Restoration of Israel’s People

16 The word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, while the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it with their conduct and actions. l Their behavior before Me was like menstrual impurity. m 18 So I poured out My wrath n on them because of the blood they had shed on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols. 19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered among the countries. o I judged them according to their conduct and actions. p 20 When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, q because it was said about them, ‘These are the people of Yahweh, yet they had to leave His land in exile.’ 21 Then I had concern for My holy name, r which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they went.

22 “Therefore, say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act, s house of Israel, but for My holy name, t which you profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will honor the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am Yahweh”—the declaration of the Lord God—“when I demonstrate My holiness through you in their sight. u

24 “For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. v 25 I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be * clean. w I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. x 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; y I will remove your heart of stone z and give you a heart of flesh. a 27 I will place My Spirit within you b and cause you to follow My statutes and carefully observe My ordinances. c 28 Then you will live in the land that I gave your fathers; d you will be My people, and I will be your God. e 29 I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and make it plentiful, and will not bring famine on you. f 30 I will also make the fruit of the trees and the produce of the field plentiful, so that you will no longer experience reproach among the nations on account of famine.

31 “Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, g and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and detestable practices. h 32 It is not for your sake that I will act” i—the declaration of the Lord God—“let this be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated because of your ways, house of Israel!

33 “This is what the Lord God says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. j 34 The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of everyone who passes by. 35 Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. k The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36 Then the nations that remain around you will know that I, Yahweh, have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I, Yahweh, have spoken and I will do it. l

37 “This is what the Lord God says: I will respond to the house of Israel and do this for them: m I will multiply them in number like a flock. n 38 So the ruined cities will be filled with a flock of people, just as the flock of sheep for sacrifice o is filled p in Jerusalem during its appointed festivals. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”