Ezekiel 20

1 Og det skete i det syvende Aar, i den femte Maaned, paa den tiende Dag i Maaneden, da kom nogle Mænd af Israels Ældste for at adspørge Herren; og de sade for mit Ansigt.

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 Og Herrens Ord kom til mig saaledes:

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

3 Du Menneskesøn! tal til Israels Ældste og sig til dem: Saa siger den Herre, Herre: Mon I ere komne for at adspørge mig? saa sandt jeg lever, jeg vil ikke lade mig adspørge af eder, siger den Herre, Herre.

“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 Vil du dømme dem, vil du dømme, du Menneskesøn? giv dem deres Fædres Vederstyggeligheder til Kende!

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

5 Og sig til dem: Saa siger den Herre, Herre: Paa den Dag, jeg udvalgte Israel og opløftede min Haand for Jakobs Hus's Sæd og gav mig til Kende for dem i Ægyptens Land og opløftede min Haand for dem og sagde: Jeg er Herren eders Gud:

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 Paa den Dag opløftede jeg min Haand for dem for at udføre dem af Ægyptens Land til et Land, som jeg havde udset for dem, hvilket flyder med Mælk og Honning, det er det dejligste af alle Landene.

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 Og jeg sagde til dem: Bortkaster hver sine Øjnes Vederstyggeligheder og besmitter eder ikke ved Ægypternes Afguder; jeg er Herren eders Gud.

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 Men de vare genstridige imod mig og vilde ikke høre mig. Ingen af dem bortkastede deres Øjnes Vederstyggeligheder, og de forlode ikke Ægyptens Afguder; da sagde jeg, at jeg vilde udøse min Harme over dem for at fuldbyrde min Vrede paa dem midt i Ægyptens Land.

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 Men jeg gjorde det, som jeg gjorde, for mit Navns Skyld, at det ikke skulde vanhelliges for Hedningernes Øjne, midt iblandt hvilke de vare, for hvis Øjne jeg havde givet mig til Kende for dem for at udføre dem af Ægyptens Land.

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 Og jeg udførte dem af Ægyptens Land og førte dem til Ørken.

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

11 Og jeg gav dem mine Skikke og lod dem vide mine Bud, hvilke Mennesket skal gøre efter, at det maa leve ved dem.

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

12 Og jeg gav dem ogsaa mine Sabbater, at de skulde være til Tegn imellem mig og imellem dem, at de skulde vide, at jeg er Herren, som helliger dem.

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 Men Israels Hus var genstridigt imod mig i Ørken, de vandrede ikke efter mine Skikke, men forkastede mine Bud, hvilke Mennesket skal gøre efter, at det maa leve ved dem, og de vanhelligede mine Sabbater saare; da sagde jeg, at jeg vilde udøse min Harme over dem i Ørken for at gøre Ende paa dem.

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 Men jeg gjorde det, som jeg gjorde, for mit Navns Skyld, at det ikke skulde vanhelliges for Hedningernes Øjne, for hvis Øjne jeg havde udført dem.

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 Og jeg opløftede ogsaa min Haand for dem i Ørken, at jeg ikke vilde føre dem til det Land, som jeg havde givet dem, hvilket flyder med Mælk og Honning, det er det dejligste af alle Landene,

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 fordi de forkastede mine Bud og vandrede ikke efter mine Skikke, men vanhelligede mine Sabbater; thi deres Hjerte gik efter deres Afguder.

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

17 Men mit Øje sparede dem, saa at jeg ikke ødelagde dem; og jeg gjorde ikke Ende paa dem i Ørken.

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

18 Og jeg sagde til deres Børn i Ørken: Vandrer ikke efter eders Fædres Skikke, og holder ikke deres Bud, og besmitter eder ikke ved deres Afguder!

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 Jeg er Herren eders Gud, vandrer efter mine Skikke, og holder mine Bud, og gører efter dem!

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

20 Og helligholder mine Sabbater, og de skulle være til et Tegn imellem mig og imellem eder, at I skulle vide, at jeg er Herren, eders Gud!

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 Men Børnene vare genstridige imod mig, de vandrede ikke efter mine Skikke og holdt ikke mine Bud, saa at de gjorde efter dem, hvilke Mennesket skal gøre efter, at det maa leve ved dem, de vanhelligede mine Sabbater; da sagde jeg, at jeg vilde udøse min Harme over dem for at fuldbyrde min Vrede paa dem i Ørken.

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 Men jeg drog min Haand tilbage og gjorde det for mit Navns Skyld, at dette ikke skulde vanhelliges for Hedningernes Øjne, for hvis Øjne jeg havde udført dem.

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 Jeg opløftede ogsaa min Haand for dem i Ørken for at adsprede dem iblandt Hedningerne og at strø dem over Landene,

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 fordi de ikke gjorde efter mine Bud, men forkastede mine Skikke og vanhelligede mine Sabbater; og deres Øjne vare efter deres Fædres Afguder.

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

25 Saa gav ogsaa jeg dem Skikke, som ikke vare gode, og Bud, ved hvilke de ikke kunde leve.

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

26 Og jeg gjorde dem urene ved deres Gaver, idet de lode alt det førstefødte gaa igennem Ilden, for at jeg skulde ødelægge dem, for at de skulde fornemme, at jeg er Herren.

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 Derfor tal, du Menneskesøn! til Israels Hus og sig til dem: Saa siger den Herre, Herre: Endnu dermed have eders Fædre forhaanet mig, idet de vare troløse imod mig:

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 Der jeg havde ført dem til det Land, over hvilket jeg havde opløftet min Haand for at give dem det, og de saa nogen fremragende Høj eller noget løvrigt Træ, da ofrede de der deres Slagtofre og nedlagde der deres Gaver til at fortørne mig og bragte der deres søde Lugt og udøste der deres Drikofre.

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 Og jeg sagde til dem: Hvad er den Høj, hvorhen I komme? men dens Navn kaldes „Høj” indtil denne Dag.

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

30 Derfor sig til Israels Hus: Saa siger den Herre, Herre: Besmitte I eder paa eders Fædres Vej, og bole I efter deres Vederstyggeligheder?

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 Ja, idet I opløfte eders Gaver og lade eders Børn gaa igennem Ilden, saa besmitte I eder ved alle eders Afguder indtil denne Dag; og jeg skulde lade mig adspørge af eder, Israels Hus? Saa sandt jeg lever, siger den Herre, Herre: Jeg vil ikke lade mig adspørge af eder.

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 Og det, som opstiger i eders Sind, skal dog ikke ske, naar I nemlig sige: Vi ville være som Hedningerne, som Slægterne i Landene, til at tjene Træ og Sten.

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 Saa sandt jeg lever, siger den Herre, Herre: Jeg vil regere over eder med en stærk Haand og med en udrakt Arm og med en udøst Harme.

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

34 Og jeg vil føre eder ud fra Folkene og sanke eder af Landene, i hvilke I ere adspredte, med en stærk Haand og med en udrakt Arm og med en udøst Harme.

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 Og jeg vil føre eder til Folkenes Ørk og der gaa i Rette med eder, Ansigt til Ansigt.

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

36 Ligesom jeg gik i Rette med eders Fædre i Ægyptens Lands Ørken, saa vil jeg gaa i Rette med eder, siger den Herre, Herre.

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 Og jeg vil lade eder gaa forbi under Hyrdestaven, og jeg vil føre eder ind i Pagtens Lænker.

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

38 Og jeg vil udrense de genstridige fra eder og dem, som ere faldne fra mig; jeg vil udføre dem af det Land, hvor de bo som fremmede, men til Israels Land skal ingen af dem komme; og I skulle fornemme, at jeg er Herren.

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 Og I af Israels Hus! saa siger den Herre, Herre: Gaar da hver hen at tjene sine Afguder! men til sidst, saa ville I sandelig høre mig, og I ville ikke ydermere vanhellige mit hellige Navn med eders Gaver og med eders Afguder.

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 Thi paa mit hellige Bjerg, paa Israels høje Bjerg, siger den Herre, Herre, der skal alt Israels Hus, alle de, som ere i Landet, tjene mig; der vil jeg have Behag i dem, og der vil jeg spørge efter eders Gaver og efter Førstegrøden af, hvad I frembære iblandt alle de Ting, som I hellige.

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 Jeg vil have Behag i eder for den søde Lugts Skyld, naar jeg udfører eder fra Folkene og sanker eder fra Landene, i hvilke I have været adspredte, og jeg vil helliggøres paa eder for Hedningernes Øjne.

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 Og I skulle fornemme, at jeg er Herren, naar jeg fører eder til Israels Land, til det Land, over hvilket jeg opløftede min Haand for at give eders Fædre det.

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 Og der skulle I ihukomme eders Veje og alle eders Gerninger, med hvilke I have besmittet eder; og I skulle væmmes ved eder selv ved alle eders Ondskaber, som I have begaaet.

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 Og I skulle fornemme, at jeg er Herren, naar jeg handler med eder for mit Navns Skyld, ikke efter eders onde Veje og efter eders fordærvelige Handeler, I af Israels Hus! siger den Herre, Herre.

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 Og Herrens Ord kom til mig saaledes:

Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,

46 Du Menneskesøn! vend dit Ansigt imod Sønden, og lad Ordene falde som Draaber imod Sønden, og spaa imod Markens Skov imod Sønden!

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

47 Og du skal sige til Skoven imod Sønden: Hør Herrens Ord; saa siger den Herre, Herre: Se, jeg vil antænde en Ild i dig, og den skal fortære alle grønne Træer og alle tørre Træer i dig, den blussende Lue skal ikke udslukkes, men alle Ansigter fra Sønden til Norden skulle blive forbrændte ved den.

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 Og alt Kød, de skulle se, at jeg Herren, jeg har optændt den; den skal ej udslukkes.

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

49 Og jeg sagde: Ak, Herre, Herre, de sige om mig: Mon han ikke bruger idel Lignelser?

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