Ezekiel 20:7-24

7I also said to them, “Throw away, each of you, the abhorrent things that you prize, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

8“‘But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. None of them threw away the abhorrent things that they prized, and they did not abandon the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them, exhausting my anger against them within the land of Egypt.

9But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.

10“‘So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

11Then I gave them my statutes and explained my ordinances to them — the person who does them will live by them.

12I also gave them my Sabbaths to serve as a sign between me and them, so that they would know that I am the Lord who consecrates them.

13“‘But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances — the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.

14But 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.

15However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them — the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey —

16because they rejected my ordinances, profaned my Sabbaths, and did not follow my statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.

17Yet I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.

18“‘Then I said to their children in the wilderness, “Don’t follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.

19I am the Lord your God. Follow my statutes, keep my ordinances, and practice them.

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.