Jezekiel 20
1 And it came to pass in the seventh year, on the fifteenth day of the month, there came men of the elders of the house of Israel to enquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.
Ngomnyaka wesikhombisa, ngenyanga yesihlanu ngosuku lwetshumi, abanye babadala bako-Israyeli bafika bezebuza uThixo, bahlala phansi phambi kwami.
2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kimi lisithi:
3 Son of man, speak to the elders of the house of Israel, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; Are you come to enquire of me? [As] I live, I will not be enquired of by you, says the Lord.
“Ndodana yomuntu, khuluma labadala bako-Israyeli uthi kubo, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Lilande ukuzangibuza na? Ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngikhona, kangiyikulivumela ukuthi lingibuze, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.’
4 Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities of their fathers:
Uzabahlulela na? Uzabahlulela na, ndodana yomuntu? Ngakho batshele ngezenzo zaboyise ezinengayo
5 and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; From the day that I chose the house of Israel, and became known to the seed of the house of Jacob, and was known to them in the land of Egypt, and helped them with my hand, saying, I am the Lord your God;
uthi kubo: ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Ngosuku engakhetha ngalo u-Israyeli, ngafunga kuyo inzalo yendlu kaJakhobe isandla siphakanyisiwe njalo ngiziveza kuyo iGibhithe. Isandla siphakanyisiwe ngathi kubo, “Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu.”
6 in that day I helped them with my hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into the land which I prepared for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is abundant beyond every land.
Ngalolosuku ngafunga kubo ukuthi ngizabakhupha eGibhithe ngibase elizweni engabadingela lona, ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju, elihle kakhulu kulamazwe wonke.
7 And I said to them, Let every one cast away the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the devices of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Njalo ngathi kubo, “Lowo lalowo wenu kalahle izifanekiso ezenyanyekayo elibeke amehlo enu kuzo, njalo lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zaseGibhithe. Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu.”
8 But they revolted from me, and would not listen to me: they cast not away the abominations of their eyes, and forsook not the devices of Egypt: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my wrath upon them in the midst of Egypt.
Kodwa bangihlamukela kabaze bangilalela; kabazilahlanga izithombe zabo ezenyanyekayo ababebeke amehlo abo kuzo, loba balahle izithixo zabo zaseGibhithe. Ngakho ngathi ngizathululela ulaka lwami phezu kwabo ngiqede lokuthukuthela kwami ngimelane labo eGibhithe.
9 But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they are, amongst whom I was made known to them in their sight, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
Kodwa ngenxa yebizo lami, ngenza okwakuzalivikela ekungcolisweni phambi kwezizwe ababehlala phakathi kwazo engiziveze emehlweni azo kwabako-Israyeli ngokubakhupha eGibhithe.
10 And I brought them into the wilderness.
Ngakho ngabakhupha eGibhithe ngabasa enkangala.
11 And I gave them my commandments, and made known to them mine ordinances, all which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them.
Ngabanika izimiso zami ngabazisa lemithetho yami, ngoba umuntu oyilalelayo uzaphila ngayo.
12 And I gave them my sabbaths, that they should be for a sign between me and them, that they should know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
Njalo ngabanika lamaSabatha ami njengesibonakaliso phakathi kwami labo, ukuze bakwazi ukuthi mina Thixo ngabenza baba ngcwele.
13 And I said to the house of Israel in the wilderness, Walk you in my commandments: but they walked not [in them], and they rejected mine ordinances, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them; and they grievously profaned my sabbaths: and I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
Kodwa abantu bako-Israyeli bangihlamukela enkangala. Kabazilandelanga izimiso zami kodwa bayala imithetho yami, njalo batshaphaza amaSabatha ami kakhulu, ngakho umuntu oyilalelayo uzaphila ngayo. Ngokunjalo ngathi ngizathululela ulaka lwami phezu kwabo ngibaqede du enkangala.
14 But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned before the Gentiles, before whose eyes I brought them out.
Kodwa ngenxa yebizo lami, ngenza okwakuzalivikela ekungcolisweni phambi kwezizwe engabakhupha zikhangele.
15 But I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness once for all, that I would not bring them into the land which I gave them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is sweeter than all lands:
Njalo isandla siphakanyisiwe ngafunga kubo enkangala ukuthi angiyikubafikisa elizweni engangibaphe lona, ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju, elihle kakhulu kulamazwe wonke,
16 because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my commandments, but profaned my sabbaths, and went after the imaginations of their hearts.
ngoba imithetho yami bayala njalo kabalandelanga izimiso zami, batshaphaza lamaSabatha ami futhi. Ngoba inhliziyo zabo zazinamathele ezithombeni zabo.
17 Yet mine eyes spared them, so as [not] to destroy them utterly, and I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.
Ikanti ngabazwela isihawu kangaze ngababhubhisa kumbe ngibaqede enkangala.
18 And I said to their children in the wilderness, Walk not you in the customs of your fathers, and keep not their ordinances, and have no fellowship with their practices, nor defile yourselves [with them].
Ngatsho ebantwaneni babo enkangala ngathi, “Lingalandeli izimiso zaboyihlo loba ligcine imithetho yabo loba lizingcolise ngezithombe zabo.
19 I [am] the Lord your God; walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;
Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu; landelani izimiso zami linanzelele ukugcina imithetho yami.
20 and hallow my sabbaths, and let them be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
Gcinani amaSabatha engcwele, ukuba abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami lani. Lapho-ke lizakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu.”
21 But they provoked me, and their children walked not in my commandments, and they took no heed to mine ordinances to do them, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them, and they profaned my sabbaths: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to accomplish mine anger upon them.
Kodwa abantwana bangihlamukela: Kabazilandelanga izimiso zami, kabananzanga ukugcina imithetho yami lanxa umuntu oyilalelayo ezaphila ngayo njalo batshaphaza amaSabatha ami. Ngakho ngathi ngizathululela ulaka lwami phezu kwabo ngiqedele ukuthukuthela kwami kubo enkangala.
22 But I wrought so that my name might not be at all profaned before the Gentiles; and I brought them out in their sight.
Kodwa ngazithiba, njalo ngenxa yebizo lami ngenza okwakuzalivikela ekungcolisweni phambi kwezizwe engabakhupha zikhangele.
23 I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them amongst the Gentiles, [and] disperse them in the countries;
Njalo isandla siphakanyisiwe ngafunga kubo enkangala ukuthi ngangizabahlakazela phakathi kwezizwe ngibachithachithele emazweni,
24 because they kept not mine ordinances, and rejected my commandments, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes went after the imaginations of their fathers.
ngoba babengayilalelanga imithetho yami kodwa bezalile izimiso zami batshaphaza amaSabatha ami, lamehlo abo alangazela izithombe zaboyise.
25 So I gave them commandments [that were] not good, and ordinances in which they should not live.
Futhi ngabanikela ezimisweni ezazingalunganga kanye lemithetho ababengeke baphile ngayo;
26 And I will defile them by their [own] decrees, when I pass through upon every one that opens the womb, that I may destroy them.
ngabayekela bangcoliswa yizipho zabo, imihlatshelo yamazibulo wonke ukuze ngibenze besabe khona bezakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo.’
27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord: Hitherto have your fathers provoked me in their trespasses in which they transgressed against me.
Ngakho-ke, ndodana yomuntu, khuluma labantu bako-Israyeli uthi kubo, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Ngakho lokhu, labokhokho benu bangithuka ngokungilahla.
28 Whereas I brought them into the land concerning which I lifted up mine hand to give it them; and they looked upon every high hill, and every shady tree, and they sacrificed there to their gods, and offered there sweet smelling savour, and there they poured out their drink-offerings.
Kwathi lapho sengibangenisile elizweni engangifunge ngathi ngizabapha lona, bathi bebona loba luphi uqaqa oluphakemeyo, loba siphi isihlahla esilamahlamvu amanengi, khonapho banikelela khona imihlatshelo yabo, banikela iminikelo eyangithukuthelisayo, banikela impepha yabo elephunga elimnandi, bathulula leminikelo yabo yokunathwayo.
29 And I said to them, What is Abama, that you go in there? and they called its name Abama, until this day.
Ngasengisithi kubo: Iyini indawo le ephakemeyo eliya kuyo?’” (Ithiwa yiBhama lalamhlanje.)
30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord, Do you pollute yourselves with the iniquities of your fathers, and do you go a-whoring after their abominations,
“Ngakho tshono endlini ka-Israyeli uthi: ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Lizazingcolisa yini njengabokhokho benu njalo lilangazele izithombe zabo ezenyanyekayo na?
31 and [do you pollute yourselves] with the first fruits of your gifts, in the offerings wherewith you pollute yourselves in all your imaginations, until this day; and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, says the Lord, I will not answer you, neither shall this thing come upon your spirit.
Lapho linikela izipho zenu, imihlatshelo yamadodana enu emlilweni, liyaqhubeka lizingcolisa ngazozonke izithombe zenu kuze kube lamhla. Kumele ngivume na ukuba ungibuze, wena ndlu ka-Israyeli? Ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngikhona, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi, kangiyikuvuma ukuba lingibuze.
32 And it shall not be as you say, We will be as the nations, and as the tribes of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.
Lina lithi, “Sifuna ukuba njengezizwe, njengabantu basemhlabeni, abakhonza izigodo lamatshe.” Kodwa lokho elilakho engqondweni akusoze kwenzakale.
33 Therefore, [as] I live, says the Lord, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath:
Ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngikhona, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi, ngizalibusa ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo kanye lolaka oluphuphumayo.
34 I will bring you out from the nations, and will take you out of the lands wherein you were dispersed, with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath.
Ngizalithatha ezizweni ngiliqoqe emazweni elalihlakazelwe kuwo ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo kanye lolaka oluphuphumayo.
35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and will plead with you there face to face.
Ngizalisa enkangala yezizwe, kuthi khonapho sikhangelene ubuso ngobuso, ngizaletha ukwahlulela kwami phezu kwenu.
36 As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you, says the Lord.
Njengoba ngahlulela okhokho benu enkangala yelizwe laseGibhithe, lani ngizalahlulela kanjalo, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.
37 And I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will bring you in by number.
Ngizalinanzelela lapho lisedlula ngaphansi kwentonga yami, ngenze lani isibopho sesivumelwano.
38 And I will separate from amongst you the ungodly and the revolters; for I will lead them forth out of their place of sojourning, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord, [even] the Lord.
Ngizabakhupha phakathi kwenu labo abahlamukayo bangivukele. Lanxa ngizabakhupha elizweni abahlala kulo, kodwa kabayikungena elizweni lako-Israyeli. Lapho-ke lizakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo.
39 And [as to] you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Put away each one his [evil] practices, and hereafter if you listen to me, then shall you no more profane my holy name by your gifts and by devices.
Kuwe-ke, wena ndlu ka-Israyeli, nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Hambani liyekhonza izithombe zenu, lonke! Kodwa emva kwalokho ngeqiniso lizangilalela lingalingcolisi futhi ibizo lami ngezipho zenu langezithombe.
40 For upon my holy mountain, on the high mountain, says the Lord, [even] the Lord, there shall all the house of Israel serve me for ever: and there will I accept [you], and there will I have respect to your first fruits, and the first fruits of your offerings, in all your holy things.
Ngoba entabeni yami engcwele, intaba ephakemeyo yako-Israyeli, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi, khonapho phakathi kwelizwe, yonke indlu ka-Israyeli izangikhonza, njalo khonapho ngizabamukela. Khonapho ngizafuna iminikelo yenu lezipho zenu zekhethelo ndawonye lemihlatshelo yenu yonke engcwele.
41 I will accept you with a sweet smelling savour, when I bring you out from the nations, and take you out of the countries wherein you have been dispersed; and I will be sanctified amongst you in the sight of the nations.
Ngizalamukela njengempepha elephunga elimnandi lapho sengilikhupha ezizweni njalo sengiliqoqa emazweni elalihlakazelwe kuwo, njalo ngizazibonakalisa ngingongcwele phakathi kwenu phambi kwezizwe.
42 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have brought you into the land of Israel, into the land concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers.
Lizakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo lapho sengilingenisa elizweni lako-Israyeli, ilizwe engafunga ngesandla esiphakanyisiweyo ukuthi ngizalipha okhokho benu.
43 And you shall there remember your ways, and your devices wherewith you defiled yourselves; and you shall bewail yourselves for all your wickedness.
Khonapho-ke lizakhumbula ukuziphatha kwenu lazozonke izenzo elizingcolise ngazo, njalo lizazenyanya ngenxa yobubi bonke elibenzileyo.
44 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have done thus to you, that my name may not be profaned in your evil ways, and in your corrupt devices, says the Lord.
Lizakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo lapho sengilijezisa ngenxa yebizo lami kodwa kungayisikho mayelana lezindlela zenu ezimbi kanye lezenzo zenu ezixhwalileyo, lina ndlu ka-Israyeli, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.’”
45 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kimi lisithi:
46 Son of man, set your face against Thaeman, and look towards Darom, and prophesy against the chief forest of Nageb,
“Ndodana yomuntu, khangela ngaseningizimu; tshumayela okubi ngeningizimu uphrofithe okubi ngelizwe laseningizimu.
47 and you shall say to the forest of Nageb, Hear the word of the Lord; thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Behold, I [will] kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour in you every green tree, and every dry tree: the flame that is kindled shall not be quenched, and every face shall be scorched with it from the south to the north.
Tshono ehlathini laseningizimu uthi: ‘Zwana ilizwi likaThixo. Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Sekuseduze ukuthi ngilithungele ngomlilo njalo uzaziqeda zonke izihlahla zenu, ezimanzi lezomileyo. Ilangabi elivuthayo kaliyikucitshwa, njalo ubuso bonke kusukela eningizimu kusiya enyakatho buzatshiswa yiwo.
48 And all flesh shall know that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
Umuntu wonke uzabona ukuthi mina Thixo yimi engiwuthungeleyo; kawuyikucitsha.’”
49 And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?
Ngasengisithi, “Awu Thixo Wobukhosi! Bathi kimi, ‘Kakhulumi imifanekiso kuphela nje na?’”
