Ezekiel 2

1 “Stand up, son of man, because I want to talk to you,” he said to me.

This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw and fell upon my face, and heard the voice of one speaking: and he said to me, Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak to you.

2 As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and had me stand up. I listened to him speaking to me.

And the Spirit came upon me, and took me up, and raised me, and set me on my feet: and I heard him speaking to me.

3 “Son of man,” he told me, “I'm sending you to the people of Israel, a disobedient nation that has rebelled against me. They and their forefathers have continued to rebel against me, even up to today.

And he said to me, Son of Man, I send you forth to the house of Israel, them that provoke me; who have provoked me, they and their fathers to this day.

4 They are pig-headed; they are hard-hearted children. I am sending you to tell them that this is what the Lord God says.

And you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord.

5 Whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious people—they will realize that a prophet has come to them.

Whether then indeed they shall hear or fear, (for it is a provoking house, ) yet they shall know that you are a prophet in the midst of them.

6 Son of man, don't be afraid of them or what they say. You don't need to be afraid even though you're surrounded by brambles and thorns, even though you live among scorpions. Don't be afraid of what they say or be discouraged by the way they look at you, even though they are a rebellious family.

And you, son of man, fear them not, nor be dismayed at their face; (for they will madden and will rise up against you round about, and you dwell in the midst of scorpions): be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their countenance, for it is a provoking house.

7 Just tell them what I say, whether they listen or not, because they're rebels.

And you shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear or fear: for it is a provoking house.

8 As for you, son of man, pay attention to what I tell you. Don't be rebellious like those rebellious people. Open your mouth and eat what I'm about to give you.”

And you, son of man, hear him that speaks to you; be not you provoking, as the provoking house: open your mouth, and eat what I give you.

9 I looked up and saw a hand stretched out to me holding a scroll.

And I looked, and behold, a hand stretched out to me, and in it a volume of a book.

10 He spread it out in front of me, and there written on both the front and back were words of grief, mourning, and tragedy.

And he unrolled it before me: and in it the front and the back were written [upon]: and there was written [in it] Lamentation, and mournful song, and woe.