Ezekieli 20
1 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.
On the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year, some of the elders of Israel came to ask advice from the Lord, and they sat down with me.
2 Hĩndĩ ĩyo kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩkĩnginyĩrĩra ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ:
Then a message from the Lord came to me, saying,
3 “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.’
“Son of man, tell these elders of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask my advice? As I live, I'm not going to answer you, declares the Lord God.
4 “Nĩũkũmatuĩra ciira? Nĩũkũmatuĩra ciira, wee mũrũ wa mũndũ? Nĩ ũndũ ũcio marũithie, ũmeere maũndũ marĩ magigi marĩa meekagwo nĩ maithe mao,
Are you going to condemn them—will you do that, son of man? Remind them about the disgusting things their forefathers did,
5 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.”
and then tell them that this is what the Lord God says: At the time I chose Israel, I held up my hand and made a solemn promise to Jacob's descendants and revealed myself to them when they were in Egypt. I held up my hand and told them, ‘I am the Lord your God.’
6 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.
I promised them on that day to lead them out of Egypt and take them to a country that I had chosen for them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country.
7 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.”
I told them: ‘All of you have to get rid of your disgusting pagan images. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’
8 “‘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.
But they rebelled against me and wouldn't do what I told them. None of them got rid of their disgusting pagan images, and they didn't give up worshiping the idols of Egypt. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in Egypt.
9 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.
But I did act so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations living near them who had seen me reveal myself to Israel by leading them out of Egypt.
10 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndaamatongoririe ngĩmaruta bũrũri wa Misiri, ngĩmarehe werũ-inĩ.
So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness.
11 Nĩndamaheire kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo na ngĩmamenyithia mawatho makwa, nĩgũkorwo mũndũ ũrĩa ũrĩmaathĩkagĩra nĩagatũũrio nĩmo.
There I gave them my laws and explained to them my regulations so that those who kept them would live.
12 Ngĩcooka ngĩmahe Thabatũ ciakwa irĩ kĩmenyithia gatagatĩ gakwa nao, nĩgeetha mamenyage atĩ niĩ Jehova nĩndamatuire atheru.
I also gave them my Sabbaths to be a sign between me and them, so that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord who makes them holy.
13 “‘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.
But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert, refusing to observe my laws and rejecting my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them and wipe them out there in the desert.
14 No ngĩĩka ũndũ nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa, nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio cieyoneire na maitho ngĩmaruta kuo.
But I still acted for them so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
15 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;
So I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I wouldn't take them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey—better than any other country—
16 Ndeekire ũguo tondũ nĩmaregire mawatho makwa, na matiarũmĩrĩire watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na nĩmathaahirie Thabatũ ciakwa. Nĩgũkorwo ngoro ciao nĩcieheanĩte kũrĩ mĩhianano ĩyo yao.
because they repeatedly rejected my regulations, refused to observe my laws, and violated my Sabbaths, and because they chose to continue worshiping idols.
17 No rĩrĩ, nĩndamaiguĩrĩire tha, ngĩaga kũmaananga kana kũmaniinĩra kũu werũ-inĩ.
Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.
18 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.
I told their children in the desert: ‘Don't do what your fathers told you to do. Don't follow their practices. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping their idols.
19 Niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu; rũmagĩrĩrai kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na mũmenyagĩrĩre mawatho makwa.
I am the Lord your God. Do what I tell you to do. Follow my regulations and make sure to practice them.
20 Ikaragiai Thabatũ ciakwa irĩ theru, nĩguo ituĩke kĩmenyithia gatagatĩ gakwa na inyuĩ. Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩmũkamenya atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu.”
Keep my Sabbaths holy so they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may acknowledge that I am the Lord your God.’
21 “‘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.
But their children also rebelled against me. They didn't follow my laws and didn't keep my regulations, even though they would have given them life. They violated my Sabbaths. So I warned them that I would punish them in my anger there in the desert.
22 No nĩndagirĩrĩirie guoko gwakwa, na ngĩĩka ũndũ, nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio cieyoneire ngĩmaruta kuo.
But I held back and did what I did so I would not be misrepresented, so that I wouldn't lose respect in the eyes of the other nations who had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt.
23 Ningĩ nĩndehĩtire harĩo njoete guoko na igũrũ kũu werũ-inĩ, ngiuga atĩ nĩngamahurunjĩra ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ, na ndĩmaharaganĩrie mabũrũri-inĩ,
However, I held up my hand and vowed to them in the desert that I was going to scatter them among the various countries of different nations.
24 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.
For they didn't keep my regulations, instead they rejected my laws and violated my Sabbaths, always looking to worship their fathers' idols.
25 Ngĩcooka ngĩmarekereria irĩra-inĩ iria itaarĩ njega, na mawatho marĩa matangĩmatũũria;
I also let them follow the regulations they wanted that weren't good; laws that wouldn't help them live.
26 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.’
I let them make themselves unclean by their offerings to idols, including their firstborn sons. I allowed this to happen so that they would be so appalled that they would acknowledge that I am the Lord.
27 “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:
So, son of man, tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: You're acting in exactly the same way your forefathers insulted me by being unfaithful to me.
28 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.
After I led them into the land that I had promised to give them, on any high hill or under any leafy tree they saw there they offered their pagan sacrifices and presented offerings to idols that made me angry, burning their sweet-smelling incense and pouring out their drink offerings.
29 Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngĩmooria atĩrĩ: Gĩtũmi gĩa kũndũ kũu gũtũũgĩru mũthiiaga nĩ kĩĩ?’” (Nakuo gwĩtagwo Bama nginya ũmũthĩ.)
So I asked them: ‘What's this high place you're going to?’ (Even today it's still called Bamah.)
30 “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?
Therefore tell the people of Israel that this is what the Lord God says: Are you going to make yourselves unclean like your forefathers, turning yourselves into prostitutes, acting the way they did with the same disgusting practices?
31 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.
When you present your offerings to idols and sacrifice your children in the fire, you continue to make yourselves unclean with all your idols right up until now. So should I give you advice when you ask me, people of Israel? As I live, declares the Lord God, I'm not going to answer you!
32 “‘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.
When you say to yourselves, ‘Let's be like the other nations, like people in other countries who worship idols made of wood and stone,’ what you're thinking is never going to happen.
33 Mwathani Jehova ekuuga atĩrĩ: Ti-itherũ o ta ũrĩa niĩ ndũũraga muoyo, ngaamwathaga na guoko kũrĩ hinya, na guoko gũtambũrũkĩtio, na mangʼũrĩ maitanĩrĩirio.
As I live, declares the Lord God, I will rule you with all my strength and power, and in my anger.
34 Nĩngamũruta ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ na guoko kũrĩ hinya, na guoko gũtambũrũkĩtio, o na mangʼũrĩ maitanĩrĩirio, ndĩmũcookererie kuuma mabũrũri-inĩ marĩa mwahurunjirwo.
With all my strength and power, and in my anger, I will lead you out from among the nations and gather you from the countries where you were scattered.
35 Nĩngamũrehe werũ-inĩ wa ndũrĩrĩ, na kũu nĩkuo ngaamũtuĩra ciira tũkĩonanaga ũthiũ kwa ũthiũ.
I will bring you before me for judgment face to face in the desert of the nations.
36 O ta ũrĩa ndaatuĩrĩire maithe manyu ciira kũu werũ-inĩ wa bũrũri wa Misiri-rĩ, ũguo noguo ngaamũtuĩra ciira, ũguo nĩguo Mwathani Jehova ekuuga.
In the same way I judged your forefathers in the Egyptian desert after I'd led them out of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Lord God.
37 Nĩngamũrũmbũiya ngĩmũhĩtũkĩria rungu rwa rũthanju rwakwa, na nĩngamũrehe ndĩmuohanie na kĩrĩkanĩro gĩakwa.
I will decide about you as you pass under the rod and see if you kept our solemn agreement.
38 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.
I will get rid of those of you who rebel against me, those who sin against me. I will lead them out of the country where they're currently living, but they won't enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “‘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.
This is what the Lord God says to you, you people of Israel: All of you, go ahead and worship your idols. But after that if you don't listen to me you won't continue to disgrace me with your pagan offerings and idols.
40 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.
For there on my holy mountain, Israel's high mountain, declares the Lord God, every single person in the whole country of Israel will worship me. That's where I'll accept them and will ask for your offerings and your best gifts, together with all your holy sacrifices.
41 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.
When I bring you back from the nations and gather you from countries where you were scattered, I will accept you as a suitable offering to me. I will reveal my holiness through you so the nations can see.
42 Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩmũkamenya atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova, rĩrĩa ngaamũcookia bũrũri wa Isiraeli, bũrũri ũrĩa ndehĩtire njoete guoko na igũrũ atĩ nĩngaũhe maithe manyu.
Then you will acknowledge that I am the Lord when I bring you back to the country of Israel, the land that I promised to give your forefathers.
43 Mũrĩ kũu nĩmũkaririkana mĩtugo yanyu na ciĩko ciothe iria mwĩthaahĩtie nacio, na inyuĩ nĩmũkeemena nĩ ũndũ wa ũũru ũrĩa wothe mwaneeka.
That's where you will remember your bad ways and everything you've done to make yourselves unclean, and you will hate yourselves for the evil things you did.
44 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.’”
Then you people of Israel will acknowledge that I am the Lord, because I have treated you well because of who I am, and not because of your evil ways and terrible things you've done, declares the Lord God.”
45 Ningĩ kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩkĩnginyĩrĩra, ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ,
Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,
46 “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.
“Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47 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.
Tell the forest of the Negev: Listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says: I am going to set you on fire, and it will burn up all your trees, both those that are living and those that are dead. The blaze won't be put out, and everything from the north to the south will be burned.
48 Mũndũ o wothe nĩakoona atĩ niĩ Jehova nĩ niĩ ndĩwakĩtie; ndũkahoreka.’”
Then everyone will recognize that it was me, the Lord, who started the fire, and it won't be put out.”
49 Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngiuga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ! Mwathani Jehova. Maraaria ũhoro wakwa, makoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Githĩ to kwaria araaria na ngerekano?’”
But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”
