Ezekiel 2

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

And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee.

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 entered into me when he spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet; and I heard him that spoke unto 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 unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to nations that are rebellious, which have rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me unto this very 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 these children are impudent and hard-hearted: I am sending thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah.

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

And they, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear — for they are a rebellious house — yet shall they know that there hath been a prophet among 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 thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, and be not afraid of their words; for briars and thorns are with thee, and thou dwellest among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, and be not dismayed at their faces; for they are a rebellious house.

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

And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear; for they are rebellious.

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 thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

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; and behold, a roll of a book therein.

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 it was written within and without; and there were written in it lamentations, and mourning, and woe.