tell them, &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Look, I am about to take the branch of Joseph which is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel associated with him, and I will place them on the stick of Judah,<n id="1" /> and make them into one stick &#8211; they will be one in my hand.&#8217;<n id="2" />

Then tell them, &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Look, I am about to take the Israelites from among the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from round about and bring them to their land.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days by my servants<n id="1" /> the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days<n id="2" /> that I would bring you against them?

They will not need to take<n id="1" /> wood from the field or cut down trees from the forests, because they will make fires with the weapons. They will take the loot from those who looted them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,<n id="2" /> declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then he said to me: &#8220;Son of man, this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: These are the statutes of the altar: On the day it is built to offer up burnt offerings on it and to sprinkle blood on it,<n id="1" />

When the prescribed period is over,<n id="1" /> on the eighth day and thereafter the priests will offer up on the altar your burnt offerings and your peace offerings;<n id="2" /> I will accept you, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;p>

This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: No foreigner, who is uncircumcised in heart and flesh among all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, will enter into my sanctuary.<n id="1" />p>

Because they used to minister to them before their idols, and became a sinful obstacle<n id="1" /> to the house of Israel, consequently I have made a vow<n id="2" /> concerning them, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, that they will be responsible<n id="3" /> for their sin.

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok<n id="1" /> who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, will approach me to minister to me; they will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: The gate of the inner court that faces east<n id="1" /> will be closed six working days, but on the Sabbath day it will be opened and on the day of the new moon it will be opened.

Therefore speak to them and say to them, &#8216;This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: When any one from the house of Israel erects his idols in his heart and sets the obstacle leading to his iniquity before his face, and then consults a prophet, I the <sc>Lordsc> am determined to answer him personally according to the enormity of his idolatry.<n id="1" />

and say to the scrub land of the Negev, &#8216;Hear the word of the <sc>Lordsc>: This is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Look here,<n id="1" /> I am about to start a fire in you,<n id="2" /> and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The flaming fire will not be extinguished, and the whole surface of the ground from the Negev to the north will be scorched by it.

When they ask you, &#8216;Why are you groaning?&#8217; you will reply, &#8216;Because of the report that has come. Every heart will melt with fear and every hand will be limp; everyone<n id="1" /> will faint and every knee will be wet with urine.&#8217;<n id="2" /> Pay attention &#8211; it is coming and it will happen, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;p>

As surely as I live, declares the sovereign <sc>Lordsc>, my sheep have become prey and have become food for all the wild beasts. There was no shepherd, and my shepherds did not search for my flock, but fed themselves and did not feed my sheep,

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;As for you, son of man, this is what the sovereign <sc>Lordsc> says: Tell every kind of bird and every wild beast: &#8216;Assemble and come! Gather from all around to my slaughter<n id="1" /> which I am going to make for you, a great slaughter on the mountains of Israel! You will eat flesh and drink blood.