Rebellious Israel Renewed

³⁰ “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves^(A) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?^{(B) 31} When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children^(C) 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.^(D)

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