1. The Lord’s word came to me:
2. Human one, speak to your people and say to them: Suppose I bring a sword against a country, and the people of the land take a certain person from their assembly and make him their lookout.
3. When he sees the sword coming against the land, he blows the trumpet and warns the people.
4. If they hear the sound of the trumpet but don’t heed the warning, when the sword comes and they are taken away, they are responsible for their blood.
5. They heard the sound of the trumpet but didn’t heed the warning, so their blood is on them. If they had paid attention to the warning, they would have saved their lives.
6. If the lookout sees the sword coming but doesn’t blow the trumpet to warn the people, when the sword comes and takes away any of them, they are taken away in their sin, but I’ll hold the lookout responsible for their blood.
7. You, human one, I’ve made you a lookout for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear me speaking, you must give them warning from me.