Ezekiel 20:20-38

20Set apart certain holy days to worship me. This will be a sign between me and you so that you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

21“ ‘But they rebelled against me. They didn’t live by my laws, and they didn’t obey my rules and follow them. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in the desert.

22But I didn’t use my power so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟.

23I raised my hand and swore an oath to them in the desert. I promised to scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries.

24They didn’t follow my rules, and they rejected my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, and they looked to their ancestors’ disgusting idols for help.

25I also allowed them to follow laws that were no good and rules by which they could not live.

26I let them dishonor themselves when they sacrificed all their firstborn sons as gifts ⌞to their false gods⌟. I terrified them so that they would know that I am the Lord.’

27“Speak to the nation of Israel, son of man. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your ancestors insulted me again because they were unfaithful to me.

28I brought them to the land that I promised to give them. When they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, they made sacrifices and brought offerings there to make me angry. There they offered their sacrifices and poured out their wine offerings.

29Then I asked them, “What is this worship site you’re going to?” ’ (So it is still called ‘worship site’ today.)

30“Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Will you dishonor yourselves the way your ancestors did? Will you chase their detestable idols like a prostitute?

31You offer your children as sacrifices by burning them alive. You dishonor yourselves with all your disgusting idols to this day. Should you be allowed to ask me for help, nation of Israel? “ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, you won’t be allowed to ask me for help.

32What you have in mind will never happen. You think that you want to be like other nations, like the different people in other countries. You want to serve wood and stone.

33“ ‘As I live, declares the Almighty Lord, I will rule you with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and I will pour out my fury.

34I will bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where I have scattered you with my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour out my fury.

35I will bring you into the desert of the nations. There I will put you on trial face to face.

36I will put you on trial as I put your ancestors on trial in the desert of Egypt, declares the Almighty Lord.

37Then I will make you suffer punishment and make you keep the terms of the promise.

38I will get rid of rebels and those who do wrong against me. I will bring you out of the land where you are living. You will never enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.