Rebellious Israel Purged

20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire^(A) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.^(B)

² Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³ “Son of man, speak to the elders^(C) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire^(D) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(E)’

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^(A) blasphemed^(B) me by being unfaithful to me:^{(C) 28} When I brought them into the land^(D) 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.^{(E) 29} Then I said to them: What is this high place^(F) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah^[a] to this day.)

Rebellious Israel Renewed

³⁰ “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves^(G) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?^{(H) 31} When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children^(I) in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.^(J)

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. ³³ As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm^(K) and with outpoured wrath.^{(L) 34} I will bring you from the nations^(M) and gather^(N) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand^(O) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.^{(P) 35} I will bring you into the wilderness^(Q) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment^(R) upon you. ³⁶ As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.^{(S) 37} I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,^(T) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.^{(U) 38} I will purge^(V) 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.^(W)

³⁹ “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,^(X) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name^(Y) with your gifts and idols.^{(Z) 40} For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,^(AA) 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^(AB) and your choice gifts,^[b] along with all your holy sacrifices.^{(AC) 41} I will accept you as fragrant incense^(AD) when I bring you out from the nations and gather^(AE) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy^(AF) through you in the sight of the nations.^{(AG) 42} Then you will know that I am the Lord,^(AH) when I bring you into the land of Israel,^(AI) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.^{(AJ) 43} There you will remember your conduct^(AK) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves^(AL) for all the evil you have done.^{(AM) 44} You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake^(AN) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(AO)’”