14. The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the lord’s hold on me was strong.
15. Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. I was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days.
16. After seven days the lord gave me a message. He said,
17. “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.
18. If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.
19. If you warn them and they refuse to repent and keep on sinning, they will die in their sins. But you will have saved yourself because you obeyed me.