^4 (A)For they are ^[a]impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ^5 (B)As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a ^(C)rebellious house—yet they ^(D)will know that a prophet has been among them.

⁶ “And you, son of man, ^(E)do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though ^(F)briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; ^(G)do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, ^(H)though they are a rebellious house. ^7 (I)You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. ⁸ But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and ^(J)eat what I give you.”

⁹ Now when I looked, there was ^(K)a hand stretched out to me; and behold, ^(L)a scroll of a book was in it. ¹⁰ Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.

The Responsibility of the Prophet

3 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; ^(M)eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” ² So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.

³ And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.” So I ^(N)ate, and it was in my mouth ^(O)like honey in sweetness.