1. The Lord spoke his word to me. He said:
2. “Human being, speak to your people. Say to them: ‘I might bring a war against a land. The people of the land may choose one of their men. They may make him their watchman.
3. This watchman might see the enemy coming to attack the land. And he blows the trumpet and warns the people.
4. A person might hear the sound of the trumpet, but do nothing. Then the enemy will come and kill him. That person will be responsible for his own death.
5. He heard the sound of the trumpet. But he did not do anything. So he is to blame for his own death. If he had done something, he would have saved his own life.
6. But the watchman might see the enemy coming to attack and not blow the trumpet. So the people are not warned. Then the enemy comes and kills one of them. That person has died because of his own sin. But I will punish the watchman for the person’s death.’
7. “As for you, human being, I have made you a watchman for Israel. If you hear a message from me, you must warn them for me.
8. I might say to the wicked person: ‘Wicked man, you will surely die.’ But you might not speak to warn the evil person to stop doing evil. Then he will die while still a sinner. But I will punish you for his death.
9. But you might warn a wicked person to stop doing evil. If he does not stop, he will die while still a sinner. But you have saved your life.
10. “So you, human being, say to Israel: ‘You have said: Surely our law-breaking and sins are hurting us. They will kill us. What can we do so we will live?’