Ezekiel 20:40-49 ▼

40 For on the mountain of My holiness, on the mountain of the height of Israel, a declaration of the Lord YHWH, there they will serve Me—all the house of Israel, all of them in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will seek out your⁺ contributions and the firstfruits of your⁺ sacrifices with all your⁺ holy things.

41 With a pleasing aroma I will accept you⁺, in My bringing you⁺ out from the peoples and in My gathering you⁺ from the lands to which you⁺ have been scattered in them; and I will show My holiness in you⁺ before the eyes of the nations.

42 And you⁺ will know that I am YHWH, in My bringing you⁺ to the land of Israel, to the land that I lifted My hand to give it to your⁺ fathers.

43 And you⁺ will remember there your⁺ ways, and all your⁺ deeds with which you⁺ defiled yourselves in them, and you⁺ will be loathsome in your⁺ own sight for all the evils that you⁺ have done.

44 And you⁺ will know that I am YHWH, in my dealing with you⁺ for the sake of My name, not according to your⁺ evil ways and your⁺ corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, a declaration of the Lord YHWH.”

45 And the word of YHWH came to me, saying:

46 “Son of man, set your face to the way of Teman, and preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest of the land of the Negev.

47 And say to the forest of the Negev, Hear the word of YHWH, thus says the Lord YHWH: Behold, I am going to kindle in you a fire, and it will devour in you every moist tree and every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be scorched by it!

48 And all flesh will see that I, YHWH, have kindled it l it will not be quenched.”

49 And I said: “Ah, Lord YHWH! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not one telling parables?’”