A reading from the book of Ezekiel.

In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me.

Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day.

The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day, and utter a parable to the rebellious house and say to them,

Thus says the Lord God.

Set on the pot, set it on, pour in water also, put in it the pieces of meat, all the good pieces,

the thigh and the shoulder, fill it with choice bones, take the choices one of the flock,

pile the logs under it, boil it well, seeth also its bones

in it. Therefore thus says the Lord God, woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it,

and whose corrosion has not gone out of it. Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice.

For the blood she has shed is in her midst. She put it on the bare rock. She did not pour it out on the ground to cover it with dust. To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it may not be covered. Therefore thus says the Lord God, woe to the bloody city. I also will make the pile great, heap on the logs, kindle the fire,

boil the meat well, mix in the spices, and let the bones be burned up. Then set it empty upon

the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, that its uncleanness may be melted

in it, its corrosion consumed. She has wearied herself with toil. Its abundant corrosion

does not go out of it, into the fire with its corrosion. On account of your unclean lewdness,

because I would have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness,

you shall not be cleansed any more till I have satisfied my fury upon you. I am the Lord. I have spoken. It shall come to pass. I will do it.

I will not go back. I will not spare. I will not relent. According to your ways and your deeds,

you will be judged, declares the Lord God. The word of the Lord came to me. Son of man, behold,

I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke,

yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.

Sigh but not aloud, make no mourning for the dead, bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet.

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