Ezekiel 20
1 In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.
2 Then 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 Lord GOD says: «Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Lord GOD.»’”
4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the detestable things their fathers did.
5 And say to them: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: «On the day I chose Israel, I raised my hand to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I raised my hand to them and said, “I am the LORD your God.
6 On that day I raised my hand to them, promising to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had explored for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
7 I said to them, ‘Each of you, throw away the detestable idols you gaze at, and do not defile yourselves with the repulsive images of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
8 But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me. None of them threw away the detestable idols they gazed at, and they did not abandon the repulsive images of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my fury on them and exhaust my anger against them in the land of Egypt.
9 But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned before the nations among whom they lived. Before those nations’ eyes I had made myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10 So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
11 I gave them my decrees and made my laws known to them, which a person must follow in order to live.»’”
12 “‘«I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees; they rejected my laws, which a person must follow in order to live, and they profaned my Sabbaths greatly. So I said I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness and destroy them.
14 But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned before the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.
15 I also raised my hand to them in the wilderness, swearing 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.
16 For they rejected my laws, did not follow my decrees, and profaned my Sabbaths, because their hearts followed their repulsive images.
17 Yet I had compassion on them and did not destroy them; I did not put an end to them in the wilderness.
18 I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not follow the decrees of your fathers, keep their laws, or defile yourselves with their repulsive images.
19 I am the LORD your God. Follow my decrees, keep my laws, and obey them.
20 Keep my Sabbaths holy. They will be a sign between me and you, so you will know that I am the LORD your God.’
21 But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my decrees or keep my laws and obey them—the laws that a person must follow in order to live—and they profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my fury on them and exhaust my anger against them in the wilderness.
22 But I withdrew my hand and acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned before the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.»’”
23 “‘«I also raised my hand to them in the wilderness, swearing that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the lands.
24 For they did not obey my laws, rejected my decrees, profaned my Sabbaths, and set their eyes on the repulsive images of their fathers.
25 I also gave them decrees that were not good and laws by which they could not live.
26 I defiled them through their offerings, when they made every firstborn child pass through the fire, so that I would horrify them and they would know that I am the LORD.»’
27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: «In this too your fathers insulted me by betraying me.
28 I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them. They saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and there they offered sacrifices and presented offerings that provoked me. They set out their pleasing aroma there and poured out their drink offerings.
29 I said to them, “What is this high place you keep going to?” And it has been called High Place to this day.»’
30 Therefore say to the house of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: «Are you defiling yourselves by following the ways of your fathers and prostituting yourselves after their detestable idols?
31 When you present your offerings and make your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your repulsive images, as you still do today. Should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not let you inquire of me.
32 What you have in mind will never happen—the thing you say: “We will be like the nations, like the families of other lands, serving wood and stone.”
33 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and poured-out fury.»’”
34 “‘«I will bring you out from among the peoples and gather you from the lands where you have been scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and poured-out fury.
35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will judge you face to face.
36 Just as I judged your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Lord GOD.
37 I will make you pass under the rod and bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 I will separate from you those who rebel and those who revolt against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreigners, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
39 As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Each of you, go and serve your idols. But afterward, if you will not listen to me, you will no longer profane my holy name with your offerings and your repulsive images.
40 For on my holy mountain, on Israel’s lofty mountain, declares the Lord GOD, the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will seek your contributions and the firstfruits of your offerings, along with all your sacred things.
41 I will accept you as a pleasing aroma when I bring you out from among the peoples and gather you from the lands where you have been scattered. I will show my holiness through you in the sight of the nations.
42 Then you will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I swore to give your fathers.
43 There you will remember your ways and all the deeds by which you defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the wicked things you have done.
44 Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I act for your sake because of my name. It will not be according to your evil ways or your corrupt deeds, house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD.»’”
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