1. The Lord said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll. Then speak to the people of Israel.”
2. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
3. He said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I’m giving you, and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
4. He said to me, “Son of man, go to the people of Israel, and speak my words to them.
5. I am not sending you to people whose language is hard to understand or difficult to speak. I am sending you to Israel.
6. I am not sending you to nations whose language is hard to understand, difficult to speak, or whose words you cannot understand. If I send you to those nations, they will certainly listen to you.
7. But the people of Israel will refuse to listen to you because they refuse to listen to me. All the people of Israel are very stubborn and hardheaded.
8. Yet, I will make you as stubborn and as hardheaded as they are.
9. I will make you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be terrified in their presence, even though they are rebellious people.”
10. He also said to me, “Son of man, take to heart everything I have spoken to you, and listen closely.
11. Go to the exiles, to your people. Whether they listen or not, tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says.’ ”
12. Then the Spirit lifted me, and behind me I heard a loud thundering voice say, “Blessed is the Lord’s glory, which left this place.”
13. I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures touching one another and the noise of the wheels beside them as well as a loud rumbling.