Ezekiel 2
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 2
Eating of the Scroll. 1 The voice said to me: Son of man,[a] stand up! I wish to speak to you. 2 As he spoke to me, the spirit[b] entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking(A) 3 say to me: Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day.(B) 4 Their children are bold of face and stubborn of heart—to them I am sending you. You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God.(C) 5 And whether they hear or resist—they are a rebellious house—they shall know that a prophet has been among them.(D) 6 But as for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words. Do not fear, even though there are briers or thorns and you sit among scorpions.[c] Do not be afraid of their words or be terrified by their looks for they are a rebellious house.(E) 7 You must speak my words to them, whether they hear or resist, because they are rebellious.(F) 8 But you, son of man, hear me when I speak to you and do not rebel like this rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.(G)
9 (H)It was then I saw a hand stretched out to me; in it was a written scroll. 10 He unrolled it before me; it was covered with writing front and back. Written on it was: Lamentation, wailing, woe!(I)
Footnotes
- 2:1 Son of man: in Hebrew, “son/daughter of…” is a common idiom expressing affiliation in a group; in this case, “a human being.” The title is God’s habitual way of addressing the prophet throughout this book, probably used to emphasize the separation of the divine and the human.
- 2:2 The spirit: lit., wind, breath; a vital power, coming from God, which enables the prophet to hear the divine word; cf. 8:3; 11:1, 24.
- 2:6 And you sit among scorpions: the prophet must be prepared for bitter opposition.
Ezekiel 2
New Living Translation
Ezekiel’s Call and Commission
2 “Stand up, son of man,” said the voice. “I want to speak with you.” 2 The Spirit came into me as he spoke, and he set me on my feet. I listened carefully to his words. 3 “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. 4 They are a stubborn and hard-hearted people. But I am sending you to say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says!’ 5 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.
6 “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. 7 You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! 8 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.”
9 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.
Ezekiel 2
New Life Version
God Calls Ezekiel to Speak for Him
2 He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2 And when He spoke to me, the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet. I heard Him speaking to me. 3 He said, “Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to sinful people who have turned against Me. They and their fathers have sinned against Me to this very day. 4 I am sending you to these strong-willed children who show no respect. And you must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says.’ 5 If they listen or not (for they are sinful people) they will know that a man of God has been among them. 6 And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or of what they say, even if thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or lose strength of heart by their looks, for they will not obey Me. 7 You must speak My words to them if they listen or not, for they do not obey Me.
8 “As for you, son of man, listen to what I am telling you. Do not be sinful like these sinful people. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” 9 Then I looked and saw that a hand was held out to me, and there was a book in it. 10 He held it out in front of me, and it had writing on the front and back. Words of trouble and sorrow were written on it.
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