(“) And you , son of man , prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say : O mountains of Israel , hear the word of the LORD.
This is what the Lord GOD says : Because the enemy has said of you , ‘ Aha ! The ancient heights have become possession , ’
therefore prophesy and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says : Because ... they have made you desolate and have trampled you on every side , so that you became a possession of the rest of the nations and were taken up in slander by the lips of (their) talkers ... ,
therefore , O mountains of Israel , hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills , to the ravines and valleys , to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities , which have become a spoil and a mockery to the rest of the nations - around you.
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says : Surely ... in My burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations , and against all Edom , who took - My land as their own possession with wholehearted ... joy and utter contempt ... , so that its pastureland became plunder.
Therefore , prophesy concerning the land of Israel and tell the mountains and hills , the ravines and valleys , that this is what the Lord GOD says : Behold , I have spoken in My burning zeal because you have endured the reproach of the nations.
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says : I have sworn - with an uplifted hand that surely ... the nations - around ... will endure reproach of their own.
But you , O mountains of Israel , will produce branches and bear fruit for My people Israel , for they will soon come home.
For behold , I am on your side ; I will turn toward you , and you will be tilled and sown.
I will multiply the people upon you - — the house of Israel in its entirety. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.
I will fill ... you with people and animals , and they will multiply and be fruitful. I will make you as inhabited - as you once were , and I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Yes, {I will cause} My people Israel to walk upon you ; they will possess you , and you will be inheritance , and you will no longer ... deprive them (of their children).
For this is what the Lord GOD says : Because people say ‘ You devour men and deprive your nation ... of its children , ’
therefore you will no longer devour men or deprive ... your nation {of its children} , ... declares the Lord GOD.
I will no longer allow the taunts of the nations to be heard against you , and you will no longer endure the reproach of the peoples (or) ... cause your nation to stumble , declares the Lord GOD. ”
Again the word of the LORD came to me , saying ,
“ Son of man , when the people of Israel lived in their land , they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their behavior before Me was like the uncleanness of a (woman’s) impurity.
So I poured out My wrath upon them because of the blood - they had shed on the land , and because they had defiled it with their idols.
I dispersed them among the nations , and they were scattered throughout the lands. I judged them according to their ways and deeds.
- - And wherever they went among the nations , ... they profaned - My holy name , because it was said ‘ These are the people of the LORD , yet they had to leave His land. ’
But I had concern for My holy name , which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone. ...
Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says : It is not for your sake that I will act , O house of Israel , but ... for My holy name , which you profaned among the nations to which you went. ...
I will show the holiness - of My great name , which has been profaned among the nations — the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD , declares the Lord GOD , when I show My holiness before their eyes.
For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries , and I will bring you back into your own land.
I will also sprinkle clean water on you , and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
I will give a new heart and put a new spirit within you ; I will remove - your heart of stone and give a heart ... of flesh.
And I will put My Spirit within you and cause - - you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.
Then you will live in the land that I gave your forefathers ; you will be people , and I will be God.
I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon ... the grain and make it plentiful , - and I will not bring famine upon you.
I will also make the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field plentiful , - so that - you will no longer bear reproach among the nations on account of famine.
Then you will remember - your evil ways and wicked deeds - - ... , and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and abominations.
It is not for your sake that I will act , declares the Lord GOD — let it be known Be ashamed and disgraced for your ways , O house of Israel !
This is what the Lord GOD says : On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities , I will cause the cities to be resettled - and the ruins to be rebuilt.
The desolate land will be cultivated instead of - lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through.
Then they will say , ‘ This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined , desolate , and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited. ’
Then the nations around you that remain will know that I , the LORD , have rebuilt what was destroyed , and I have replanted what was desolate. I , the LORD , have spoken , and I will do it.
This is what the Lord GOD says : Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do this : I will multiply - their people like a flock.
Like the numerous flocks for sacrifices ... at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts , so the ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD. ”