16. I said this because they had not only ignored my laws and teachings, but had disgraced my Sabbath and worshipped idols.
17. Yet, I felt sorry for them and could not let them die in the desert.
18. So I warned the children not to act like their parents or follow their evil ways or worship their idols.
19. I reminded them that I was the Lord their God and that they should obey my laws and teachings.
20. I told them to respect my Sabbath to show that they were my people and that I was the Lord their God.
21. But the children also rebelled against me. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath as any other day.I became angry and decided to punish them in the desert.
22. But I did not. That would have disgraced me in front of the nations that had seen me bring the Israelites out of Egypt.
23. So I solemnly swore that I would scatter the people of Israel across the nations,
24. because they had disobeyed my laws and ignored my teachings; they had disgraced my Sabbath and worshipped the idols their ancestors had made.
25. I gave them laws that bring punishment instead of life,
26. and I let them offer me unacceptable sacrifices, including their firstborn sons. I did this to horrify them and to let them know that I, the Lord, was punishing them.
27. Ezekiel, tell the people of Israel that their ancestors also rejected and insulted me
28. by offering sacrifices, incense, and wine to gods on every hill and under every large tree. I was very angry, because they did these things in the land I had given them!