⁴³ The land will be ·left empty by its people [^Lforsaken/abandoned of them], and it will enjoy its ·time of rest [sabbath; 25:1–7] as it lies ·bare [desolate] without them. Then those who are left alive will accept the punishment for their sins. They will learn that they were punished because they ·hated [disdained] my ·laws [regulations] and ·refused to obey [abhorred] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. ⁴⁴ But even though this is true, I will not ·turn away from [disdain] them when they are in the land of their enemies. I will not ·hate [abhor] them so much that I completely destroy them and break my ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with them, because I am the Lord their God. ⁴⁵ For their good I will remember the ·agreement with their ancestors [^Lformer covenant/treaty], whom I brought out of the land of Egypt [^Cthe covenant with Moses; Ex. 19–24] so I could become their God; the other nations saw these things. I am the Lord.’”