The Prophet’s Call

1Then He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you.” 2Then as He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. 3And He said to me, “I am sending you, son of man, to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people [in both the north and the south] that have rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have sinned and revolted against Me to this very day. 4I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord [a]GOD.’ 5As for them, whether they listen or refuse [to listen]--for they are a rebellious house--yet they will know and be fully aware of the fact that there has been a prophet among them. 6And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words; though briars and thorns are all around you and you sit among scorpions, neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. 7But you shall speak My words to them whether they will listen or refuse [to listen], for they are [most] rebellious.

8“As for you, son of man, listen to what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” 9Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out toward me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10And He spread it before me, and it was written on the front and on the back, and written on it were [words of] lamentation (funeral songs) and mourning and woe.