20. “If a truly good person starts doing evil and I put him in a dangerous situation, he will die if you do not warn him. He will die because of his sins — I will not remember the good he did — and I will hold you responsible for his death.
21. If you do warn a good man not to sin and he listens to you and doesn't sin, he will stay alive, and your life will also be spared.”
22. I felt the powerful presence of the Lord and heard him say to me, “Get up and go out into the valley. I will talk to you there.”
23. So I went out into the valley, and there I saw the glory of the Lord, just as I had seen it beside the River Chebar. I fell face downwards on the ground,
24. but God's Spirit entered me and raised me to my feet. The Lord said to me, “Go home and shut yourself up in the house.
25. You will be tied with ropes, mortal man, and you will not be able to go out in public.
26. I will paralyse your tongue so that you won't be able to warn these rebellious people.
27. Then, when I speak to you again and give you back the power of speech, you will tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying. Some of them will listen, but some will ignore you, for they are a nation of rebels.”