⁴ Then he said to me, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel. Give them my message. ⁵ I am not sending you to people who speak another language that is hard to learn. Instead, I am sending you to the people of Israel. ⁶ You are not being sent to many nations whose people speak other languages that are hard to learn. You would not be able to understand them. Suppose I had sent you to them. Then they certainly would have listened to you. ⁷ But the people of Israel do not want to listen to you. That is because they do not want to listen to me. All the Israelites are very stubborn. ⁸ But I will make you just as stubborn as they are. ⁹ I will make you very brave. So do not be afraid of them. Do not let them terrify you, even though they refuse to obey me.”

¹⁰ He continued, “Son of man, listen carefully. Take to heart everything I tell you. ¹¹ Go now to your own people who were brought here as prisoners. Speak to them. Tell them, ‘Here is what the Lord and King says.’ Speak to them whether they listen or not.”