Ezekiel 2

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

He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet; then 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.

Then, as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into 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.

He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to rebellious nations that have rebelled against me—both they and their ancestors have sinned against me up to 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.

Their descendants have stubborn faces and hard hearts. I am sending you to them, and you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says.'

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

Either they will listen or they will not listen. They are a rebellious house, but they will at least know that a prophet has been 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.

You, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, although you are with briers and thorns and although you live with scorpions. Do not fear their words or be dismayed by their faces, since they are a rebellious house.

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

But you will speak my words to them, whether they listen or not, because they are most 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.”

But you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give to you!”

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

Then I looked, and a hand was extended out to me; in it was a written scroll.

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.

He spread it out before me; it had been written on both its front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning, and woe.