1. He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you."
2. And when He spoke to me, the Spirit came into me and set me on my feet. I heard Him speaking to me.
3. He said, "Son of man, I am sending you to the sons of Israel, to sinful people who have turned against Me. They and their fathers have sinned against Me to this very day.
4. I am sending you to these strong-willed children who show no respect. And you must say to them, 'This is what the Lord God says.'
5. If they listen or not (for they are sinful people) they will know that a man of God has been among them.
6. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or of what they say, even if thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or lose strength of heart by their looks, for they will not obey Me.
7. You must speak My words to them if they listen or not, for they do not obey Me.
8. "As for you, son of man, listen to what I am telling you. Do not be sinful like these sinful people. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you."
9. Then I looked and saw that a hand was held out to me, and there was a book in it.
10. He held it out in front of me, and it had writing on the front and back. Words of trouble and sorrow were written on it.