1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me. (Eze 1:2; Eze 8:1; Eze 14:1; Eze 24:1; Eze 26:1; Eze 29:1; Eze 29:17; Eze 30:20; Eze 31:1; Eze 32:1; Eze 32:17; Eze 33:21; Eze 40:1)2And the word of the Lord came to me:3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. (Eze 2:1; Eze 14:3; Eze 16:48)4Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers, (Eze 16:2; Eze 22:2; Eze 23:36)5and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore[1] to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God. (Ge 14:22; Ex 3:8; Ex 4:31; Ex 6:2; Ex 6:7; Eze 20:15; Eze 20:23; Eze 20:28; Eze 20:42; Eze 36:7; Eze 47:14)6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. (Ex 3:8; Jer 3:19; Eze 20:15; Zec 7:14)7And I said to them, ‘Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.’ (Ex 20:2; Le 18:3; Eze 18:31; Eze 20:8; Eze 20:18; Eze 20:19; Eze 20:24)8But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. (Eze 5:13; Eze 20:7; Eze 20:21)9But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. (Ps 106:8; Isa 48:11; Eze 20:14; Eze 20:22; Eze 20:44)10So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. (Ex 13:18; Ex 13:20)11I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. (Le 18:5; De 4:8; Ne 9:13; Ps 147:19; Eze 18:9; Ro 10:5; Ga 3:12)12Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. (Ex 20:8; Le 21:23; De 5:12; Eze 20:13; Eze 20:16; Eze 20:21; Eze 20:24; Eze 37:28)13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them. (Eze 20:21; Eze 20:24; Eze 22:8; Eze 23:38)14But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. (Eze 20:9)15Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands, (Ex 3:8; Nu 14:28; Ps 95:11; Eze 20:5; Eze 20:6)16because they rejected my rules and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. (Nu 15:39; Ps 78:37; Eze 20:24)17Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness. (Eze 5:11; Eze 11:13)18“And I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols. (Jos 24:14; Eze 2:3; Eze 20:7; Eze 20:21; 1Pe 1:18)19I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and be careful to obey my rules, (Ex 20:2; De 5:32; Eze 20:5)20and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’ (Ge 9:12; Ge 17:11; Jer 17:22; Eze 20:12)21But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. (De 31:27; Eze 20:8; Eze 20:13; Eze 20:16)22But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. (Eze 20:9; Eze 20:14; Eze 20:44)23Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, (De 28:64; Eze 20:5; Eze 20:15)24because they had not obeyed my rules, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their fathers’ idols. (Eze 20:16)25Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life, (Ps 81:12; Eze 20:39; Ac 7:42; Ro 1:24; Ro 1:28; 2Th 2:11)26and I defiled them through their very gifts in their offering up all their firstborn, that I might devastate them. I did it that they might know that I am the Lord. (Eze 6:7; Eze 16:20; Eze 20:31)27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me. (Eze 2:1; Eze 14:13)28For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings. (Eze 6:13; Eze 8:17; Eze 20:5)29(I said to them, ‘What is the high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah[2] to this day.) (Eze 20:40)30“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things? (Ps 106:39; Eze 20:7)31When you present your gifts and offer up your children in fire,[3] you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. (Eze 14:3; Eze 16:48; Eze 20:26)32“What is in your mind shall never happen—the thought, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.’ (De 4:28; 2Ki 19:18; Jer 44:17; Eze 11:5; Da 5:4; Da 5:23; Re 9:20)
The Lord Will Restore Israel
33“As I live, declares the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you. (Jer 21:5; Eze 20:8; Eze 20:31)34I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out. (Jer 31:8)35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. (De 5:4; Eze 17:20; Eze 20:10; Ho 2:14)36As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord God. (Nu 14:20; Nu 14:28)37I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. (Le 27:32)38I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. (Eze 6:7; Eze 13:9; Eze 20:35; Eze 34:17; Eze 34:20; Eze 34:22; Mt 25:32)39“As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols. (Jud 10:14; Jer 44:25; Eze 20:25; Eze 39:7; Eze 43:7)40“For on my holy mountain, the mountain height of Israel, declares the Lord God, there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your sacred offerings. (Isa 56:7; Isa 60:7; Eze 17:23; Eze 28:14; Eze 39:25; Eze 43:27; Mal 3:4; Ro 12:1)41As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations. (Nu 20:12; Isa 8:13; Eze 20:34; Eze 28:22; Eze 36:23; Eze 38:16; Eze 38:23; Eze 39:27)42And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the country that I swore to give to your fathers. (Eze 6:7; Eze 20:5)43And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed. (Eze 6:9)44And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord God.” (Ps 103:10; Eze 20:9; Eze 20:14; Eze 20:22)45[4] And the word of the Lord came to me:46“Son of man, set your face toward the southland;[5] preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest land in the Negeb. (Isa 55:10; Eze 2:1; Eze 21:2; Am 7:16)47Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it. (Jer 21:14; Eze 17:24; Eze 21:4; Lu 23:31)48All flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” (Isa 30:33; Isa 40:5)49Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?’” (Eze 4:14; Eze 17:2; Eze 24:3)
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.2Then the word of the Lord came to me:3‘Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: have you come to enquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you enquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.”4‘Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors5and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: on the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the Lord your God.’6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.7And I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’8‘ “But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.9But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites.10Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.11I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.12Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.13‘ “Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws – by which the person who obeys them will live – and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness.14But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.15Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them – a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands –16because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols.17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness.18I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols.19I am the Lord your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.20Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’21‘ “But the children rebelled against me: they did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them,’ and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.22But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.23Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries,24because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents’ idols.25So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;26I defiled them through their gifts – the sacrifice of every firstborn – that I might fill them with horror so that they would know that I am the Lord.”27‘Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: in this also your ancestors blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me:28when I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.29Then I said to them: what is this high place you go to?” ’ (It is called Bamah[1] to this day.)
Rebellious Israel renewed
30‘Therefore say to the Israelites: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?31When you offer your gifts – the sacrifice of your children in the fire – you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you enquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you enquire of me.32‘ “You say, ‘We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.’ But what you have in mind will never happen.33As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.34I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered – with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.35I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.36As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.37I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.38I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.39‘ “As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterwards you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols.40For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts,[2] along with all your holy sacrifices.41I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.42Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.43There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.44You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” ’
Prophecy against the south
45The word of the Lord came to me:46‘Son of man, set your face towards the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland.47Say to the southern forest: “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.48Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.” ’49Then I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, “Isn’t he just telling parables?” ’[3]
Ezekiel 20
King James Version
1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month , the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.2Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them ? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:5And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;6In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:7Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.9But I wrought for my name' sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were , in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.10Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.11And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.12Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.14But I wrought for my name' sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.15Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them , flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;16Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.17Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.18But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:19I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.22Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name' sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.23I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers'idols.25Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;26And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.27Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.28For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.29Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.30Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?31For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.32And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.33As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:34And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:38And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also , if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.40For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.41I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.42And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.43And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.44And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name' sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.45Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;47And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.48And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.49Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
1It was the seventh year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to ask the LORD for advice. They sat down with me.2Then a message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said,3‘Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them, “The LORD and King says, ‘Have you come to ask me for advice? I will not let you do that,’ announces the LORD and King. ‘And that is just as sure as I am alive.’ ”4‘Are you going to judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Tell them the evil things done by their people of long ago. I hate those things.5Tell them, “The LORD and King says, ‘I chose Israel. On that day I raised my hand and made a promise. I made a promise to the members of Jacob’s family line. I made myself known to them in Egypt. I raised my hand and told them, “I am the LORD your God.”6On that day I promised I would bring them out of Egypt. I told them I would take them to a land I had found for them. It had plenty of milk and honey. It was the most beautiful land of all.7I said to them, “Each of you must get rid of the statues of the evil gods you worship. Do not make yourselves ‘unclean’ by worshipping the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.”8‘ “ ‘But they refused to obey me. They would not listen to me. They did not get rid of the evil gods they worshipped. And they did not turn away from Egypt’s gods. So I said I would pour out all my great anger on them in Egypt.9I wanted my name to be honoured. So I brought my people out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being treated as if it were not holy. I didn’t want this to happen in front of the nations around my people. I had made myself known to Israel in the sight of those nations.10So I led them out of Egypt. I brought them into the Desert of Sinai.11I gave them my rules. I made my laws known to them. The person who obeys them will live by them.12I also told them to observe my Sabbath days. That is the sign of the covenant I made with them. I wanted them to know that I made them holy. I am the LORD.13‘ “ ‘But in the desert the people of Israel refused to obey me. They did not follow my rules. They turned their backs on my laws. The person who obeys them will live by them. They totally misused my Sabbath days. So I said I would pour out my great anger on them. I would destroy them in the desert.14But I wanted my name to be honoured. I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations. They had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.15I also raised my hand and made a promise in the desert. I told my people I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It had plenty of milk and honey. It was the most beautiful land of all.16But they turned their backs on my laws. They did not obey my rules. They misused my Sabbath days. Their hearts were committed to worshipping the statues of their gods.17Then I felt sorry for them. So I did not destroy them. I did not put an end to them in the desert.18I spoke to their children there. I said, “Do not follow the rules your parents gave you. Do not obey their laws. Do not make yourselves ‘unclean’ by worshipping their gods.19I am the LORD your God. So follow my rules. Be careful to obey my laws.20Keep my Sabbath days holy. That is the sign of the covenant I made with you. You will know that I am the LORD your God.”21‘ “ ‘But their children refused to obey me. They did not follow my rules. They were not careful to keep my laws. The person who obeys them will live by them. They misused my Sabbath days. So I said I would pour out all my great anger on them in the desert.22But I kept myself from punishing them at that time. I wanted my name to be honoured. So I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations. They had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.23I also raised my hand and made a promise in the desert. I told my people I would scatter them among the nations. I would send them to other countries.24They had not obeyed my laws. They had turned their backs on my rules. They had misused my Sabbath days. They only wanted to worship the statues of their parents’ gods.25So I let them follow other rules. Those other rules were not good. I let them have laws they could not live by.26I let them become “unclean” by offering sacrifices to other gods. They even sacrificed the first male child born in each family. I wanted to fill them with horror. Then they would know that I am the LORD.’ ”27‘Son of man, speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, “The LORD and King says, ‘Your people spoke evil things against me long ago. They were unfaithful to me.28But I brought them into the land. I had promised to give the land to them. Then they offered sacrifices that made me very angry. They did it on every high hill and under every green tree. There they brought their sweet-smelling incense. And there they poured out their drink offerings.29Then I said to them, “What is this high place you go to?” ’ ” ’ That high place is called Bamah to this day.
The Lord makes Israel new again
30The LORD said to me, ‘Speak to the Israelites. Tell them, “Here is what the LORD and King says. ‘Are you going to make yourselves “unclean” the way your people of long ago did? Are you also going to want to worship the statues of their evil gods?31You make yourselves “unclean” by offering sacrifices to other gods. You even sacrifice your children in the fire. You continue to do these things to this day. People of Israel, should I let you ask me for advice? I will not let you do that,’ announces the LORD and King. ‘And that is just as sure as I am alive.32‘ “ ‘You say, “We want to be like the other nations. We want to be like all the other people in the world. They serve gods made out of wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen.33I will rule over you by reaching out my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour my great anger out on you,’ announces the LORD and King. ‘And that is just as sure as I am alive.34I will bring you back from the nations. I will gather you together from the countries where you have been scattered. I will reach out my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour my great anger out on you.35I will send you among the nations. There I will judge you face to face. It will be as if I were judging you in the desert again.36Long ago, I judged your people in the desert of Egypt. In the same way, I will judge you,’ announces the LORD and King.37‘I will take note of you as you pass under my shepherd’s stick. I will separate those who obey me from those who do not. And I will give the blessings of the covenant to those of you who obey me.38I will get rid of those among you who turn against me. They refuse to obey me. I will bring them out of the land where they are living. But they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.39‘ “ ‘People of Israel, the LORD and King says, “Go, every one of you! Serve your gods. But later you will listen to me. You will no longer treat my name as if it were not holy. You will not offer sacrifices to other gods anymore.40People of Israel, you will all serve me,” announces the LORD and King. “You will serve me on my high and holy mountain in Jerusalem. There I will accept you. I will require your offerings and your finest gifts. I want you to bring them along with all your other holy sacrifices.41I will bring you back from the nations. I will gather you together from the countries where you have been scattered. Then I will accept you as if you were sweet-smelling incense. I will show that I am holy among you. The nations will see it.42I will bring you into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Long ago I raised my hand and made a promise. I promised to give that land to your people of long ago.43There you will remember your conduct. You will think about everything you did that made you ‘unclean’. And you will hate yourselves because of all the evil things you have done.44People of Israel, I will deal with you for the honour of my name. I will not deal with you based on your evil conduct and sinful practices. Then you will know that I am the LORD,” announces the LORD and King.’ ” ’
Ezekiel prophesies against the south
45A message from the LORD came to me. The LORD said,46‘Son of man, turn your attention to Judah in the south. Preach against it. Prophesy against its forests.47Tell them, “Listen to the LORD’s message. The LORD and King says, ‘I am about to set you on fire. The fire will destroy all your trees. It will burn down green trees and dry trees alike. The blazing flame will not be put out. The faces of everyone from south to north will be burned by it.48Everyone will see that I started the fire. It will not be put out. I am the LORD.’ ” ’49Then I said, ‘LORD and King, people are talking about me. They are saying, “Isn’t he just telling stories?” ’