Ezekiel 2

1 This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking. And he said to me: “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.”

And he said to me, Son of man, get up on your feet, so that I may say words to you.

2 And after this was spoken to me, the Spirit entered into me, and he set me on my feet. And I heard him speaking to me,

And at his words the spirit came into me and put me on my feet; and his voice came to my ears.

3 and saying: “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to an apostate nation, which has withdrawn from me. They and their fathers have betrayed my covenant, even to this day.

And he said to me, Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to an uncontrolled nation which has gone against me: they and their fathers have been sinners against me even to this very day.

4 And those to whom I am sending you are sons with a hard face and an unyielding heart. And you shall say to them: ‘Thus says the Lord God.’

And the children are hard and stiff-hearted; I am sending you to them: and you are to say to them, These are the words of the Lord.

5 Perhaps it may be that they will hear, and perhaps they may be quieted. For they are a provoking house. And they shall know that there has been a prophet in their midst.

And they, if they give ear to you or if they do not give ear (for they are an uncontrolled people), will see that there has been a prophet among them.

6 But as for you, son of man, you should not fear them, and you should not dread their words. For you are among unbelievers and subversives, and you are living with scorpions. You should not fear their words, and you should not dread their faces. For they are a provoking house.

And you, son of man, have no fear of them or of their words, even if sharp thorns are round you and you are living among scorpions: have no fear of their words and do not be overcome by their looks, for they are an uncontrolled people.

7 Therefore, you shall speak my words to them, so that perhaps they may hear and be quieted. For they are provoking.

And you are to give them my words, if they give ear to you or if they do not: for they are uncontrolled.

8 But as for you, son of man, listen to all that I say to you. And do not choose to be provoking, as that house is a provoker. Open your mouth, and eat whatever I give to you.”

But you, son of man, give ear to what I say to you, and do not be uncontrolled like that uncontrolled people: let your mouth be open and take what I give you.

9 And I looked, and behold: a hand was put forth toward me; there was a scroll rolled up in it.

And looking, I saw a hand stretched out to me, and I saw the roll of a book in it;

10 And he spread it out before me, and there was writing on the inside and on the outside. And there were written in it lamentations, and verses, and woes.

And he put it open before me, and it had writing on the front and on the back; words of grief and sorrow and trouble were recorded in it.