1He said to me: »Son of man, stand up, and I will speak to you.« 2The Spirit entered me when he spoke to me. He stood me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3He said: »Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel. They are people from a nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this day. 4»I am sending you to these defiant and stubborn children.« Tell them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says: 5‘Whether these rebellious people listen or not, they will realize that a prophet has been among them. 6»Son of man, do not be afraid of them or the things they say. Do not be afraid, even though thorns and thistles are around you and you live among scorpions. Do not let the things they say frighten you. Do not be terrified in their presence even though they are rebellious people. 7»Speak my words to them whether they listen or not, because they are rebellious. 8»But you, son of man, listen to what I say. Do not be rebellious like those rebellious people. Open your mouth and eat what I give you.« 9As I looked, I saw a hand stretched out toward me. In it was a scroll. 10He slowly spread the scroll in front of me. There was writing on the front and back. There were funeral songs dirges, songs of mourning and horrible things written on it.