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The Sending of Ezekiel

Then He said to me, “Son of man, (A)stand on your feet that I may speak with you!” And as He spoke to me, the (B)Spirit entered me and caused me to stand on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. Then He said to me, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to a rebellious people who have (C)rebelled against Me; (D)they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. I am sending you to them who are [a](E)stiff-[b]faced and strong-hearted children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh.’ As for them, (F)whether they listen or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—they will (G)know that a prophet has been among them. Now as for you, son of man, (H)do not fear them and do not fear their words, though (I)thistles and briers are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. But you shall (J)speak My words to them (K)whether they listen or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious.

“Now as for you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and (L)eat what I am giving you.” Then I looked, and behold, a (M)hand was sent forth to me; and behold, a [c](N)scroll was in it. 10 Then He spread it out before me, and it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, sighing, and (O)woe.

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 2:4 Or obstinate and stubborn
  2. Ezekiel 2:4 Or of presence, cf. 2:6
  3. Ezekiel 2:9 Lit scroll of a book

Ezekiel’s Call and Commission

“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. “Son of man,” he said, “I am sending you to the nation of Israel, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have been rebelling against me to this very day. They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.

“Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”

Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, 10 which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.