^2:5And as for them,¹⁰ whether they listen¹¹ or not—for they are a rebellious¹² house¹³—they will know that a prophet has been among them. ^2:6But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words—even though briers¹⁴ and thorns¹⁵ surround you and you live among scorpions—do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you,¹⁶ for they are a rebellious house! ^2:7You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. ^2:8As for you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you: Do not rebel like that rebellious house! Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”

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Footnotes

10 Heb “they”; the phrase “And as for them” has been used in the translation for clarity.
11 The Hebrew word implies obedience rather than mere hearing or paying attention.
12 This Hebrew adjective is also used to describe the Israelites in Num 17:25 and Isa 30:9.
13 The book of Ezekiel frequently refers to the Israelites as a rebellious house (Ezek 2:5, 6, 8; 3:9, 26–27; 12:2–3, 9, 25; 17:12; 24:3).
14 The Hebrew term occurs only here in the OT.
15 The Hebrew term is found elsewhere in the OT only in Ezek 28:24. Here thorns may be a figure for hostility (Ezek 28:24; Mic 7:4).
16 Heb “of their faces.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Whether they listen or refuse to listen —for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

“But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them and do not be afraid of their words, even though briers and thorns are beside you and you live among scorpions. Don’t be afraid of their words or discouraged by the look on their faces, for they are a rebellious house. Speak my words to them whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.

“And you, son of man, listen to what I tell you: Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.”

NLTNew Living Translation

And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for remember, they are rebels—at least they will know they have had a prophet among them.

“Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels. You must give them my messages whether they listen or not. But they won’t listen, for they are completely rebellious! Son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not join them in their rebellion. Open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And they, whether they listen or whether they fail to listen, for they are a rebellious house, they will know that a prophet was in their midst. And you, son of man, you must not be afraid of them, and you must not be afraid of their words, because briers and thorns are with you, and you are sitting among scorpions. You must not be afraid of their words, and you must not be dismayed because of their looks, for they are a rebellious house. And you must speak my words to them whether they listen or whether they fail to listen, for they are rebellious. And you, son of man, hear what I am speaking to you: you must not be rebellious like the house of rebellion. Open your mouth and eat what I am giving to you.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

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