⁸ But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel^(A) like that rebellious people;^(B) open your mouth and eat^(C) what I give you.”

⁹ Then I looked, and I saw a hand^(D) stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,^{(E) 10} which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.^(F)

3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

³ Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate^(G) it, and it tasted as sweet as honey^(H) in my mouth.

⁴ He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.^{(I) 5} You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language,^(J) but to the people of Israel— ⁶ not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.^{(K) 7} But the people of Israel are not willing to listen^(L) to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.^{(M) 8} But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are.^{(N) 9} I will make your forehead^(O) like the hardest stone, harder than flint.^(P) Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^(Q)”

¹⁰ And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart^(R) all the words I speak to you. ¹¹ Go^(S) now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says,’^(T) whether they listen or fail to listen.^(U)”