Ezekiel 20
1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
Kwasekusithi ngomnyaka wesikhombisa, ngenyanga yesihlanu, ngolwetshumi lwenyanga, abathile babadala bakoIsrayeli beza ukuzabuza iNkosi, bahlala phambi kwami.
2 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kimi lisithi:
3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’
Ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kubadala bakoIsrayeli, uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lize ukuzangibuza yini? Kuphila kwami, isibili kangiyikubuzwa yini, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
4 “Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
Uzabahlulela yini, uzabahlulela yini, ndodana yomuntu? Bazise izinengiso zaboyise;
5 Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God;’
uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Ngosuku engakhetha ngalo uIsrayeli, ngaphakamisa isandla sami kunzalo yendlu kaJakobe, ngazazisa kubo elizweni leGibhithe, lapho ngiphakamisa isandla sami kibo, ngisithi: NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
6 in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Ngalolusuku ngaphakamisa isandla sami kubo, ukuthi ngibakhuphe elizweni leGibhithe ngibase elizweni engangibahlolele lona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe.
7 I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
Ngasengisithi kubo: Lahlani ngulowo lalowo izinengiso zamehlo akhe, lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zeGibhithe: NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
8 “‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.
Kodwa bangivukela, bengavumi ukulalela kimi, kabalahlanga ngulowo lalowo izinengiso zamehlo abo, kabatshiyanga izithombe zeGibhithe. Ngasengisithi ngizathululela ukuthukuthela kwami phezu kwabo, ukuze ngiphelelise ulaka lwami ngimelene labo phakathi kwelizwe leGibhithe.
9 But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Kodwa ngakwenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa emehlweni ezizwe, ababephakathi kwazo, engazazisa kubo phambi kwamehlo azo, ukubakhupha elizweni leGibhithe.
10 So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.
Ngakho ngabakhupha elizweni leGibhithe, ngabangenisa enkangala.
11 I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them.
Ngabanika izimiso zami, ngabazisa izahlulelo zami, okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo.
12 Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Ngabanika futhi amasabatha ami ukuze abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami labo, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi ebangcwelisayo.
13 “‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
Kodwa indlu kaIsrayeli yangivukela enkangala; kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, badelela izahlulelo zami, okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo; lamasabatha ami bawangcolisa kakhulu. Ngasengisithi ngizathululela ukuthukuthela kwami phezu kwabo enkangala, ukuze ngibaqede.
14 But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
Kodwa ngakwenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa emehlweni ezizwe, engabakhupha emehlweni azo.
15 Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
Futhi lami ngabaphakamisela isandla sami enkangala, ukuthi kangiyikubaletha elizweni engangilinike bona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe;
16 because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.
ngoba badelela izahlulelo zami, kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, kodwa bangcolisa amasabatha ami, ngoba inhliziyo yabo yalandela izithombe zabo.
17 Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.
Lanxa kunjalo ilihlo lami labahawukela ukuze ngingababhubhisi, futhi kangibaqedanga enkangala.
18 I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
Kodwa ngathi kubantwana babo enkangala: Lingahambi ngezimiso zaboyihlo, lingagcini izahlulelo zabo, lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zabo.
19 I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.
NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu; hambani ngezimiso zami, ligcine izahlulelo zami, lizenze.
20 Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
Lingcwelise amasabatha ami, abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami lani, ukuze lazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
21 “‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
Kodwa abantwana bangivukela; kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, kabagcinanga izahlulelo zami ukuthi bazenze; okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo; bawangcolisa amasabatha ami; ngasengisithi ngizathululela intukuthelo yami phezu kwabo, ukuthi ngiphelelise ulaka lwami ngimelene labo enkangala.
22 Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
Kodwa ngabuyisa isandla sami, ngenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa phambi kwamehlo ezizwe, engangibakhuphe phambi kwamehlo azo.
23 Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,
Mina ngabaphakamisela isandla sami futhi enkangala, ukuthi ngizabahlakaza phakathi kwezizwe, ngibasabalalisele emazweni;
24 because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
ngoba bengazenzanga izahlulelo zami, kodwa badelela izimiso zami, bangcolisa amasabatha ami, lamehlo abo alandela izithombe zaboyise.
25 Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live.
Ngakho mina ngabanika futhi izimiso ezazingalunganga, lezahlulelo ababengeke baphile ngazo.
26 I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’
Ngasengibangcolisa kuzo izipho zabo, ekudabuliseni kwaboemlilweni konke okuvula isizalo, ukuze ngibachithe, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
Ngakho, ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kuyo indlu yakoIsrayeli, uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lakulokhu oyihlo bangihlambazile, ngokuthi baphambeke isiphambeko bemelene lami.
28 For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings.
Lapho sengibalethe elizweni, engaphakamisela isandla sami ngalo ukuthi ngibanike lona, babona lonke uqaqa oluphakemeyo, lazo zonke izihlahla eziqatha, bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yabo, banikela khona isicunulo somnikelo wabo, bafaka khona iphunga labo elimnandi, bathulula khona iminikelo yabo yokunathwayo.
29 Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’
Ngasengisithi kubo: Iyini indawo ephakemeyo eliya kuyo? Lebizo layo lithiwa yiNdawo ePhakemeyo kuze kube lamuhla.
30 “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?
Ngakho tshono kuyo indlu kaIsrayeli: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lizazingcolisa ngendlela yaboyihlo yini, liphinge lilandela izinengiso zabo?
31 When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you!
Ngoba lapho linikela izipho zenu, lapho lisenza amadodana enu adabule emlilweni, liyazingcolisa ngezithombe zenu zonke kuze kube lamuhla. Mina-ke ngizabuzwa yini na, wena ndlu kaIsrayeli? Kuphila kwami, itsho iNkosi uJehova, isibili kangiyikubuzwa yini.
32 “‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’
Lalokho okuvela engqondweni yenu kakuyikuba khona ngitsho, elikutshoyo ukuthi: Sizakuba njengabezizwe, njengensapho zamazwe, ukuthi sikhonze isigodo lelitshe.
33 As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.
Kuphila kwami, itsho iNkosi uJehova, isibili ngizabusa phezu kwenu ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo!
34 I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.
Ngoba ngizalikhupha ebantwini, ngiliqoqe emazweni elihlakazekele kuwo, ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo.
35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
Njalo ngizaliletha enkangala yabantu, ngizaphikisana lani lapho ubuso ngobuso.
36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord GOD.
Njengalokhu ngaphikisana laboyihlo enkangala yelizwe leGibhithe, ngokunjalo ngizaphikisana lani, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
37 “I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
Njalo ngizalidlulisa ngaphansi kwentonga, ngilingenise kusibopho sesivumelwano.
38 I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”
Ngihlanze ngikhuphe phakathi kwenu abavukeli lalabo abaphambeka bemelene lami, ngibakhuphe elizweni lokuhlala kwabo njengabezizwe, kodwa kabayikungena emhlabathini wakoIsrayeli. Khona lizakwazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.
39 “‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.
Lina-ke, ndlu kaIsrayeli, itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova, hambani likhonze, ngulowo lalowo izithombe zakhe, langemva kwalokho, uba lingangilaleli; kodwa lingangcolisi futhi ibizo lami elingcwele ngezipho zenu langezithombe zenu.
40 For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.
Ngoba entabeni yami engcwele, entabeni yengqonga yakoIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova, lapho izangikhonza indlu yonke yakoIsrayeli, bonke elizweni; khona ngizabemukela, lakhona ngibize iminikelo yenu, lezithelo zokuqala zeminikelo yenu, lazo zonke izinto zenu ezingcwele.
41 I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
Ngizalemukela ngephunga elimnandi nxa ngilikhupha ebantwini, ngiliqoqe emazweni ebelihlakazelwe kuwo; njalo ngizangcweliswa phakathi kwenu phambi kwamehlo ezizwe.
42 You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
Lizakwazi-ke ukuthi ngiyiNkosi, lapho sengilingenise emhlabathini wakoIsrayeli, elizweni engaliphakamisela isandla sami ukulinika oyihlo.
43 There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.
Lapho-ke lizakhumbula izindlela zenu lezenzo zenu zonke, elazingcolisa ngazo; njalo lizazenyanya phambi kobuso benu ngenxa yazo zonke izinto ezimbi elizenzileyo.
44 You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”
Beselisazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi, nxa ngenze kini ngenxa yebizo lami, hatshi njengokwezindlela zenu ezimbi, kumbe njengokwezenzo zenu zenkohlakalo, lina ndlu kaIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
45 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
Ilizwi leNkosi lafika kimi futhi lisithi:
46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.
Ndodana yomuntu, misa ubuso bakho ngasendleleni yeningizimu, utshumayele ngaseningizimu, uprofethe umelene legusu lensimu yeningizimu;
47 Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.
uthi kilo igusu leningizimu: Zwana ilizwi leNkosi: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Khangela, ngizaphemba umlilo phakathi kwakho, njalo uzaqeda phakathi kwakho sonke isihlahla esiluhlaza laso sonke isihlahla esomileyo; ilangabi elivuthayo kaliyikucitshwa, kodwa kuzatshiswa ngalo bonke ubuso kusukela eningizimu kuze kufike enyakatho.
48 All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”
Futhi yonke inyama izabona ukuthi mina Nkosi ngiwuphembile, kawuyikucitshwa.
49 Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”
Ngasengisithi: Hawu, Nkosi Jehova! Bathi ngami: Kakhulumi imifanekiso yini?
