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.
23. I will show how holy my great name is—the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign lord, then the nations will know that I am the lord.
24. For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.
25. “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.
26. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
27. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.