35. and lead you into a desert surrounded by nations. I will meet you there face to face. Then I will pass judgment on you
36. and punish you, just as I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt.
37. I will force each of you to obey the regulations of our solemn agreement.
38. I will separate the sinful rebels from the rest of you, and even though I will bring them from the nations where they live in exile, they won't be allowed to return to Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39. Go ahead and worship your idols for now, you Israelites, because soon I will no longer let you dishonour me by offering gifts to them. You will have no choice but to obey me!
40. When that day comes, everyone in Israel will worship me on Mount Zion, my holy mountain in Jerusalem. I will once again call you my own, and I will accept your sacred offerings and sacrifices.
41. When I bring you home from the places where you are now scattered, I will be pleased with you, just as I am pleased with the smell of the smoke from your sacrifices. Every nation on earth will see that I am holy,
42. and you will know that I, the Lord, am the one who brought you back to Israel, the land I promised your ancestors.
43. Then you will remember your wicked sins, and you will hate yourselves for doing such horrible things. They have made you unacceptable to me,
44. so you deserve to be punished. But I will treat you in a way that will bring honour to my name, and you will know that I am the Lord God.
45. The Lord said,
46. “Ezekiel, son of man, turn towards the south and warn the forests
47. that I, the Lord God, will start a fire that will burn up every tree, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put out the blaze of that fire as it spreads to the north and burns everything in its path.
48. Everyone will know that I started it, and that it cannot be stopped.”