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, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain men of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and they sat down before me.
2 Tete Yehowa ƒe nya va nam be,
And the word of the Lord came unto 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 unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Is it to inquire of me that ye are coming? as I live, I will not let myself be inquired of by you, saith the Lord Eternal.
4 “Ame vi, àdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu woa? Àdrɔ̃ ʋɔnu woa? Ekema tsɔ wo fofowo ƒe ŋunyɔnuwɔnawo ɖo woƒe ŋkume,
Wilt thou take them to task, wilt thou take them to task, son of man? then cause them to know the abominations 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 say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, On the day when I made choice of Israel, I lifted up my hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and I made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt: and I lifted up my hand unto them, 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.
On the same day I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them forth from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is an ornament among all the countries.
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 unto them, Cast ye away every one of the abominations of his eyes, and on the idols of Egypt shall ye not defile yourselves: 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 rebelled against me, and they would not hearken unto me; they did not cast away every one the abominations of their eyes, and the idols of Egypt did they not forsake: and I thought then to pour out my fury over them, to let out all my anger against them in the midst of the land 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 acted for the sake of my name, so as not to profane it before the eyes of the nations, in the midst of whom they were; because I had made myself known unto them before their eyes, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10 Eya ta mekplɔ wo dzoe le Egipte yi gbegbe la.
I therefore caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and 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 statutes, and my ordinances made I known to them, which a man is to do, that he may live through 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 also my sabbaths gave I unto them, to be as a sign between me and between them, that they might know that I am the Lord who 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.
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; in my statutes they walked not, and my ordinances they despised, which a man is to do, that he may live through them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned: and I then thought to pour out my fury over them in the wilderness, to make an end of 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 acted for the sake of my name, so as not to profane it before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them forth.
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;
Yet did I also lift 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 an ornament among all the countries.
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 my ordinances they had despised, and in my statutes they had not walked, and my sabbaths they had profaned; for after their idols did their heart go.
17 Ke mekpɔ nublanui na wo, eye nyemetsrɔ̃ wo le gbea dzi o.
Nevertheless my eye looked pityingly on them, so as not to destroy them, 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 unto their children in the wilderness, In the statutes of your fathers shall ye not walk, and their ordinances shall ye not keep, and on their idols shall ye not defile yourselves.
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: in my statutes must ye walk, and my ordinances must ye keep, and do them;
20 Miwɔ nye Dzudzɔgbewo kɔkɔe be woanye dzesi anɔ mia dome. Ekema mianya be nyee nye Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu.”
And my sabbaths must ye sanctify; and they shall be as a sign between me and between 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.
Nevertheless the children rebelled against me; in my statutes did they not walk, and my ordinances they kept not to do them, which a man is to do, that he may live through them; my sabbaths they profaned: and I then thought to pour out my fury over them, to let out all my anger against them in the wilderness.
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 withdrew my hand, and acted for the sake of my name, so as not to profane it before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them forth.
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 also lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through 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 my ordinances they had not executed, and my statutes they had despised, and my sabbaths they had profaned, and after the idols of their fathers their eyes were directed.
25 Metsɔ ɖoɖo siwo menyo o kple se siwo nu womate ŋu anɔ agbe ɖo o la hã na wo.
And I also let them follow statutes that were not good, and ordinances whereby they could 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 let them be defiled through their gifts, in that they caused to pass [through the fire] all that openeth the womb, in order that I might destroy them, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.
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, speak unto the house of Israel, O son of man, and say unto them, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Yet in this too did your fathers blaspheme me, by their committing a trespass 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.’
When I had brought them into the land, for which I had lifted up my hand to give it to them, they saw every high hill, and all the thick-branched trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and presented there their provoking offerings, and they brought there their sweet savor, and poured out there 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.)
Then said I unto them, What is this high-place whereunto ye go? And its name was called “The height” 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 unto the house of Israel, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Ha! do you pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers; and after their abominations do ye go astray?
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 when ye offer up your gifts, when ye make your sons pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even until this day: and I should allow myself to be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, I will not let myself be inquired of by you.
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 that which cometh up into your mind shall not at all come to pass, [namely, ] that ye say, We will be like the nations, like the families of the [other] countries, to serve wood and stone.
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.
As I live, saith the Lord Eternal, surely, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:
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.
And I will bring you out from the people, and I will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with [my] fury poured out.
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 people, and I will hold judgment over 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 held judgment over your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I hold judgment over you, saith the Lord Eternal.
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 the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
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 you those that have rebelled, and those that have transgressed against me: out of the country where they sojourn will I cause them to go forth, but into the land of Israel shall not one [of them] enter; and ye shall know that I am 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.
As for you, O house of Israel, thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me; but my holy name do not profane any more with your gifts, and with your idols.
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 on my holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal, there shall serve me all the house of Israel, altogether, in the land: there will I accept them in favor, and there will I require your heave-offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with 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.
With your sweet savor will I accept you in favor, 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 through you before the eyes 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 bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I have 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 remember there your ways, and all your doings, whereby ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves, because of all your evil deeds that ye have committed.
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 deal with you for the sake of my name, not in accordance with your wicked ways, and in accordance with your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal.
45 Yehowa ƒe nya va nam be,
And the word of the Lord came unto 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 in the direction toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.
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 say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord, Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour in thee every green tree, and every dry tree: the glowing flame shall not be quenched, and there shall be burnt therein all faces 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 see 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?’”
Then said I, Ah Lord Eternal! they say of me, Behold, he speaketh but in parables!
