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It happened in the seventh year, in the fifth [month ], the tenth [day] of the month , that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh , and sat before me.
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The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
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Son of man , speak to the elders of Israel , and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh : Is it to inquire of me that you have come ? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh , I will not be inquired of by you.
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Will you judge them, son of man , will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers ;
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and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh : In the day when I chose Israel , and swore to the seed of the house of Jacob , and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt , when I swore to them, saying, I am Yahweh your God ;
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in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey , which is the glory of all lands .
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I said to them, Cast away every man the abominations of his eyes , and don't defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt ; I am Yahweh your God .
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But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes , neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt . Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt .
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But I worked for my name 's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations , among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt .
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So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt , and brought them into the wilderness .
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I gave them my statutes , and showed them my ordinances , which if a man does, he shall live in them.
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Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths , to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.
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But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness : they didn't walk in my statutes , and they rejected my ordinances , which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness , to consume them.
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But I worked for my name 's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations , in whose sight I brought them out.
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Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness , that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey , which is the glory of all lands ;
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because they rejected my ordinances , and didn't walk in my statutes , and profaned my Sabbaths : for their heart went after their idols .
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Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn't destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness .
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I said to their children in the wilderness , Don't walk in the statutes of your fathers , neither observe their ordinances , nor defile yourselves with their idols .
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I am Yahweh your God : walk in my statutes , and keep my ordinances , and do them;
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and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God .
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But the children rebelled against me; they didn't walk in my statutes , neither kept my ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my Sabbaths . Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness .
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Nevertheless I withdrew my hand , and worked for my name 's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations , in whose sight I brought them forth.
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Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness , that I would scatter them among the nations , and disperse them through the countries;
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because they had not executed my ordinances , but had rejected my statutes , and had profaned my Sabbaths , and their eyes were after their fathers ' idols .
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Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good , and ordinances in which they should not live;
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and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh .
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Therefore, son of man , speak to the house of Israel , and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh : In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
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For when I had brought them into the land , which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree , and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their pleasant aroma , and they poured out there their drink offerings .
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Then I said to them, What does the high place where you go mean? So its name is called Bamah to this day .
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Therefore tell the house of Israel , Thus says the Lord Yahweh : Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers ? and do you play the prostitute after their abominations?
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and when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire , do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day ? and shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel ? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh , I will not be inquired of by you;
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and that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that you say , We will be as the nations , as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone .
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As I live, says the Lord Yahweh , surely with a mighty hand , and with an outstretched arm , and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:
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and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered , with a mighty hand , and with an outstretched arm , and with wrath poured out;
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and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face .
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Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt , so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord Yahweh .
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I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
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and I will purge out from among you the rebels , and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel : and you shall know that I am Yahweh .
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As for you, house of Israel , thus says the Lord Yahweh : Go , serve everyone his idols , and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols .
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For in my holy mountain , in the mountain of the height of Israel , says the Lord Yahweh , there shall all the house of Israel , all of them, serve me in the land : there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings , and the first fruits of your offerings , with all your holy things.
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As a pleasant aroma will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples , and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered ; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations .
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You shall know that I am Yahweh , when I shall bring you into the land of Israel , into the country which I swore to give to your fathers .
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There you shall remember your ways , and all your doings, in which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.
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You shall know that I am Yahweh , when I have dealt with you for my name 's sake, not according to your evil ways , nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel , says the Lord Yahweh .
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The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
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Son of man , set your face toward the south , and drop [your word] toward the south , and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south ;
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and tell the forest of the South , Hear the word of Yahweh : Thus says the Lord Yahweh , Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree : the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
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All flesh shall see that I, Yahweh , have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.
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Then I said , Ah Lord Yahweh ! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables?