5 You are not being sent to people whose speech you can’t understand, whose language is difficult. You are being sent to Israel.
6 You are not being sent to many nations whose speech you can’t understand, whose language is difficult, whose words you cannot understand. If I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you.
7 But the people of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, because they are not willing to listen to me. Yes, all the people of Israel are stubborn and will not obey.
8 See, I now make you as stubborn and as hard as they are.
9 I am making you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone. Don’t be afraid of them or be frightened by them, though they are a people who turn against me.”
10 Also, he said to me, “Human, believe all the words I will speak to you, and listen carefully to them.
11 Then go to the captives, your own people, and say to them, ‘The Lord God says this.’ Tell them this whether they listen or not.”