ISV(i)
16 “Now as for you, Son of Man, grab a stick of wood for yourself and write on it these words: ‘FOR JUDAH AND THE ISRAELIS, HIS COMPANIONS’
“Then grab another stick and write on it: ‘FOR JOSEPH, THE STICK OF EPHRAIM, AND ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, HIS COMPANIONS’
17 “Then join them together end-to-end so that they become a single baton in your hand. 18 When the descendants of your people ask you, ‘Would you please explain to us what you mean by this?’ 19 you are to tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Watch me! I’m taking the baton that represents Joseph, which Ephraim is holding in his hand, along with his companions the tribes of Israel, and I’m going to join them with the baton that represents Judah. I’m making them a single baton, that is, a complete baton in my hand.”
20 “The batons on which you engrave your writing are to remain right in front of them in your hand.
“Then grab another stick and write on it:
17 “Then join them together end-to-end so that they become a single baton in your hand. 18 When the descendants of your people ask you, ‘Would you please explain to us what you mean by this?’ 19 you are to tell them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Watch me! I’m taking the baton that represents Joseph, which Ephraim is holding in his hand, along with his companions the tribes of Israel, and I’m going to join them with the baton that represents Judah. I’m making them a single baton, that is, a complete baton in my hand.”
20 “The batons on which you engrave your writing are to remain right in front of them in your hand.