Ezequiel 20
Bible in Basic English
1Now it came about in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the responsible men of Israel came to get directions from the Lord and were seated before me.
2Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
3Son of man, say to the responsible men of Israel, This is what the Lord has said: Have you come to get directions from me? By my life, says the Lord, you will get no directions from me.
4Will you be their judge, O son of man, will you be their judge? make clear to them the disgusting ways of their fathers,
5And say to them, This is what the Lord has said: In the day when I took Israel for myself, when I made an oath to the seed of the family of Jacob, and I gave them knowledge of myself in the land of Egypt, saying to them with an oath, I am the Lord your God;
6In that day I gave my oath to take them out of the land of Egypt into a land which I had been searching out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands:
7And I said to them, Let every man among you put away the disgusting things to which his eyes are turned, and do not make yourselves unclean with the images of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
8But they would not be controlled by me, and did not give ear to me; they did not put away the disgusting things to which their eyes were turned, or give up the images of Egypt: then I said I would let loose my passion on them to give full effect to my wrath against them in the land of Egypt.
9And I was acting for the honour of my name, so that it might not be made unclean before the eyes of the nations among whom they were, and before whose eyes I gave them knowledge of myself, by taking them out of the land of Egypt.
10So I made them go out of the land of Egypt and took them into the waste land.
11And I gave them my rules and made clear to them my orders, which, if a man keeps them, will be life to him.
12And further, I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, so that it might be clear that I, who make them holy, am the Lord.
13But the children of Israel would not be controlled by me in the waste land: they were not guided by my rules, and they were turned away from my orders, which, if a man does them, will be life to him; and they had no respect for my Sabbaths: then I said that I would let loose my passion on them in the waste land, and put an end to them.
14And I was acting for the honour of my name, so that it might not be made unclean in the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had taken them out.
15And further, I gave my oath to them in the waste land, that I would not take them into the land which I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands;
16Because they were turned away from my orders, and were not guided by my rules, and had no respect for my Sabbaths: for their hearts went after their images.
17But still my eye had pity on them and I kept them from destruction and did not put an end to them completely in the waste land.
18And I said to their children in the waste land, Do not be guided by the rules of your fathers or keep their orders or make yourselves unclean with their images:
19I am the Lord your God; be guided by my rules and keep my orders and do them:
20And keep my Sabbaths holy; and they will be a sign between me and you so that it may be clear to you that I am the Lord your God.
21But the children would not be controlled by me; they were not guided by my rules, and they did not keep and do my orders, which, if a man does them, will be life to him; and they had no respect for my Sabbaths: then I said I would let loose my passion on them to give full effect to my wrath against them in the waste land.
22And I was acting for the honour of my name, so that it might not be made unclean in the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had taken them out.
23Further, I gave my oath to them in the waste land that I would send them wandering among the nations, driving them out among the countries;
24Because they had not done my orders, but had been turned away from my rules, and had not given respect to my Sabbaths, and their eyes were turned to the images of their fathers.
25And further, I gave them rules which were not good and orders in which there was no life for them;
26I made them unclean in the offerings they gave, causing them to make every first child go through the fire, so that I might put an end to them.
27For this cause, son of man, say to the children of Israel, This is what the Lord has said: In this your fathers have further put shame on my name by doing wrong against me.
28For when I had taken them into the land which I made an oath to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every branching tree and made their offerings there, moving me to wrath by their offerings; and there the sweet smell of their offerings went up and their drink offerings were drained out.
29Then I said to them, What is this high place where you go to no purpose? And it is named Bamah to this day.
30For this cause say to the children of Israel, This is what the Lord has said: Are you making yourselves unclean as your fathers did? are you being untrue to me by going after their disgusting works?
31And when you give your offerings, causing your sons to go through the fire, you make yourselves unclean with all your images to this day; and will you come to me for directions, O children of Israel? By my life, says the Lord, you will get no direction from me.
32And that which comes into your minds will never take place; when you say, We will be like the nations, like the families of the countries, servants of wood and stone;
33By my life, says the Lord, truly, with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with burning wrath let loose, I will be King over you:
34And I will take you out from the peoples and get you together out of the countries where you are wandering, with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with burning wrath let loose:
35And I will take you into the waste land of the peoples, and there I will take up the cause with you face to face.
36As I took up the cause with your fathers in the waste land of the land of Egypt, so will I take up the cause with you says the Lord.
37And I will make you go under the rod and will make you small in number:
38Clearing out from among you all those who are uncontrolled and who are sinning against me; I will take them out of the land where they are living, but they will not come into the land of Israel: and you will be certain that I am the Lord.
39As for you, O children of Israel, the Lord has said: Let every man completely put away his images and give ear to me: and let my holy name no longer be shamed by your offerings and your images.
40For in my holy mountain, in the high mountain of Israel, says the Lord, there all the children of Israel, all of them, will be my servants in the land; there I will take pleasure in them, and there I will be worshipped with your offerings and the first-fruits of the things you give, and with all your holy things.
41I will take pleasure in you as in a sweet smell, when I take you out from the peoples and get you together from the countries where you have been sent in flight; and I will make myself holy in you before the eyes of the nations.
42And you will be certain that I am the Lord, when I take you into the land of Israel, into the country which I made an oath to give to your fathers.
43And there, at the memory of your ways and of all the things you did to make yourselves unclean, you will have bitter hate for yourselves because of all the evil things you have done.
44And you will be certain that I am the Lord, when I take you in hand for the honour of my name, and not for your evil ways or your unclean doings, O children of Israel, says the Lord.
45Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
46Son of man, let your face be turned to the south, let your words be dropped to the south, and be a prophet against the woodland of the South;
47And say to the woodland of the South, Give ear to the words of the Lord: this is what the Lord has said: See, I will have a fire lighted in you, for the destruction of every green tree in you and every dry tree: the flaming flame will not be put out, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.
48And all flesh will see that I the Lord have had it lighted: it will not be put out.
49Then I said, Ah, Lord! they say of me, Is he not a maker of stories?
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y ACONTECIÓ en el año séptimo, en el mes quinto, á los diez del mes, que vinieron algunos de los ancianos de Israel á consultar á Jehová, y sentáronse delante de mí.
2Y fué á mí palabra de Jehová, diciendo:
3Hijo del hombre, habla á los ancianos de Israel, y diles: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: ¿A consultarme venís vosotros? Vivo yo, que yo no os responderé, dice el Señor Jehová.
4¿Quieres tú juzgarlos? ¿los quieres juzgar tú, hijo del hombre? Notifícales las abominaciones de sus padres;
5Y diles: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: El día que escogí á Israel, y que alcé mi mano por la simiente de la casa de Jacob, y que fuí conocido de ellos en la tierra de Egipto, cuando alcé mi mano á ellos, diciendo: Yo soy Jehová vuestro Dios;
6Aquel día que les alcé mi mano, que los sacaría de la tierra de Egipto á la tierra que les había proveído, que fluye leche y miel, la cual es la más hermosa de todas las tierras;
7Entonces les dije: Cada uno eche de sí las abominaciones de sus ojos, y no os contaminéis en los ídolos de Egipto. Yo soy Jehová vuestro Dios.
8Mas ellos se rebelaron contra mí, y no quisieron obedecerme: no echó de sí cada uno las abominaciones de sus ojos, ni dejaron los ídolos de Egipto; y dije que derramaría mi ira sobre ellos, para cumplir mi enojo en ellos en medio de la tierra de Egipto.
9Con todo, á causa de mi nombre, porque no se infamase en los ojos de las gentes en medio de las cuales estaban, en cuyos ojos fuí conocido de ellos, hice para sacarlos de tierra de Egipto.
10Saquélos pues de la tierra de Egipto, y trájelos al desierto;
11Y díles mis ordenanzas, y declaréles mis derechos, los cuales el hombre que los hiciere, vivirá en ellos.
12Y díles también mis sábados, que fuesen por señal entre mí y ellos, para que supiesen que yo soy Jehová que los santifico.
13Mas rebeláronse contra mí la casa de Israel en el desierto; no anduvieron en mis ordenanzas, y desecharon mis derechos, los cuales el hombre que los hiciere, vivirá en ellos; y mis sábados profanaron en gran manera; dije, por tanto, que había de derramar sobre ellos mi ira en el desierto para consumirlos.
14Pero en atención á mi nombre hice porque no se infamase á la vista de las gentes, delante de cuyos ojos los saqué.
15Y también yo les alcé mi mano en el desierto, que no los metería en la tierra que les dí, que fluye leche y miel, la cual es la más hermosa de todas las tierras;
16Porque desecharon mis derechos, y no anduvieron en mis ordenanzas, y mis sábados profanaron: porque tras sus ídolos iba su corazón.
17Con todo los perdonó mi ojo, no matándolos, ni los consumí en el desierto;
18Antes dije en el desierto á sus hijos: No andéis en las ordenanzas de vuestros padres, ni guardéis sus leyes, ni os contaminéis en sus ídolos.
19Yo soy Jehová vuestro Dios; andad en mis ordenanzas, y guardad mis derechos, y ponedlos por obra:
20Y santificad mis sábados, y sean por señal entre mí y vosotros, para que sepáis que yo soy Jehová vuestro Dios.
21Y los hijos se rebelaron contra mí: no anduvieron en mis ordenanzas, ni guardaron mis derechos para ponerlos por obra, los cuales el hombre que los cumpliere, vivirá en ellos; profanaron mis sábados. Dije entonces que derramaría mi ira sobre ellos, para cumplir mi enojo en ellos en el desierto.
22Mas retraje mi mano, y en atención á mi nombre hice porque no se infamase á vista de las gentes, delante de cuyos ojos los saqué.
23Y también les alcé yo mi mano en el desierto, que los esparciría entre las gentes, y que los aventaría por las tierras;
24Porque no pusieron por obra mis derechos, y desecharon mis ordenanzas, y profanaron mis sábados, y tras los ídolos de sus padres se les fueron sus ojos.
25Por eso yo también les dí ordenanzas no buenas, y derechos por los cuales no viviesen;
26Y contaminélos en sus ofrendas cuando hacían pasar por el fuego todo primogénito, para que los desolase, á fin de que supiesen que yo soy Jehová.
27Por tanto, hijo del hombre, habla á la casa de Israel, y diles: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Aun en esto me afrentaron vuestros padres cuando cometieron contra mí rebelión.
28Porque yo los metí en la tierra sobre la cual había alzado mi mano que les había de dar, y miraron á todo collado alto, y á todo árbol espeso, y allí sacrificaron sus víctimas, y allí presentaron la irritación de sus ofrendas, allí pusieron también el olor de su suavidad, y allí derramaron sus libaciones.
29Y yo les dije: ¿Qué es ese alto adonde vosotros vais? Y fué llamado su nombre Bamah hasta el día de hoy.
30Di, pues, á la casa de Israel: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: ¿No os contamináis vosotros á la manera de vuestros padres, y fornicáis tras sus abominaciones?
31Porque ofreciendo vuestras ofrendas, haciendo pasar vuestros hijos por el fuego, os habéis contaminado con todos vuestros ídolos hasta hoy: ¿y he de responderos yo, casa de Israel? Vivo yo, dice el Señor Jehová, que no os responderé.
32Y no ha de ser lo que habéis pensado. Porque vosotros decís: Seamos como las gentes, como las familias de las naciones, sirviendo á la madera y á la piedra.
33Vivo yo, dice el Señor Jehová, que con mano fuerte, y brazo extendido, y enojo derramado, tengo de reinar sobre vosotros:
34Y os sacaré de entre los pueblos, y os juntaré de las tierras en que estáis esparcidos, con mano fuerte, y brazo extendido, y enojo derramado:
35Y os he de traer al desierto de pueblos, y allí litigaré con vosotros cara á cara.
36Como litigué con vuestros padres en el desierto de la tierra de Egipto, así litigaré con vosotros, dice el Señor Jehová.
37Y os haré pasar bajo de vara y os traeré en vínculo de concierto;
38Y apartaré de entre vosotros los rebeldes, y los que se rebelaron contra mí: de la tierra de sus destierros los sacaré, y á la tierra de Israel no vendrán; y sabréis que yo soy Jehová.
39Y vosotros, oh casa de Israel, así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Andad cada uno tras sus ídolos, y servidles, pues que á mí no me obedecéis; y no profanéis más mi santo nombre con vuestras ofrendas, y con vuestros ídolos.
40Empero en mi santo monte, en el alto monte de Israel, dice el Señor Jehová, allí me servirá toda la casa de Israel, toda ella en la tierra: allí los querré, y allí demandaré vuestras ofrendas, y las primicias de vuestros dones, con todas vuestras cosas consagradas.
41En olor de suavidad os aceptaré, cuando os hubiere sacado de entre los pueblos, y os hubiere juntado de las tierras en que estáis esparcidos; y seré santificado en vosotros á los ojos de las gentes.
42Y sabréis que yo soy Jehová, cuando os hubiere metido en la tierra de Israel, en la tierra por la cual alcé mi mano que la daría á vuestros padres.
43Y allí os acordaréis de vuestros caminos, y de todos vuestros hechos en que os contaminasteis; y seréis confusos en vuestra misma presencia por todos vuestros pecados que cometisteis.
44Y sabréis que yo soy Jehová cuando hiciere con vosotros por amor de mi nombre, no según vuestros caminos malos, ni según vuestras perversas obras, oh casa de Israel, dice el Señor Jehová.
45Y fué á mí palabra de Jehová, diciendo:
46Hijo del hombre, pon tu rostro hacia el mediodía, y derrama tu palabra hacia la parte austral, y profetiza contra el bosque del campo del mediodía.
47Y dirás al bosque del mediodía: Oye palabra de Jehová: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: He aquí que yo enciendo en ti fuego, el cual consumirá en ti todo árbol verde, y todo árbol seco: no se apagará la llama del fuego; y serán quemados en ella todos rostros, desde el mediodía hasta el norte.
48Y verá toda carne que yo Jehová lo encendí; no se apagará.
49Y dije: ¡Ah, Señor Jehová! ellos dicen de mí: ¿No profiere éste parábolas?
King James Version
1And 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.
2Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
3Son 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.
4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
5And 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;
6In 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:
7Then 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.
8But 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.
9But 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.
10Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
12Moreover 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.
13But 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.
14But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
15Yet 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;
16Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
17Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
18But 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:
19I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.
21Notwithstanding 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.
22Nevertheless 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.
23I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
25Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
26And 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.
27Therefore, 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.
28For 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.
29Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
30Wherefore 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?
31For 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.
32And 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.
33As 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:
34And 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.
35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
38And 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.
39As 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.
40For 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.
41I 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.
42And 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.
43And 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.
44And 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.
45Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
47And 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.
48And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
World English Bible
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
2The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’
4“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
5Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God;’
6in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
7I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
8“‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
9But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them.
12Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
13“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
15Moreover also I swore to 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,
16because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.
17Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
19I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.
20Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
21“‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
22Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
23Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,
24because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
25Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live.
26I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’
27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
28For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings.
29Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’
30“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?
31When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you!
32“‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’
33As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.
34I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.
35I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord GOD.
37“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
39“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.
40For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
41I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
42You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
43There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.
44You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”
45The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
46“Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.
47Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.
48All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”
49Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”