39. “‘This is what the Lord God says: People of Israel, go serve your idols for now. But later you will listen to me. You will not continue to dishonor my holy name with your gifts and false gods.
40. My holy mountain is the high mountain of Israel. There all Israel will serve me in the land, says the Lord God. There I will accept you. There I will look for your offerings. I will look for the first harvest of your offerings and all your holy gifts.
41. I will accept you like a pleasing smell. This will happen when I bring you out from the foreign nations. It will take place when I gather you from the lands where you are scattered. Then through you I will show how holy I am. The nations will see it.
42. When I bring you into the land of Israel, you will know that I am the Lord. I will bring you into the land I promised your ancestors.
43. There you will remember everything you did that made you unclean. Then you will hate yourselves for all the evil things you have done.
44. I will deal with you to show who I am. Then you will know I am the Lord, people of Israel. But it’s not because of your evil ways or unclean actions, says the Lord God.’”
45. Now the Lord spoke his word to me. He said:
46. “Human being, look toward the south. Prophesy against the south. Prophesy against the forest of the southern area.
47. Say to that forest: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: I am ready to start a fire in you. The fire will destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The flame that burns will not be put out. All the land from south to north will be burned by the fire.
48. Then all the people will see that I, the Lord, have started the fire. It will not be put out.’”
49. Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! The people are saying about me, ‘He is only telling stories.’”