20 Seven years after we’d been taken to Bavel (Babylon), some Israeli elders came to get me to ask Yahweh for advice for them. 2 Then Yahweh gave me this message: 3 “Son of humanity, tell the Israeli elders that the master Yahweh says this: ‘Have you people come to get advice from me? As I live, I won’t allow you to ask for my advice. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration.’

4 Will you judge them? Will you judge, son of humanity? Let them know about their ancestors’ disgusting behaviour. 5 Tell them that the master Yahweh says this: ‘On the day that I chose Yisrael (Israel) and made myself known to them in Mitsrayim (Egypt), I raised my hand to make a promise to Ya’akov’s (Jacob’s) descendants. I told them, “I am Yahweh your god”[ref]—6 on that day I raised my hand to make a promise to them that I would bring them out of Mitsrayim into a land that I’d carefully selected for them. It was very fertile—it was the most beautiful of all the lands. 7 I told them, “Let each family throw away their Mitsri (Egyptian) idols, plus any other detestable things they have. Don’t defile yourselves. I am Yahweh your god.” 8 But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. They didn’t throw away the detestable things they had or abandon their Mitsri idols, so I determined to pour my fury out on them to satisfy my rage among them right there in Mitsrayim. 9 I did that to protect my reputation so it wouldn’t be tarnished in the eyes of the nations where they were staying. I made myself clearly known to them[fn] by bringing them out of Mitsrayim.

10 So I led them out of Mitsrayim and took them into the wilderness. 11 Then I gave them my instructions and regulations—anyone who follows them will live.[ref] 12 I also established rest days as a sign between myself and them—for them to know that I am Yahweh who declares them different from others.[ref] 13 But the Israeli people rebelled against me in the wilderness. They wouldn’t follow my instructions, and they rejected my regulations, even though anyone who obeys them will live. They severely disrespected my rest days, so I said I’d pour my fury out on them in the wilderness in order to end them. 14 But I did that to protect my reputation so it wouldn’t be tarnished in the eyes of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out of Mitsrayim. 15 So I myself took action by making a promise to them in the wilderness not to bring them into the land that I’d been going to give them—a very fertile land which was the most beautiful out of all the lands.[ref] 16 I promised that because they’d rejected my instructions and not followed my regulations, and they disrespected my rest days, because what they really wanted was their idols. 17 But I pitied them, so I didn’t wipe them out in the wilderness.

18 I told their children in the wilderness, “Don’t follow your parents’ habits or behaviour, and don’t defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am Yahweh your god—follow my instructions, obey my regulations, 20 and keep my rest days different from other days so that they’ll be a sign between me and you. That way you’ll all know that I am Yahweh your god.”

21 However, their sons and daughters rebelled against me. They didn’t keep my instructions or follow my regulations, even though anyone who obeys them will live. They disrespected my rest days, so I determined to pour my fury out on them to satisfy my rage against them in the wilderness. 22 But I didn’t proceed, for the sake of my reputation, so it wouldn’t be mocked by the nations who saw me bring the Israelis out of Mitsrayim (Egypt). 23 So I took action in the wilderness, promising that instead I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them into other countries.[ref] 24 I decided to do that since they hadn’t obeyed my instructions, and since they’d rejected my regulations and disrespected my rest days—they really wanted their ancestors’ idols.

25 Then I even gave them instructions that weren’t good, and regulations that they couldn’t live by. 26 I declared them to be defiled because of the gifts they gave (they sacrificed every woman’s firstborn child in the fire) so that I could fill them with horror so they would know that I am Yahweh.’

27 Therefore, son of humanity, speak to the Israeli people and tell them that the master Yahweh says this: ‘That was also how your ancestors blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me. 28 When I brought them into the land that I’d promised to give them, then whenever they saw any high hill and leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices. They provoked me with their offerings, and also burnt their fragrant incense there and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I asked them, “What’s this high place where you present your offerings?” so the place is called Bamah (meaning ‘High place’) to this day.’

30 Therefore tell the Israeli people that the master Yahweh asks this: ‘Why do you defile yourselves with your ancestors’ customs? Why do you act like prostitutes, searching for disgusting things? 31 To this day, when you offer up your gifts (offering your sons as burnt sacrifices), you defile yourselves with all your idols. So why should I let you try to find me, you Israeli people? As I live, I won’t allow you people to request my help or advice. That’s the master Yahweh’s declaration. 32 The thought that’s forming in your mind will never happen. You people say, “Let’s be like the other nations—like the clans in other countries who worship wood and stone.”