God’s promise that the exiles will return

16 So tell them, “This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Although I caused them to be taken far awayfrom Israel and scattered them among other nations, for a short time I will ◄be like a refuge for/protect► them in the countries to which they have been taken.”

17 So also tell them, “This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Some day I will gather you from the nationsto which you have been taken and bring you back to Israel, and you will live in your country/land again.

18 When you return to your country, you will get rid of all the vile statues of gods and detestable idols. 19 I will put a new way of thinking [IDM] within you. I will cause you to no longer be stubborn [IDM], and I will enable you to obey me completely [IDM]. 20 When I do that, you will carefully obey all my laws [DOU]. You will be my people, and I will be your God. 21 But as for those who are devoted toworshiping their vile statues and detestable idols, I will punish them as they deserve for the evil things that they have done.’ ”

22 Then the winged creatures, with their wheels beside them, spread their wingsand flew up into the air, and the dazzling brightness of Yahweh was above them. 23 That light went up away from the city and stopped above the mountain to the east of the city. 24 In the vision that I had been seeing, God’s Spirit lifted me up and brought me back to the ◄exiles in/people who had been forced to go to► Babylonia. Then the vision ended, 25 and I told the exiles everything that Yahweh had shown mein the vision.