¹⁷ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’^(A)

¹⁸ “They will return to it and remove all its vile images^(B) and detestable idols.^{(C) 19} I will give them an undivided heart^(D) and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone^(E) and give them a heart of flesh.^{(F) 20} Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.^(G) They will be my people,^(H) and I will be their God.^(I)

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^(A) and with outpoured wrath.^{(B) 34} I will bring you from the nations^(C) and gather^(D) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand^(E) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.^{(F) 35} I will bring you into the wilderness^(G) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment^(H) 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.^{(I) 37} I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,^(J) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.^{(K) 38} I will purge^(L) 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.^(M)

²⁵ “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather^(A) the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered,^(B) I will be proved holy^(C) through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob.^{(D) 26} They will live there in safety^(E) and will build houses and plant^(F) vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment^(G) on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.^(H)’”

¹³ I will bring them out from the nations and gather^(A) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.^(B) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.^(C)

Hope for the Mountains of Israel

36 “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel^(A) and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord. ² This is what the Sovereign Lord says:^(B) The enemy said of you, “Aha!^(C) The ancient heights^(D) have become our possession.^(E)”’ ³ Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged^(F) and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander,^{(G) 4} therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord: This is what the Sovereign Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys,^(H) to the desolate ruins^(I) and the deserted^(J) towns that have been plundered and ridiculed^(K) by the rest of the nations around you^(L)— ⁵ this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my burning^(M) zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, for with glee and with malice in their hearts they made my land their own possession so that they might plunder its pastureland.’^{(N) 6} Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations.^{(O) 7} Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I swear with uplifted hand^(P) that the nations around you will also suffer scorn.^(Q)

⁸ “‘But you, mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit^(R) for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. ⁹ I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown,^{(S) 10} and I will cause many people to live on you—yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins^(T) rebuilt.^{(U) 11} I will increase the number of people and animals living on you, and they will be fruitful^(V) and become numerous. I will settle people^(W) on you as in the past^(X) and will make you prosper more than before.^(Y) Then you will know that I am the Lord. ¹² I will cause people, my people Israel, to live on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance;^(Z) you will never again deprive them of their children.