39. As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD; Go, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not hearken unto me: but defile my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
40. For on my holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel, says the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
41. I will accept you with your sweet aroma, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the nations.
42. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up my hand in an oath to give it to your fathers.
43. And there shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, in which you have been defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.
44. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O you house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
45. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
46. Son of man, set your face toward the south, and proclaim your word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
47. And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus says the Lord GOD; 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 burned in it.
48. And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49. Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Does he not speak parables?