Ezekiel 20
1 AND it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me.
Ngomnyaka wesikhombisa, ngenyanga yesihlanu ngosuku lwetshumi, abanye babadala bako-Israyeli bafika bezebuza uThixo, bahlala phansi phambi kwami.
2 Then came the word of the Lord unto me, saying,
Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kimi lisithi:
3 Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
“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 Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Uzabahlulela na? Uzabahlulela na, ndodana yomuntu? Ngakho batshele ngezenzo zaboyise ezinengayo
5 And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, 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 the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
Ngalolosuku ngafunga kubo ukuthi ngizabakhupha eGibhithe ngibase elizweni engabadingela lona, ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju, elihle kakhulu kulamazwe wonke.
7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols 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 rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land 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 for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth 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 Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
Ngakho ngabakhupha eGibhithe ngabasa enkangala.
11 And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.
Ngabanika izimiso zami ngabazisa lemithetho yami, ngoba umuntu oyilalelayo uzaphila ngayo.
12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might 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 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury 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 for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
Kodwa ngenxa yebizo lami, ngenza okwakuzalivikela ekungcolisweni phambi kwezizwe engabakhupha zikhangele.
15 Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
Njalo isandla siphakanyisiwe ngafunga kubo enkangala ukuthi angiyikubafikisa elizweni engangibaphe lona, ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju, elihle kakhulu kulamazwe wonke,
16 Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
ngoba imithetho yami bayala njalo kabalandelanga izimiso zami, batshaphaza lamaSabatha ami futhi. Ngoba inhliziyo zabo zazinamathele ezithombeni zabo.
17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
Ikanti ngabazwela isihawu kangaze ngababhubhisa kumbe ngibaqede enkangala.
18 But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
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 statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;
Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu; landelani izimiso zami linanzelele ukugcina imithetho yami.
20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye 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 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
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 Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
Kodwa ngazithiba, njalo ngenxa yebizo lami ngenza okwakuzalivikela ekungcolisweni phambi kwezizwe engabakhupha zikhangele.
23 I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
Njalo isandla siphakanyisiwe ngafunga kubo enkangala ukuthi ngangizabahlakazela phakathi kwezizwe ngibachithachithele emazweni,
24 Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
ngoba babengayilalelanga imithetho yami kodwa bezalile izimiso zami batshaphaza amaSabatha ami, lamehlo abo alangazela izithombe zaboyise.
25 Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
Futhi ngabanikela ezimisweni ezazingalunganga kanye lemithetho ababengeke baphile ngayo;
26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.
ngabayekela bangcoliswa yizipho zabo, imihlatshelo yamazibulo wonke ukuze ngibenze besabe khona bezakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo.’
27 Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
Ngakho-ke, ndodana yomuntu, khuluma labantu bako-Israyeli uthi kubo, ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Ngakho lokhu, labokhokho benu bangithuka ngokungilahla.
28 For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there 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 Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.
Ngasengisithi kubo: Iyini indawo le ephakemeyo eliya kuyo?’” (Ithiwa yiBhama lalamhlanje.)
30 Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?
“Ngakho tshono endlini ka-Israyeli uthi: ‘Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Lizazingcolisa yini njengabokhokho benu njalo lilangazele izithombe zabo ezenyanyekayo na?
31 For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.
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 that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
Lina lithi, “Sifuna ukuba njengezizwe, njengabantu basemhlabeni, abakhonza izigodo lamatshe.” Kodwa lokho elilakho engqondweni akusoze kwenzakale.
33 As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
Ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngikhona, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi, ngizalibusa ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo kanye lolaka oluphuphumayo.
34 And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.
Ngizalithatha ezizweni ngiliqoqe emazweni elalihlakazelwe kuwo ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo kanye lolaka oluphuphumayo.
35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
Ngizalisa enkangala yezizwe, kuthi khonapho sikhangelene ubuso ngobuso, ngizaletha ukwahlulela kwami phezu kwenu.
36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.
Njengoba ngahlulela okhokho benu enkangala yelizwe laseGibhithe, lani ngizalahlulela kanjalo, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.
37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
Ngizalinanzelela lapho lisedlula ngaphansi kwentonga yami, ngenze lani isibopho sesivumelwano.
38 And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am 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 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
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 in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with 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 your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.
Ngizalamukela njengempepha elephunga elimnandi lapho sengilikhupha ezizweni njalo sengiliqoqa emazweni elalihlakazelwe kuwo, njalo ngizazibonakalisa ngingongcwele phakathi kwenu phambi kwezizwe.
42 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine 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 there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
Khonapho-ke lizakhumbula ukuziphatha kwenu lazozonke izenzo elizingcolise ngazo, njalo lizazenyanya ngenxa yobubi bonke elibenzileyo.
44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God.
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 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kimi lisithi:
46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
“Ndodana yomuntu, khangela ngaseningizimu; tshumayela okubi ngeningizimu uphrofithe okubi ngelizwe laseningizimu.
47 And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
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 see that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
Umuntu wonke uzabona ukuthi mina Thixo yimi engiwuthungeleyo; kawuyikucitsha.’”
49 Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Ngasengisithi, “Awu Thixo Wobukhosi! Bathi kimi, ‘Kakhulumi imifanekiso kuphela nje na?’”
