Ezekiel 2

Contemporary English Version

The Lord Chooses Ezekiel

2 The Lord^[a] said, “Ezekiel, son of man,^[b] I want you to stand up and listen.” ² After he said this, his Spirit took control of me and lifted me to my feet. Then the Lord said:

³ Ezekiel, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They are just like their ancestors who rebelled against me and refused to stop. ⁴ They are stubborn and hardheaded. But I, the Lord God, have chosen you to tell them what I say. ⁵ Those rebels may not even listen, but at least they will know that a prophet has come to them.

⁶ Don't be afraid of them or of anything they say. You may think you're in the middle of a thorn patch or a bunch of scorpions. But be brave ⁷ and preach my message to them, whether they choose to listen or not. ⁸ Ezekiel, don't rebel against me, as they have done. Instead, listen to everything I tell you.

And now, Ezekiel, open your mouth and eat what I am going to give you.

^9 (A) Just then, I saw a hand stretched out toward me. And in it was a scroll.^{[c] 10} The hand opened the scroll, and both sides of it were filled with words of sadness, mourning, and grief.