Ezekiel 20:20-38

20Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you, so you may know that I am the Lord your God.”

21“‘But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances — the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness.

22But 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 brought them out.

23However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.

24For they did not practice my ordinances but rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.

25I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances they could not live by.

26When they sacrificed every firstborn in the fire, I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am the Lord.’

27“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your ancestors blasphemed me by committing treachery against me:

28When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there.

29So I asked them, “What is this high place you are going to?” And it is still called Bamah today.’

30“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your ancestors did, and prostituting yourselves with their abhorrent things?

31When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your children in the fire, you still continue to defile yourselves with all your idols today. So should I let you inquire of me, house of Israel? As I live — this is the declaration of the Lord God  — I will not let you inquire of me!

32“‘When you say, “Let’s be like the nations, like the clans of other countries, serving wood and stone,” what you have in mind will never happen.

33As I live — the declaration of the Lord God  — I will reign over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath.

34I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath.

35I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples and enter into judgment with you there face to face.

36Just as I entered into judgment with your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you. This is the declaration of the Lord God.

37I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

38I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.