1 It was the seventh year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to ask the Lord for advice. They sat down with me.
2 Then a message came to me from the Lord. He said,
3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "Have you come to ask me for advice? I will not let you do that," announces the Lord and King. "And that is just as sure as I am alive." '
4 "Are you going to judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Tell them the evil things their people did long ago. I hate those things.
5 Tell them, 'The Lord and King says, "I chose Israel. On that day I raised my hand and took an oath. I made a promise to the members of Jacob's family line. I made myself known to them in Egypt. I raised my hand and told them, 'I am the Lord your God.'
6 " ' "On that day I promised I would bring them out of Egypt. I told them I would take them to a land I had found for them. It had plenty of milk and honey. It was the most beautiful land of all.
7 I said to them, 'Each of you must get rid of the statues of the evil gods you worship. Do not pollute yourselves by worshiping the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.'