17 Ezekiel, son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own country, they made the land unclean by the way they behaved, just as a woman's monthly period makes her unclean.
18 They committed murders and worshipped idols, which made the land even worse. So in my anger, I punished my people
19 and scattered them throughout the nations, just as they deserved.
20 Wherever they went, my name was disgraced, because foreigners insulted my people by saying I had forced them out of their own land.
21 I care what those foreigners think of me,
22 so tell the Israelites that I am saying:You have disgraced my holy name among the nations where you now live. So you don't deserve what I'm going to do for you. I will lead you home to bring honour to my name
23 and to show foreign nations that I am holy. Then they will know that I am the Lord God. I have spoken.