Ezekiel 20:21-23

New International Reader's Version

²¹ “ ‘ “But their children refused to obey me. They did not follow my rules. They were not careful to keep my laws. The person who obeys them will live by them. They misused my Sabbath days. So I said I would pour out all my great anger on them in the desert. ²² But I kept myself from punishing them at that time. I wanted my name to be honored. So 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. ²³ I also raised my hand and made a promise in the desert. I told my people I would scatter them among the nations. I would send them to other countries.