Ezekiel 20:5–29

5 and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I choseu Israel, I swore with uplifted handv to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the Lord your God.w” 6 On that day I sworex to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,y the most beautiful of all lands.z 7 And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile imagesa you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idolsb of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.c”

8 “ ‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;d they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.e So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.f 9 But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.g I did it to keep my name from being profanedh in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.i 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.j 12 Also I gave them my Sabbathsk as a signl between us,m so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.n

13 “ ‘Yet the people of Israel rebelledo against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my lawsp—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.q So I said I would pour out my wrathr on them and destroys them in the wilderness.t 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profanedu in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.v 15 Also with uplifted hand I sworew to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all landsx—16 because they rejected my lawsy and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their heartsz were devoted to their idols.a 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroyb them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parentsc or keep their laws or defile yourselvesd with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God;e follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.f 20 Keep my Sabbathsg holy, that they may be a signh between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.i”

21 “ ‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,j of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my angerk against them in the wilderness.l 22 But I withheldm my hand, and for the sake of my namen I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scattero them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decreesp and desecrated my Sabbaths,q and their eyes lusted afterr their parents’ idols.s 25 So I gavet them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;u 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrificev of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.w’

27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this also your ancestorsx blasphemedy me by being unfaithful to me:z 28 When I brought them into the landa I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.b 29 Then I said to them: What is this high placec you go to?’ ” (It is called Bamaha to this day.)