Ezekiel’s call to be a prophet
1He said to me, ‘Son of man,2:1 The Hebrew phrase ben adam means human being. The phrase son of man is retained as a form of address here and throughout Ezekiel because of its possible association with ‘Son of Man’ in the New Testament. stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.’ 2As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me.
3He said: ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me to this very day. 4The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn. Say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says.” 5And whether they listen or fail to listen – for they are a rebellious people – they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. 7You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. 8But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.’
9Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.
Ezekiel kaldes og udrustes til profet
1Stemmen sagde: „Menneske, rejs dig op! Jeg har noget at sige til dig,” 2Mens stemmen talte, kom Åndens kraft over mig og rejste mig op, og jeg lyttede omhyggeligt til hans ord.
3„Jeg sender dig til Israels folk, til dem, som har gjort oprør imod mig. Både de nulevende og alle deres forfædre har brudt den pagt, som jeg indgik med dem. 4Det er et hårdhjertet og stivnakket folk, men jeg sender dig til dem med et budskab fra mig, Herren, deres Gud. 5Det kan godt være, at de ikke vil høre på dig, for det er et oprørsk folk, men så ved de i hvert fald, at jeg har sendt en profet til dem. 6-7Du skal ikke være bange for dem. Du skal ikke tage dig af, hvad de siger, selvom deres ord stikker som torne og skorpioner. Frygt ikke for deres skulende blikke, husk på, at det er et oprørsk folk. Du skal tale mit ord til dem, uanset om de vil høre på dig eller ej. 8Men du skal høre godt efter, hvad jeg siger til dig, og lad dig ikke smitte af deres oprørske indstilling. Luk munden op og spis det, jeg nu giver dig.”
9-10Derefter så jeg en hånd, som rakte en bogrulle frem imod mig. Da han rullede den ud, så jeg, at den var beskrevet på begge sider, og at den var fuld af klagesange, suk og sørgelige ord.
