Ezekiel 20

1 I det syvende Aar paa den tiende Dag i den femte Maaned kom nogle af Israels Ældste for at raadspørge HERREN, og de satte sig lige over for mig.

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 Saa kom HERRENS Ord til mig saaledes:

Then Yahweh gave me a message. [He said, ]

3 Menneskesøn, tal til Israels Ældste og sig: Saa siger den Herre HERREN: Kommer I for at raadspørge mig? Saa sandt jeg lever: Jeg lader mig ikke raadspørge af eder, lyder det fra den Herre HERREN.

“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 Vil du dømme dem, vil du dømme, Menneskesøn? Saa forehold dem deres Fædres Vederstyggeligheder

If you are [RHQ] willing to warn them, remind them of the detestable things that their ancestors did.

5 og sig til dem: Saa siger den Herre HERREN: Dengang jeg udvalgte Israel, løftede jeg min Haand til Ed for Jakobs Hus's Afkom og gav mig til Kende for dem i Ægypten; jeg løftede min Haand for dem og svor: Jeg er HERREN eders Gud.

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 Dengang løftede jeg min Haand og tilsvor dem, at jeg vilde føre dem ud af Ægypten til Landet, jeg havde givet dem, et Land, der flyder med Mælk og Honning, det dejligste af alle Lande.

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 Og jeg sagde til dem: Enhver skal bortkaste sine væmmelige Guder, som hans Øjne hænger ved; og I maa ikke gøre eder urene ved Ægyptens Afgudsbilleder. Jeg, HERREN, er eders Gud!

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 Men de var genstridige imod mig og vilde ikke høre mig; de bortkastede ikke deres væmmelige Guder, som deres Øjne hang ved, og lod ikke Ægyptens Afgudsbilleder fare. Saa tænkte jeg paa at udøse min Vrede over dem og køle min Harme paa dem midt i Ægypten.

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 For mit Navns Skyld greb jeg dog ind, at det ikke skulde vanæres for de Folks Øjne, blandt hvilke de levede, og i hvis Paasyn jeg havde aabenbaret mig for dem, idet jeg førte dem ud af Ægypten.

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 Saa førte jeg dem ud af Ægypten og bragte dem ud i Ørkenen;

Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.

11 og jeg gav dem mine Anordninger og kundgjorde dem mine Lovbud; det Menneske, som gør efter dem, skal leve ved dem.

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 Ogsaa mine Sabbater gav jeg dem, for at de skulde være et Tegn mellem mig og dem, at det skal kendes, at jeg, HERREN, er den, som helliger dem.

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 Men Israels Hus var genstridigt imod mig i Ørkenen; de vandrede ikke efter mine Anordninger, men lod haant om mine Lovbud — det Menneske, som gør efter dem, skal leve ved dem — og mine Sabbater vanhelligede de grovelig. Saa tænkte jeg paa at udøse min Vrede over dem i Ørkenen og tilintetgøre dem.

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 For mit Navns Skyld greb jeg dog ind, at det ikke skulde vanæres for de Folks Øjne, i hvis Paasyn jeg havde ført dem ud.

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 Og jeg løftede min Haand for dem i Ørkenen og svor, at jeg ikke vilde føre dem ind i det Land, jeg havde givet dem, et Land, der flyder med Mælk og Honning, det dejligste af alle Lande,

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 fordi de lod haant om mine Lovbud og ikke vandrede efter mine Anordninger, men vanhelligede mine Sabbater; thi deres Hjerte holdt sig til deres Afgudsbilleder.

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 Jeg havde Medlidenhed med dem, saa jeg ikke tilintetgjorde dem; jeg gjorde ikke Ende paa dem i Ørkenen.

But, I still pitied them and did not get rid of [all of] them in the desert.

18 Saa sagde jeg til deres Sønner i Ørkenen: Følg ikke eders Fædres Anordninger, hold ikke deres Lovbud og gør eder ikke urene med deres Afgudsbilleder.

I said to their children, ‘Do not do the things that your parents continually did, or defile yourselves [worshiping] their idols.

19 Jeg, HERREN, er eders Gud! Følg mine Anordninger og tag Vare paa at holde mine Lovbud;

I am Yahweh your God. Carefully obey [DOU] my laws and commands.

20 hold mine Sabbater hellige, saa de bliver et Tegn mellem mig og eder, at det maa kendes, at jeg, HERREN, er eders Gud.

Respect my Sabbath days, in order that by doing that [PRS], it will remind you that you belong to me, Yahweh your God.’

21 Men ogsaa Sønnerne var genstridige imod mig; de fulgte ikke mine Anordninger og tog ikke Vare paa at holde mine Lovbud — det Menneske, som gør efter dem, skal leve ved dem — og vanhelligede mine Sabbater. Saa tænkte jeg paa at udøse min Harme over dem og køle min Vrede paa dem i Ørkenen.

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 Dog holdt jeg min Haand tilbage, og jeg greb ind for mit Navns Skyld, at det ikke skulde vanæres for de Folks Øjne, i hvis Paasyn jeg havde ført dem ud.

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 Jeg løftede min Haand for dem i Ørkenen og svor, at jeg vilde sprede dem blandt Folkene og udstrø dem i Landene,

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 fordi de ikke holdt mine Lovbud, men lod haant om mine Anordninger og vanhelligede mine Sabbater, og deres Øjne hang ved deres Fædres Afgudsbilleder.

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 Derfor gav jeg dem Anordninger, som ikke er gode, og Lovbud ved hvilke de ikke vandt Liv;

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 jeg gjorde dem urene ved deres Gaver, idet de lod alt hvad der aabner Moders Liv, gaa igennem Ilden; thi jeg vilde have dem til at stivne af Rædsel, at de maatte kende, at jeg er HERREN.

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 Derfor, Menneskesøn, tal til Israels Hus og sig til dem: Saa siger den Herre HERREN: Eders Fædre haanede mig ydermere ved at være troløse imod mig.

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 Jeg bragte dem til det Land jeg med løftet Haand havde svoret at give dem; men hver Gang de saa en høj Bakke eller et løvrigt Træ ofrede de der deres Slagtofre og bragte deres krænkende Offergave; der beredte de deres liflige Duft og udgød deres Drikofre.

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 Da sagde jeg til dem: »Hvad er det for en Offerhøj, I gaar hen til?« Og derfor bærer den endnu den Dag i Dag Navnet Offerhøj.

[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 Sig derfor til Israels Hus: Saa siger den Herre HERREN: Gør I eder ikke urene paa eders Fædres Vis og boler med deres væmmelige Guder?

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 Ja, naar I bringer eders Gaver, naar I lader eders Sønner gaa igennem Ilden, gør I eder den Dag i Dag urene til Ære for alle eders Afgudsbilleder — og saa skulde jeg lade mig raadspørge af eder, Israels Hus? Saa sandt jeg lever, lyder det fra den Herre HERREN: Jeg lader mig ikke raadspørge af eder!

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 Hvad der er kommet op i eders Sind, skal visselig ikke ske; I siger: »Vi vil være som Folkene, som Slægterne i andre Lande og dyrke Træ og Sten!«

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 Saa sandt jeg lever, lyder det fra den Herre HERREN: Med stærk Haand og udstrakt Arm og udøst Vrede vil jeg vise, at jeg er eders Konge.

[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 Med stærk Haand og udstrakt Arm og udøst Vrede vil jeg føre eder bort fra Folkeslagene og samle eder fra de Lande, hvor I er spredt,

With my great power I will gather you from the places to which you have been scattered,

35 og bringe eder til Folkeslagenes Ørken, og der vil jeg gaa i Rette med eder Ansigt til Ansigt.

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 Som jeg gik i Rette med eders Fædre i Ægyptens Ørken, vil jeg gaa i Rette med eder, lyder det fra den Herre HERREN.

I will punish you, like I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt.

37 Jeg vil lade eder gaa under Staven og føre eder fuldtalligt frem.

I will count you [MTY] as you walk by, and I will force you to obey the agreement that I made with you.

38 Jeg vil fraskille dem, der var genstridige og faldt fra mig; jeg fører dem ud af deres Udlændigheds Land, men til Israels Land skal de ikke komme; og I skal kende, at jeg er HERREN.

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 Men I, Israels Hus! Saa siger den Herre HERREN: Gaa hen og dyrk hver sit Afgudsbillede, men siden skal I visselig høre min Røst og ikke mere vanhellige mit hellige Navn med eders Offergaver og Afgudsbilleder.

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 Thi paa mit hellige Bjerg, paa Israels høje Bjerg, lyder det fra den Herre HERREN, der skal hele Israels Hus i Landet tjene mig; der vil jeg vise dem mit Velbehag, og der vil jeg spørge efter eders Offerydelser og Førstegrødegaver, alt, hvad I vil hellige.

[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 Ved den liflige Duft vil jeg vise eder mit Velbehag, naar jeg fører eder ud fra Folkeslagene og samler eder fra alle de Lande, hvor I er spredt, og jeg vil paa eder vise mig som den Hellige for Folkenes Øjne.

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 Og I skal kende, at jeg er HERREN, naar jeg fører eder til Israels Jord, det Land, jeg med løftet Haand svor at give eders Fædre.

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 Der skal I ihukomme eders Veje og alle de Gerninger, I gjorde eder urene med, saa I ledes ved eder selv for alt det onde, I øvede.

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 Og I skal kende, at jeg er HERREN, naar jeg gør saaledes med eder for mit Navns Skyld, ikke efter eders onde Veje og skændige Gerninger, Israels Hus, lyder det fra den Herre HERREN.

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 HERRENS Ord kom til mig saaledes:

Yahweh gave me another message. He said,

46 Menneskesøn, vend dit Ansigt mod Sønden og lad din Tale strømme sønderpaa og profeter mod Sydlandets Skov!

“You human, turn toward the south. Preach about what will happen to that dry land, to the forest there.

47 Sig til Sydlandets Skov: Hør HERRENS Ord! Saa siger den Herre HERREN: Jeg sætter Ild paa dig, og den skal fortære alle Træer i dig, baade friske og tørre; den luende Ild skal ikke slukkes, og alle Ansigter skal svides fra Syd til Nord.

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 Og alt Kød skal se, at jeg, HERREN, har tændt den; den skal ikke slukkes!

Everyone will see that it is I, Yahweh, who have lit this fire, and no one will [be able to] put it out.” '”

49 Da sagde jeg: »Ak, Herre, HERRE, de siger om mig, at jeg altid taler i Lignelser!«

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.’”