2:1 And he said to me: Son of man,¹ stand on your feet and I will speak with you.² 2:2 The Spirit came into me just as he spoke to me and stood me on my feet and I heard the one speaking to me. 2:3 He said to me, son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to the rebellious nations³ who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed⁴ against me unto this very day. 2:4 The sons, I am sending you to are stern of face and hard hearted,⁵ and you will say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD.”⁶ 2:5 And as for them,⁷ whether they hear or not,⁸ for they are a rebellious⁹ house,¹⁰ they will know that a prophet was in their midst. 2:6 You Son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words, though briers¹¹ and thorns¹² are around you and you live among scorpions. Do not fear their words and do not be terrified of them¹³ for they are a rebellious house. 2:7 You will speak these words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 2:8 And you son of man, hear what I say to you; do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving to you. 2:9 And I saw¹⁴ a hand outstretched to me and in it was a written scroll. 2:10 He stretched it out before me and it was written on the front¹⁵ and back;¹⁶ written on it were lamentation, and mourning and woe.