< Ezekiel 20 >
1 And it happened that, in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, men from the elders of Israel arrived, so that they might inquire of the Lord, and they sat 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 And 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 you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Have you arrived in order to inquire of me? As I live, I will not answer you, says 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 If you judge them, if you judge, O son of man, reveal to them 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 you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: In the day when I chose Israel, and I lifted up my hand on behalf of the stock of the house of Jacob, and I appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and I lifted up my hand on their behalf, saying, ‘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 in that day, I lifted up my hand for their sake, so that I would lead them away from the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which was singular among 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: ‘Let each one cast away the offenses of his eyes, and do not choose to 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 provoked me, and they were not willing to listen to me. Each one of them did not cast away the abominations of his eyes, nor did they leave behind the idols of Egypt. And so, I said that I would pour out my indignation upon them, and fulfill my wrath against them, in the midst of 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, so that it would not be violated in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I appeared to them, so that I might lead them away from 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 Therefore, I cast them out of the land of Egypt, and I led them away into the desert.
Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndaamatongoririe ngĩmaruta bũrũri wa Misiri, ngĩmarehe werũ-inĩ.
11 And I gave them my precepts, and I revealed to them my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them.
Nĩndamaheire kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo na ngĩmamenyithia mawatho makwa, nĩgũkorwo mũndũ ũrĩa ũrĩmaathĩkagĩra nĩagatũũrio nĩmo.
12 Moreover, I also gave to them my Sabbaths, so that these would be a sign between me and them, and 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 But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert. They did not walk in my precepts, and they cast aside my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they grievously violated my Sabbaths. Therefore, I said that I would pour out my fury upon them in the desert, and that I would consume them.
“‘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, lest it be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast them out, in their sight.
No ngĩĩka ũndũ nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa, nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio cieyoneire na maitho ngĩmaruta kuo.
15 And so I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, so as not to lead them into the land that I had given to them, flowing with milk and honey, the foremost 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 For they cast aside my judgments, and they did not walk in my precepts, and they violated my Sabbaths. For their heart went after 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 my eye was lenient concerning them, so that I did not utterly destroy them, nor did I consume them in the desert.
No rĩrĩ, nĩndamaiguĩrĩire tha, ngĩaga kũmaananga kana kũmaniinĩra kũu werũ-inĩ.
18 Then I said to their sons in the wilderness: ‘Do not choose to advance by the precepts of your fathers, nor should you observe their judgments. And do not be defiled by 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 precepts, and observe my judgments, and accomplish them.
Niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu; rũmagĩrĩrai kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na mũmenyagĩrĩre mawatho makwa.
20 And sanctify my Sabbaths, so that these may be a sign between me and you, and 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 their sons provoked me. They did not walk in my precepts. And they did not observe my judgments, so as to do them; for if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they violated my Sabbaths. And so, I threatened that I would pour out my fury upon them, and that I would fulfill my wrath among them in the desert.
“‘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 turned aside my hand, and I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast them out, before their eyes.
No nĩndagirĩrĩirie guoko gwakwa, na ngĩĩka ũndũ, nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio cieyoneire ngĩmaruta kuo.
23 Again, I lifted up my hand against them, in the wilderness, so that I would disperse them among the nations, and scatter them among the lands.
Ningĩ nĩndehĩtire harĩo njoete guoko na igũrũ kũu werũ-inĩ, ngiuga atĩ nĩngamahurunjĩra ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ, na ndĩmaharaganĩrie mabũrũri-inĩ,
24 For they had not accomplished my judgments, and they had rejected my precepts, and they had violated my Sabbaths. And their eyes had been after 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 Therefore, I also gave them precepts that were not good, and judgments by which they shall not live.
Ngĩcooka ngĩmarekereria irĩra-inĩ iria itaarĩ njega, na mawatho marĩa matangĩmatũũria;
26 And I defiled them by their own gifts, when they offered everything that opened the womb, because of their offenses. And they shall 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 For this reason, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God. Yet also in this did your fathers blaspheme me, after they had spurned and despised 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 though I had led them into the land, about which I lifted up my hand, so that I might give it to them: They saw every lofty hill and every leafy tree, and there they immolated their victims, and there they presented the provocation of their oblations, and there they stationed their sweet fragrances, and poured out their libations.
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 And I said to them, ‘What is exalted about the place to which you go?’ And yet its name is called ‘Exalted,’ even to this day.
Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngĩmooria atĩrĩ: Gĩtũmi gĩa kũndũ kũu gũtũũgĩru mũthiiaga nĩ kĩĩ?’” (Nakuo gwĩtagwo Bama nginya ũmũthĩ.)
30 Because of this, say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Certainly, you are defiled by the way of your fathers, and you have fornicated after their stumbling blocks.
“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 And you are being defiled by all of your idols, even to this day, by the oblation of your gifts, when you lead your sons through the fire. And should I respond to you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not answer 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 And the plan of your mind will not occur, saying: ‘We will be like the Gentiles, and like the families of the earth, so that we worship what is wood and stone.’
“‘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 I live, says the Lord God, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured forth.
Mwathani Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa niĩ ndũũraga muoyo, ngaamwathaga na guoko kũrĩ hinya, na guoko gũtambũrũkĩtio, na mangʼũrĩ maitanĩrĩirio.
34 And I will lead you away from the peoples. And I will gather you from the lands into which you were dispersed. I will reign over you with a powerful hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.
Nĩngamũruta ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ na guoko kũrĩ hinya, na guoko gũtambũrũkĩtio, o na mangʼũrĩ maitanĩrĩirio, ndĩmũcookererie kuuma mabũrũri-inĩ marĩa mwahurunjirwo.
35 And I will lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there 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 contended in judgment against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so also will I enter into judgment with you, says 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 And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will lead you into the bonds of the covenant.
Nĩngamũrũmbũiya ngĩmũhĩtũkĩria rungu rwa rũthanju rwakwa, na nĩngamũrehe ndĩmuohanie na kĩrĩkanĩro gĩakwa.
38 And I will select, from among you, the transgressors and the impious. And I will lead them away from the land of their sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. And you shall 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, house of Israel: thus says the Lord God: Walk, each one of you, after your idols and serve them. But if in this also you will not listen to me, and you continue to defile my holy name with your gifts and with your 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 on my holy mountain, on the exalted mountain of Israel, says the Lord God, there all the house of Israel shall serve me; all of them, I say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there I will require your first-fruits, and the foremost of your tithes, with all your sanctifications.
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 I will receive from you a fragrance of sweetness, when I will have led you away from the peoples, and gathered you from the lands into which you were dispersed. And I will be sanctified in you before the eyes 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 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have led you into the land of Israel, into the land about which I lifted up my hand, so that I would give it to 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 And there you shall remember your ways and all your wickedness, by which you have been defiled. And you will be displeased with yourselves in your own sight, over all your evil deeds which you did.
Mũrĩ kũu nĩmũkaririkana mĩtugo yanyu na ciĩko ciothe iria mwĩthaahĩtie nacio, na inyuĩ nĩmũkeemena nĩ ũndũ wa ũũru ũrĩa wothe mwaneeka.
44 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have acted well toward you for the sake of my name, and not according to your evil ways, nor according to your very great wickedness, O house of Israel, says 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 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
Ningĩ kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩkĩnginyĩrĩra, ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ,
46 “Son of man, set your face against the way of the south, and pour in drops toward Africa, and prophesy against the forest of the field of the meridian.
“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 And you shall say to the meridian forest: Listen to the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and I will burn up within you every green tree and every dry tree. The flame of the kindling will not be extinguished. And every face will be burned up within it, from the south, even to the north.
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 And all flesh will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, and that it will not be extinguished.”
Mũndũ o wothe nĩakoona atĩ niĩ Jehova nĩ niĩ ndĩwakĩtie; ndũkahoreka.’”
49 And I said: “Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God! They are saying about me: ‘Does this man not speak except through parables?’”
Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngiuga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ! Mwathani Jehova. Maraaria ũhoro wakwa, makoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Githĩ to kwaria araaria na ngerekano?’”