³ “Son of man, speak to the elders^(A) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire^(B) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(C)’

⁴ “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors^{(D) 5} and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose^(E) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand^(F) 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.^(G)”