⁴ I am sending you to them who are ^[a](A)stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord ^[b]God.’ ⁵ As for them, ^(B)whether they listen or ^[c]not—for they are a rebellious house—they will ^(C)know that a prophet has been among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, ^(D)neither fear them nor fear their words, though ^(E)thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ But you shall ^(F)speak My words to them ^(G)whether they listen or ^[d]not, for they are rebellious.

⁸ “Now you, son of man, listen to what I am speaking to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and ^(H)eat what I am giving you.” ⁹ Then I looked, and behold, a ^(I)hand was extended to me; and lo, a ^[e](J)scroll was in it. ¹⁰ When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and ^(K)woe.

⁴ Then He said to me, “Son of man, ^[a]go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. ⁵ For ^(A)you are not being sent to a people of ^[b](B)unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, ⁶ nor to many peoples of ^[c]unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. ^[d]But I have sent you to them ^[e]who should listen to you; ⁷ yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are ^(C)not willing to listen to Me. Surely the whole house of Israel is ^[f]stubborn and obstinate. ⁸ Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. ⁹ Like ^[g]emery harder than flint I have made your forehead. Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.” ¹⁰ Moreover, He said to me, “Son of man, take into your heart all My ^(D)words which I will speak to you and listen ^[h]closely.