The prophet receives his commission.
2:1. This was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord, and
I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that
spoke, and he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will
speak to thee.
2:2. And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he
set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me,
2:3. And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to
a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their
fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.
2:4. And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of
an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord
God:
2:5. If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear,
for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath
been a prophet in the midst of them.
2:6. And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their
words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest
with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their
looks: for they are a provoking house.
2:7. And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear,
and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.
2:8. But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not
thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat
what I give thee.
2:9. And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a
book rolled up: and he spread it before me, and it was written within
and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles,
and woe.