1He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll,3:1 Ezk 2:8–9 then go and speak to the house of Israel.”

2So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll.

3“Son of man,” he said to me, “feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate it,3:3 Jr 15:16 and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.3:3 Ps 19:10; 119:103; Rv 10:9–10

16Now at the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me:3:16 Jr 42:7

17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel.3:17 Is 52:8; 56:10; 62:6; Jr 6:17; Ezk 33:7–9 When you hear a word from my mouth, give them a warning from me.3:17 2Ch 19:10; Is 58:1

18If I say to the wicked person,3:18–19 Ezk 33:3,6,8–9 ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him — you don’t speak out to warn him about his wicked way in order to save his life — that wicked person will die for his iniquity. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.

19But if you warn a wicked person and he does not turn from his wickedness or his wicked way, he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued yourself.3:19 Ezk 14:14,20; Ac 18:6; 1Tm 4:16

20Now if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly,3:20 Ezk 18:24 and I put a stumbling block in front of him, he will die.3:20 Jr 6:21 If you did not warn him, he will die because of his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. Yet I will hold you responsible for his blood.

21But if you warn the righteous person that he should not sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he listened to your warning, and you will have rescued yourself.”