2. Then a message came to me from the Lord. He said,
3. "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "Have you come to ask me for advice? I will not let you do that," announces the Lord and King. "And that is just as sure as I am alive." '
4. "Are you going to judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Tell them the evil things their people did long ago. I hate those things.
5. Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "I chose Israel. On that day I raised my hand and took an oath. I made a promise to the members of Jacob's family line. I made myself known to them in Egypt. I raised my hand and told them, 'I am the Lord your God.'
6. " ' "On that day I promised I would bring them out of Egypt. I told them I would take them to a land I had found for them. It had plenty of milk and honey. It was the most beautiful land of all.
7. I said to them, 'Each of you must get rid of the statues of the evil gods you worship. Do not pollute yourselves by worshiping the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.'
8. " ' "But they refused to obey me. They would not listen to me. They did not get rid of the evil gods they worshiped. And they did not turn away from Egypt's gods. So I said I would pour out all of my burning anger on them in Egypt.
9. " ' "But I wanted my name to be honored. I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations my people lived among. I had made myself known to Israel in the sight of those nations. I had brought my people out of Egypt.
10. " ' "So I led them out of Egypt. I brought them into the Desert of Sinai.
11. I gave them my rules. I made my laws known to them. The one who obeys them will live by them.
12. I also told them to observe my Sabbath days. That is the sign of the covenant I made with them. I wanted them to know that I made them holy. I am the Lord.
13. " ' "But the people of Israel refused to obey me in the desert. They did not follow my rules. They turned their backs on my laws. The one who obeys them will live by them. They totally misused my Sabbath days. So I said I would pour out my burning anger on them. I would destroy them in the desert.
14. " ' "But I wanted my name to be honored. I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations. They had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.
15. " ' "I also raised my hand and took an oath in the desert. I told my people I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It had plenty of milk and honey. It was the most beautiful land of all.
16. But they turned their backs on my laws. They did not follow my rules. They misused my Sabbaths. Their hearts were committed to worshiping the statues of their gods.
17. " ' "Then I felt sorry for them. So I did not destroy them. I did not put an end to them in the desert.
18. I spoke to their children there. I said, 'Do not follow the rules your parents gave you. Do not obey their laws. Do not pollute yourselves by worshiping their gods.
19. I am the Lord your God. So follow my rules. Be careful to obey my laws.