God
spoke to his people through his prophet Ezekiel: Because you were unfaithful
to me, because you did not listen to my word but violated my commandments,
you have lost your country and must now live in exile. But the Babylonians
are now saying: This is God’s people, surely? Why have they lost their land?
They are mocking you and mocking me. But they will learn that I am the Lord.
I will gather you together and lead you back into your own land. I will make
you into new men – men who will serve me faithfully. I will take out the
heart of stone from your bodies and gives you a human heart. I will bestow my
Spirit upon you so that you respect my commandments and fulfil them. You will
live in the land which I gave to your ancestors. You will be my people and I
will be your God.