The Babylonian Exile

Over the heads of the living creatures was what appeared to be a dome glittering like ice; it was awesome, spread out over their heads, above them.

Under the dome each had a pair of wings spread out straight toward those of others, and each had a pair which covered his body.

I heard the sound of their wings when they moved; it was like the sound of rushing water, like the voice of Shaddai, like the noise of a tumultuous crowd or army. When they stopped, they lowered their wings.

Whenever there was a sound from above the dome over their heads, they stopped and lowered their wings.

Above the dome that was over their heads was something like a throne that looked like a sapphire. On it, above it, was what appeared to be a person.

I saw what looked like gleaming, amber-colored fire radiating from what appeared to be his waist upward. Downward from what appeared to be his waist, I saw what looked like fire, giving a brilliant light all around him.

This brilliance around him looked like a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was how the appearance of the glory of ADONAI looked. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of someone speaking.

He said to me, "Human being! Stand up! I want to speak with you!"

As he spoke to me, a spirit entered me and put me on my feet, and I heard him who was speaking to me.

He said, "Human being! I am sending you to the people of Isra'el, that nation of rebels who have rebelled against me - they and their ancestors have been transgressing against me to this very day.

Because they are defiant, hardhearted children, I am sending you; and you are to tell them, 'Here is what Adonai ELOHIM says.'

Whether they listen or not, this rebellious house will still know that a prophet has been among them!

"As for you, human being, don't be afraid of them or their words, even if briars and thorns surround you, and you sit among scorpions. Don't be afraid of their words or be upset by their looks, for they are a rebellious house.

You are to speak my words to them, whether they listen or not, for they are very rebellious.

But you, human being, hear what I am telling you: don't you be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth, and eat what I am about to give you."

When I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me, holding a scroll.

He spread it out in front of me, and it was covered with writing front and back. Written on it were laments, dirges and woes.

He said to me, "Human being, eat what you see in front of you; eat this scroll. Then go and speak to the house of Isra'el."

So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat,

as he said, "Human being, eat this scroll I am giving you; fill your insides with it." When I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey.

"Human being," he said to me, "go to the house of Isra'el, and speak my words to them.

For you are not being sent to a people with a difficult language and unintelligible speech, but to the house of Isra'el -

not to many peoples with difficult languages and unintelligible speech, whose words you can't understand when you hear them. Without doubt, if I sent you to them, they would listen to you.

But the house of Isra'el will not be willing to listen to you, because they aren't willing to listen to me; since all the house of Isra'el are obstinate and hardhearted.

However, I am making you as defiant and obstinate as they are.