¹³ If we are “out of our mind,”^(A) as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.^(B)

²⁰ As for us, we cannot help speaking^(A) about what we have seen and heard.”^(B)

¹⁴ The Spirit^(A) then lifted me up^(B) and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord^(C) on me. ¹⁵ I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River.^(D) And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days^(E)—deeply distressed.

Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman

¹⁶ At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me:^{(F) 17} “Son of man, I have made you a watchman^(G) for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.^{(H) 18} When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,^(I)’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for^[a] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(J) 19} But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn^(K) from their wickedness^(L) or from their evil ways, they will die^(M) for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.^(N)

²⁰ “Again, when a righteous person turns^(O) from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block^(P) before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood.^{(Q) 21} But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.^(R)”

²² The hand of the Lord^(S) was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go^(T) out to the plain,^(U) and there I will speak to you.” ²³ So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the Lord was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River,^(V) and I fell facedown.^(W)

²⁴ Then the Spirit came into me and raised me^(X) to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.^{(Y) 25} And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.^{(Z) 26} I will make your tongue stick to the roof^(AA) of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people.^{(AB) 27} But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says.’^(AC) Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.^(AD)