16. This was because they rejected my laws and did not follow my rules. They dishonored my Sabbaths and wanted to worship their idols.
17. But I had pity on them. I did not destroy them or put an end to them in the desert.
18. I said to their children in the desert, “Don’t live by the rules of your parents, or obey their laws. Don’t make yourselves unclean with their idols.
19. I am the Lord your God. Live by my rules, obey my laws, and follow them.
20. Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
21. “ ‘But the children turned against me. They did not live by my rules, nor were they careful to obey my laws, by which people will live if they obey them. They dishonored my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my anger against them in the desert.
22. But I held back my anger. I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored in full view of the nations who watched as I brought the Israelites out.
23. And in the desert I swore to the Israelites that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries,
24. because they had not obeyed my laws. They had rejected my rules and dishonored my Sabbaths and worshiped the idols of their parents.
25. I also allowed them to follow rules that were not good and laws by which they could not live.
26. I let the Israelites make themselves unclean by the gifts they brought to their gods when they sacrificed their first children in the fire. I wanted to terrify them so they would know that I am the Lord.’
27. “So, human, speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Your ancestors spoke against me by being unfaithful to me in another way.
28. When I had brought them into the land I promised to give them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they offered their sacrifices to gods. They brought offerings that made me angry and burned their incense and poured out their drink offerings.
29. Then I said to them: What is this high place where you go to worship?’ ” (It is still called High Place today.)
30. “So say to the people of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean as your ancestors did? Are you going to be unfaithful and desire their hateful idols?
31. When you offer your children as gifts and sacrifice them in the fire, you are making yourselves unclean with all your idols even today. So, people of Israel, should I let you ask me questions? As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will not accept questions from you.
32. “ ‘What you want will not come true. You say, “We want to be like the other nations, like the people in other lands. We want to worship idols made of wood and stone.”
33. As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will use my great power and strength and anger to rule over you.
34. I will bring you out from the foreign nations. With my great power and strength and anger I will gather you from the lands where you are scattered.
35. I will bring you among the nations as I brought your ancestors into the desert with Moses. There I will judge you face to face.