28. But I brought them into the land. I had taken an oath and promised to give the land to them. Then they offered sacrifices that made me very angry. They did it on every high hill and under every green tree. There they brought their sweet-smelling incense. And there they poured out their drink offerings.
29. Then I said to them, 'What? You are going to a high place?' " ' " That high place is called Bamah to this very day.
30. The Lord said to me, "Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "Are you going to pollute yourselves the way your people did? Do you long to see the statues of their evil gods?
31. You pollute yourselves by offering sacrifices to other gods. You even sacrifice your children in the fire. You continue to do those things to this very day. People of Israel, should I let you 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.
32. " ' "You say, 'We want to be like the other nations. We want to be like all of the other people in the world. They serve gods that are made out of wood and stone.' But what you have in mind will never happen.
33. I will rule over you by reaching out my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour my burning anger out on you," announces the Lord and King. "And that is just as sure as I am alive.
34. " ' "I will bring you back from the nations. I will gather you together from the countries where you have been scattered. I will reach out my mighty hand and powerful arm. I will pour my burning anger out on you.
35. I will send you among the nations. There I will judge you face to face. It will be as if I were judging you in the desert again.
36. Long ago, I judged your people in the desert of Egypt. In the same way, I will judge you," announces the Lord and King.
37. " ' "I will take note of you as you pass under my shepherd's rod. I will separate those who obey me from those who do not. And I will give the blessings of the new covenant to those of you who obey me.
38. I will get rid of those among you who turn against me and refuse to obey me. I will bring them out of the land where they are living. But they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39. " ' "People of Israel, the Lord and King says, 'Go, every one of you! Serve your gods. But later you will listen to me. You will no longer treat my name as if it were not holy. You will not offer sacrifices to other gods anymore.
40. " ' " 'People of Israel, you will serve me,' announces the Lord and King. 'You will serve me on my high and holy mountain in Jerusalem. There I will accept you. I will require your offerings and your finest gifts. I want you to bring them along with all of your other holy sacrifices.
41. I will bring you back from the nations. I will gather you together from the countries where you have been scattered. Then I will accept you as if you were sweet-smelling incense. I will show that I am holy among you. The nations will see it.