Part 537 (1/2)

1:28. As the appearance of the rainbow when it is in a cloud on a rainy day: this was the appearance of the brightness round about.

Ezechiel Chapter 2

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 G.o.d:

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.

Ezechiel Chapter 3

The prophet eats the book, and receives further instructions: the office of a watchman.

3:1. And he said to me: Son of man, eat all that thou shalt find: eat this book, and go speak to the children of Israel.

Eat this book, and go speak to the children of Israel... By this eating of the book was signified the diligent attention and affection with which we are to receive, and embrace the word of G.o.d; and to let it, as it were, sink into our interior by devout meditation.

3:2. And I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that book:

3:3. And he said to me: Son of man, thy belly shall eat, and thy bowels shall be filled with this book, which I give thee, and I did eat it: and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

3:4. And he said to me: Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and thou shalt speak my words to them.

3:5. For thou art not sent to a people of a profound speech, and of an unknown tongue, but to the house of Israel:

3:6. Nor to many nations of a strange speech, and of an unknown tongue, whose words thou canst not understand: and if thou wert sent to them, they would hearken to thee.

3:7. But the house of Israel will not hearken to thee: because they will not hearken to me: for all the house of Israel are of a hard forehead and an obstinate heart.

3:8. Behold I have made thy face stronger than their faces: and thy forehead harder than their foreheads.

3:9. I have made thy face like an adamant and like flint: fear them not, neither be thou dismayed at their presence: for they are a provoking house.

3:10. And he said to me: Son of man, receive in thy heart, and hear with thy ears, all the words that I speak to thee:

3:11. And go get thee in to them of the captivity, to the children of thy people, and thou shalt speak to them, and shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord: If so be they will hear, and will forbear.