The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their conduct and deeds.

Therefore I poured out my fury upon them because of the blood that they poured out on the ground, and because they defiled it with idols.

I scattered them among the nations, dispersing them over foreign lands; according to their conduct and deeds I judged them.

But when they came among the nations wherever they came, they served to profane my holy name, because it was said of them: "These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave their land."

So I have relented because of my holy name which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they came.

Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD:

Not for your sakes do I act, house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you came.

I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations, in whose midst you have profaned it.

Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.

For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land.

I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.

I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees.

You shall live in the land I gave your fathers; you shall be my people, and I will be your God.