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.
Almost seven years [King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been captured and taken to Babylonia], on the tenth day of the fifth [of that year], some Israeli elders came to me to [if I had a message for them] from Yahweh.
2 Hĩndĩ ĩyo kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩkĩnginyĩrĩra ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ:
Then Yahweh gave me a message. [He said, ]
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.’
“You human, speak to the Israeli elders and say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says: [say that] you have come to ask if there is any message from me [RHQ], but [as surely] as I am alive, I will [answer you if] you ask [to tell you] anything.’
4 “Nĩũkũmatuĩra ciira? Nĩũkũmatuĩra ciira, wee mũrũ wa mũndũ? Nĩ ũndũ ũcio marũithie, ũmeere maũndũ marĩ magigi marĩa meekagwo nĩ maithe mao,
If you are [RHQ] willing to warn them, remind them of the detestable things that their ancestors 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.”
Then say to them, ‘On the day that I chose [you] Israeli [to belong to me], with my hand lifted up, I made a solemn promise to your [while they were still] in Egypt. I said to them, “I am Yahweh, 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 will bring you out of Egypt and lead you to a land that I have chosen for you. It is a very fertile [IDM] and (very beautiful/more beautiful than any other) land.
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.”
Each of you must get rid of the disgusting idols that you loved [IDM], and do not defile yourselves [worshiping] those [that you saw] in Egypt. I, Yahweh your God, [am saying this to you].”’
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. They would not pay attention to me. They did not get rid of the disgusting idols they loved, and they did not reject those [that they saw] in Egypt. So because I was angry with them, I said that I would punish [MTY] them 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 for the sake of my own reputation, I decided to do something in order that I would not be dishonored by the people of the nations who would see it when I brought my people out of Egypt.
10 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio ndaamatongoririe ngĩmaruta bũrũri wa Misiri, ngĩmarehe werũ-inĩ.
Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.
11 Nĩndamaheire kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo na ngĩmamenyithia mawatho makwa, nĩgũkorwo mũndũ ũrĩa ũrĩmaathĩkagĩra nĩagatũũrio nĩmo.
I gave them [all] my laws and decrees [DOU], in order that they would obey them, and as a result they would live [for a long time].
12 Ngĩcooka ngĩmahe Thabatũ ciakwa irĩ kĩmenyithia gatagatĩ gakwa nao, nĩgeetha mamenyage atĩ niĩ Jehova nĩndamatuire atheru.
Also, I established the Sabbath/rest days to be a symbol between us to show that I, Yahweh, had caused them to be set [from the other nations].
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 Israeli people rebelled against me in the desert. They did not obey my commands [DOU]; they rejected them, even though they tell people who obey them that they will live [for a long time], and they profaned the Sabbath days. So I said that I would get rid of them in the desert, and that would show that I was very angry with them.
14 No ngĩĩka ũndũ nĩ ũndũ wa rĩĩtwa rĩakwa, nĩguo rĩtigathaahio maitho-inĩ ma ndũrĩrĩ icio cieyoneire na maitho ngĩmaruta kuo.
But [again], for the sake of my own reputation, I decided to do something else in order that I would not be dishonored/despised by [the people of] the nations who had seen me bring my people 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;
I lifted up my hand and solemnly declared to them in the desert that I would not take them into the land that [had promised to] give them, a land that was very fertile [IDM] and (very beautiful/more beautiful than any other) land.
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.
The reason that I promised that was because they rejected and disobeyed all my laws [DOU] and (desecrated/refused to rest on) the Sabbath days. [They did that] because they [SYN] were devoted [worshiping] their idols.
17 No rĩrĩ, nĩndamaiguĩrĩire tha, ngĩaga kũmaananga kana kũmaniinĩra kũu werũ-inĩ.
But, I still pitied them and did not get rid of [all of] them 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 said to their children, ‘Do not do the things that your parents continually did, or defile yourselves [worshiping] their idols.
19 Niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu; rũmagĩrĩrai kĩrĩra kĩa watho wakwa wa kũrũmĩrĩrwo, na mũmenyagĩrĩre mawatho makwa.
I am Yahweh your God. Carefully obey [DOU] my laws and commands.
20 Ikaragiai Thabatũ ciakwa irĩ theru, nĩguo ituĩke kĩmenyithia gatagatĩ gakwa na inyuĩ. Hĩndĩ ĩyo nĩmũkamenya atĩ niĩ nĩ niĩ Jehova Ngai wanyu.”
Respect my Sabbath days, in order that by doing that [PRS], it will remind you that you belong to me, Yahweh 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 did not carefully obey my laws [DOU], [even though] the people who obey them will live [for a long time]; and they profaned the Sabbath days. So again I said that by getting rid of them in the desert, I would show that I was very angry with them.
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 did not do that [IDM]. [Again, ] for the sake of my own reputation, I [decided to] do something in order that I would not be dishonored/despised by [the people of] the nations who had seen it when I brought my people out [of Egypt].
23 Ningĩ nĩndehĩtire harĩo njoete guoko na igũrũ kũu werũ-inĩ, ngiuga atĩ nĩngamahurunjĩra ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ, na ndĩmaharaganĩrie mabũrũri-inĩ,
I lifted up my hand and solemnly declared to them in the desert that I would cause them to be scattered among [many] nations [DOU],
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.
because they had rejected and disobeyed all my laws [DOU] and desecrated the Sabbath days, and they had eagerly [to worship] the idols that their [had worshiped].
25 Ngĩcooka ngĩmarekereria irĩra-inĩ iria itaarĩ njega, na mawatho marĩa matangĩmatũũria;
I also allowed them to obey laws that were not good, and laws that would not enable them to live [a long time if they obeyed them].
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 allowed them to become unacceptable to me by their sacrificing their firstborn children in the fire. I did that in order that they would be horrified, and in order that they would know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].
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:
Therefore, you human, speak to the Israeli people. Say this to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says [to you]: This is one way that your ancestors dishonored me by turning away from 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 brought them into the land that I had solemnly promised to give to them, every time that they saw a high hill or a [big] green tree, they offered [to idols] there. They made offerings to them, and that caused me to become angry. They presented to those idols their fragrant burning incense, and poured out wine offerings to them.
29 Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngĩmooria atĩrĩ: Gĩtũmi gĩa kũndũ kũu gũtũũgĩru mũthiiaga nĩ kĩĩ?’” (Nakuo gwĩtagwo Bama nginya ũmũthĩ.)
[Then] I asked them, “Who [RHQ] [told you to worship at] a shrine like this, here on this hilltop?” So they are still called “hilltop shrines”.’
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, say this to the Israeli people [MTY]: 'This is what Yahweh the Lord says: “You are going to [RHQ] defile yourselves like your ancestors did by strongly [to worship] their disgusting [statues of idols].
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 sacrifice your children in the fire, you are still continuing to make yourselves unacceptable to me [worshiping] your many idols. You Israeli people, should I allow you to [what I want you to do]? I, Yahweh the Lord, say that [as surely] as I am alive, [I will not answer] if you inquire.'
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.
You say, ‘We want to be like the [other] nations, like the [other] people-groups in the world. We want to [idols made of] wood and [like they do].’ But what you want will never 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.
[I], Yahweh your Lord, say that [as surely] as I am alive, I will use my great power [DOU, MTY] to rule over you, and show that I am angry with you.
34 Nĩngamũruta ndũrĩrĩ-inĩ na guoko kũrĩ hinya, na guoko gũtambũrũkĩtio, o na mangʼũrĩ maitanĩrĩirio, ndĩmũcookererie kuuma mabũrũri-inĩ marĩa mwahurunjirwo.
With my great power I will gather you from the places to which you have been scattered,
35 Nĩngamũrehe werũ-inĩ wa ndũrĩrĩ, na kũu nĩkuo ngaamũtuĩra ciira tũkĩonanaga ũthiũ kwa ũthiũ.
and I will bring you to a [that is surrounded] by [other] nations. There, while I am looking at you, I will judge you.
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.
I will punish you, like I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt.
37 Nĩngamũrũmbũiya ngĩmũhĩtũkĩria rungu rwa rũthanju rwakwa, na nĩngamũrehe ndĩmuohanie na kĩrĩkanĩro gĩakwa.
I will count you [MTY] as you walk by, and I will force you to obey the agreement that I made with you.
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 people among you who rebel [DOU] against me. Although I will bring them out [Babylonia], where they are now living, they will not enter Israel. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].
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.
As for you Israeli people [MTY], this is what [I], Yahweh the Lord, say: 'Go and worship your idols now [IRO], each of you. But [afterwards], you will [surely] heed me and no longer dishonor me [MTY] by taking gifts to your 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.
[I], Yahweh your Lord, declare that there on my sacred hill, [Zion], that high hill in Israel, you will bring gifts to me, and I will accept them. I will require you to bring to me gifts and offerings there, and your sacrifices that are dedicated to me.
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 out from the [other] nations [DOU] to which you have been scattered, I will accept [as though you were] fragrant incense. By doing that, I will show the people of other nations that I have set you apart to belong to me.
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, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I solemnly promised with my hand lifted up that I would give to your ancestors, you will know that I, Yahweh, [have done it].
43 Mũrĩ kũu nĩmũkaririkana mĩtugo yanyu na ciĩko ciothe iria mwĩthaahĩtie nacio, na inyuĩ nĩmũkeemena nĩ ũndũ wa ũũru ũrĩa wothe mwaneeka.
And [in Israel] you will remember how you conducted your lives [previously, you will remember] the actions that caused you to become unacceptable to me, and you will hate/despise yourselves for all the evil things that you have done.
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.’”
When I act toward you Israeli people to protect my reputation, and not [just] because of your evil deeds and corrupt behavior, you Israeli people will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].' That is what Yahweh the Lord declares.”
45 Ningĩ kiugo kĩa Jehova gĩkĩnginyĩrĩra, ngĩĩrwo atĩrĩ,
Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
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.
“You human, turn toward the south. Preach about what will happen to that dry land, to the forest there.
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.
Say to the forest in the [part of Israel]: 'Listen to this message that Yahweh the Lord is saying [about you]: “I am about to start a fire in your midst, and it will burn up all your trees, [both] the green trees and the withered/dry trees. Nothing will extinguish the blazing flames. And the fire will scorch the faces of everyone [who lives] in that area, from the south to the north.
48 Mũndũ o wothe nĩakoona atĩ niĩ Jehova nĩ niĩ ndĩwakĩtie; ndũkahoreka.’”
Everyone will see that it is I, Yahweh, who have lit this fire, and no one will [be able to] put it out.” '”
49 Hĩndĩ ĩyo ngiuga atĩrĩ, “Hĩ! Mwathani Jehova. Maraaria ũhoro wakwa, makoiga atĩrĩ, ‘Githĩ to kwaria araaria na ngerekano?’”
Then I said, “Yahweh, my Lord, [when I tell things like this to people, they do not believe me]. They say about me, ‘He is only telling parables.’”
