1 Then He {YHWH, Divine Instructor} said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find—eat this scroll {megillah: written document}—and then go and speak to the house of Israel.”
2 So I opened my mouth, and He {YHWH, Sovereign Instructor} had me eat this scroll {megillah: written revelation}.
3 And he said to me, "Son of man {ben-adam: representative human}, eat this scroll that I am giving you and fill your inward parts {me'eh: deep inner being} with it." Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth like honey for sweetness.
4 And He {YHWH, Sovereign Sender} said to me, "Son of man {ben-adam: human messenger}, go to the house of Israel and speak to them using My words."
5 For you are not being sent to a people of obscure speech {imkei safah: difficult language} and heavy tongue, but to the house of Israel {beit Yisrael: covenant nation}.
6 Not to many peoples, deep {imqei: linguistically obscure} in language and heavy {vkhivdei: burdensome speech} of tongue, whose words you do not understand; if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to Me {YHWH, Supreme Judge}; for all the house of Israel are strong of forehead {chizqe-metzach: obstinate resolve} and stubborn of heart.
8 Behold, I {YHWH, Resolute Strengthener} have made your face {panim: outward presence} strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads.
9 Like emery {shamir: Extremely Hard Stone} harder than flint, I have made Your forehead; You shall not fear them or be dismayed at their faces, for they are a rebellious house {beit-meri: Defiant Family}.
10 And He {YHWH, Sovereign Speaker} said to me, “Son of man, take to heart {levav: center of thought} all My words that I will speak to you, and listen with your ears.”
11 Go now to the exiles, to the children of your people, and speak to them, saying, “Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH, Sovereign Judge}: whether they listen or whether they refrain {yechdalu: hold back, refuse}.”
12 And the Spirit {ruach: divine breath} lifted me up, and I heard behind me the sound of a great rumbling, “Blessed be the glory of the LORD {YHWH, Majestic Revealer} from His place.”
13 And I heard the sound of the wings {kanfei: broad extensions} of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels {ofanim: interlocked circles} beside them, and a loud rumbling.
14 And the Spirit lifted me up and carried me away, and I went bitter {mar: inner anguish} in the burning heat of my spirit; and the hand of the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Mover} pressed strongly upon me.
15 And I came to the exiles {golah: exiled community} at Tel-Abib who were dwelling by the River Kebar, and where they lived I also sat there for seven days, appalled {mashmim: filled with horror} among them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days that the word of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Commissioner} came to me, saying {lemor: introducing divine speech}.
17 Son of man, I {YHWH, Sovereign Speaker} have appointed you a watchman {tsofeh: vigilant guardian} over the house of Israel. So listen for a word from My mouth and warn them for Me.
18 When I {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} say to the wicked, “You shall surely die,” and you do not warn him—nor speak to warn him away from his wicked way so that he may live—then that wicked person will die in his iniquity {avon: intentional wrongdoing}; but his blood I will require at your hand.
19 But if you have warned {hizharta: formal admonition} the wicked and he does not turn back from his wrongdoing or from his wicked way, he will die in his guilt; but you have delivered {hitzalta: rescued from judgment} your soul.
20 And when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I {YHWH, Divine Judge} set a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die in his sin {chatato: moral guilt}, and his righteous deeds which he has done will not be remembered; but I will require his blood from your hand.
21 If you caution the righteous individual {tsaddiq: one acting justly} not to sin, and he does not sin, he will live because he received the warning; then you will have secured your soul {nafshekha: life essence}.
22 And the hand {yad: symbol of divine power} of the LORD {YHWH, Empowering Guide} was there upon me, and He said to me, “Rise up, go out to the valley, and there I will speak with you.”
23 So I arose and went out to the valley {biq’ah: broad plain}, and there the glory of the LORD {YHWH, Majestic Presence} was standing like the glory that I had seen by the river Kebar, and I fell on my face.
24 Then a spirit {ruach: divine empowering presence} came upon me and steadied me on my feet, and He {YHWH, Sovereign Summoner} spoke with me and said to me, “Go, shut yourself within your house.”
25 But you, Son of Man, behold, they have placed cords {avotim: restraining bands} upon you, and they will bind {asarukha: tie securely} you with them, so you will not go out among them.
26 And I will cause your tongue to cling to the roof of your mouth, and you will be mute, and you will not be to them a man who rebukes {mokhiakh: reprover}, for they are a house of rebellion {beit meri: rebellious household}.
27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD {Adonai Yehovih, Sovereign Lawgiver}; let the one who hears listen, and let the one who refuses refuse, for they are a rebellious house {beit: familial unit}."