以色列人的悖逆

20 第七年五月十日,有几个以色列的长老来到我这里,坐在我面前。 耶和华对我说: “人子啊,你要告诉他们,主耶和华这样说,‘你们是来求问我吗?我凭我的永恒起誓,我决不让你们求问。’ 人子啊,你要审判他们?你要审判他们?要使他们知道他们祖先所做的可憎之事。 你要告诉他们,主耶和华这样说,‘我拣选以色列那日,曾向雅各家的后裔起誓,又在埃及向他们显现,告诉他们我是他们的上帝耶和华。 那日我向他们起誓,要带领他们离开埃及,到我为他们预备的奶蜜之乡,世上最佳美的地方。 我告诉他们要除掉他们祭拜的可憎之物,不可让埃及的偶像玷污自己,因为我是他们的上帝耶和华。

“‘然而,他们却背叛我,不听我的话,没有除去他们祭拜的可憎之物和埃及的偶像。我本想在埃及向他们发烈怒,倾倒我的怒火, 但我没有这样做,以免我的名在他们寄居的列邦面前被亵渎。因为列邦亲眼看见我向以色列人显现,把他们带出埃及。 10 于是,我带他们离开埃及,进入旷野, 11 向他们颁布我的律例和典章,若有人遵守,就必活着。 12 我又让他们遵守我的安息日,作为我与他们之间的记号,好叫他们知道是我耶和华使他们成为圣洁之民。

13 “‘可是,以色列人却在旷野背叛我,不遵行我的律例和典章——遵行的人必活着,大肆亵渎我的安息日。我本想在旷野向他们发烈怒,灭绝他们。 14 但我没有这样做,以免我的名在周围列邦面前被亵渎,因为列邦亲眼看见我向以色列人显现,把他们带出埃及。 15 我在旷野曾向他们发誓,不带他们进入我赐给他们的那奶蜜之乡,那世上最佳美的地方, 16 因为他们不遵守我的典章,不顺从我的律例,亵渎我的安息日,心恋偶像。 17 但我怜悯他们,没有毁灭他们,没有在旷野把他们全部灭绝。

18 “‘我在旷野曾对他们的子孙说,不要效法你们祖先的律例,不要遵守他们的规条,不要拜他们的偶像,以致玷污自己。 19 我是你们的上帝耶和华,你们要恪守我的律例,谨遵我的典章, 20 尊我定的安息日为圣日,作为我与你们之间的记号,使你们知道我是你们的上帝耶和华。

21 “‘可是,他们的子孙却背叛我,不恪守我的律例,不谨遵我的典章——遵守的人必活着。他们亵渎我的安息日。我本想在旷野向他们发烈怒,倾倒我的怒气, 22 但我没有这样做,以免我的名在周围列邦面前被亵渎,因为列邦亲眼看见我向以色列人显现,把他们带出埃及。 23 我在旷野起誓要把他们驱散到列国,分散到列邦, 24 因为他们不遵行我的典章,弃绝我的律例,亵渎我的安息日,眼睛恋慕他们祖先的偶像。 25 所以,我任由他们效法无用的律例,遵守无法使人活着的规条, 26 任由他们把自己的长子烧作祭物献给偶像,以致玷污自己——好使他们充满恐惧,这样他们便知道我是耶和华。’

27 “人子啊,你要告诉以色列人,主耶和华这样说,‘你们的祖先背信弃义,亵渎了我。 28 当我引领他们进入我曾起誓要赐给他们的土地时,他们在所见的每一处高山或密林献祭,焚烧馨香的祭牲,向偶像奠酒,惹我发怒。 29 我问他们,你们所去的高处是什么地方?’从此,那高处一直叫巴麻。

30 “所以,你要告诉以色列人,主耶和华这样说,‘你们仍像你们祖先一样与可憎的偶像苟合,玷污自己吗? 31 你们至今仍把自己的儿子烧作祭物献给偶像,玷污自己吗?以色列人啊,我会让你们求问吗?主耶和华说,我凭我的永恒起誓,我决不让你们求问。

32 “‘你们说要像外族人一样去供奉木头石头,你们的想法绝不能实现!’

33 “主耶和华说,‘我凭我的永恒起誓,我要发烈怒,伸出大能的臂膀治理你们。 34 我要发烈怒,伸出大能的臂膀把你们从列国中领出来,从你们散居的列邦聚集你们, 35 领你们进入外族人的旷野,面对面地审判你们, 36 就像我从前在埃及的旷野审判你们的祖先一样。这是主耶和华说的。 37 我要对你们严加管教[a],使你们遵守我的约。 38 我要铲除你们中间叛逆和犯罪的人。虽然我要领他们离开寄居之地,他们却不能回以色列。这样,你们就知道我是耶和华。’

39 “主耶和华说,‘你们以色列人若不听我的话,就去供奉你们的偶像吧!但将来你们必不再向偶像献祭物亵渎我的圣名!’

40 “主耶和华说,‘在我的圣山,就是以色列的高山上,所有的以色列人都要事奉我,我要在那里悦纳你们,要求你们献上供物、最好的礼物和一切圣物。 41 当我把你们从列国领出来,从你们散居的列邦聚集起来时,你们必如馨香之祭一样蒙我悦纳,我必当着列国的面在你们中间彰显我的圣洁。 42 我要把你们带回我起誓应许给你们祖先的以色列,这样你们就知道我是耶和华。 43 你们在那里会想起以往玷污自己的行径,并因自己的一切恶行而憎恶自己。’ 44 主耶和华说,‘以色列人啊,我为了自己的名,没有照你们的邪恶行径惩罚你们,这样你们便知道我是耶和华。’”

45 耶和华对我说: 46 “人子啊,你要面向南方,说预言斥责南地的树林。 47 你要对南地的树林说,‘你要听耶和华的话。主耶和华说,我要在你那里燃起火来,烧毁你所有的青树和枯树。这不熄的烈火要从南到北烧焦一切。 48 这样,世人便知道这烈火是我耶和华点燃的,它绝不会熄灭。’” 49 于是我说:“唉,主耶和华啊,他们在议论我说,‘这人岂不是在说比喻吗?’”

Footnotes

  1. 20:37 对你们严加管教”希伯来文是“让你们在杖下经过”。

以色列人的悖逆

20 第七年五月十日,有幾個以色列的長老來到我這裡,坐在我面前。 耶和華對我說: 「人子啊,你要告訴他們,主耶和華這樣說,『你們是來求問我嗎?我憑我的永恆起誓,我決不讓你們求問。』 人子啊,你要審判他們?你要審判他們?要使他們知道他們祖先所做的可憎之事。 你要告訴他們,主耶和華這樣說,『我揀選以色列那日,曾向雅各家的後裔起誓,又在埃及向他們顯現,告訴他們我是他們的上帝耶和華。 那日我向他們起誓,要帶領他們離開埃及,到我為他們預備的奶蜜之鄉,世上最佳美的地方。 我告訴他們要除掉他們祭拜的可憎之物,不可讓埃及的偶像玷污自己,因為我是他們的上帝耶和華。

「『然而,他們卻背叛我,不聽我的話,沒有除去他們祭拜的可憎之物和埃及的偶像。我本想在埃及向他們發烈怒,傾倒我的怒火, 但我沒有這樣做,以免我的名在他們寄居的列邦面前被褻瀆。因為列邦親眼看見我向以色列人顯現,把他們帶出埃及。 10 於是,我帶他們離開埃及,進入曠野, 11 向他們頒佈我的律例和典章,若有人遵守,就必活著。 12 我又讓他們遵守我的安息日,作為我與他們之間的記號,好叫他們知道是我耶和華使他們成為聖潔之民。

13 「『可是,以色列人卻在曠野背叛我,不遵行我的律例和典章——遵行的人必活著,大肆褻瀆我的安息日。我本想在曠野向他們發烈怒,滅絕他們。 14 但我沒有這樣做,以免我的名在周圍列邦面前被褻瀆,因為列邦親眼看見我向以色列人顯現,把他們帶出埃及。 15 我在曠野曾向他們發誓,不帶他們進入我賜給他們的那奶蜜之鄉,那世上最佳美的地方, 16 因為他們不遵守我的典章,不順從我的律例,褻瀆我的安息日,心戀偶像。 17 但我憐憫他們,沒有毀滅他們,沒有在曠野把他們全部滅絕。

18 「『我在曠野曾對他們的子孫說,不要效法你們祖先的律例,不要遵守他們的規條,不要拜他們的偶像,以致玷污自己。 19 我是你們的上帝耶和華,你們要恪守我的律例,謹遵我的典章, 20 尊我定的安息日為聖日,作為我與你們之間的記號,使你們知道我是你們的上帝耶和華。

21 「『可是,他們的子孫卻背叛我,不恪守我的律例,不謹遵我的典章——遵守的人必活著。他們褻瀆我的安息日。我本想在曠野向他們發烈怒,傾倒我的怒氣, 22 但我沒有這樣做,以免我的名在周圍列邦面前被褻瀆,因為列邦親眼看見我向以色列人顯現,把他們帶出埃及。 23 我在曠野起誓要把他們驅散到列國,分散到列邦, 24 因為他們不遵行我的典章,棄絕我的律例,褻瀆我的安息日,眼睛戀慕他們祖先的偶像。 25 所以,我任由他們效法無用的律例,遵守無法使人活著的規條, 26 任由他們把自己的長子燒作祭物獻給偶像,以致玷污自己——好使他們充滿恐懼,這樣他們便知道我是耶和華。』

27 「人子啊,你要告訴以色列人,主耶和華這樣說,『你們的祖先背信棄義,褻瀆了我。 28 當我引領他們進入我曾起誓要賜給他們的土地時,他們在所見的每一處高山或密林獻祭,焚燒馨香的祭牲,向偶像奠酒,惹我發怒。 29 我問他們,你們所去的高處是什麼地方?』從此,那高處一直叫巴麻。

30 「所以,你要告訴以色列人,主耶和華這樣說,『你們仍像你們祖先一樣與可憎的偶像苟合,玷污自己嗎? 31 你們至今仍把自己的兒子燒作祭物獻給偶像,玷污自己嗎?以色列人啊,我會讓你們求問嗎?主耶和華說,我憑我的永恆起誓,我決不讓你們求問。

32 「『你們說要像外族人一樣去供奉木頭石頭,你們的想法絕不能實現!』

33 「主耶和華說,『我憑我的永恆起誓,我要發烈怒,伸出大能的臂膀治理你們。 34 我要發烈怒,伸出大能的臂膀把你們從列國中領出來,從你們散居的列邦聚集你們, 35 領你們進入外族人的曠野,面對面地審判你們, 36 就像我從前在埃及的曠野審判你們的祖先一樣。這是主耶和華說的。 37 我要對你們嚴加管教[a],使你們遵守我的約。 38 我要剷除你們中間叛逆和犯罪的人。雖然我要領他們離開寄居之地,他們卻不能回以色列。這樣,你們就知道我是耶和華。』

39 「主耶和華說,『你們以色列人若不聽我的話,就去供奉你們的偶像吧!但將來你們必不再向偶像獻祭物褻瀆我的聖名!』

40 「主耶和華說,『在我的聖山,就是以色列的高山上,所有的以色列人都要事奉我,我要在那裡悅納你們,要求你們獻上供物、最好的禮物和一切聖物。 41 當我把你們從列國領出來,從你們散居的列邦聚集起來時,你們必如馨香之祭一樣蒙我悅納,我必當著列國的面在你們中間彰顯我的聖潔。 42 我要把你們帶回我起誓應許給你們祖先的以色列,這樣你們就知道我是耶和華。 43 你們在那裡會想起以往玷污自己的行徑,並因自己的一切惡行而憎惡自己。』 44 主耶和華說,『以色列人啊,我為了自己的名,沒有照你們的邪惡行徑懲罰你們,這樣你們便知道我是耶和華。』」

45 耶和華對我說: 46 「人子啊,你要面向南方,說預言斥責南地的樹林。 47 你要對南地的樹林說,『你要聽耶和華的話。主耶和華說,我要在你那裡燃起火來,燒毀你所有的青樹和枯樹。這不熄的烈火要從南到北燒焦一切。 48 這樣,世人便知道這烈火是我耶和華點燃的,它絕不會熄滅。』」 49 於是我說:「唉,主耶和華啊,他們在議論我說,『這人豈不是在說比喻嗎?』」

Footnotes

  1. 20·37 對你們嚴加管教」希伯來文是「讓你們在杖下經過」。

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)

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “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)

“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors(F) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose(G) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand(H) 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.(I) On that day I swore(J) 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,(K) the most beautiful of all lands.(L) And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images(M) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols(N) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.(O)

“‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;(P) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.(Q) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.(R) But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.(S) I did it to keep my name from being profaned(T) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.(U) 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.(V) 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths(W) as a sign(X) between us,(Y) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.(Z)

13 “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled(AA) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws(AB)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.(AC) So I said I would pour out my wrath(AD) on them and destroy(AE) them in the wilderness.(AF) 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned(AG) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.(AH) 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore(AI) 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(AJ) 16 because they rejected my laws(AK) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts(AL) were devoted to their idols.(AM) 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy(AN) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents(AO) or keep their laws or defile yourselves(AP) with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God;(AQ) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(AR) 20 Keep my Sabbaths(AS) holy, that they may be a sign(AT) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.(AU)

21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,(AV) 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(AW) against them in the wilderness.(AX) 22 But I withheld(AY) my hand, and for the sake of my name(AZ) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter(BA) them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees(BB) and desecrated my Sabbaths,(BC) and their eyes lusted after(BD) their parents’ idols.(BE) 25 So I gave(BF) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;(BG) 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice(BH) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.(BI)

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(BJ) blasphemed(BK) me by being unfaithful to me:(BL) 28 When I brought them into the land(BM) 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.(BN) 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place(BO) 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(BP) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?(BQ) 31 When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children(BR) 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.(BS)

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(BT) and with outpoured wrath.(BU) 34 I will bring you from the nations(BV) and gather(BW) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand(BX) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.(BY) 35 I will bring you into the wilderness(BZ) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment(CA) 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.(CB) 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,(CC) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.(CD) 38 I will purge(CE) 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.(CF)

39 “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,(CG) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name(CH) with your gifts and idols.(CI) 40 For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,(CJ) 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(CK) and your choice gifts,[b] along with all your holy sacrifices.(CL) 41 I will accept you as fragrant incense(CM) when I bring you out from the nations and gather(CN) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy(CO) through you in the sight of the nations.(CP) 42 Then you will know that I am the Lord,(CQ) when I bring you into the land of Israel,(CR) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.(CS) 43 There you will remember your conduct(CT) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves(CU) for all the evil you have done.(CV) 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake(CW) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CX)’”

Prophecy Against the South

45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, set your face toward(CY) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against(CZ) the forest of the southland.(DA) 47 Say to the southern forest:(DB) ‘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(DC) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north(DD) will be scorched by it.(DE) 48 Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.(DF)’”

49 Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,(DG) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?(DH)’”[c]

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place.
  2. Ezekiel 20:40 Or and the gifts of your firstfruits
  3. Ezekiel 20:49 In Hebrew texts 20:45-49 is numbered 21:1-5.

20 And 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.

Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,

Son 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.

Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

And 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;

In 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:

Then 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.

But 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.

But I wrought for my name's 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.

10 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.

12 Moreover 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.

13 But 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.

14 But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Yet 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;

16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 But 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:

19 I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.

21 Notwithstanding 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.

22 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26 And 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.

27 Therefore, 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.

28 For 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.

29 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name whereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30 Wherefore 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?

31 For 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.

32 And 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.

33 As 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:

34 And 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.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38 And 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.

39 As 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.

40 For 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.

41 I 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.

42 And 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.

43 And 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.

44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

45 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47 And 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.

48 And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?