⁸ he sent them a prophet,^(A) who said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of Egypt,^(B) out of the land of slavery.^(C)

⁵ and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose^(A) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand^(B) 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.^(C)” ⁶ On that day I swore^(D) 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,^(E) the most beautiful of all lands.^{(F) 7} And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images^(G) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols^(H) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.^(I)”

⁸ “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;^(J) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.^(K) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.^{(L) 9} But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.^(M) I did it to keep my name from being profaned^(N) 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.^{(O) 11} I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.^{(P) 12} Also I gave them my Sabbaths^(Q) as a sign^(R) between us,^(S) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.^(T)

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

²¹ “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,^(AP) 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^(AQ) against them in the wilderness.^{(AR) 22} But I withheld^(AS) my hand, and for the sake of my name^(AT) 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^(AU) them through the countries, ²⁴ because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees^(AV) and desecrated my Sabbaths,^(AW) and their eyes lusted after^(AX) their parents’ idols.^{(AY) 25} So I gave^(AZ) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;^{(BA) 26} I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice^(BB) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.^(BC)’

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^(BD) blasphemed^(BE) me by being unfaithful to me:^{(BF) 28} When I brought them into the land^(BG) 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.^{(BH) 29} Then I said to them: What is this high place^(BI) 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^(BJ) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?^{(BK) 31} When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children^(BL) 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.^(BM)

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.

The Angel of the Lord at Bokim

2 The angel of the Lord^(A) went up from Gilgal^(B) to Bokim^(C) and said, “I brought you up out of Egypt^(D) and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors.^(E) I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you,^{(F) 2} and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land,^(G) but you shall break down their altars.^(H)’ Yet you have disobeyed^(I) me. Why have you done this? ³ And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you;^(J) they will become traps^(K) for you, and their gods will become snares^(L) to you.’”