Ezekieli 20
1 Tsiku lakhumi la mwezi wachisanu, chaka chachisanu ndi chiwiri, ena mwa akuluakulu a Israeli anabwera kudzapempha nzeru kwa Yehova, ndipo anakhala pansi pamaso panga.
Almost seven years [King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been captured and taken to Babylonia], on the tenth day of the fifth [of that year], some Israeli elders came to me to [if I had a message for them] from Yahweh.
2 Tsono Yehova anandiyankhula nati:
Then Yahweh gave me a message. [He said, ]
3 “Iwe mwana wa munthu, ayankhule akuluakulu a Israeli ndi kuwawuza kuti, ‘Ambuye Yehova akuti: Kodi mwabwera kudzapempha nzeru kwa Ine? Ndithu pali Ine wamoyo, Ine sindidzakulolani kupempha nzeru kwa Ine, akutero Ambuye Yehova.’
“You human, speak to the Israeli elders and say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says: [say that] you have come to ask if there is any message from me [RHQ], but [as surely] as I am alive, I will [answer you if] you ask [to tell you] anything.’
4 “Kodi uwaweruza? Iwe mwana wa munthu, kodi ugamula mlandu wawo? Uwadziwitse tsono zonyansa zimene anachita makolo awo, uwawuze kuti,
If you are [RHQ] willing to warn them, remind them of the detestable things that their ancestors did.
5 ‘Ambuye Yehova akuti: Pa tsiku limene ndinasankha Israeli, ndinalumbira kwa zidzukulu za nyumba ya Yakobo ndipo ndinadziwulula kwa iwo ku Igupto. Ndinalumbira ndi kuwawuza kuti: Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu.
Then say to them, ‘On the day that I chose [you] Israeli [to belong to me], with my hand lifted up, I made a solemn promise to your [while they were still] in Egypt. I said to them, “I am Yahweh, your God.
6 Pa tsiku limenelo ndinalumbira kwa iwo kuti ndidzawatulutsa mʼdziko la Igupto ndi kupita nawo ku dziko limene ndinawapezera, dziko la mwana alirenji, dziko lokongola kwambiri kupambana mayiko ena.
I will bring you out of Egypt and lead you to a land that I have chosen for you. It is a very fertile [IDM] and (very beautiful/more beautiful than any other) land.
7 Ndipo ndinawawuza kuti, ‘Aliyense ataye zinthu zonse zonyansa zimene ankasangalala nazo, ndipo musadziyipitse ndi mafano a Igupto, Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu.’
Each of you must get rid of the disgusting idols that you loved [IDM], and do not defile yourselves [worshiping] those [that you saw] in Egypt. I, Yahweh your God, [am saying this to you].”’
8 “‘Koma iwo anandiwukira ndipo sanafune kundimvera. Palibe amene anataya zonyansa zonse zimene ankasangalala nazo. Panalibenso amene anasiya mafano a ku Igupto. Tsono ndinaganiza zowakhuthulira ukali wanga ndi kuwaonetsa mkwiyo wanga mʼdziko la Igupto momwemo.
But they rebelled against me. They would not pay attention to me. They did not get rid of the disgusting idols they loved, and they did not reject those [that they saw] in Egypt. So because I was angry with them, I said that I would punish [MTY] them in Egypt.
9 Koma sindinachite zimenezi chifukwa cha dzina langa, kuti lisayipitsidwe pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina amene ankakhala pakati pawo. Paja ndinali nditaonetsa mphamvu zanga pamaso pa mitunduyo potulutsa Aisraeli mʼdziko la Igupto.
But for the sake of my own reputation, I decided to do something in order that I would not be dishonored by the people of the nations who would see it when I brought my people out of Egypt.
10 Choncho ndinawatulutsa mʼdziko la Igupto ndi kubwera nawo mʼchipululu.
Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.
11 Ndinawapatsa malangizo anga ndi kuwadziwitsa malamulo anga amene munthu aliyense akawamvera adzakhala ndi moyo.
I gave them [all] my laws and decrees [DOU], in order that they would obey them, and as a result they would live [for a long time].
12 Ndinawapatsanso Masabata ngati chizindikiro pakati pathu, kuti adziwe kuti Ine Yehova ndinawapatula.
Also, I established the Sabbath/rest days to be a symbol between us to show that I, Yahweh, had caused them to be set [from the other nations].
13 “‘Komabe anthu a Israeli anandiwukira mʼchipululu. Iwo sanatsatire malangizo anga koma anakana malamulo anga amene munthu aliyense akawamvera adzakhala ndi moyo. Ndipo anayipitsa kotheratu Masabata anga. Choncho, ndinaganiza zowakhuthulira ukali wanga ndi kuwawononga mʼchipululu.
But the Israeli people rebelled against me in the desert. They did not obey my commands [DOU]; they rejected them, even though they tell people who obey them that they will live [for a long time], and they profaned the Sabbath days. So I said that I would get rid of them in the desert, and that would show that I was very angry with them.
14 Koma sindinachite zimenezi chifukwa cha dzina langa, kuti lisayipitsidwe pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina amene anandiona ndikutulutsa Aisraeliwo mu Igupto.
But [again], for the sake of my own reputation, I decided to do something else in order that I would not be dishonored/despised by [the people of] the nations who had seen me bring my people out of Egypt.
15 Ndinalumbiranso kwa iwo mʼchipululu muja, nditakweza dzanja, kuti sindidzawalowetsanso mʼdziko limene ndinawapatsa, dziko la mwana alirenji, lokoma kwambiri kuposa mayiko ena onse.
I lifted up my hand and solemnly declared to them in the desert that I would not take them into the land that [had promised to] give them, a land that was very fertile [IDM] and (very beautiful/more beautiful than any other) land.
16 Paja anakana malamulo anga, sanatsatire malangizo anga ndipo anayipitsa masabata anga. Mitima yawo inakonda mafano.
The reason that I promised that was because they rejected and disobeyed all my laws [DOU] and (desecrated/refused to rest on) the Sabbath days. [They did that] because they [SYN] were devoted [worshiping] their idols.
17 Komabe ndinawamvera chisoni ndipo sindinawawononge kapena kuwatheratu mʼchipululu.
But, I still pitied them and did not get rid of [all of] them in the desert.
18 Tsono kwa ana awo mʼchipululu ndinati, ‘Musatsatire malangizo a makolo anu kapena kusunga malamulo awo kapena kudziyipitsa ndi mafano awo.
I said to their children, ‘Do not do the things that your parents continually did, or defile yourselves [worshiping] their idols.
19 Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu; tsatirani malangizo anga ndipo sungani malamulo anga.
I am Yahweh your God. Carefully obey [DOU] my laws and commands.
20 Masabata anga muziwasunga ngati opatulika kuti akhale chizindikiro pakati pa Ine ndi inu. Mukatero mudzadziwa kuti Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu.’
Respect my Sabbath days, in order that by doing that [PRS], it will remind you that you belong to me, Yahweh your God.’
21 “‘Koma ana awo anandiwukira. Iwo sanatsatire malangizo anga, sanamvere malamulo anga, ngakhale kuti amapereka moyo kwa munthu amene amawamvera. Ndiponso anayipitsa Masabata anga. Choncho ndinaganiza zowakhuthulira ukali wanga ndi kuwawonongeratu mʼchipululu momwemo.
But their children [also] rebelled against me. They did not carefully obey my laws [DOU], [even though] the people who obey them will live [for a long time]; and they profaned the Sabbath days. So again I said that by getting rid of them in the desert, I would show that I was very angry with them.
22 Koma sindinatero chifukwa cha dzina langa kuti lisayipitsidwe pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina amene anandiona ndikutulutsa Aisraeliwo mu Iguptomo.
But I did not do that [IDM]. [Again, ] for the sake of my own reputation, I [decided to] do something in order that I would not be dishonored/despised by [the people of] the nations who had seen it when I brought my people out [of Egypt].
23 Choncho ndinalumbira mʼchipululu, nditakweza dzanja langa, kuti ndidzawabalalitsa pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndi kuwamwazira ku mayiko akutali,
I lifted up my hand and solemnly declared to them in the desert that I would cause them to be scattered among [many] nations [DOU],
24 chifukwa sanamvere malamulo anga, anakana malangizo anga, nayipitsa masabata anga, ndi kupembedza mafano a makolo awo.
because they had rejected and disobeyed all my laws [DOU] and desecrated the Sabbath days, and they had eagerly [to worship] the idols that their [had worshiped].
25 Ine ndinawapatsanso malangizo amene sanali abwino ndi malamulo amene sakanatha kupeza nawo moyo.
I also allowed them to obey laws that were not good, and laws that would not enable them to live [a long time if they obeyed them].
26 Ndinawalekerera kuti adziyipitse ndi mphatso zawo zomwe, makamaka popereka ana awo oyamba kubadwa ngati nsembe zopsereza. Ndinatero kuti ndiwadetse nkhawa ndi kuti adziwe kuti Ine ndine Yehova.’
I allowed them to become unacceptable to me by their sacrificing their firstborn children in the fire. I did that in order that they would be horrified, and in order that they would know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].
27 “Tsono iwe mwana wa munthu, yankhula nawo Aisraeli ndipo uwawuze kuti, ‘Ambuye Yehova akuti makolo anu anandinyozanso posaonetsa moyo wokhulupirika.
Therefore, you human, speak to the Israeli people. Say this to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says [to you]: This is one way that your ancestors dishonored me by turning away from me.
28 Nditawalowetsa mʼdziko limene ndinachita kulumbirira kuti ndidzawapatsa, iwo tsono ankapita kulikonse kumene anaona chitunda chachitali ndi mtengo wa masamba ambiri kukapereka kumeneko nsembe ndi zopereka zawo zimene zinkandikwiyitsa. Kumeneko ankapereka nsembe za fungo lokoma ndiponso nsembe za zakumwa.
After I brought them into the land that I had solemnly promised to give to them, every time that they saw a high hill or a [big] green tree, they offered [to idols] there. They made offerings to them, and that caused me to become angry. They presented to those idols their fragrant burning incense, and poured out wine offerings to them.
29 Tsono ndinawafunsa kuti: Kodi chitunda chimene mukupitako nʼchotani? Chitundachi chakhala chikutchedwa mpaka lero kuti ‘Chitunda cha Chipembedzo.’
[Then] I asked them, “Who [RHQ] [told you to worship at] a shrine like this, here on this hilltop?” So they are still called “hilltop shrines”.’
30 “Tsono uwawuze Aisraeli kuti, ‘Ine Ambuye Yehova ndikuti: Kodi mudzadziyipitsa nokha monga anachitira makolo anu ndi kuchita chigololo ndi milungu yawo yonyansa?
Therefore, say this to the Israeli people [MTY]: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: “You are going to [RHQ] defile yourselves like your ancestors did by strongly [to worship] their disgusting [statues of idols].
31 Pamene mubwera kudzapereka mphatso zanu ndi kudzapereka ana kuti akhale ngati nsembe zopsereza mumadziyipitsa ndi mafano anu mpaka lero. Kodi Aisraeli, ndingathe kukulolani bwanji kuti mulandire malangizo kwa Ine? Ndithu pali Ine wamoyo, akutero Ambuye Yehova, sindidzalola kuti mupemphe nzeru kwa Ine.
When you sacrifice your children in the fire, you are still continuing to make yourselves unacceptable to me [worshiping] your many idols. You Israeli people, should I allow you to [what I want you to do]? I, Yahweh the Lord, say that [as surely] as I am alive, [I will not answer] if you inquire.'
32 “‘Inu munanena kuti, ‘Tikufuna tikhale ngati anthu a mitundu ina, ngati anthu adziko lapansi, amene amapembedza mtengo ndi mwala.’ Koma zimene mukuganizazo sizidzachitika.
You say, ‘We want to be like the [other] nations, like the [other] people-groups in the world. We want to [idols made of] wood and [like they do].’ But what you want will never happen.
33 Ndithu pali Ine wamoyo, akutero Ambuye Yehova, ndi dzanja langa lamphamvu, nditasamula mkono wanga mokwiya kwambiri, Ine ndidzakhala wokulamulani.
[I], Yahweh your Lord, say that [as surely] as I am alive, I will use my great power [DOU, MTY] to rule over you, and show that I am angry with you.
34 Ndidzakuchotsani pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndikukusonkhanitsani kuchokera ku mayiko kumene munamwazikirako, ndi dzanja langa lamphamvu ndi lotambasuka ndili wokwiya kwambiri.
With my great power I will gather you from the places to which you have been scattered,
35 Ndidzakulowetsani mʼchipululu cha anthu a mitundu ina ndipo kumeneko, moonana maso ndi maso, ndidzakuzengani mlandu.
and I will bring you to a [that is surrounded] by [other] nations. There, while I am looking at you, I will judge you.
36 Monga ndinawalangira makolo anu mʼchipululu cha dziko la Igupto, motero ndidzakulangani, akutero Ambuye Yehova.
I will punish you, like I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt.
37 Ndidzakuwerengani ndi ndodo ya mʼbusa, kukulowetsani mʼchimango cha pangano langa.
I will count you [MTY] as you walk by, and I will force you to obey the agreement that I made with you.
38 Ndidzakuchotserani anthu amene anandigalukira ndi kundiwukira. Ngakhale ndidzawatulutsa mʼdziko limene akukhalamo, koma sadzalowamo mʼdziko la Israeli. Pamenepo mudzadziwa kuti Ine ndine Yehova.
I will get rid of those people among you who rebel [DOU] against me. Although I will bring them out [Babylonia], where they are now living, they will not enter Israel. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].
39 “‘Koma inu Aisraeli, zimene ndikunena Ine Ambuye Yehova ndi izi: Pitani katumikireni mafano anu onse, aliyense wa inu! Koma mʼtsogolo mwake mudzandimvera ndithu ndipo simudzayipitsa dzina langa lopatulika popereka mphatso zanu kwa mafano.
As for you Israeli people [MTY], this is what [I], Yahweh the Lord, say: 'Go and worship your idols now [IRO], each of you. But [afterwards], you will [surely] heed me and no longer dishonor me [MTY] by taking gifts to your idols.
40 Pakuti pa phiri langa lopatulika, phiri lalitali la ku Israeli, akutero Ambuye Yehova, Aisraeli onse adzanditumikira, ndipo kumeneko Ine ndidzawalandira. Kumeneko ndidzayembekeza zopereka zanu ndi mphatso zanu zopambana, pamodzi ndi nsembe zanu zonse zopatulika.
[I], Yahweh your Lord, declare that there on my sacred hill, [Zion], that high hill in Israel, you will bring gifts to me, and I will accept them. I will require you to bring to me gifts and offerings there, and your sacrifices that are dedicated to me.
41 Ndidzakulandirani ngati nsembe ya fungo lokoma ndikadzakutulutsani pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndi kukusokhanitsani kuchokera ku mayiko kumene munabalalitsidwirako. Motero ndidzadzionetsa pakati panu kuti ndine woyera ndipo mitundu ya anthu idzaona.
When I bring you out from the [other] nations [DOU] to which you have been scattered, I will accept [as though you were] fragrant incense. By doing that, I will show the people of other nations that I have set you apart to belong to me.
42 Tsono mudzadziwa kuti ndine Yehova ndikadzabwera nanu ku dziko la Israeli, dziko limene ndinalumbira kuti ndidzapereka kwa makolo anu.
Then, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I solemnly promised with my hand lifted up that I would give to your ancestors, you will know that I, Yahweh, [have done it].
43 Kumeneko mudzakumbukira makhalidwe anu ndi machitidwe anu onse amene munadziyipitsa nawo, ndipo mudzanyansidwa nokha chifukwa cha zoyipa zimene munachita.
And [in Israel] you will remember how you conducted your lives [previously, you will remember] the actions that caused you to become unacceptable to me, and you will hate/despise yourselves for all the evil things that you have done.
44 Inu mudzadziwa kuti Ine ndine Yehova, ndikadzakuchitirani zabwino chifukwa cha dzina langa koma osati molingana ndi njira zanu zoyipa ndi machitidwe anu okhota, inu Aisraeli, akutero Ambuye Yehova.’”
When I act toward you Israeli people to protect my reputation, and not [just] because of your evil deeds and corrupt behavior, you Israeli people will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].' That is what Yahweh the Lord declares.”
45 Yehova anandiyankhula nati:
Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
46 “Iwe mwana wa munthu, tembenuka uyangʼane kummwera; ndipo lalika mawu odzudzula anthu akummwera ndipo unenere zodzudzula dziko la nkhalango ya kummwera.
“You human, turn toward the south. Preach about what will happen to that dry land, to the forest there.
47 Iwuze nkhalango yakummwera kuti, ‘Imvani mawu a Yehova! Ambuye Yehova akuti: Ndikuyatsa moto ndipo motowo udzapsereza mitengo yako yonse yayiwisi ndi yowuma yomwe. Malawi ake sadzazimitsika ndipo aliyense kuchokera kummwera mpaka kumpoto adzapsa nawo.
Say to the forest in the [part of Israel]: 'Listen to this message that Yahweh the Lord is saying [about you]: “I am about to start a fire in your midst, and it will burn up all your trees, [both] the green trees and the withered/dry trees. Nothing will extinguish the blazing flames. And the fire will scorch the faces of everyone [who lives] in that area, from the south to the north.
48 Aliyense adzadziwa kuti Ine Yehova ndi amene ndayatsa motowo, ndipo sudzazimitsidwa.’”
Everyone will see that it is I, Yahweh, who have lit this fire, and no one will [be able to] put it out.” '”
49 Ndipo ine ndinati, “Aa, Ambuye Yehova! Anthu akungondinena kuti, ‘Kodi suja amangonena nthano chabe ameneyu!’”
Then I said, “Yahweh, my Lord, [when I tell things like this to people, they do not believe me]. They say about me, ‘He is only telling parables.’”
