Ezekiel 20:28-32

20:28 I brought them to the land which I swore ¹  to give them, but whenever they saw any high hill or leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices there and presented the offerings that provoke me to anger. They offered their soothing aroma there and poured out their drink offerings. 20:29 So I said to them, What is this high place you go to?’” (So it is called “High Place” ²  to this day.)

20:30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers ³  and engage in prostitution with detestable idols? 20:31 When you present your sacrifices ⁴  – when you make your sons pass through the fire – you defile yourselves with all your idols to this very day. Will I allow you to seek me, ⁵  O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, I will not allow you to seek me! ⁶ 

20:32 “‘What you plan ⁷  will never happen. You say, “We will be ⁸  like the nations, like the clans of the lands, who serve gods of wood and stone.” ⁹ 

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¹ tn Heb “which I lifted up my hand.”

² tn The Hebrew word (“Bamah”) means “high place.”

³ tn Heb “in the way of your fathers.”

⁴ tn Or “gifts.”

⁵ tn Or “Will I reveal myself to you?”

⁶ tn Or “I will not reveal myself to you.”

⁷ tn Heb “what comes upon your mind.”

⁸ tn The Hebrew could also read: “Let us be.”

⁹ tn Heb “serving wood and stone.”

sn This verse echoes the content of 1 Sam 8:20.