Ezekiel 2

Mission to Rebellious Israel

¹He said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet ^a and I will speak with you.” ²As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, ^b and I listened to the one who was speaking to me. ³He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to ^c the rebellious pagans who have rebelled against me. The Israelites and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day. ^{d 4}The descendants are obstinate ^e and hardhearted. ^f I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’ ⁵Whether they listen or refuse to listen ^g #— #for they are a rebellious house #— #they will know that a prophet has been among them. ^h

⁶“But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them and do not be afraid of their words, ⁱ even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. ^j Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷Speak my words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, ^k for they are rebellious.

⁸“And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” ^{l 9}So I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, ^m and there was a written scroll in it. ^{n 10}When he unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of lamentation, mourning, and woe were written on it.