Ezekiel 20

1 A kum rhih dongkah a hla nga nah hnin rha dongah a pha vaengah Israel a hamca khuikah hlang rhoek tah BOEIPA dawt ham ha pawk uh tih ka mikhmuh ah ngol uh.

On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of the elders of Israel came to ask advice from the Lord, and they sat down with me.

2 Te vaengah BOEIPA ol tah kai taengah ha pawk tih,

Then a message from the Lord came to me, saying,

3 “Hlang capa Israel a hamca rhoek te thui pah. Ka Boeipa Yahovah loh a thui he amih taengah thui pah. Kai dawt ham na pawk nama? Kai hingnah he nangmih ham kan dawt sak mahpawh. He tah ka Boeipa Yahovah kah olphong ni.

“Son of man, tell these elders of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask my advice? As I live, I'm not going to answer you, declares the Lord God.

4 “Amih te lai na tloek aya? Hlang capa aw lai na tloek aya? A napa rhoek kah tueilaehkoi te amih ming sak.

Are you going to condemn them—will you do that, son of man? Remind them about the disgusting things their forefathers did,

5 Ka Boeipa Yahovah loh a thui he amih taengah thui pah. Israel ham ka coelh khohnin ah Jakob imkhui kah a tiingan te ka kut ka phuel. Egypt khohmuen ah amih te ka ming sak coeng. Te vaengah amih taengah ka kut ka phuel tih, 'Kai tah BOEIPA na Pathen ni,” ka ti nah.

and then tell them that this is what the Lord God says: At the time I chose Israel, I held up my hand and made a solemn promise to Jacob's descendants and revealed myself to them when they were in Egypt. I held up my hand and told them, ‘I am the Lord your God.’

6 Te khohnin ah Egypt khohmuen lamloh amih doek ham amih te ka kut ka phuel pah. Suktui neh khoitui aka long khohmuen neh khohmuen pum kah a kirhang khaw amih ham ka yaam pah.

I promised them on that day to lead them out of Egypt and take them to a country that I had chosen for them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country.

7 Te dongah amih te thui pah. Hlang he a mik kah sarhingkoi te voei saeh lamtah Egypt mueirhol neh poeih uh boel saeh. Kai tah nangmih kah BOEIPA Pathen ni.

I told them: ‘All of you have to get rid of your disgusting pagan images. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’

8 Tedae kai he n'koek uh tih kai taengkah he hnatun ham a huem uh moenih. Hlang he a mik kah sarhingkoi te voei pawt tih Egypt mueirhol te a hnoo uh moenih. Te dongah ni amih soah ka kosi hawk ham neh Egypt khohmuen khui kah amih taengah ka thintoek sah ham ka thui.

But they rebelled against me and wouldn't do what I told them. None of them got rid of their disgusting pagan images, and they didn't give up worshiping the idols of Egypt. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in Egypt.

9 Tedae ka ming ham ka saii dongah namtom mikhmuh ah ka poeih sak pawh. Te rhoek lakli ah khaw amih ham tah amamih mikhmuh ah ka phoe pah tih Egypt khohmuen lamloh amih kang khuen.

But I did act so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations living near them who had seen me reveal myself to Israel by leading them out of Egypt.

10 Te vaengah amih te Egypt khohmuen lamloh ka khuen uh tih amih te khosoek la ka thak.

So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness.

11 Amih taengah ka khosing ka paek tih ka laitloeknah te amih ka ming sak. Te te aka vai hlang daeng ni te nen te a hing eh.

There I gave them my laws and explained to them my regulations so that those who kept them would live.

12 Ka Sabbath te khaw kamah laklo neh amih laklo ah miknoek la om ham neh, BOEIPA kamah loh amih ka ciim te ming sak ham amih taengah ka paek.

I also gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, so that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord who makes them holy.

13 Tedae Israel imkhui loh khosoek ah kai he n'koek uh. Ka khosing dongah pongpa uh pawt tih ka laitloeknah he a hnawt uh. Te te aka vai hlang tah te nen te hing ni. Ka Sabbath he poeng a poeih uh. Te dongah ni ka kosi he amih soah hawk ham neh khosoek ah amih khah ham ka thui.

But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert, refusing to observe my laws and rejecting my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them and wipe them out there in the desert.

14 Tedae ka ming ham ka saii dongah ni namtom mikhmuh ah a poeih pawh. Te rhoek mikhmuh lamloh amih te ka khuen.

But I still acted for them so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.

15 Te phoeiah khohmuen khuila amih a kun pawt ham khosoek ah amih te ka kut ka phuel thil van. Khohmuen tom kah a kirhang neh suktui khoitui aka long te ka paek dae ta.

So I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I wouldn't take them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country—

16 Ka laitloeknah te a hnawt uh tih ka khosing dongah pongpa uh pawh. A lungbuei te a mueirhol hnuk a vai sak uh dongah ka Sabbath te a poeih uh.

because they repeatedly rejected my regulations, refused to observe my laws, and violated my Sabbaths, and because they chose to continue worshiping idols.

17 Tedae amih a poci lamloh amih te ka mik loh a rhen tih amih te khosoek kah a bawtnah ah ka khueh pawh.

Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.

18 A ca rhoek te khosoek ah, 'Na pa rhoek kah oltlueh dongah pongpa uh boel lamtah amih kah laitloeknah te ngaithuen uh boeh. Amih kah mueirhol nen khaw poeih uh boeh.

I told their children in the desert: ‘Don't do what your fathers told you to do. Don't follow their practices. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping their idols.

19 Kai BOEIPA na Pathen kah ka khosing dongah pongpa uh. Ka laitloeknah he ngaithuen lamtah te te vai uh.

I am the Lord your God. Do what I tell you to do. Follow my regulations and make sure to practice them.

20 Te dongah ka Sabbath he ciim lamtah kai laklo neh nangmih laklo ah miknoek la om saeh. Kai tah nangmih kah BOEIPA na Pathen la nan ming uh ham om.

Keep my Sabbaths holy so they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may acknowledge that I am the Lord your God.’

21 Tedae a ca rhoek loh kai he n'koek uh tih ka khosing dongah pongpa uh pawh. Ka laitloeknah te vai ham ngaithuen uh pawh. Te te aka vai hlang tah te nen te hing van ni. Ka Sabbath te a poeih uh. Te dongah ni amih soah ka kosi hawk ham neh amih te khosoek ah ka thintoek sah thil ham ka thui.

But their children also rebelled against me. They didn't follow my laws and didn't keep my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in the desert.

22 Tedae ka kut he ka yueh tih ka ming ham ka saii dongah namtom mikhmuh ah poeih uh pawh. Amih te te rhoek mikhmuh lamloh ka khuen.

But I held back and did what I did so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.

23 Namtom taengah amih taekyak ham neh diklai ah amih haeh ham khosoek ah amih te ka kut ka phuel thil bal.

However, I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I was going to scatter them among the various countries of different nations.

24 Ka laitloeknah he vai uh pawt tih ka khosing te a hnawt uh. Ka Sabbath he a poeih uh tih amih mik loh a napa rhoek kah mueirhol hnukah a khueh uh.

For they didn't keep my regulations, instead they rejected my laws and violated my Sabbaths, always looking to worship their fathers' idols.

25 Kai khaw amih taengah oltlueh ka paek dae then uh pawt tih tiktamnah neh hing uh pawh.

I also let them follow the regulations they wanted that weren't good; laws that wouldn't help them live.

26 A bung kah cacuek boeih te a doe vaengah amih kah kutdoe lamloh amamih te ka poeih sak. Amih te ka pong sak daengah ni BOEIPA kamah te m'ming uh eh.

I let them make themselves unclean by their offerings to idols, including their firstborn sons. I allowed this to happen so that they would be so appalled that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord.

27 Te dongah hlang capa aw Israel imkhui te voek. Ka Boeipa Yahovah loh a thui he amih taengah thui pah. Kai he na pa rhoek loh n'hliphen uh tih boekoeknah la kai taengah boe a koek uh.

So, son of man, tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: You're acting in exactly the same way your forefathers insulted me by being unfaithful to me.

28 Amih te paek ham ka kut ka phuel thil khohmuen khuila amih te ka khuen. Te vaengah a sang la a hmuh som boeih neh thing bu boeih taengah amih kah hmueih te pahoi a ngawn uh. Tedae amih konoinah te nawnnah la hnap a paek uh tih a hmuehmuei botui te hnap a khueh uh daengah amih kah tuisi te a doeng uh.

After I led them into the land that I had promised to give them, on any high hill or under any leafy tree they saw there they offered their pagan sacrifices and presented offerings to idols that made me angry, burning their sweet-smelling incense and pouring out their drink offerings.

29 Te dongah amih te, “Balae hmuensang la na mop thil uh te?” ka ti nah. Tedae a ming te tahae khohnin due Bamah la a khue.

So I asked them: ‘What's this high place you're going to?’ (Even today it's still called Bamah.)

30 Te dongah ka Boeipa Yahovah loh a thui he Israel imkhui te thui pah. Na pa longpuei ah na poeih uh tih amih kah sarhingkoi hnukah na cukhalh uh nama?

Therefore tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean like your forefathers, turning yourselves into prostitutes, acting the way they did with the same disgusting practices?

31 Nangmih kah hmai te na ca rhoek paan sak ham na kutdoe na tloeng uh tih mueirhol cungkuem neh tihnin due na poeih uh. Israel imkhui nangmih long nim kai na dawt eh? Nangmih te kan dawt sak mahpawh. Kai hingnah ni tite ka Boeipa Yahovah kah olphong ni.

When you present your offerings to idols and sacrifice your children in the fire, you continue to make yourselves unclean with all your idols right up until now. So should I give you advice when you ask me, people of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I'm not going to answer you!

32 Thing neh lungto bawk ham namtom neh diklai huiko bangla om sih tila nangmih te na lungbuei ah kun cakhaw om rhoe om mahpawh.

When you say to yourselves, ‘Let's be like the other nations, like people in other countries who worship idols made of wood and stone,’ what you're thinking is never going to happen.

33 Kai tah hingnah ni tite ka Boeipa Yahovah kah olphong ni. Tlungluen kut neh ban ka thueng tih kosi ka hawk neh nangmih kan manghai thil het mahpawt nim?

As I live, declares the Lord God, I will rule you with all my strength and power, and in my anger.

34 Nangmih te pilnam lamloh kang khuen vetih diklai lamloh nangmih te kan coi ni. Amih lakli ah tlungluen kut neh n'taekyak tih bantha a thueng phoeiah ni kosi neh ka hawk thil.

With all my strength and power, and in my anger, I will lead you out from among the nations and gather you from the countries where you were scattered.

35 Pilnam kah khosoek la nangmih te kang khuen vetih nangmih te na maelhmai, maelhmai ah lai kan tloek ni.

I will bring you before me for judgment face to face in the desert of the nations.

36 Egypt khohmuen kah khosoek ah na pa rhoek lai ka tloek thil bangla nangmih soah lai ka tloek ni. He tah Boeipa Yahovah kah olphong ni.

In the same way I judged your forefathers in the Egyptian desert after I'd led them out of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Lord God.

37 Nangmih te mancai hmuiah kam pah sak vetih paipi kah pinnah khuila nangmih kam pawk puei ni.

I will decide about you as you pass under the rod and see if you kept our solemn agreement.

38 Kai aka tloelh tih boe aka koek thil te nangmih lamloh ka kuet ni. A lampahnah khohmuen lamloh amih ka khuen cakhaw Israel khohmuen la kun mahpawh. Te vaengah BOEIPA kamah he nan ming uh bitni.

I will get rid of those of you who rebel against me, those who sin against me. I will lead them out of the country where they're currently living, but they won't enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.

39 Te dongah nangmih Israel imkhui ham ka Boeipa Yahovah loh he ni a thui. Hlang te a mueirhol paan saeh lamtah thothueng ngawn saeh. Tedae a hnukah kai ol na hnatun uh ngawn mahpawh. Te cakhaw ka ming cim he na kutdoe neh, na mueirhol neh koep na poeih uh mahpawh.

This is what the Lord God says to you, you people of Israel: All of you, go ahead and worship your idols. But after that if you don't listen to me you won't continue to disgrace me with your pagan offerings and idols.

40 He tah ka Boeipa Yahovah kah olphong ni. Israel tlang sang kah ka tlang cim dongah diklai tom kah Israel imkhui tom loh kai m'bawk uh ni. Teah te amih ka doe vetih nangmih kah khosaa neh nangmih buham thaihcuek khaw, nangmih kah hnocim boeih te khaw ka toem ni.

For there on my holy mountain, Israel's high mountain, declares the Lord God, every single person in the whole country of Israel will worship me. That's where I'll accept them and will ask for your offerings and your best gifts, together with all your holy sacrifices.

41 Nangmih te hmuehmuei botui la kan moeithen vaengah tah nangmih te pilnam rhoek lamloh kang khuen tih nangmih te diklai lamloh kan coi. Amih taengah n'taekyak cakhaw namtom mikhmuh kah nangmih lakli ah ka ciim uh bitni.

When I bring you back from the nations and gather you from countries where you were scattered, I will accept you as a suitable offering to me. I will reveal my holiness through you so the nations can see.

42 Israel khohmuen khuila nangmih kam pawk puei vaengah BOEIPA kamah te nan ming uh bitni. Te khohmuen te ni na pa rhoek taengah paek ham ka kut ka phuel thil.

Then you will acknowledge that I am the Lord when I bring you back to the country of Israel, the land that I promised to give your forefathers.

43 Te vaengah na longpuei neh na khoboe rhamlang boeih te pahoi na poek uh bitni. Te loh m'poeih uh dongah nangmih kah boethae cungkuem na saii uh te khaw nangmih maelhmai te na ko- oek uh ni.

That's where you will remember your bad ways and everything you've done to make yourselves unclean, and you will hate yourselves for the evil things you did.

44 Aka poci Israel imkhui aw nangmih kah boethae longpuei tarhing ah pawt tih na khoboe rhamlang bangla ka ming ham nangmih kan saii vaengah BOEIPA kamah te nan ming uh bitni. He tah Boeipa Yahovah kah olphong ni,” a ti.

Then you people of Israel will acknowledge that I am the Lord, because I have treated you well because of who I am, and not because of your evil ways and terrible things you've done, declares the Lord God.”

45 Te phoeiah BOEIPA ol te kai taengah ha pawk tih,

Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,

46 “Hlang capa aw, na maelhmai tuithim longpuei la mael lah. Tuithim te saep lamtah tuithim khohmuen kah duup te tonghma thil thui loh Nagev khorham kah kohong khatben lam kah profet ol thui lah.

“Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.

47 Tuithim duup te thui pah lamtah ka Boeipa Yahovah loh a thui BOEIPA ol he hnatun saeh. Nangmih taengah hmai ka hlup vetih nangmih kah thing a thingsup boeih neh thing koh boeih te a hlawp ni. Hmairhong hmaisai khaw thi pawt vetih tuithim lamloh tlangpuei duela maelhmai boeih te rhangto uh ni.

Tell the forest of the Negev: Listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am going to set you on fire, and it will burn up all your trees, both those that are living and those that are dead. The blaze won't be put out, and everything from the north to the south will be burned.

48 BOEIPA kamah loh ka toih tih a thih pawt te pumsa loh boeih a hmuh uh ni,” a ti.

Then everyone will recognize that it was me, the Lord, who started the fire, and it won't be put out.”

49 Te dongah, “Ka Boeipa Yahovah aw amih loh kai he, 'Anih te neh aka thuidoek pawt nim?' a ti uh,” ka ti.

But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”