Ezekiel 20
1 In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.
Mwaka-inĩ wa mũgwanja, mũthenya wa ikũmi wa mweri wa gatano, athuuri amwe a Isiraeli magĩũka gũtuĩria ũhoro harĩ Jehova, nao magĩikara thĩ hau mbere yakwa.
2 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Hĩndĩ ĩyo kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩkĩnginyĩrĩra ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ:
3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.
“Mũrũ wa mũndũ, arĩria athuuri a Isiraeli, ũmeere atĩrĩ, ‘Mwathani Jehova ekũũria atĩrĩ: Anga mũũkĩte gũtuĩria ũhoro harĩ niĩ? Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa niĩ ndũũraga muoyo-rĩ, ndingĩreka mũtuĩrie ũhoro harĩ niĩ, ũguo nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga.’
4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers
“Nĩũkũmatuĩra ciira? Nĩũkũmatuĩra ciira, wee mũrũ wa mũndũ? Nĩ ũndũ ũcio marũithie, ũmeere maũndũ marĩ magigi marĩa meekagwo nĩ maithe mao,
5 and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’
ũmeere atĩrĩ, ‘Mwathani Jehova ekuuga ũũ: Mũthenya ũrĩa ndethuurĩire Isiraeli-rĩ, nĩndehĩtire harĩ njiaro cia andũ a nyũmba ya Jakubu njoete guoko na igũrũ, na ngĩmeguũrĩria kũu bũrũri wa Misiri. Ngĩmeera njoete guoko na igũrũ atĩrĩ, “Niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu.”
6 On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.
Mũthenya ũcio ndehĩtire ngĩmeera atĩ nĩngamaruta bũrũri wa Misiri, ndĩmatware bũrũri ũrĩa niĩ ndĩmacarĩirie, bũrũri ũrĩ bũthi wa iria na ũũkĩ, bũrũri mũthaka gũkĩra mabũrũri mothe.
7 And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
Na niĩ ngĩmeera atĩrĩ, “O ũmwe wanyu-rĩ, nĩatigane na mĩhiano ĩyo mĩũru mũikaraga mũcũthĩrĩirie, na mũtige gwĩthaahia na mĩhianano ĩyo ya bũrũri wa Misiri. Niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu.”
8 But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.
“‘No rĩrĩ, nĩmanemeire, makĩaga gũũthikĩrĩria; matiatiganire na mĩhiano ĩyo mĩũru ĩrĩa maikaraga macũthĩrĩirie, o na matiatiganire na mĩhianano ĩyo ya bũrũri wa Misiri. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ngiuga nĩngũmaitĩrĩria mangʼũrĩ makwa, na ndĩĩrute marakara nao marĩ o kũu bũrũri wa Misiri.
9 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
No ngĩĩka ũndũ, nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio maatũũranagia nacio, o icio cionire ngĩĩonithania kũrĩ andũ a Isiraeli na ũndũ wa kũmaruta bũrũri wa Misiri.
10 So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndaamatongoririe ngĩmaruta bũrũri wa Misiri, ngĩmarehe werũ-inĩ.
11 And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.
Nĩndamaheire kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo na ngĩmamenyithia mawatho makwa, nĩgũkorwo mũndũ ũrĩa ũrĩmaathĩkagĩra nĩagatũũrio nĩmo.
12 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Ngĩcooka ngĩmahe Thabatũ ciakwa irĩ kĩmenyithia gatagatĩ gakwa nao, nĩgeetha mamenyage atĩ niĩ Jehova nĩndamatuire atheru.
13 Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness.
“‘No rĩrĩ, andũ acio a Isiraeli nĩmanemeire kũu werũ-inĩ. Matiarũmĩrĩire kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na nĩmaregire mawatho makwa, o na gũtuĩka mũndũ ũrĩa ũmathĩkagĩra nĩagatũũrio nĩmo, na magĩthaahia Thabatũ ciakwa biũ. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio niĩ na niĩ ngiuga atĩrĩ, nĩngũmaitĩrĩria mangʼũrĩ makwa, ndĩmaniinĩre kũu werũ-inĩ.
14 But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
No ngĩĩka ũndũ nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa, nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio cieyoneire na maitho ngĩmaruta kuo.
15 Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—
Ningĩ nĩndehĩtire njoete guoko na igũrũ o kũu werũ-inĩ, ngiuga ndikamakinyia bũrũri ũrĩa ndaamaheete, bũrũri ũrĩ bũthi wa iria na ũũkĩ, na bũrũri ũrĩa mwega gũkĩra mabũrũri mothe;
16 because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.
Ndeekire ũguo tondũ nĩmaregire mawatho makwa, na matiarũmĩrĩire watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na nĩmathaahirie Thabatũ ciakwa. Nĩgũkorwo ngoro ciao nĩcieheanĩte kũrĩ mĩhianano ĩyo yao.
17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
No rĩrĩ, nĩndamaiguĩrĩire tha, ngĩaga kũmaananga kana kũmaniinĩra kũu werũ-inĩ.
18 In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.
Nĩnderire ciana ciao irĩ kũu werũ-inĩ atĩrĩ, “Tigai kũrũmĩrĩra irĩra cia watho wa maithe manyu, kana mũrũmĩrĩre mawatho mao, kana mwĩthaahie na mĩhianano yao.
19 I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.
Niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu; rũmagĩrĩrai kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na mũmenyagĩrĩre mawatho makwa.
20 Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’
Ikaragiai Thabatũ ciakwa irĩ theru, nĩguo ituĩke kĩmenyithia gatagatĩ gakwa na inyuĩ. Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩmũkamenya atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu.”
21 But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.
“‘No rĩrĩ, ciana icio nĩcianemeire: Itiarũmĩrĩire kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, o na kana ikĩmenyerera kũrũmia mawatho makwa, o na gwakorwo mũndũ ũrĩa ũmathĩkagĩra nĩagatũũrio nĩmo, nĩciathaahirie Thabatũ ciakwa. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ngiuga nĩngũciitĩrĩria mangʼũrĩ makwa, na ndũme marakara makwa maciũkĩrĩre kũu werũ-inĩ.
22 But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
No nĩndagirĩrĩirie guoko gwakwa, na ngĩĩka ũndũ, nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio cieyoneire ngĩmaruta kuo.
23 However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.
Ningĩ nĩndehĩtire harĩo njoete guoko na igũrũ kũu werũ-inĩ, ngiuga atĩ nĩngamahurunjĩra ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ, na ndĩmaharaganĩrie mabũrũri-inĩ,
24 For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.
tondũ matiathĩkĩire mawatho makwa, no nĩ kũrega maaregire kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo na magĩthaahia Thabatũ ciakwa, namo maitho mao makĩĩrirĩria mĩhianano ya maithe mao.
25 I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.
Ngĩcooka ngĩmarekereria irĩra-inĩ iria itaarĩ njega, na mawatho marĩa matangĩmatũũria;
26 And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.
nĩndarekire mathaahio nĩ ũndũ wa iheo ciao, irĩ igongona rĩa mwana o wothe wa irigithathi, nĩguo ndũme maiyũrwo nĩ guoya mũnene, na mamenye atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova.’
27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me.
“Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, wee mũrũ wa mũndũ, arĩria andũ a Isiraeli, ũmeere atĩrĩ, ‘Mwathani Jehova ekuuga ũũ: Thĩinĩ wa ũndũ ũyũ o naguo, maithe manyu nĩmanumire na ũndũ wa kũndirika:
28 When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.
Rĩrĩa ndaamareehire bũrũri ũrĩa ndeehĩtire atĩ nĩngamahe, rĩrĩa moonire kĩrĩma o gĩothe kĩraihu kana mũtĩ o wothe warĩ na mathangũ, hau nĩho maarutĩire magongona mao, makĩruta magongona marĩa maatũmire ndakare, na makĩruta ũbumba wao ũrĩa mũnungi wega, o na magĩitanga maruta mao ma kũnyuuo.
29 So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.)
Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngĩmooria atĩrĩ: Gĩtũmi gĩa kũndũ kũu gũtũũgĩru mũthiiaga nĩ kĩĩ?’” (Nakuo gwĩtagwo Bama nginya ũmũthĩ.)
30 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations?
“Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ĩra andũ a nyũmba ya Isiraeli atĩrĩ: ‘Ũũ nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga: Anga nĩmũgwĩthaahia o ta ũrĩa maithe manyu meekire, na makĩĩrirĩria mĩhiano yao mĩũru?
31 When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!
Rĩrĩa mũkũruta iheo cianyu, mũkaruta igongona rĩa kũhĩtũkithĩria ariũ anyu mwaki-inĩ-rĩ, mũthiiaga na mbere na gwĩthaahia na mĩhianano yanyu yothe o nginya ũmũthĩ. Niĩ no ndĩmwĩtĩkĩrie mũtuĩrie ũhoro harĩ niĩ, inyuĩ andũ a nyũmba ya Isiraeli? Mwathani Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa niĩ ndũũraga muoyo, ndingĩmwĩtĩkĩria mũtuĩrie ũhoro harĩ niĩ.
32 When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass.
“‘Inyuĩ mugaga atĩrĩ, “Ithuĩ tũkwenda gũtuĩka ta andũ a ndũrĩrĩ, ta kĩrĩndĩ kĩa mabũrũri ma gũkũ thĩ, arĩa matungatagĩra mĩtĩ na mahiga.” No maũndũ marĩa mwĩciirĩtie gũtirĩ hĩndĩ makaahinga.
33 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you.
Mwathani Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa niĩ ndũũraga muoyo, ngaamwathaga na guoko kũrĩ hinya, na guoko gũtambũrũkĩtio, na mangʼũrĩ maitanĩrĩirio.
34 With a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered.
Nĩngamũruta ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ na guoko kũrĩ hinya, na guoko gũtambũrũkĩtio, o na mangʼũrĩ maitanĩrĩirio, ndĩmũcookererie kuuma mabũrũri-inĩ marĩa mwahurunjirwo.
35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
Nĩngamũrehe werũ-inĩ wa ndũrĩrĩ, na kũu nĩkuo ngaamũtuĩra ciira tũkĩonanaga ũthiũ kwa ũthiũ.
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, declares the Lord GOD.
O ta ũrĩa ndaatuĩrĩire maithe manyu ciira kũu werũ-inĩ wa bũrũri wa Misiri-rĩ, ũguo noguo ngaamũtuĩra ciira, ũguo nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga.
37 I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
Nĩngamũrũmbũiya ngĩmũhĩtũkĩria rungu rwa rũthanju rwakwa, na nĩngamũrehe ndĩmuohanie na kĩrĩkanĩro gĩakwa.
38 And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Nĩngamũtheria, ndĩmwehererie andũ arĩa aremi na arĩa manjũkagĩrĩra. O na gũtuĩka nĩngamaruta bũrũri ũrĩa matũũraga-rĩ, matigatoonya bũrũri wa Isiraeli. Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩmũkamenya atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova.
39 And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.
“‘No inyuĩ andũ a nyũmba ya Isiraeli-rĩ, ũũ nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga: Thiĩi mũndũ o mũndũ mũgatungatĩre mĩhianano yanyu! Ti-itherũ thuutha ũcio, nĩmũgathikĩrĩria na mũtigacooka gũthaahia rĩĩtwa rĩakwa itheru na iheo cianyu na mĩhianano yanyu.
40 For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
Ũũ nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga: Nĩgũkorwo kĩrĩma-inĩ gĩakwa gĩtheru, kĩrĩma kĩrĩa kĩraihu gĩa Isiraeli, kũu bũrũri ũcio nĩkuo andũ a nyũmba yothe ya Isiraeli makaandungatagĩra, na kũu nĩkuo ngaametĩkĩrĩra. Kũu nĩkuo ngaabatario nĩ maruta manyu na iheo cianyu iria njega, o hamwe na magongona manyu mothe marĩa maamũre.
41 When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.
Nĩngamwĩtĩkĩra ta mũrĩ ũbumba ũrĩ na mũtararĩko mwega, rĩrĩa ngamũruta ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ, ndĩmũcookererie kuuma mabũrũri-inĩ marĩa mwahurunjirwo, na nĩngeyonania atĩ ndĩ mũtheru gatagatĩ kanyu maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ.
42 Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give your fathers.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩmũkamenya atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova, rĩrĩa ngaamũcookia bũrũri wa Isiraeli, bũrũri ũrĩa ndehĩtire njoete guoko na igũrũ atĩ nĩngaũhe maithe manyu.
43 There you will remember your ways and all the deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you have done.
Mũrĩ kũu nĩmũkaririkana mĩtugo yanyu na ciĩko ciothe iria mwĩthaahĩtie nacio, na inyuĩ nĩmũkeemena nĩ ũndũ wa ũũru ũrĩa wothe mwaneeka.
44 Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.”
Nĩmũkamenya atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova, rĩrĩa ngaamwĩka maũndũ macio nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa, no ti kũringana na mĩthiĩre yanyu mĩũru, na mĩtugo yanyu mĩũru, na maũndũ manyu mooru marĩa mwĩkaga, inyuĩ andũ a nyũmba ya Isiraeli, ũguo nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga.’”
45 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ningĩ kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩkĩnginyĩrĩra, ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ,
46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
“Mũrũ wa mũndũ, roria ũthiũ waku mwena wa gũthini; hunjia ũhoro wa gũũkĩrĩra mwena wa gũthini, na ũrathe ũhoro wa gũũkĩrĩra mũtitũ wa bũrũri ũcio wa mwena wa gũthini.
47 Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.
Ĩra mũtitũ ũcio wa mwena wa gũthini atĩrĩ: ‘Igua kiugo kĩa Jehova. Ũũ nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga: Ndĩ hakuhĩ gwakia mwaki thĩinĩ waku, naguo nĩũkaniina mĩtĩ yaku yothe, ĩrĩa mĩigũ nginya ĩrĩa mĩũmũ. Rũrĩrĩmbĩ rũu rũtikahoreka, na ũthiũ o wothe kuuma mwena wa gũthini nginya mwena wa gathigathini nĩũgaacinwo nĩruo.
48 Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”
Mũndũ o wothe nĩakoona atĩ niĩ Jehova nĩ niĩ ndĩwakĩtie; ndũkahoreka.’”
49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”
Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngiuga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ! Mwathani Jehova. Maraaria ũhoro wakwa, makoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Githĩ to kwaria araaria na ngerekano?’”
