וַיְהִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִית בַּחֲמִשִׁי בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ בָּאוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִזִּקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת־ה' וַיֵּשְׁבוּ לְפָנָי

It was in the seventh year following the exile of Yehoyakhin, in the fifth month, Av, on the tenth of the month, that men of the elders of Israel came to me to seek the Lord. They came to the prophet to clarify a matter of current or future importance, or to hear words of Torah, and they sat before me.

וַיְהִי דְבַר־ה' אֵלַי לֵאמֹר

The word of the Lord was with me, saying:

בֶּן־אָדָם דַּבֵּר אֶת־זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם כֹּה אָמַר ה' אֱלוֹהִים הֲלִדְרֹשׁ אֹתִי אַתֶּם בָּאִים! חַי־אָנִי אִם־אִדָּרֵשׁ לָכֶם נְאֻם ה' אֱלוֹהִים

Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them: So said the Lord God: Do you genuinely come to seek Me? Your attempt to inquire of Me is insincere. Therefore, as I live, I swear that I will surely not acquiesce to you and will not answer you – the utterance of the Lord God.

הֲתִשְׁפֹּט אֹתָם הֲתִשְׁפּוֹט בֶּן־אָדָם! אֶת־תּוֹעֲבֹת אֲבוֹתָם הוֹדִיעֵם

Will you judge them, will you judge, Son of man? The early commentaries interpret this as a rhetorical question meaning: Do not judge them in light of their own deeds, but rather in light of their ancestors’ deeds (see also 22:2). God continues His instruction to the prophet: Do not occupy yourself with the matters about which they came to you; rather, inform them of the abominations of their fathers. The elders must hear a complete analysis of the general state of their nation instead of an exclusive focus on the problems of this specific time.

וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה־אָמַר ה' אֱלוֹהִים בְּיוֹם בָּחֳרִי בְיִשְׂרָאֵל וָאֶשָּׂא יָדִי לְזֶרַע בֵּית יַעֲקֹב וָאִוָּדַע לָהֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וָאֶשָּׂא יָדִי לָהֶם לֵאמֹר אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

Therefore, you shall say to them: So said the Lord God: On the day that I chose Israel, I raised My hand and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, and at that time, when I revealed Myself to them, I raised My hand to them, saying: I am the Lord your God, and you are My nation.

בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא נָשָׂאתִי יָדִי לָהֶם לְהוֹצִיאָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם אֶל־אֶרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־תַּרְתִּי לָהֶם זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ צְבִי הִיא לְכָל־הָאֲרָצוֹת

On that day, I raised My hand to them to take them out of the land of Egypt to the land that I scouted for them, a land flowing with milk and honey. It is the most magnificent and beautiful of all the lands, or the most desired of all lands. According to the latter interpretation, this phrase is similar to the phrase “a desired land [eretz ḥefetz],” which appears elsewhere in the Bible.

וָאֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם אִישׁ שִׁקּוּצֵי עֵינָיו הַשְׁלִיכוּ וּבְגִלּוּלֵי מִצְרַיִם אַל־תִּטַּמָּאוּ אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

I said to them: Each man shall cast out the repugnancies of his eyes, those idols to which he is attracted by his eyes, or those that appear in his eyes to be gods, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I command you to discard your statues and images and to worship Me alone, as I am the Lord your God.

וַיַּמְרוּ בִי וְלֹא אָבוּ לִשְׁמֹעַ אֵלַי אִישׁ אֶת־שִׁקּוּצֵי עֵינֵיהֶם לֹא הִשְׁלִיכוּ וְאֶת־גִּלּוּלֵי מִצְרַיִם לֹא עָזָבוּ וָאֹמַר לִשְׁפֹּךְ חֲמָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְכַלּוֹת אַפִּי בָּהֶם בְּתוֹךְ אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

However, they defied Me and were unwilling to heed Me; no man cast out the repugnancies of their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. Even before they left Egypt, the children of Israel had already begun to show signs of disloyalty and rebellion against God. I determined to pour My fury upon them, to spend My wrath upon them within the land of Egypt.

וָאַעַשׂ לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לְבִלְתִּי הֵחֵל לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר־הֵמָּה בְתוֹכָם אֲשֶׁר נוֹדַעְתִּי אֲלֵיהֶם לְעֵינֵיהֶם לְהוֹצִיאָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם

But ultimately, I did not destroy them. I spared them not in their own merit, but rather, I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned before the eyes of the nations in whose midst they, the children of Israel, were, before whose eyes, the eyes of the nations, I made Myself known to them, the children of Israel, to take them out of the land of Egypt, as I had sworn.

וָאוֹצִיאֵם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וָאֲבִאֵם אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּר

Therefore, although they were unworthy, I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

וָאֶתֵּן לָהֶם אֶת־חֻקּוֹתַי וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי הוֹדַעְתִּי אוֹתָם אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם

I gave them My statutes, and I informed them of My ordinances. I taught them the commandments, which a person shall perform, and he shall live by them. The ordinances of God delineate the correct path in life.

וְגַם אֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַי נָתַתִּי לָהֶם לִהְיוֹת לְאוֹת בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיהֶם לָדַעַת כִּי אֲנִי ה' מְקַדְּשָׁם

I also gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, for them to know that I am the Lord, their sanctifier.

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִי בֵית־יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֹא־הָלָכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָסוּ אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַי חִלְּלוּ מְאֹד וָאֹמַר לִשְׁפֹּךְ חֲמָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר לְכַלּוֹתָם

But the house of Israel defied Me in the wilderness; they did not follow My statutes, and they spurned My ordinances, those statutes and ordinances that a person shall perform, and he shall live by them, and My Sabbaths they also profaned greatly. Therefore, I said once again to pour My fury upon them. I considered administering a devastating punishment there in the wilderness, to annihilate them,

וָאֶעֱשֶׂה לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לְבִלְתִּי הֵחֵל לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִים לְעֵינֵיהֶם

but nevertheless, again I acted for the sake of My name and refrained from destroying them. I did so not in their merit; rather, I did this so that it, My name, should not be profaned before the eyes of the nations before whose eyes I took them, the children of Israel, out.

וְגַם־אֲנִי נָשָׂאתִי יָדִי לָהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר לְבִלְתִּי הָבִיא אוֹתָם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַתִּי זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ צְבִי הִיא לְכָל־הָאֲרָצוֹת

I also raised My hand to them in the wilderness, and swore that I would not bring them, the generation that had come out of Egypt, to the land that I gave them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which is the most magnificent of all the lands,

יַעַן בְּמִשְׁפָּטַי מָאָסוּ וְאֶת־חֻקּוֹתַי לֹא־הָלְכוּ בָהֶם וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַי חִלֵּלוּ כִּי אַחֲרֵי גִלּוּלֵיהֶם לִבָּם הֹלֵךְ

because they spurned My ordinances, did not follow My statutes, and profaned My Sabbaths, as their heart was following their idols.

וַתָּחָס עֵינִי עֲלֵיהֶם מִשַּׁחֲתָם וְלֹא־עָשִׂיתִי אוֹתָם כָּלָה בַּמִּדְבָּר

But in spite of this, My eye pitied them rather than destroyed them, and I did not engender annihilation of them in the wilderness.

וָאֹמַר אֶל־בְּנֵיהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּחוּקֵּי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם אַל־תֵּלֵכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶם אַל־תִּשְׁמֹרוּ וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶם אַל־תִּטַּמָּאוּ

I then said to their children, the next generation, those who were born or reached adulthood in the wilderness: Do not follow the practices of your fathers, do not observe their ordinances, and do not defile yourselves with their idols.

אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּ וַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

This is because I am the Lord your God; follow My statutes, and observe My ordinances and perform them,

וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַי קַדֵּשׁוּ וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם לָדַעַת כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

and sanctify My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, to know that I am the Lord your God.

וַיַּמְרוּ־בִי הַבָּנִים בְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֹא־הָלָכוּ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי לֹא־שָׁמְרוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת אוֹתָם אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם הָאָדָם וָחַי בָּהֶם אֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַי חִלֵּלוּ וָאֹמַר לִשְׁפֹּךְ חֲמָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם לְכַלּוֹת אַפִּי בָּם בַּמִּדְבָּר

But the children also defied Me; they did not follow My statutes, and My ordinances they did not observe to perform them, which a person shall perform and live by them; they profaned My Sabbaths, and therefore, as this generation had also failed to listen to Me, I determined to pour My fury upon them, to spend My anger upon them in the wilderness.

וַהֲשִׁבֹתִי אֶת־יָדִי וָאַעַשׂ לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לְבִלְתִּי הֵחֵל לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר־הוֹצֵאתִי אֹתָם לְעֵינֵיהֶם

But nevertheless, this third time I again restrained My hand and did not destroy them. And this time as well, I did not do this in their merit; rather, I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I took them out.

גַּם־אֲנִי נָשָׂאתִי אֶת־יָדִי לָהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר לְהָפִיץ אֹתָם בַּגּוֹיִם וּלְזָרוֹת אוֹתָם בָּאֲרָצוֹת

I also raised My hand to them, referring to the second generation, the children of those who came out of Egypt, in the wilderness, taking an oath to disperse them among the nations and to scatter them throughout the lands in the future, when the time would come that their actions would necessitate this,

יַעַן מִשְׁפָּטַי לֹא־עָשׂוּ וְחֻקּוֹתַי מָאָסוּ וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַי חִלֵּלוּ וְאַחֲרֵי גִּלּוּלֵי אֲבוֹתָם הָיוּ עֵינֵיהֶם

because they did not observe My ordinances, and they spurned My statutes, and they profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes followed the idols of their fathers.

וְגַם־אֲנִי נָתַתִּי לָהֶם חֻקִּים לֹא טוֹבִים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים לֹא יִחְיוּ בָּהֶם

I too, in accordance with their behavior, gave them statutes that were not good for them and ordinances by which they could not live. My statutes, which were designed to bring life and blessing to Israel, became an obstacle for them because they failed to observe them. This is because they distorted My laws, and also because My statutes are unsuitable for those who do not have faith in Me.

וָאֲטַמֵּא אוֹתָם בְּמַתְּנוֹתָם בְּהַעֲבִיר כָּל־פֶּטֶר רָחַם לְמַעַן אֲשִׁמֵּם לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יֵדְעוּ אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי ה'

I defiled them, I allowed them to err, with their own gifts to idols, with the transference to Molekh sacrifices of every first issue of the womb, the firstborn children, so that I would render them desolate, so that they would know that I am the Lord.

לָכֵן דַּבֵּר אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בֶּן־אָדָם וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם כֹּה אָמַר ה' אֱלוֹהִים עוֹד זֹאת גִּדְּפוּ אוֹתִי אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בְּמַעֲלָם בִּי מָעַל

Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, Son of man, and say to them: So said the Lord God: With this too your fathers blasphemed and reviled Me, in their trespass that they committed against Me, as explained in the following verses:

וָאֲבִיאֵם אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת־יָדִי לָתֵת אוֹתָהּ לָהֶם וַיִּרְאוּ כָל־גִּבְעָה רָמָה וְכָל־עֵץ עָבוֹת וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־שָׁם אֶת־זִבְחֵיהֶם וַיִּתְּנוּ־שָׁם כַּעַס קָרְבָּנָם וַיָּשִׂימוּ שָׁם רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחֵיהֶם וַיַּסִּיכוּ שָׁם אֶת־נִסְכֵּיהֶם

I brought them into the land with regard to which I raised My hand to give it to them, and they saw in the land every high hill, and every thick-branched tree laden with dense foliage, and they slaughtered their idolatrous offerings there, and they presented there the provocation of their offering, meaning that they brought offerings that anger Me. It is also possible that this refers to idolatrous rituals designed to provoke the idolater’s own emotions and arouse his pain and wrath. And they placed their pleasing aromas there, and they poured their libations there.

וָאֹמַר אֲלֵהֶם מָה הַבָּמָה אֲשֶׁר־אַתֶּם הַבָּאִים שָׁם! וַיִּקָּרֵא שְׁמָהּ בָּמָה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

Then I said to them: What is the shrine [bama] that you go there? That high place has no significance. Its name was called Bama to this day. This is a mocking play on words, meaning one of the following: What [bameh] is its significance? For what do you come [ba ma] to this place? What is in it [ba ma]?

לָכֵן אֱמֹר אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה אָמַר ה' אֱלוֹהִים הַבְּדֶרֶךְ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם אַתֶּם נִטְמְאִים וְאַחֲרֵי שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם אַתֶּם זֹנִים!

The prophet now turns his attention to the present situation. Therefore, say to the house of Israel: So said the Lord God: Do you defile yourselves in the way of your fathers, and do you stray after their repugnancies?

וּבִשְׂאֵת מַתְּנֹתֵיכֶם בְּהַעֲבִיר בְּנֵיכֶם בָּאֵשׁ אַתֶּם נִטְמְאִים לְכָל־גִּלּוּלֵיכֶם עַד־הַיּוֹם וַאֲנִי אִדָּרֵשׁ לָכֶם בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל! חַי־אָנִי נְאֻם ה' אֱלוֹהִים אִם־אִדָּרֵשׁ לָכֶם

With the giving of your gifts, specifically with the passing of your sons through the fire in the worship of Molekh, you defile yourselves with all your idols until today, and in this situation, shall I acquiesce to you, house of Israel? Do you, elders who came to the prophet to inquire of Me, think that I will be responsive to the people, who still continue their sinful ways? No. As I live – the utterance of the Lord God – I swear that I will surely not acquiesce to you. I will not respond to you because you are unworthy and continue to engage in these repulsive acts of foreign worship.

וְהָעֹלָה עַל־רוּחֲכֶם הָיוֹ לֹא תִהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם אֹמְרִים נִהְיֶה כַגּוֹיִם כְּמִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָאֲרָצוֹת לְשָׁרֵת עֵץ וָאָבֶן

That thought which arises in your thoughts will not be, that which you say: We will be like the nations, like the families of the lands, to follow their lifestyle and serve wood and stone. After years in exile, and with the destruction of Jerusalem looming, some of the people had begun to think that perhaps it would be better for them to abandon God and live as a “normal” nation, like all of the other nations that surrounded them in Babylonia, that worshipped images made of wood and stone.

חַי־אָנִי נְאֻם ה' אֱלוֹהִים אִם־לֹא בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבְחֵמָה שְׁפוּכָה אֶמְלוֹךְ עֲלֵיכֶם

As I live – the utterance of the Lord God – I swear that surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with outpoured fury, I will reign over you. My reign over you is not dependent upon your wishes; even if you desire to assimilate among the nations, you will not be able to do so. Against your will, you will remain My people.

וְהוֹצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָעַמִּים וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר נְפוֹצוֹתֶם בָּם בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה וּבְחֵמָה שְׁפוּכָה

I will take you out from among the nations, and I will gather you from the lands in which you were scattered. Ultimately, I will redeem you from exile even if you do not deserve it. However, you will not merit departing from the exile and gathering together in a state of joy. Rather, I will bring you to your land with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with outpoured fury, after wars, persecutions, slaughter, and other troubles.

וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל־מִדְבַּר הָעַמִּים וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אִתְּכֶם שָׁם פָּנִים אֶל־פָּנִים

I will bring you to the wilderness of the peoples, a metaphoric expression meaning that you will wander from one exile to another, abandoned to prey and plunder, and I will contend with you and enter into judgment with you there, face to face.

כַּאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁפַּטְתִּי אֶת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם בְּמִדְבַּר אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם כֵּן אִשָּׁפֵט אִתְּכֶם נְאֻם ה' אֱלוֹהִים

As I contended with your fathers when they were judged in the metaphorical wilderness of their wanderings when they left the land of Egypt, so will I contend with you in “the wilderness of the peoples” when I redeem you – the utterance of the Lord God.

וְהַעֲבַרְתִּי אֶתְכֶם תַּחַת הַשָּׁבֶט וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם בְּמָסֹרֶת הַבְּרִית

I will pass you under the rod. As a shepherd counts and inspects his sheep by passing them individually under his staff, so you will each be tested and judged, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

וּבָרוֹתִי מִכֶּם הַמֹּרְדִים וְהַפּוֹשְׁעִים בִּי מֵאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵיהֶם אוֹצִיא אוֹתָם וְאֶל־אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא יָבוֹא וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי־אֲנִי ה'

I will purge you of the rebels and the transgressors against Me. Indeed, I will take them out of the land of their residence, but nevertheless to the soil of Israel they will not come,and thus you will know that I am the Lord.

וְאַתֶּם בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל כֹּה־אָמַר ה' אֱלוֹהִים אִישׁ גִּלּוּלָיו לְכוּ עֲבֹדוּ וְאַחַר אִם־אֵינְכֶם שֹׁמְעִים אֵלָי וְאֶת־שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי לֹא תְחַלְּלוּ־עוֹד בְּמַתְּנוֹתֵיכֶם וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶם

You, house of Israel, so said the Lord God, with irony: Let each man go worship his idols, since you do not heed Me. Alternatively, let each man go worship his idols; afterward, we shall see if you heed Me. And you shall no longer profane My holy name with your gifts and with your idols. Those who still insist on worshipping their idols are invited to do so as much as they wish and see what the consequences will be: I will remove those who rebel against Me from your midst. They will not come to the Land of Israel, and they will no longer be able to profane My name.

כִּי בְהַר־קָדְשִׁי בְּהַר מְרוֹם יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם ה' אֱלוֹהִים שָׁם יַעַבְדֻנִי כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל כֻּלֹּה בָּאָרֶץ שָׁם אֶרְצֵם וְשָׁם אֶדְרוֹשׁ אֶת־תְּרוּמֹתֵיכֶם וְאֶת־רֵאשִׁית מַשְׂאוֹתֵיכֶם בְּכָל־קָדְשֵׁיכֶם

For on My holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel – the utterance of the Lord God – there all the house of Israel, in its entirety, will worship Me in the Land of Israel, not in the wilderness of the peoples. There I will grant them propitiation, and there I will seek your separated portions and the first of your gifts, of all your consecrated items, referring to the firstborn animals offered in the Temple, the first fruits to be presented to the priest, and the first portion of the produce separated as a gift for the priest [teruma].

בְּרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אֶרְצֶה אֶתְכֶם בְּהוֹצִיאִי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָעַמִּים וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם מִן־הָאֲרָצוֹת אֲשֶׁר נְפֹצֹתֶם בָּם וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי בָכֶם לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם

Then, with a pleasing aroma, I will grant you propitiation, when I take you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands in which you were dispersed, and I will be sanctified through you before the eyes of the nations. The nations will see that I am bringing you back to the Land of Israel, and My name will be sanctified once again.

וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי־אֲנִי ה' בַּהֲבִיאִי אֶתְכֶם אֶל־אַדְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר נָשָׂאתִי אֶת־יָדִי לָתֵת אוֹתָהּ לַאֲבוֹתֵיכֶם

You will know that I am the Lord when I bring you to the soil of Israel, to the land concerning which I raised My hand to give it to your fathers. You may think that you will be absorbed into the nations in whose midst you sit in exile, and that you will thereby exempt yourselves from your obligations to Me. It will not be so. Willingly or not, you will return to the land that I promised to your forefathers, and then you will know that I am God.

וּזְכַרְתֶּם־שָׁם אֶת־דַּרְכֵיכֶם וְאֵת כָּל־עֲלִילוֹתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר נִטְמֵאתֶם בָּם וּנְקֹטֹתֶם בִּפְנֵיכֶם בְּכָל־רָעוֹתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם

There, in the Land of Israel, you will remember your ways and all of your past exploits with which you were defiled, and after your lives have improved, you will look at yourselves with regret and disparagement, and you will loathe yourselves for all your evils that you committed.

וִידַעְתֶּם כִּי־אֲנִי ה' בַּעֲשׂוֹתִי אִתְּכֶם לְמַעַן שְׁמִי לֹא כְדַרְכֵיכֶם הָרָעִים וְכַעֲלִילוֹתֵיכֶם הַנִּשְׁחָתוֹת בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל נְאֻם ה' אֱלוֹהִים

You will know that I am the Lord, when you see that I act with you for My name’s sake and not in accordance with your evil ways or in accordance with your corrupt exploits, house of Israel – the utterance of the Lord God.