1 On January 15, during the ninth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came to me from the lord:
2 “Son of man, write down today’s date, because on this very day the king of Babylon is beginning his attack against Jerusalem.
3 Then give these rebels an illustration with this message from the Sovereign lord:“Put a pot on the fire,and pour in some water.
4 Fill it with choice pieces of meat—the rump and the shoulderand all the most tender cuts.
5 Use only the best sheep from the flock,and heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot.Bring the pot to a boil,and cook the bones along with the meat.
6 “Now this is what the Sovereign lord says:What sorrow awaits Jerusalem,the city of murderers!She is a cooking potwhose corruption can’t be cleaned out.Take the meat out in random order,for no piece is better than another.
7 For the blood of her murdersis splashed on the rocks.It isn’t even spilled on the ground,where the dust could cover it!