Ezekiel 20:22-24

New International Reader's Version

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. ²⁴ They had not obeyed my laws. They had turned their backs on my rules. They had misused my Sabbath days. They only wanted to worship the statues of their parents’ gods.