1He said to me, "Son of man, stand up, and I will speak to you." 2As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me, stood me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They are people from a nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have rebelled against me to this day. 4I am sending you to these defiant and stubborn children. Tell them, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says.' 5Whether these rebellious people listen or not, they will realize that a prophet has been among them. 6Son of man, don't be afraid of them or the things they say. Don't be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Don't let the things they say frighten you. Don't be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people. 7Speak my words to them whether they listen or not, because they are rebellious.

8But you, son of man, listen to what I say. Don't be rebellious like those rebellious people. Open your mouth, and eat what I am giving to you." 9As I looked, I saw a hand stretched out toward me. In it was a scroll. 10He spread the scroll in front of me. There was writing on the front and back. There were funeral songs, songs of mourning, and horrible things written on it.