Study Desk

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "It is ^(C1)not for your sake, house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

"And I will ^(C1)vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the ^(C2)nations will know that I am the LORD," declares the Lord GOD, "when I show Myself holy among you in their sight.

"For I will ^(C1)take you from the nations, and gather you from all the lands; and I will bring you into your own land.

"Then I will ^(C1)sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your ^(C2)filthiness and from all your ^(C3)idols.

"Moreover, I will give you a ^(C1)new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the ^(C2)heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

"And I will ^(C1)put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and ^(F1)follow My ordinances.

"And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be ^(C1)My people, and I will be your God.

"Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I ^(C1)will not ^(F1)bring a famine on you.

"Instead, I will ^(C1)multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations.

"Then you will ^(C1)remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your wrongdoings and your abominations.

"I am not doing this ^(C1)for your sake," declares the Lord GOD; "let that be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated for your ways, house of Israel!"

'This is what the Lord GOD says: "On the day that I cleanse you from all your wrongdoings, I will populate the ^(C1)cities, and the ^(C2)places of ruins will be rebuilt.

"The desolated land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by.

"And they will say, 'This desolated land has become like the ^(C1)Garden of Eden; and the waste, desolated and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.'

"Then the nations around you that are left will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolated; I, the LORD, have spoken, and I ^(C1)will do it."