8. But they rebelled and refused to listen to me; none of them threw away the detestable things that held their eyes, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. Then I considered pouring out my fury and spending my anger against them there in the land of Egypt.
9. I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be desecrated in the eyes of the nations among whom they were: in the eyes of the nations I had made myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
10. Therefore I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
11. Then I gave them my statutes and made known to them my ordinances, so that everyone who keeps them has life through them.
12. I also gave them my sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, to show that it is I, the Lord, who makes them holy.
13. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not observe my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances that bring life to those who keep them. My sabbaths, too, they desecrated grievously. Then I considered pouring out my fury on them in the wilderness to put an end to them,
14. but I acted for the sake of my name, so it would not be desecrated in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
15. Nevertheless in the wilderness I swore to them that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, a jewel among all the lands.
16. Their hearts followed after their idols so closely that they did not live by my statutes, but rejected my ordinances and desecrated my sabbaths.
17. But I looked on them with pity, not wanting to destroy them, so I did not put an end to them in the wilderness.
18. Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Do not follow the statutes of your parents. Do not keep their ordinances. Do not defile yourselves with their idols.
19. I am the Lord, your God: follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances;