Ezekiel 2

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

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.”

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

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,

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and saying: “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to an apostate nation, which has withdrawn from me.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.

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 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.’

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.”

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.”

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

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

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 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.