Ezekiel 2

The Call of Ezekiel to Speak God’s Words

1 And he said to me, "Son of man,*Or "mortal," or "son of humankind" stand on your feet, so that I can speak with you." 2 And the Spirit*Or "a spirit" came into me as he was speaking to me, and it set me on my feet, and I heard the one speaking to me. 3 And he said to me, "Son of man,*Or "mortal," or "son of humankind" I am sending you to the Israelites,*Literally "sons/children of Israel" to nations*Or "a people" who are rebelling, who rebelled against me, they and their ancestors,*Hebrew "fathers" they transgressed against me until this very day.*Literally "until the day the this"4 And the children*Or "sons" are impudent*Literally "hard of face" and stubborn,*Literally "strong of heart" and so I am sending you to them, and you must say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh!’ 5 And they, whether they listen or whether they fail to listen, for they are a rebellious house, they will know that a prophet was in their midst. 6 And you, son of man,*Or "mortal," or "son of humankind" you must not be afraid of them, and you must not be afraid of their words, because*Or "although" briers and thorns are with you, and you are sitting among scorpions. You must not be afraid of their words, and you must not be dismayed because of their looks,*Literally "faces" for they are a rebellious house. 7 And you must speak my words to them whether they listen or whether they fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8 And you, son of man,*Or "mortal," or "son of humankind" hear what I am speaking to you: you must not be rebellious like the house of rebellion. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving to you." 9 And I looked,*Or "saw" and look! There was a hand stretched out to me, and look! In it was a scroll with writing.*Literally "a scroll of a book"10 And he rolled it out*Or "he spread it out" before me,*Literally "to the face of me" and it was written on the front and back, and there were written on it laments and mourning and wailing.*Or "woe"