Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision

1 In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles^(A) by the Kebar River,^(B) the heavens were opened^(C) and I saw visions^(D) of God.

² On the fifth of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin^(E)— ³ the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel^(F) the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians.^[a] There the hand of the Lord was on him.^(G)

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.