no sorrow or weeping or drops running from your eyes.

^{17 Ref} Let there be no sound of sorrow; make no weeping for your dead, put on your head-dress and your shoes on your feet, let not your lips be covered, and do not take the food of those in grief.

^{18 Ref} So in the morning I was teaching the people and in the evening death took my wife; and in the morning I did what I had been ordered to do.

^{19 Ref} And the people said to me, Will you not make clear to us the sense of these things; is it for us you do them?

²⁰ Then I said to them, The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

^{21 Ref} Say to the people of Israel, The Lord has said, See, I will make my holy place unclean, the pride of your strength, the pleasure of your eyes, and the desire of your soul; and your sons and daughters, who did not come with you here, will be put to the sword.

^{22 Ref} And you will do as I have done, not covering your lips or taking the food of those in grief.

^{23 Ref} And your head-dresses will be on your heads and your shoes on your feet: there will be no sorrow or weeping; but you will be wasting away in the punishment of your evil-doing, and you will be looking at one another in wonder.

^{24 Ref} And Ezekiel will be a sign to you; everything he has done you will do: when this takes place, you will be certain that I am the Lord.