English Bible Presentation Sharing - Ezekiel Book, chapter 20, verse 37 in Ncv Version

Ezekiel 20 : 1 (NCV)

It was the seventh year of our captivity, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month. Some of the older leaders of Israel came to ask about the Lord and sat down in front of me.

Ezekiel 20 : 2 (NCV)

The Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

Ezekiel 20 : 3 (NCV)

"Human, speak to the older leaders of Israel and say to them: 'This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ask me questions? As surely as I live, I will not let you ask me questions.'

Ezekiel 20 : 4 (NCV)

"Will you judge them? Will you judge them, human? Let them know the hateful things their ancestors did.

Ezekiel 20 : 5 (NCV)

Say to them: 'This is what the Lord God says: When I chose Israel, I made a promise to the descendants of Jacob. I made myself known to them in Egypt, and I promised them, "I am the Lord your God."

Ezekiel 20 : 6 (NCV)

At that time I promised them I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had found for them, a fertile land, the best land in the world.

Ezekiel 20 : 7 (NCV)

I said to them, "Each one of you must throw away the hateful idols you have seen and liked. Don't make yourselves unclean with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."

Ezekiel 20 : 8 (NCV)

"'But they turned against me and refused to listen to me. They did not throw away the hateful idols which they saw and liked; they did not give up the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them while they were still in Egypt.

Ezekiel 20 : 9 (NCV)

But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored in full view of the nations where the Israelites lived. I made myself known to the Israelites with a promise to bring them out of Egypt while the nations were watching.

Ezekiel 20 : 10 (NCV)

So I took them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.

Ezekiel 20 : 11 (NCV)

I gave them my rules and told them about my laws, by which people will live if they obey them.

Ezekiel 20 : 12 (NCV)

I also gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between us so they would know that I am the Lord who made them holy.

Ezekiel 20 : 13 (NCV)

"'But in the desert Israel turned against me. They did not follow my rules, and they rejected my laws, by which people will live if they obey them. They dishonored my Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them and destroy them in the desert.

Ezekiel 20 : 14 (NCV)

But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored in full view of the nations who watched as I had brought the Israelites out of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20 : 15 (NCV)

And in the desert I swore to the Israelites that I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It is a fertile land, the best land in the world.

Ezekiel 20 : 16 (NCV)

This was because they rejected my laws and did not follow my rules. They dishonored my Sabbaths and wanted to worship their idols.

Ezekiel 20 : 17 (NCV)

But I had pity on them. I did not destroy them or put an end to them in the desert.

Ezekiel 20 : 18 (NCV)

I said to their children in the desert, "Don't live by the rules of your parents, or obey their laws. Don't make yourselves unclean with their idols.

Ezekiel 20 : 19 (NCV)

I am the Lord your God. Live by my rules, obey my laws, and follow them.

Ezekiel 20 : 20 (NCV)

Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God."

Ezekiel 20 : 21 (NCV)

"'But the children turned against me. They did not live by my rules, nor were they careful to obey my laws, by which people will live if they obey them. They dishonored my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my anger against them in the desert.

Ezekiel 20 : 22 (NCV)

But I held back my anger. I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be dishonored in full view of the nations who watched as I brought the Israelites out.

Ezekiel 20 : 23 (NCV)

And in the desert I swore to the Israelites that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries,

Ezekiel 20 : 24 (NCV)

because they had not obeyed my laws. They had rejected my rules and dishonored my Sabbaths and worshiped the idols of their parents.

Ezekiel 20 : 25 (NCV)

I also allowed them to follow rules that were not good and laws by which they could not live.

Ezekiel 20 : 26 (NCV)

I let the Israelites make themselves unclean by the gifts they brought to their gods when they sacrificed their first children in the fire. I wanted to terrify them so they would know that I am the Lord.'

Ezekiel 20 : 27 (NCV)

"So, human, speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, 'This is what the Lord God says: Your ancestors spoke against me by being unfaithful to me in another way.

Ezekiel 20 : 28 (NCV)

When I had brought them into the land I promised to give them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they offered their sacrifices to gods. They brought offerings that made me angry and burned their incense and poured out their drink offerings.

Ezekiel 20 : 29 (NCV)

Then I said to them: What is this high place where you go to worship?'" (It is still called High Place today.)

Ezekiel 20 : 30 (NCV)

"So say to the people of Israel: 'This is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean as your ancestors did? Are you going to be unfaithful and desire their hateful idols?

Ezekiel 20 : 31 (NCV)

When you offer your children as gifts and sacrifice them in the fire, you are making yourselves unclean with all your idols even today. So, people of Israel, should I let you ask me questions? As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will not accept questions from you.

Ezekiel 20 : 32 (NCV)

"'What you want will not come true. You say, "We want to be like the other nations, like the people in other lands. We want to worship idols made of wood and stone."

Ezekiel 20 : 33 (NCV)

As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will use my great power and strength and anger to rule over you.

Ezekiel 20 : 34 (NCV)

I will bring you out from the foreign nations. With my great power and strength and anger I will gather you from the lands where you are scattered.

Ezekiel 20 : 35 (NCV)

I will bring you among the nations as I brought your ancestors into the desert with Moses. There I will judge you face to face.

Ezekiel 20 : 36 (NCV)

I will judge you the same way I judged your ancestors in the desert of the land of Egypt, says the Lord God.

Ezekiel 20 : 37 (NCV)

I will count you like sheep and will bring you into line with my agreement.

Ezekiel 20 : 38 (NCV)

I will get rid of those who refuse to obey me and who turn against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are now living, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 20 : 39 (NCV)

"'This is what the Lord God says: People of Israel, go serve your idols for now. But later you will listen to me; you will not continue to dishonor my holy name with your gifts and gods.

Ezekiel 20 : 40 (NCV)

On my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all Israel will serve me in the land, says the Lord God. There I will accept you. There I will expect your offerings, the first harvest of your offerings, and all your holy gifts.

Ezekiel 20 : 41 (NCV)

I will accept you like the pleasing smell of sacrifices when I bring you out from the foreign nations and gather you from the lands where you are scattered. Then through you I will show how holy I am so the nations will see.

Ezekiel 20 : 42 (NCV)

When I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I promised your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 20 : 43 (NCV)

There you will remember everything you did that made you unclean, and then you will hate yourselves for all the evil things you have done.

Ezekiel 20 : 44 (NCV)

I will deal with you for the sake of my name, not because of your evil ways or unclean actions. Then you will know I am the Lord, people of Israel, says the Lord God.'" Babylon, the Lord's Sword

Ezekiel 20 : 45 (NCV)

Now the Lord spoke his word to me, saying:

Ezekiel 20 : 46 (NCV)

"Human, look toward the south. Prophesy against the south and against the forest of the southern area.

Ezekiel 20 : 47 (NCV)

Say to that forest: 'Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: I am ready to start a fire in you that will destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The flames that burn will not be put out. Every face from south to north will feel their heat.

Ezekiel 20 : 48 (NCV)

Then all the people will see that I, the Lord, have started the fire. It will not be put out.'"

Ezekiel 20 : 49 (NCV)

Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! The people are saying about me, 'He is only telling stories.'"