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- "So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
- "I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live.
- "Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
- "But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.
- "But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out.
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- Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.
- I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.
- Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.
- " 'Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws--although the man who obeys them will live by them--and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the desert.
- But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
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- "Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
- because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols.
- "Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness.
- "I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
- 'I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and observe them.
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- Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would not bring them into the land I had given them--a land flowing with milk and honey, most beautiful of all lands-
- because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols.
- Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the desert.
- I said to their children in the desert, "Do not follow the statutes of your fathers or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols.
- I am the LORD your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
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- 'Sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'
- "But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.
- "But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
- "Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands,
- because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers.
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- Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God."
- " 'But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws--although the man 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 anger against them in the desert.
- But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
- Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the desert that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries,
- because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their fathers' idols.
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- "I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live;
- and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD."'
- "Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed Me by acting treacherously against Me.
- "When I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every leafy tree, and they offered there their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings.
- "Then I said to them, 'What is the high place to which you go?' So its name is called Bamah to this day."'
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- I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and laws they could not live by;
- I let them become defiled through their gifts--the sacrifice of every firstborn --that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the LORD.'
- "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 fathers blasphemed me by forsaking me:
- When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that provoked me to anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.
- Then I said to them: What is this high place you go to?' " (It is called Bamah to this day.)
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- "Therefore, say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and play the harlot after their detestable things?
- "When you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you.
- "What comes into your mind will not come about, when you say: 'We will be like the nations, like the tribes of the lands, serving wood and stone.'
- "As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "surely with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I shall be king over you.
- "I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out;
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- "Therefore say to the house of Israel: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did and lust after their vile images?
- When you offer your gifts--the sacrifice of your sons in the fire--you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.
- " 'You say, "We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone." But what you have in mind will never happen.
- As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
- I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered--with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.
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- and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
- "As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you," declares the Lord GOD.
- "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
- and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.
- "As for you, O house of Israel," thus says the Lord GOD, "Go, serve everyone his idols; but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols.
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- I will bring you into the desert of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you.
- As I judged your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD.
- I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
- I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
- " 'As for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols.
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- "For on My holy mountain, on the high mountain of Israel," declares the Lord GOD, "there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land; there I will accept them and there I will seek your contributions and the choicest of your gifts, with all your holy things.
- "As a soothing aroma I will accept you when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands where you are scattered; and I will prove Myself holy among you in the sight of the nations.
- "And you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the land which I swore to give to your forefathers.
- "There you will remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all the evil things that you have done.
- "Then you will know that I am the LORD when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your evil ways or according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel," declares the Lord GOD.'"
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- For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD, there in the land the entire house of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
- I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will show myself holy among you in the sight of the nations.
- Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your fathers.
- There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.
- You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "
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- Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
- "Son of man, set your face toward Teman, and speak out against the south and prophesy against the forest land of the Negev,
- and say to the forest of the Negev, 'Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am about to kindle a fire in you, and it will consume every green tree in you, as well as every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched and the whole surface from south to north will be burned by it.
- "All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched."'"
- Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not just speaking parables?'"
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- The word of the LORD came to me:
- "Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland.
- Say to the southern forest: 'Hear the word of the LORD. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.
- Everyone will see that I the LORD have kindled it; it will not be quenched.' "
- Then I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, 'Isn't he just telling parables?' "
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