Chapter 2

The Vison of the Scroll. ¹ He said to me: Stand up, son of man.^[a] I wish to speak with you. ² As he spoke to me, a Spirit entered into me and stood me on my feet, and I listened to him speaking.

³ He said to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. ⁴ Because they are obstinate and stubborn, I am sending you to them. You shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” ⁵ Whether they listen to you or whether in their rebelliousness they refuse to listen, they will know that there is a prophet among them.

⁶ But as for you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or of what they say, even though they resist and reject you and you find yourself sitting on scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or be alarmed by their looks, for they are a rebellious tribe. ⁷ You will deliver my words to them whether they listen or whether in their rebelliousness, they refuse to listen. ⁸ But as for you, son of man, listen to what I say to you and do not be rebellious like that rebellious tribe. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give you.

⁹ I saw a hand stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll. ¹⁰ He unrolled it in front of me. It had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words, of lamentation and dirges and woe.