1And he said unto me , Son of man , eat that which thou findest ; eat this roll , and go , speak unto the house of Israel . 2So I opened my mouth , and he caused me to eat the roll . 3And he said unto me , Son of man , cause thy belly to eat , and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee . Then did I eat it ; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness .
The Hardness of Israel's Heart
4And he said unto me , Son of man , go , get thee unto the house of Israel , and speak with my words unto them . 5For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language , but to the house of Israel ; 6not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language , whose words thou canst not understand . Surely , if I sent thee to them , they would hearken unto thee . 7But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee ; for they will not hearken unto me : for all the house of Israel are of a hard forehead and of a stiff heart .
The Role of a Watchman
8Behold , I have made thy face hard against their faces , and thy forehead hard against their foreheads . 9As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead : fear them not , neither be dismayed at their looks , though they are a rebellious house . 10Moreover he said unto me , Son of man , all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thy heart , and hear with thine ears. 11And go , get thee to them of the captivity , unto the children of thy people , and speak unto them , and tell them , Thus saith the Lord Jehovah ; whether they will hear , or whether they will forbear .
Ezekiel's Response and the Spirit's Guidance
12Then the Spirit lifted me up , and I heard behind me the voice of a great rushing , saying , Blessed be the glory of Jehovah from his place . 13And I heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another , and the noise of the wheels beside them, even the noise of a great rushing . 14So the Spirit lifted me up , and took me away ; and I went in bitterness , in the heat of my spirit ; and the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me . 15Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-abib , that dwelt by the river Chebar , and to where they dwelt ; and I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days . 16And it came to pass at the end of seven days , that the word of Jehovah came unto me , saying , 17Son of man , I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my mouth , and give them warning from me . 18When I say unto the wicked , Thou shalt surely die ; and thou givest him not warning , nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way , to save his life ; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity ; but his blood will I require at thy hand . 19Yet if thou warn the wicked , and he turn not from his wickedness , nor from his wicked way , he shall die in his iniquity ; but thou hast delivered thy soul . 20Again , when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness , and commit iniquity , and I lay a stumblingblock before him , he shall die : because thou hast not given him warning , he shall die in his sin , and his righteous deeds which he hath done shall not be remembered ; but his blood will I require at thy hand . 21Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man , that the righteous sin not , and he doth not sin , he shall surely live , because he took warning ; and thou hast delivered thy soul . 22And the hand of Jehovah was there upon me ; and he said unto me , Arise , go forth into the plain , and I will there talk with thee . 23Then I arose , and went forth into the plain : and , behold , the glory of Jehovah stood there , as the glory which I saw by the river Chebar ; and I fell on my face . 24Then the Spirit entered into me , and set me upon my feet ; and he spake with me , and said unto me , Go , shut thyself within thy house . 25But thou , son of man , behold , they shall lay bands upon thee , and shall bind thee with them , and thou shalt not go out among them : 26and I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth , that thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be to them a reprover ; for they are a rebellious house . 27But when I speak with thee , I will open thy mouth , and thou shalt say unto them , Thus saith the Lord Jehovah : He that heareth , let him hear ; and he that forbeareth , let him forbear : for they are a rebellious house .