Ezekiel 20:19–26

19 I am the Lord your God: fWalk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; 20 ghallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’

21 “Notwithstanding, hthe children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, i‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 Nevertheless I 3withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that jI would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, 24 kbecause they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and ltheir eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.

25 “Therefore mI also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all 4their firstborn to pass nthrough the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they omight know that I am the Lord.” ’