1In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to ask Yahweh for guidance, and they sat in front of me.
2Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says: Do you come to ask me for guidance? As I live,’ declares the Lord Yahweh, ‘I will not let you ask me for guidance.’
4“Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Make them aware of the detestable practices of their ancestors;
5and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of Jacob’s family. I made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, “I am Yahweh your God.”
6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had scouted for them—a land flowing with milk and honey, which is the most glorious of all lands.
7I told them, ‘Each of you must throw away the detestable idols you gaze at, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’
8“‘But they rebelled against me and refused to listen to me. They did not all throw away the detestable idols they gazed at, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them and fully vent my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
9But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be dishonored in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, and in whose sight I had made myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
10So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11I gave them my rules and showed them my laws, which if a person obeys, they will live by them.
12I also gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, so they would know that I am Yahweh, who makes them holy.
13“‘But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my rules, and they rejected my laws, which if a person keeps, they will live by them. They greatly dishonored my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness to destroy them.
14But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be dishonored in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.
15Also, I swore an oath 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, which is the most glorious of all lands;
16because they rejected my rules, didn't follow my laws, and treated my Sabbaths as ordinary days; their hearts were set on their idols.
17Nevertheless, I looked on them with mercy and did not destroy them or completely wipe them out in the wilderness.
18I told their children in the wilderness, 'Do not follow the laws of your ancestors, do not observe their regulations, and do not make yourselves unclean with their idols.
19I am Yahweh your God. Follow my laws, obey my regulations, and put them into practice;
20and keep my Sabbaths holy; they will be a sign between me and you, so you will know that I am Yahweh your God.'
21But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my laws or obey my regulations, which a person must do to live. They treated my Sabbaths as ordinary days. So I said I would pour out my fury on them, to fully express my anger against them in the wilderness.
22Nevertheless, I held back my hand and acted for the honor of my name, so it would not be disrespected in front of the nations who saw me bring them out.
23Also, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them through different countries;
24because they had not followed my regulations, but had rejected my laws, treated my Sabbaths as ordinary days, and focused their attention on their ancestors' idols.
25Furthermore, I also gave them rules that were not good and regulations by which they could not live;
26and I made them unclean through their own gifts, by making them sacrifice all their firstborn children in the fire, so that I might devastate them and they would know that I am Yahweh.'
27So, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and tell them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: "Your ancestors have also insulted me by committing a sin against me."
28For when I brought them into the land that I swore to give them, they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered their sacrifices there. They presented their offensive offerings there, and there they made their pleasing aroma, and they poured out their drink offerings there.
29Then I asked them, 'What is the meaning of the high place where you go?' So it is called Bamah (High Place) to this day.'
30Therefore tell the people of Israel, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says: "Do you make yourselves unclean in the same way as your ancestors? Do you act like prostitutes by worshiping their detestable idols?
31When you offer your gifts, when you sacrifice your sons in the fire, do you make yourselves unclean with all your idols even to this day? Should I let you, people of Israel, ask me for guidance? As surely as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh, I will not let you ask me for guidance!
32What you have in mind will never happen, when you say, 'We will be like the nations, like the families of other countries, serving wood and stone.'
33As surely as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh, I will rule over you with a powerful hand, an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.
34I will bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you are scattered, with a powerful hand, an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.
35I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face.
36Just as I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you,” says the Lord Yahweh.
37“I will make you pass under the shepherd's rod, and I will bring you into the terms of the covenant.
38I will remove from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they will not enter the land of Israel; and you will know that I am Yahweh.”
39“‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Lord Yahweh says: “Go, each of you serve your idols, and keep doing so if you refuse to listen to me; but you must no longer dishonor my holy name with your gifts and your idols.
40For on my holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “there all the people of Israel, all of them, will serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will request your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, along with all your holy things.
41I will accept you as a pleasing offering when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered; and through you, I will show my holiness in the sight of the nations.
42You will know that I am Yahweh when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country I promised to your ancestors.
43There you will remember your behavior and all the things you did that made you unclean; and you will hate yourselves in your own sight because of all the evil you have committed.
44You will know that I am Yahweh when I deal with you for my own sake, not according to your evil ways or your corrupt actions, people of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”
45The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
46“Son of man, face the south, preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest in the Negeb (the South);
47and tell the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of Yahweh: This is what the Lord Yahweh says, “Understand this: I will start a fire in you that will burn up every green tree and every dry tree. The blazing flame will not be put out, and everyone from south to north will be scorched by it.
48Everyone will see that I, Yahweh, started it; it will not be put out.”’”
49Then I said, “Oh, Lord Yahweh! People are saying about me, ‘Isn’t he just speaking in riddles?’”