I acted for the sake of my reputation, so that I would not be profaned before the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Then everyone will know that I am the Lord, who drew my sword from its sheath – it will not be sheathed again!’

“‘As for you, my sheep, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.

Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people.

He said to me: “Son of man, this is the place of my throne ¹  and the place for the soles of my feet, ²  where I will live among the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no longer profane my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their spiritual prostitution or by the pillars of their kings set up when they die. ³ 

Then a wind ¹  came into me and stood me on my feet. The Lord ²  spoke to me and said, “Go shut yourself in your house.

Therefore you will no longer see false visions and practice divination. I will rescue my people from your power, and you ¹  will know that I am the Lord.’”

“Or suppose I were to send a plague into that land, and pour out my rage on it with bloodshed, killing both people and animals.

Treat my Sabbaths as holy ¹  and they will be a reminder of our relationship, ²  and then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. In the morning ¹  I acted just as I was commanded.

I will exact great vengeance upon them with angry rebukes. ¹  Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I exact my vengeance upon them.’”

I will set one shepherd over them, and he will feed them – namely, my servant David. ¹  He will feed them and will be their shepherd.

Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, ¹  and that they are my people, the house of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord. ² 

“‘But you, mountains of Israel, will grow your branches, and bear your fruit for my people Israel; for they will arrive soon. ¹ 

So I poured my anger on them ¹  because of the blood they shed on the land and because of the idols with which they defiled it. ² 

Moreover, they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the ceremonially unclean and the clean. ¹ 

You will advance ¹  against my people Israel like a cloud covering the earth. In the latter days I will bring you against my land so that the nations may acknowledge me, when before their eyes I magnify myself ²  through you, O Gog.

This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand my sheep from their hand. I will no longer let them be shepherds; ¹  the shepherds will not feed themselves anymore. I will rescue my sheep from their mouth, so that they will no longer be food for them.

But as for me, my eye will not pity them nor will I spare ¹  them; I hereby repay them for what they have done.” ² 

And he said to me, “Son of man, take all my words that I speak to you to heart and listen carefully.