19. I scattered them among the nations. And they were spread through all the countries. I punished them for how they lived and the things they did.
20. They dishonored my holy name in the nations where they went. The nations said about them: ‘These are the people of the Lord. But they had to leave the land which he gave them.’
21. But I felt bad about my holy name. The nation of Israel had dishonored it among the nations where they went.
22. “So say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Israel, I am going to act, but not for your sake. Israel, I will do something to help my holy name. You have dishonored it among the nations where you went.
23. I will prove the holiness of my great name. It has been dishonored among the nations. You have dishonored it among these nations. But the nations will know that I am the Lord. I will prove myself holy before their eyes, says the Lord God.
24. “‘I will take you from the nations. I will gather you out of all the lands. And I will bring you back into your own land.
25. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your uncleanness and your idols.
26. Also, I will teach you to respect me completely. I will put a new way to think inside you. I will take out the stubborn heart like stone from your bodies. And I will give you an obedient heart of flesh.
27. I will put my Spirit inside you. And I will help you live by my rules. You will be careful to obey my laws.
28. Then you will live in the land I gave to your ancestors. So you will be my people, and I will be your God.
29. Also, I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will command the grain to come and grow. I will not allow a time of hunger to hurt you.
30. I will multiply the harvest of the field. You will never again suffer shame among the nations because of hunger.
31. And you will remember your evil ways and the things you did that were not good. Then you will hate yourselves because of your sins and terrible acts that I hate.
32. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, says the Lord God. Be ashamed and embarrassed about your ways, Israel.