The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 3

 The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel 3

1 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”

2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

3 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

4 Then he said to me, “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.

5 For you are not being sent to a people of strange speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel;

6 nor to many peoples of strange speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. If I were sending you to them, they would surely listen to you.

7 But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to me; Because the whole house of Israel is stubborn and hard-hearted.

8 Behold, I have made your face hard against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads.

9 I have made your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint; therefore do not fear them, nor be dismayed by their faces, for they are a rebellious house.

10 He also said to me, “Son of man, lay up in your heart all my words that I shall speak to you, and hear them with your ears.

11 Go now to the exiles, to the children of your people, and speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they listen or refuse to listen.”

12 Then my spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud voice, saying, “Blessed be the glory of the Lord from his place!”

13 And I heard the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels beside them, and the sound of a great rushing.

14 Then the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in sorrow, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.

15 And I came to the exiles at Tel-Abib, who lived by the river Chebar, and I stayed where they lived; and I remained there seven days, astonished among them.