Ezekiel 36:1-15

1⌞The Lord said,⌟ “Son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel. Tell them, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the Lord’s word.

2This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your enemies said this about you, “Aha! The ancient worship sites now belong to us.” ’

3“So prophesy. Say, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: Your enemies turned you into ruins and crushed you from every side. You became the possession of the rest of the nations, and people began to talk and gossip about you.

4“ ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the Almighty Lord’s word. This is what the Almighty Lord says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, and to the empty ruins and abandoned cities that have become prey and are mocked by the rest of the surrounding nations:

5In my fiery anger I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all of Edom. The Edomites have taken possession of my land with wholehearted joy and with complete scorn. They forced out the people and took their land.’

6“So prophesy about Israel. Tell the mountains and hills and the ravines and valleys, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I am speaking in my anger and fury because you have been insulted by the nations.

7So this is what the Almighty Lord says: I raise my hand and swear that the nations which surround you will be insulted.

8“ ‘But you, mountains of Israel, will grow branches and bear fruit for my people Israel. My people will come home soon.

9I am for you. I will turn to you, and you will be plowed and planted.

10I will increase the number of people who live on you. All the people of Israel, all of them, will live on you. The cities will be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt.

11I will increase the number of people and animals that live on you. They will grow and become many. I will let people live on you as in the past, and I will make you better off than ever before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

12I will bring people, my people Israel, to you. They will take possession of you, and you will be their inheritance. You will no longer take their children away from them.

13“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: People say that you devour your people and take the children away from your nation.

14So you will no longer devour your people or take the children away from your nation, declares the Almighty Lord.

15I will no longer let you hear the insults from the nations. You will no longer suffer the disgrace of the people. You will never again take the children away from your own nation, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”