15. I will not let you hear those other nations insult you, and you will no longer be mocked by them. You will not be a land that causes its nation to fall, says the Sovereign lord.”
16. Then this further message came to me from the lord:
17. “Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual cloth.
18. They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them.
19. I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived.
20. But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’
21. Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations.
22. “Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.