Hezekiel 20
1 Le ƒe adrelia ƒe ɣleti atɔ̃lia ƒe ŋkeke ewolia gbe la, Israel ƒe ametsitsi aɖewo va gbe bia ge Yehowa, eye wonɔ anyi ɖe nye ŋkume.
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.
2 Tete Yehowa ƒe nya va nam be,
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
3 “Ame vi, ƒo nu na Israel ƒe ametsitsiwo, eye nàgblɔ na wo be, ‘Esiae nye nya si Aƒetɔ Yehowa gblɔ. Nyee mieva gbe bia gea? Meta nye agbe be nyemana miabia gbem o. Aƒetɔ Yehowae gblɔe.’
Son of man, speak to the elders of the house of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord; Are ye come to enquire of me? [As] I live, I will not be enquired of by you, saith the Lord.
4 “Ame vi, àdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu woa? Àdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu woa? Ekema tsɔ wo fofowo ƒe ŋunyɔnuwɔnawo ɖo woƒe ŋkume,
Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities of their fathers:
5 eye nàgblɔ na wo be, ‘Nya si Aƒetɔ Yehowa gblɔe nye gbe si gbe metia Israel la, mekɔ nye asi dzi, meka atam na Yakob ƒe aƒe ƒe dzidzimeviwo, eye meɖe ɖokuinye fia wo le Egipte. Mekɔ nye asi dzi hegblɔ na wo be, “Nyee nye Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu la.”
and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith 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;
6 Gbe ma gbe la, meka atam na wo be makplɔ wo ado goe le Egipte ayi anyigba aɖe si medi da ɖi na wo la dzi, anyigba si dzi notsi kple anyitsi tsana le. Anyigba sia nyo wu bubuawo katã.
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.
7 Megblɔ na wo be, “Mia dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe naɖe asi le aklamakpakpɛ dzodzro siwo dzi mieda ŋku ɖo la ŋu, eye migagblẽ kɔ ɖo na mia ɖokuiwo kple Egipte legbawo o. Nyee nye Aƒetɔ Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu la.”
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.
8 “‘Ke wodze aglã ɖe ŋutinye, eye womeɖo tom o; womeɖe asi le aklamakpakpɛ dzodzro siwo dzi woda ŋku ɖo la ŋu o, eye womeɖe asi le woƒe Egipte legbawo hã ŋu o. Ale megblɔ be matrɔ nye dziku akɔ ɖe wo dzi eye magblẽ nye dɔmedzoe ɖe wo ŋu le Egipte.
But they revolted from me, and would not hearken 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.
9 Ke le nye ŋkɔ ta, mekplɔ wo do goe tso Egipte dukɔ la me. Mewɔ nu sia be womagado gu nye ŋkɔ le dukɔ siwo dome wonɔ, ame siwo dome meɖe ɖokuinye fia Israel le.
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, among whom I was made known to them in their sight, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
10 Eya ta mekplɔ wo dzoe le Egipte yi gbegbe la.
And I brought them into the wilderness.
11 Metsɔ nye ɖoɖowo na wo, eye mena wonya wo to nye seawo me, elabena ame si awɔ nye seawo dzi la, anɔ agbe.
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.
12 Kpe ɖe esia ŋu la, metsɔ nye Dzudzɔgbewo na wo abe dzesi si le mía dome ene, ale be woanya be, Yehowae wɔ wo wozu kɔkɔe.
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.
13 “‘Ke Israelviwo dze aglã ɖe ŋunye le gbegbe la. Womelé nye ɖoɖowo me ɖe asi o, ke boŋ wogbe nye seawo, togbɔ be ame si wɔa nye seawo dzi la, anɔ agbe. Wogblẽ kɔ ɖo na nye Dzudzɔgbewo. Ale megblɔ be matrɔ nye dziku akɔ ɖe wo dzi, eye matsrɔ̃ wo le gbegbe la.
And I said to the house of Israel in the wilderness, Walk ye 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.
14 Ke le nye ŋkɔ ta, mewɔ nu si aɖe nye ŋkɔ tso gudodoe me le dukɔ siwo ŋkume meɖe wo tso Egipte le.
But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned before the Gentiles, before whose eyes I brought them out.
15 Kpe ɖe esia ŋu la, mekɔ nye asi dzi heka atam na wo le gbea dzi be nyemakplɔ wo ayi anyigba si mena wo, anyigba si dzi notsi kple anyitsi bɔ ɖo, anyigba si nya kpɔna wu bubuawo katã la dzi o;
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:
16 elabena wogbe nye seawo, womezɔ ɖe nye ɖoɖowo nu o, wogblẽ kɔ ɖo na nye Dzudzɔgbewo, eye woƒe dzi ku ɖe woƒe legbawo ŋu.
because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my commandments, but profaned my sabbaths, and went after the imaginations of their hearts.
17 Ke mekpɔ nublanui na wo, eye nyemetsrɔ̃ wo le gbea dzi o.
Yet mine eyes spared them, so as [not] to destroy them utterly, and I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.
18 Megblɔ na wo viwo le gbea dzi be, “Migazɔ ɖe mia fofowo ƒe ɖoɖowo nu o, migawɔ woƒe sewo dzi o, eye migagblẽ kɔ ɖo na mia ɖokuiwo kple woƒe legbawo o.
And I said to their children in the wilderness, Walk not ye in the customs of your fathers, and keep not their ordinances, and have no fellowship with their practices, nor defile yourselves [with them].
19 Nyee nye Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu. Mizɔ ɖe nye ɖoɖowo nu, eye miakpɔ egbɔ be yewowɔ ɖe nye seawo dzi.
I [am] the Lord your God; walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;
20 Miwɔ nye Dzudzɔgbewo kɔkɔe be woanye dzesi anɔ mia dome. Ekema mianya be nyee nye Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu.”
and hallow my sabbaths, and let them be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.
21 “‘Ke ɖeviawo dze aglã ɖe ŋunye. Womezɔ ɖe nye ɖoɖowo nu o, eye womekpɔ egbɔ be yewoawɔ ɖe nye seawo dzi o, togbɔ be mena wonya be, ame siwo wɔ ɖe wo dzi la anɔ agbe hafi. Wogblẽ kɔ ɖo na nye Dzudzɔgbewo. Ale megblɔ be matrɔ nye dziku kple dɔmedzoe helĩhelĩ akɔ ɖe wo dzi le gbea dzi.
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.
22 Gake megbugbɔ nye asi ɖe megbe, eye le nye ŋkɔ ta la, mewɔ nu si mado gu nye ŋkɔ le dukɔ siwo ŋkume mekplɔ wo dzoe le la gbɔ o.
But I wrought so that my name might not be at all profaned before the Gentiles; and I brought them out in their sight.
23 Kpe ɖe esia ŋu la, mekɔ nye asi dzi, eye meka atam na wo le gbea dzi be mama wo ɖe dukɔwo dome, eye makaka wo ɖe anyigbawo dzi,
I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles, [and] disperse them in the countries;
24 elabena womewɔ ɖe nye sewo dzi o, ke wogbe nye ɖoɖowo, wodo gu nye Dzudzɔgbewo, eye woƒe ŋkuwo biã ɖe wo fofowo ƒe legbawo ŋu.
because they kept not mine ordinances, and rejected my commandments, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes went after the imaginations of their fathers.
25 Metsɔ ɖoɖo siwo menyo o kple se siwo nu womate ŋu anɔ agbe ɖo o la hã na wo.
So I gave them commandments [that were] not good, and ordinances in which they should not live.
26 Mena woto woƒe nunana si nye woƒe ŋgɔgbevi ɖe sia ɖe tsɔtsɔ sa vɔe la me gblẽ kɔ ɖo na wo ɖokui, ale be mana be vɔvɔ̃ naɖo wo, eye woanya be nyee nye Yehowa.’
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.
27 “Eya ta Ame vi, ƒo nu na Israelviwo, eye nàgblɔ na wo be, ‘Ale Aƒetɔ Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: le esia me hã la, mia fofowo gblɔ busunyawo ɖe ŋunye esi wotrɔ le yonyeme.
Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord: Hitherto have your fathers provoked me in their trespasses in which they transgressed against me.
28 Esi mekplɔ wo va anyigba si meka atam be mana wo dzi, eye wokpɔ to kɔkɔ aɖe alo ati aɖe si do wusuu la, afi ma wowɔa vɔsawo kple vɔsanunanawo le, eye wodoa dziku nam. Wodoa dzudzɔʋeʋĩwo, eye wowɔa woƒe nunovɔsawo.’
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.
29 Ale mebia wo be, ‘Nuxeƒe kae nye esi mieyi?’” (Woyɔa teƒe sia be “Bama” si gɔmee nye nuxeƒe va se ɖe egbe.)
And I said to them, What is Abama, that ye go in thither? and they called its name Abama, until this day.
30 “Eya ta gblɔ na Israel ƒe aƒe la be, ‘Ale Aƒetɔ Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: Ɖe miado gu mia ɖokuiwo abe ale si mia fofowo wɔ, biã ŋku ɖe aklamakpakpɛ dzodzrowo ŋua?
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord, Do ye pollute yourselves with the iniquities of your fathers, and do ye go a-whoring after their abominations,
31 Ne mietsɔ mia viwo sa vɔe le dzo me abe nunana ene la, mieyi gudodo mia ɖokuiwo dzi kple miaƒe legbawo va se ɖe egbe. Ɖe mana miabia gbem mahã, O! Israel ƒe aƒe? Meta nye agbe be nyemaɖe mɔ miabia gbem o’ Aƒetɔ Yehowae gblɔe.
and [do ye pollute yourselves] with the first-fruits of your gifts, in the offerings wherewith ye pollute yourselves in all your imaginations, until this day; and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord, I will not answer you, neither shall this thing come upon your spirit.
32 “‘Miebe míedi be míanɔ abe dukɔ bubuwo ene, abe xexemetɔwo ene, ame siwo subɔa ati kple kpe! Ke nu si le ta me na mi la, mava eme gbeɖe o.’
And it shall not be as ye say, We will be as the nations, and as the tribes of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.
33 Aƒetɔ Yehowa be, ‘Meta nye agbe be maɖu mia dzi kple asi sesẽ kple abɔ si medo ɖe dzi kple dɔmedzoe si matrɔ akɔ ɖi la.
Therefore, [as] I live, saith the Lord, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath:
34 Makplɔ mi vɛ tso dukɔwo dome, eye maƒo ƒu mi tso anyigba siwo dzi miekaka ɖo la kple asi sesẽ kpakple dɔmedzoe si matrɔ akɔ ɖi la.
I will bring you out from the nations, and will take you out of the lands wherein ye were dispersed, with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath.
35 Makplɔ mi ayi dukɔwo ƒe gbedzi, eye le ŋkume kple ŋkume, le afi ma la, mabu fɔ mi.
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and will plead with you there face to face.
36 Mahe to na mi abe ale si mehe to na mia fofowo le Egipte gbegbe la ene.’ Aƒetɔ Yehowae gblɔe.
As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you, saith the Lord.
37 ‘Malé ŋku ɖe mia ŋu, mianɔ nye ameƒoti te, eye makplɔ mi ade nubabla ƒe sewo te.
And I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will bring you in by number.
38 Maɖe ame siwo dze aglã ɖe ŋutinye la ɖa le mia dome. Togbɔ be makplɔ wo adzoe le anyigba si dzi wole hã la, womaɖo afɔ Israelnyigba dzi o. Ekema mianya be nyee nye Yehowa.’
And I will separate from among 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 ye shall know that I am the Lord, [even] the Lord.
39 “Miawo ya la, O! Israel ƒe aƒe, ale Aƒetɔ Yehowa gblɔe nye esi. ‘Miyi, eye miasubɔ miaƒe legbawo, mia dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe. Ke emegbe la, miaɖo tom kokoko, eye miagado vlo nye ŋkɔ kɔkɔe la kple miaƒe vɔsawo kple legbawo o.
And [as to] you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord, [even] the Lord; Put away each one his [evil] practices, and hereafter if ye hearken to me, then shall ye no more profane my holy name by your gifts and by devices.
40 Elabena le nye to kɔkɔe si nye Israel ƒe to kɔkɔ la dzi la, Israel ƒe aƒe blibo la asubɔm le anyigba ma dzi, eye le afi ma la, maxɔ wo.’ Aƒetɔ Yehowae gblɔe. ‘Le afi ma la, mahiã miaƒe nunana xɔasiwo kple miaƒe vɔsa kɔkɔewo.
For upon my holy mountain, on the high mountain, saith 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.
41 Maxɔ mi abe dzudzɔdodo ʋeʋĩwo ene ne meɖe mi tso dukɔwo dome, eye meƒo ƒu mi tso anyigba siwo dzi wokaka mi ɖo la.
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 ye have been dispersed; and I will be sanctified among you in the sight of the nations.
42 Ekema mianya be nyee nye Yehowa, ne mekplɔ mi va ɖo Israelnyigba si mekɔ asi dzi heka atam be matsɔ ana mia fofowo la dzi.
And ye 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.
43 Le afi ma la, miaɖo ŋku miaƒe nɔnɔme kple nu siwo katã miewɔ hegblẽ kɔ ɖo na mia ɖokuiwo la dzi, eye ŋukpe alé mi ɖe nu vɔ̃ siwo katã miewɔ la ta.
And ye shall there remember your ways, and your devices wherewith ye defiled yourselves; and ye shall bewail yourselves for all your wickedness.
44 Mianya be nyee nye Yehowa, ne mehe to na mi le nye ŋkɔ ta, eye menye le miaƒe mɔ vɔ̃wo kple miaƒe nu gbegblẽwo wɔwɔ nu o.’ O! Israel ƒe aƒe, Aƒetɔ Yehowae gblɔe.”
And ye 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, saith the Lord.
45 Yehowa ƒe nya va nam be,
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
46 “Ame vi, trɔ mo ɖo ɖe dziehe lɔƒo, gblɔ nya tsi tsitre ɖe dziehenyigba ŋu, eye nàgblɔ nya ɖi ɖe Negebnyigba ƒe avewo ŋuti.
Son of man, set thy face against Thaeman, and look toward Darom, and prophesy against the chief forest of Nageb,
47 Gblɔ na ave si le Negeb la be, ‘Se Yehowa ƒe nya. Ale Aƒetɔ Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: Esusɔ vie matɔ dzo wò, eye dzo la afia wò atiwo katã, ati mumuwo kple ƒuƒuawo siaa. Womatsi dzo la o, eye wòafia ŋkume ɖe sia ɖe tso dziehe yi anyiehe.
and thou shalt say to the forest of Nageb, Hear the word of the Lord; thus saith the Lord, [even] the Lord; Behold, I [will] kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour in thee 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.
48 Ame sia ame akpɔe be nye Yehowae do dzo la, eya ta womatsii o.’”
And all flesh shall know that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49 Eye megblɔ be, “Aa, Aƒetɔ Yehowa! Wole gbɔgblɔm tso ŋunye be, ‘Menye lo ko dom wòle oa?’”
And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?
