18. They committed murders and worshipped idols, which made the land even worse. So in my anger, I punished my people
19. and scattered them throughout the nations, just as they deserved.
20. Wherever they went, my name was disgraced, because foreigners insulted my people by saying I had forced them out of their own land.
21. I care what those foreigners think of me,
22. so tell the Israelites that I am saying:You have disgraced my holy name among the nations where you now live. So you don't deserve what I'm going to do for you. I will lead you home to bring honour to my name
23. and to show foreign nations that I am holy. Then they will know that I am the Lord God. I have spoken.
24. I will gather you from the foreign nations and bring you home.
25. I will sprinkle you with clean water, and you will be clean and acceptable to me. I will wash away everything that makes you unclean, and I will remove your disgusting idols.
26. I will take away your stubborn heart and give you a new heart and a desire to be faithful. You will have only pure thoughts,
27. because I will put my Spirit in you and make you eager to obey my laws and teachings.
28. You will once again live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.
29. I will protect you from anything that makes you unclean. Your fields will overflow with grain, and no one will starve.
30. Your trees will be filled with fruit, and crops will grow in your fields, so that you will never again feel ashamed for not having enough food.
31. You will remember your evil ways and hate yourselves for what you've done.
32. People of Israel, I'm not doing these things for your sake. You sinned against me, and you must suffer shame and disgrace for what you have done. I, the Lord God, have spoken.
33. After I have made you clean, I will let you rebuild your ruined towns and let you live in them.
34. Your land will be ploughed again, and nobody will be able to see that it was once barren.
35. Instead, they will say that it looks as beautiful as the garden of Eden. They won't see towns lying in ruins, but they will see your strong cities filled with people.