- In the seventh year , on the tenth day of the fifth month , some of the elders of Israel came ... to inquire - of the LORD , and they sat down before me.
Then the word of the LORD came to me , saying ,
“ Son of man , speak - to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says : Have you come to inquire of Me ? As surely as I live , I will not be consulted declares the Lord GOD.
Will you judge them , will you judge (them) , son of man ? - Confront them with the abominations of their fathers
and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says : On the day I chose Israel , I swore an oath ... to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said ‘ I am the LORD your God. ’
On that day I swore ... to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out a land flowing with milk and honey , the glory ... of all lands.
And I said to them : ‘ Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes , and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God. ’
But they rebelled and refused ... to listen -. None of them - - cast away - the abominations before their eyes , and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger in the land of Egypt.
But I acted for the sake of My name , that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living ... , in whose sight I had revealed Myself to (Israel) by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
And I gave - My statutes - and made known to them My ordinances — for the man who does (these things) - will live
I also - gave My Sabbaths vvv as a sign between us ... , so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Yet the house of Israel rebelled in the wilderness. They did not follow - My statutes and they rejected My ordinances — though the man who does (these things) - will live and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness.
But I acted for the sake of My name , so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
Moreover , with an uplifted hand I swore in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given (them) — (a land) flowing with milk and honey , the glory ... of all lands —
because they kept rejecting - My ordinances , refusing to walk My statutes , and profaning My Sabbaths ; for their hearts continually went after their idols.
Yet I looked on them with pity ... ... and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
In the wilderness I said to their children : ‘ Do not walk - in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances ... or defile yourselves with their idols ....
I am the LORD your God ; walk in My statutes , - keep My ordinances , and practice them -.
- Keep My Sabbaths holy , that they may be a sign between us ... , so that you may know that I am the LORD your God. ’
But the children rebelled They did not walk - in My statutes or carefully observe - My ordinances ... — though the man who does (these things) - will live - and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger in the wilderness.
But I withheld - My hand and acted for the sake of My name , so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out -.
However , vvv with an uplifted hand I swore - - in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.
For they did not practice My ordinances , but they rejected - My statutes and profaned ... My Sabbaths , fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.
I also gave them to statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live.
And I pronounced them unclean - through their gifts — the sacrifice of every firstborn {in the fire} ... — so that I might devastate them , in order that they would know that I am the LORD.
Therefore , son of man , speak to the house of Israel , and tell them that ... this is what the Lord GOD says : In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against
When I brought them into the land that I swore - - to give - and they saw any high ... hill or leafy tree , there they offered their sacrifices , presented - offerings that provoked Me , - sent up ... their fragrant incense , and poured out ... - their drink offerings.
So I asked them : ... ‘ What is this high place to which you go ? ’ ( And to this day ... it is called ... Bamah. )
Therefore tell - the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says : Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did , prostituting yourselves with their abominations ?
When you offer your gifts , sacrificing your sons ... in the fire , you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted O house of Israel ? As surely as I live , declares the Lord GOD , I will not be consulted
When you say , ‘ Let us be like the nations , like the peoples of the lands , serving wood and stone , ’ ... what you have in mind will never come to pass.
As surely as I live , declares the Lord GOD , - - with a strong hand , an outstretched arm , and outpoured wrath I will rule over you.
With a strong hand , an outstretched arm , and outpoured wrath I will bring you {out} from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered.
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations , (where) I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt , so I will enter into judgment with you , declares the Lord GOD.
I will make you pass - under the rod and will bring - you into the bond of the covenant.
And I will purge you those who rebel and transgress I will bring them out - of the land in which they dwell , but they will not enter ... the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
And as for you , O house of Israel , this is what the Lord GOD says : Go and serve your idols , every one of you. But afterward , you will surely ... listen to Me , - and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.
For on My holy mountain , the high mountain of Israel , declares the Lord GOD , there the whole house of Israel , all of them , will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require - your offerings - and choice gifts , along with all your holy sacrifices.
When I bring - you from the peoples and gather - you from the lands to which you have been scattered I will accept - you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness in the sight of the nations.
Then you will know that I am the LORD , when I bring you into the land of Israel , ... the land that I swore - - to give - your fathers.
There - you will remember your ways - and all the deeds with which you have defiled yourselves and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils - you have done.
Then you will know , O house of Israel , that I am the LORD , when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt Acts - , declares the Lord GOD. ”
Now the word of the LORD came to me , saying ,
“ Son of man , set your face toward the south , preach against it , and prophesy against the forest vvv of the Negev.
Say to the forest of the Negev : Hear the word of the LORD ! This is what the Lord GOD ... says : I am about to ignite a fire , and it will devour all trees , both green (and) dry -. The blazing flame will not be quenched , every face from south to north will be scorched.
Then all people will see that I , the LORD , have kindled it ; it will not be quenched. ”
Then I said , “ Ah , Lord GOD , they are saying ‘ Is he not (just) telling parables ? ’”