< Ezekiel 2 >

1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”
This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that spoke. And he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee.
2 The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me.
And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me,
3 He said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me even to this very day.
And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.
4 The children are impudent and stiff-hearted. I am sending you to them, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’
And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God:
5 They, whether they will hear, or whether they will refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that there has been a prophet among them.
If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath been a prophet in the midst of them.
6 You, son of man, do not be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their looks: for they are a provoking house.
7 You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear or whether they will refuse; for they are most rebellious.
And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.
8 But you, son of man, hear what I tell you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.”
But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat what I give thee.
9 When I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.
And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up:
10 He spread it before me. It was written within and without; and lamentations, mourning, and woe were written in it.
and he spread it before me, and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe.

< Ezekiel 2 >