Israel’s Restoration Assured

¹⁶ Again the word of the Lord came to me: ¹⁷ “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman’s monthly uncleanness^(A) in my sight.^{(B) 18} So I poured out^(C) my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. ¹⁹ I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered^(D) through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions.^{(E) 20} And wherever they went among the nations they profaned^(F) my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’^{(G) 21} I had concern for my holy name, which the people of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone.^(H)

²² “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name,^(I) which you have profaned^(J) among the nations where you have gone.^{(K) 23} I will show the holiness of my great name,^(L) which has been profaned^(M) among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,^(N) declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy^(O) through you before their eyes.^(P)

²⁴ “‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.^{(Q) 25} I will sprinkle^(R) clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse^(S) you from all your impurities^(T) and from all your idols.^{(U) 26} I will give you a new heart^(V) and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone^(W) and give you a heart of flesh.^{(X) 27} And I will put my Spirit^(Y) in you and move you to follow my decrees^(Z) and be careful to keep my laws.^{(AA) 28} Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people,^(AB) and I will be your God.^{(AC) 29} I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine^(AD) upon you. ³⁰ I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine.^(AE)