Ezekiel 20
1 And it cometh to pass, in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], in the tenth of the month, come in have certain of the elders of Israel to seek Jehovah, and they sit before me;
Kwasekusithi ngomnyaka wesikhombisa, ngenyanga yesihlanu, ngolwetshumi lwenyanga, abathile babadala bakoIsrayeli beza ukuzabuza iNkosi, bahlala phambi kwami.
2 and there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kimi lisithi:
3 'Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: To seek Me are ye coming in? I live — I am not sought by you — an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
Ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kubadala bakoIsrayeli, uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lize ukuzangibuza yini? Kuphila kwami, isibili kangiyikubuzwa yini, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
4 Dost thou judge them? Dost thou judge, son of man? The abominations of their fathers cause them to know,
Uzabahlulela yini, uzabahlulela yini, ndodana yomuntu? Bazise izinengiso zaboyise;
5 and thou hast said unto them: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the day of My fixing on Israel, I lift up My hand, To the seed of the house of Jacob, And am known to them in the land of Egypt, And I lift up My hand to them, Saying, I [am] Jehovah your God.
uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Ngosuku engakhetha ngalo uIsrayeli, ngaphakamisa isandla sami kunzalo yendlu kaJakobe, ngazazisa kubo elizweni leGibhithe, lapho ngiphakamisa isandla sami kibo, ngisithi: NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
6 In that day I did lift up My hand to them, To bring them forth from the land of Egypt, Unto a land that I spied out for them, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it [is] to all the lands,
Ngalolusuku ngaphakamisa isandla sami kubo, ukuthi ngibakhuphe elizweni leGibhithe ngibase elizweni engangibahlolele lona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe.
7 And I say unto them, Let each cast away the detestable things of his eyes, And with the idols of Egypt be not defiled, I [am] Jehovah your God.
Ngasengisithi kubo: Lahlani ngulowo lalowo izinengiso zamehlo akhe, lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zeGibhithe: NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
8 And — they rebel against Me, And have not been willing to hearken to Me, Each, the detestable things of their eyes, They have not cast away, And the idols of Egypt have not forsaken, And I say — to pour out My fury on them, To complete Mine anger against them, In the midst of the land of Egypt.
Kodwa bangivukela, bengavumi ukulalela kimi, kabalahlanga ngulowo lalowo izinengiso zamehlo abo, kabatshiyanga izithombe zeGibhithe. Ngasengisithi ngizathululela ukuthukuthela kwami phezu kwabo, ukuze ngiphelelise ulaka lwami ngimelene labo phakathi kwelizwe leGibhithe.
9 And I do [it] for My name's sake, Not to pollute [it] before the eyes of the nations, In whose midst they [are], Before whose eyes I became known to them, To bring them out from the land of Egypt.
Kodwa ngakwenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa emehlweni ezizwe, ababephakathi kwazo, engazazisa kubo phambi kwamehlo azo, ukubakhupha elizweni leGibhithe.
10 And I bring them out of the land of Egypt, And I bring them in unto the wilderness,
Ngakho ngabakhupha elizweni leGibhithe, ngabangenisa enkangala.
11 And I give to them My statutes, And my judgments I caused them to know, Which the man who doth — liveth by them.
Ngabanika izimiso zami, ngabazisa izahlulelo zami, okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo.
12 And also My sabbaths I have given to them, To be for a sign between Me and them, To know that I [am] Jehovah their sanctifier.
Ngabanika futhi amasabatha ami ukuze abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami labo, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi ebangcwelisayo.
13 And — rebel against me do the house of Israel in the wilderness, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have despised, Which the man who doth — liveth by them. And My sabbaths they have greatly polluted, And I say to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
Kodwa indlu kaIsrayeli yangivukela enkangala; kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, badelela izahlulelo zami, okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo; lamasabatha ami bawangcolisa kakhulu. Ngasengisithi ngizathululela ukuthukuthela kwami phezu kwabo enkangala, ukuze ngibaqede.
14 And I do [it] for My name's sake, Not to pollute [it] before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them forth.
Kodwa ngakwenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa emehlweni ezizwe, engabakhupha emehlweni azo.
15 And also, I, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, Not to bring them in to the land that I had given, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it [is] to all the lands,
Futhi lami ngabaphakamisela isandla sami enkangala, ukuthi kangiyikubaletha elizweni engangilinike bona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe;
16 Because against My judgments they did kick, And in My statutes they have not walked, And My sabbaths they have polluted, For after their idols their heart is going.
ngoba badelela izahlulelo zami, kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, kodwa bangcolisa amasabatha ami, ngoba inhliziyo yabo yalandela izithombe zabo.
17 And Mine eye hath pity on them — against destroying them, And I have not made of them an end in the wilderness.
Lanxa kunjalo ilihlo lami labahawukela ukuze ngingababhubhisi, futhi kangibaqedanga enkangala.
18 And I say to their sons in the wilderness: In the statutes of your fathers ye walk not, And their judgments ye do not observe, And with their idols ye are not defiled.
Kodwa ngathi kubantwana babo enkangala: Lingahambi ngezimiso zaboyihlo, lingagcini izahlulelo zabo, lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zabo.
19 I [am] Jehovah your God, in My statutes walk, And My judgments observe, and do them,
NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu; hambani ngezimiso zami, ligcine izahlulelo zami, lizenze.
20 And My sabbaths sanctify, And they have been for a sign between Me and you, To know that I, Jehovah, [am] your God.
Lingcwelise amasabatha ami, abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami lani, ukuze lazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
21 And — the sons rebel against Me, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have not observed — to do them, Which the man who doth — liveth by them. My sabbaths they have polluted, And I say to pour out My fury upon them, To complete Mine anger against them in the wilderness.
Kodwa abantwana bangivukela; kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, kabagcinanga izahlulelo zami ukuthi bazenze; okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo; bawangcolisa amasabatha ami; ngasengisithi ngizathululela intukuthelo yami phezu kwabo, ukuthi ngiphelelise ulaka lwami ngimelene labo enkangala.
22 And I have turned back My hand, And I do [it] for My name's sake, Not to pollute [it] before the eyes of the nations, Before whose eyes I brought them out.
Kodwa ngabuyisa isandla sami, ngenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa phambi kwamehlo ezizwe, engangibakhuphe phambi kwamehlo azo.
23 I also, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, To scatter them among nations, And to spread them through lands.
Mina ngabaphakamisela isandla sami futhi enkangala, ukuthi ngizabahlakaza phakathi kwezizwe, ngibasabalalisele emazweni;
24 Because My judgments they have not done, And My statutes they have despised, And My sabbaths they have polluted, And after idols of their fathers have their eyes been.
ngoba bengazenzanga izahlulelo zami, kodwa badelela izimiso zami, bangcolisa amasabatha ami, lamehlo abo alandela izithombe zaboyise.
25 And I also, I have given to them statutes not good, And judgments by which they do not live.
Ngakho mina ngabanika futhi izimiso ezazingalunganga, lezahlulelo ababengeke baphile ngazo.
26 And I defile them by their own gifts, By causing to pass away every opener of a womb, So that I make them desolate, So that they know that I [am] Jehovah.
Ngasengibangcolisa kuzo izipho zabo, ekudabuliseni kwaboemlilweni konke okuvula isizalo, ukuze ngibachithe, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.
27 Therefore, speak unto the house of Israel, son of man, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Still in this have your fathers reviled Me, In their committing against Me a trespass.
Ngakho, ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kuyo indlu yakoIsrayeli, uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lakulokhu oyihlo bangihlambazile, ngokuthi baphambeke isiphambeko bemelene lami.
28 And I bring them in unto the land, That I did lift up My hand to give to them, And they see every high hill, and every thick tree, And they sacrifice there their sacrifices, And give there the provocation of their offering, And make there their sweet fragrance, And they pour out there their libations.
Lapho sengibalethe elizweni, engaphakamisela isandla sami ngalo ukuthi ngibanike lona, babona lonke uqaqa oluphakemeyo, lazo zonke izihlahla eziqatha, bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yabo, banikela khona isicunulo somnikelo wabo, bafaka khona iphunga labo elimnandi, bathulula khona iminikelo yabo yokunathwayo.
29 And I say unto them: What [is] the high place whither ye are going in? And its name is called 'high place' to this day.
Ngasengisithi kubo: Iyini indawo ephakemeyo eliya kuyo? Lebizo layo lithiwa yiNdawo ePhakemeyo kuze kube lamuhla.
30 Therefore, say unto the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: In the way of your fathers are ye defiled? And after their detestable things go a-whoring?
Ngakho tshono kuyo indlu kaIsrayeli: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lizazingcolisa ngendlela yaboyihlo yini, liphinge lilandela izinengiso zabo?
31 And in the offering of your gifts, In causing your sons to pass through fire, Ye are defiled by all your idols to this day, And I am sought by you, O house of Israel! I live — an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, I am not sought by you.
Ngoba lapho linikela izipho zenu, lapho lisenza amadodana enu adabule emlilweni, liyazingcolisa ngezithombe zenu zonke kuze kube lamuhla. Mina-ke ngizabuzwa yini na, wena ndlu kaIsrayeli? Kuphila kwami, itsho iNkosi uJehova, isibili kangiyikubuzwa yini.
32 And that which is going up on your mind, It is not at all — in that ye are saying: We will be as the nations, as the families of the lands, To serve wood and stone.
Lalokho okuvela engqondweni yenu kakuyikuba khona ngitsho, elikutshoyo ukuthi: Sizakuba njengabezizwe, njengensapho zamazwe, ukuthi sikhonze isigodo lelitshe.
33 I live — an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, Do not I, with a strong hand, And with a stretched-out arm, And with fury poured out — rule over you?
Kuphila kwami, itsho iNkosi uJehova, isibili ngizabusa phezu kwenu ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo!
34 And I have brought you forth from the peoples, And assembled you from the lands In which ye have been scattered, With a strong hand and with a stretched-out arm, And with fury poured out.
Ngoba ngizalikhupha ebantwini, ngiliqoqe emazweni elihlakazekele kuwo, ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo.
35 And I have brought you in unto the wilderness of the peoples, And have been judged with you there face to face.
Njalo ngizaliletha enkangala yabantu, ngizaphikisana lani lapho ubuso ngobuso.
36 As I was judged with your fathers, In the wilderness of the land of Egypt, So I am judged with you, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.
Njengalokhu ngaphikisana laboyihlo enkangala yelizwe leGibhithe, ngokunjalo ngizaphikisana lani, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
37 And I have caused you to pass under the rod, And brought you into the bond of the covenant,
Njalo ngizalidlulisa ngaphansi kwentonga, ngilingenise kusibopho sesivumelwano.
38 And cleared out from you the rebels, And them transgressing against Me, From the land of their sojournings I bring them out, And unto the land of Israel they come not, And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah.
Ngihlanze ngikhuphe phakathi kwenu abavukeli lalabo abaphambeka bemelene lami, ngibakhuphe elizweni lokuhlala kwabo njengabezizwe, kodwa kabayikungena emhlabathini wakoIsrayeli. Khona lizakwazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.
39 And ye, O house of Israel, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Each his idols — go — serve ye, And, afterwards, if ye are not hearkening to me, And My holy name ye do not pollute any more by your gifts, and by your idols.
Lina-ke, ndlu kaIsrayeli, itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova, hambani likhonze, ngulowo lalowo izithombe zakhe, langemva kwalokho, uba lingangilaleli; kodwa lingangcolisi futhi ibizo lami elingcwele ngezipho zenu langezithombe zenu.
40 For, in My holy mountain, In the mountain of the height of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah, There serve Me do all the house of Israel, All of it, in the land — there I accept them, And there I do seek your heave-offerings, And with the first-fruit of your gifts, With all your holy things.
Ngoba entabeni yami engcwele, entabeni yengqonga yakoIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova, lapho izangikhonza indlu yonke yakoIsrayeli, bonke elizweni; khona ngizabemukela, lakhona ngibize iminikelo yenu, lezithelo zokuqala zeminikelo yenu, lazo zonke izinto zenu ezingcwele.
41 With sweet fragrance I do accept you, In My bringing you out from the peoples, And I have assembled you from the lands In which ye have been scattered, And I have been sanctified in you Before the eyes of the nations.
Ngizalemukela ngephunga elimnandi nxa ngilikhupha ebantwini, ngiliqoqe emazweni ebelihlakazelwe kuwo; njalo ngizangcweliswa phakathi kwenu phambi kwamehlo ezizwe.
42 And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah, In My bringing you to the ground of Israel, Unto the land that I did lift up My hand To give it to your fathers,
Lizakwazi-ke ukuthi ngiyiNkosi, lapho sengilingenise emhlabathini wakoIsrayeli, elizweni engaliphakamisela isandla sami ukulinika oyihlo.
43 And ye have remembered there your ways, And all your doings, In which ye have been defiled, And ye have been loathsome in your own faces, For all your evils that ye have done.
Lapho-ke lizakhumbula izindlela zenu lezenzo zenu zonke, elazingcolisa ngazo; njalo lizazenyanya phambi kobuso benu ngenxa yazo zonke izinto ezimbi elizenzileyo.
44 And ye have known that I [am] Jehovah, In My dealing with you for My name's sake, Not according to your evil ways, And according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.'
Beselisazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi, nxa ngenze kini ngenxa yebizo lami, hatshi njengokwezindlela zenu ezimbi, kumbe njengokwezenzo zenu zenkohlakalo, lina ndlu kaIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
45 And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,
Ilizwi leNkosi lafika kimi futhi lisithi:
46 Son of man, set thy face the way of Teman, and prophesy unto the south, and prophesy unto the forest of the field — the south;
Ndodana yomuntu, misa ubuso bakho ngasendleleni yeningizimu, utshumayele ngaseningizimu, uprofethe umelene legusu lensimu yeningizimu;
47 and thou hast said to the forest of the south: Hear a word of Jehovah: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am kindling in thee a fire, And it hath devoured in thee every moist tree, and every dry tree, Not quenched is the glowing flames, And burnt by it have been all faces from south to north.
uthi kilo igusu leningizimu: Zwana ilizwi leNkosi: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Khangela, ngizaphemba umlilo phakathi kwakho, njalo uzaqeda phakathi kwakho sonke isihlahla esiluhlaza laso sonke isihlahla esomileyo; ilangabi elivuthayo kaliyikucitshwa, kodwa kuzatshiswa ngalo bonke ubuso kusukela eningizimu kuze kufike enyakatho.
48 And seen have all flesh, that I, Jehovah, have kindled it — it is not quenched.'
Futhi yonke inyama izabona ukuthi mina Nkosi ngiwuphembile, kawuyikucitshwa.
49 And I say, 'Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?
Ngasengisithi: Hawu, Nkosi Jehova! Bathi ngami: Kakhulumi imifanekiso yini?
