Izikiel 20
1 O ruo, nʼọgwụgwụ ọnwa ise, nʼafọ nke asaa, ụfọdụ nʼime ndị okenye Izrel bịara ịjụta Onyenwe anyị ase. Ha nọdụrụ ala nʼihu m.
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 Mgbe ahụ, okwu Onyenwe anyị ruru m ntị, sị,
Then a message from the Lord came to me, saying,
3 “Nwa nke mmadụ, gwa ndị okenye Izrel okwu sị ha, ‘Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị na-ajụ, Ọ bụ ịjụpụta ase nʼaka m ka unu bịara? Dịka mụ onwe m na-adị ndụ, agaghị m ekwe ka unu jụọ m ase ọbụla, ọ bụ ihe Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwubiri.’
“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 “Ị ga-ekpe ha ikpe? Ị ga-ekpe ha ikpe, nwa nke mmadụ? Mee ka ha mara banyere ihe arụ niile nna nna ha mere.
Are you going to condemn them—will you do that, son of man? Remind them about the disgusting things their forefathers did,
5 Gwa ha, ‘Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị sịrị, nʼụbọchị m họpụtara Izrel, eweliri m aka m ṅụọrọ ya na ụmụ ya bụ ụlọ Jekọb iyi ma kpugheekwa onwe m gosi ha nʼala Ijipt. Site nʼiweli aka m, agwara m ha okwu sị, “Mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu.”
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 Nʼụbọchị ahụ, aṅụụrụ m ha iyi na m ga-esi nʼala Ijipt dupụta ha baa nʼala nke m chọpụtara ha, ala mmiri ara ehi na mmanụ aṅụ na-eru na ya, bụ ala nke kachasị ibe ya mma.
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 Mgbe ahụ, agwara m ha, “Onye ọbụla nʼime unu, wezuganụ oyiyi ihe arụ niile ndị ahụ bụ nke unu legidere anya, unu ejikwala arụsị niile nke Ijipt merụọ onwe unu. Mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị bụ Chineke unu.”
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 “‘Ma ha nupuru isi megide m. Ha aṅaghị m ntị. Ha ewezugakwaghị oyiyi ihe arụ ndị a, bụ nke ha lekwasịrị anya, maọbụ hapụkwanụ arụsị niile nke ndị Ijipt. Nʼihi ya, aga m awụkwasị ha oke iwe m, meekwa ka iwe m zuo oke nʼahụ ha nʼIjipt.
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 Ma nʼihi aha m, e si m Ijipt kpọpụta ha. E mere m nke a ka a ghara imerụ aha m bụ nke dị nsọ, nʼanya ndị mba dị iche iche nʼetiti ndị ha binyere, bụ ndị mkpughere onwe m nye Izrel nʼihu ha.
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 Nʼihi ya, esitere m nʼIjipt dupụta ha, dubata ha nʼọzara.
So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness.
11 Nʼebe ahụ ka m nọ nye ha iwu m niile, gosikwa ha ụkpụrụ m, gwa ha na onye ọbụla debere ha ga-adị ndụ.
There I gave them my laws and explained to them my regulations so that those who kept them would live.
12 Ọzọ, e nyekwara m ha ụbọchị izuike, ka ọ bụrụ ihe ịrịbama dị nʼetiti mụ na ha, ka ha maara na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị, na-edo ha nsọ.
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 “‘Ma ụlọ nke Izrel nupuru isi megide m. Nʼime ọzara ahụ, ha jụrụ idebe iwu m. Ha agbasoghị usoro m, ọ bụ ezie na ịgbaso ya pụtara ịdị ndụ. Ha edebeghị ụbọchị izuike m nsọ. Nʼihi ya, ekpebikwara m na m ga-awụkwasị ha iwe ọkụ m, ka m kpochapụ ha nʼime ọzara.
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 Ma nʼihi aha m, e mere m ihe ga-eme ka a ghara ime ya ka ọ hapụ ịdị nsọ nʼanya ndị mba niile, bụ ndị hụrụ mgbe m si Ijipt kpọpụta ha.
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 Ma nʼime ọzara ahụ, eweliri m aka ṅụọrọ ha iyi na m agaghị eduba ha nʼala ahụ m nyere ha, ala mmiri ara ehi na mmanụ aṅụ na-eru na ya, ala ahụ kachasị ala niile ọzọ dị nʼụwa mma.
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 Nʼihi na ha jụrụ iwu m, ha jụkwara ịgbaso ụkpụrụ m niile. Ha merụrụ ụbọchị izuike m, nʼihi na obi ha niile dị nʼebe arụsị ha dị.
because they repeatedly rejected my regulations, refused to observe my laws, and violated my Sabbaths, and because they chose to continue worshiping idols.
17 Ma eji m obi ebere lee ha anya ma ghara ịla ha nʼiyi. Ekpochapụghị m ha nʼọzara.
Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.
18 Mgbe ahụ, agwara m ụmụ ha okwu nʼọzara, “Unu agbasola nzọ ụkwụ nna unu ha maọbụ debe iwu ha maọbụ jiri arụsị ha merụọ onwe unu.
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 Mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe na Chineke gị. Gbasoonụ iwu m niile, lezie anya ka ị sorokwa ụzọ m niile.
I am the Lord your God. Do what I tell you to do. Follow my regulations and make sure to practice them.
20 Doonụ ụbọchị izuike m nsọ, ka ha ghọọkwa ihe ịrịbama nʼetiti mụ na unu. Mgbe ahụ, unu ga-amata na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe na Chineke unu.”
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 “‘Ma ụmụ ahụ nupuru isi megide m. Ha ejegharịghị nʼụkpụrụ m, ha elezighị anya ka ha debe iwu nke m kwuru banyere ha, “Na onye ọbụla na-erubere ha isi ga-adị ndụ site na ha,” ha merụrụ ụbọchị izuike m. Nʼihi ya, asịrị m, Aga m awụkwasị ha ọnụma m, mezuokwa iwe m megide ha nʼọzara.
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 Ọzọkwa, eseghachiri m aka m, nʼihi aha m, e mere m ihe ga-eme ka a ghara ime ya ka ọ hapụ ịdị nsọ nʼanya ndị mba niile, bụ ndị hụrụ mgbe m si Ijipt kpọpụta ha
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 E jikwa m iweli aka elu ṅụọrọ ha iyi nʼime ọzara, na m ga-achụsasị ha nʼetiti mba niile, mee ka ha gbasaa nʼakụkụ niile nke ụwa,
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 nʼihi na ha edebeghị iwu m, kama ha jụrụ ụkpụrụ niile, lelịa ma merụọkwa ụbọchị izuike m. Naanị ihe na-agụ ha bụ arụsị niile nke nna ha.
For they didn't keep my regulations, instead they rejected my laws and violated my Sabbaths, always looking to worship their fathers' idols.
25 Ahapụrụ m ha ka ha nabatara onwe ha iwu na omenaala dị iche iche nke na-abaghị uru. Nʼihi na site nʼidebe omenaala ndị a, ha apụghị inweta ndụ.
I also let them follow the regulations they wanted that weren't good; laws that wouldn't help them live.
26 E merụrụ ha site nʼonyinye ha, bụ, iji nwa mbụ ọbụla chụọ aja, ka m si otu a menye ha egwu ka ha mara na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe.’
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 “Ya mere, nwa nke mmadụ, gwa ụlọ Izrel okwu, sị ha, ‘Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị na-ekwu, Nna unu ha kwuluru m na nke a, site na-ekwesighị ntụkwasị obi nye m.
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 Mgbe m dubatara ha nʼala ahụ nke m ṅụrụ nʼiyi inye ha, ha hụrụ ugwu dị elu maọbụ osisi nwere ọtụtụ akwụkwọ, ebe ahụ ha chụrụ aja ha, nyekwa onyinye ha, si otu a kpasuo m iwe. Ha doro ha ihe ndị ahụ niile na-esi isi ụtọ, wụsakwara ha aja ihe ọṅụṅụ
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 Ya mere a jụrụ m ha, Gịnị ka a na-akpọ ebe ịchụ aja a unu na-aga?’” (A na-akpọ ya Baama ruo taa.)
So I asked them: ‘What's this high place you're going to?’ (Even today it's still called Bamah.)
30 “Nʼihi nke a, gwa ụlọ Izrel, ‘Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwuru: Unu ọ ga-emerụ onwe unu dịka nna nna unu ha mere site nʼịchụso oyiyi ihe arụ ha dị iche iche?
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 Mgbe unu na-enye onyinye unu, na-eme ka ụmụ unu site nʼọkụ gafee, unu na-aga nʼihu jiri arụsị unu niile na-emerụ onwe unu ruo taa. Mụ onwe m, m ga-ekwe ka unu jụta m ase, O ụlọ Izrel? Dịka mụ onwe m na-adị ndụ, otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwubiri, agaghị m ekwe ka unu jụọ m ase.
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 “‘Unu na-ekwu nʼobi unu sị, “Anyị chọrọ ịdị ka mba ndị ọzọ, dịka agbụrụ ndị ọzọ nọ nʼụwa, ndị na-akpọ isiala nye osisi na nkume.” Ma ihe unu bu nʼobi agaghị emezu.
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 Dịka m na-adị ndụ, aga m eji aka ike na ogwe aka e setịrị eseti nakwa nwụpụ nke oke iwe m chịa unu, otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwubiri ya.
As I live, declares the Lord God, I will rule you with all my strength and power, and in my anger.
34 Aga m akpọpụta unu site na mba dị iche iche, chịkọtaa unu site na mba ndị ahụ a chụsasịrị unu. Ọ bụ aka m dị ike, aka m setịpụrụ na ọnụma a wụpụrụ ka m ga-eji mee ya.
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 Aga m akpọbata unu nʼọzara nke mba niile, nọdụ nʼebe ahụ kpee unu ikpe nʼihu nʼihu.
I will bring you before me for judgment face to face in the desert of the nations.
36 Dịka m kpere nna nna unu ha ikpe nʼọzara nke dị nʼala Ijipt, otu a ka m ga-esi kpee unu ikpe, otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwubiri.
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 Aga m eme ka unu si nʼokpuru mkpanaka m gafee, aga m akpọbata unu na njikọ nke ọgbụgba ndụ ahụ.
I will decide about you as you pass under the rod and see if you kept our solemn agreement.
38 Aga m esi nʼetiti unu wezuga ndị na-ekwe ntị ike ma na-enupu isi megide m. Ọ bụ ezie na m ga-akpọpụta ha site nʼala ahụ ha bi, ma ha agaghị abata nʼala Izrel. Mgbe ahụ, unu ga-amata na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị.
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 “‘Ma banyere unu, bụ ụlọ Izrel, nke a bụ ihe Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị na-ekwu: Gaanụ fee arụsị unu niile dị iche iche, onye ọbụla nʼime unu. Ma emesịa, unu aghaghị ịṅa m ntị, ọ dịghịkwa mgbe unu ga-eji onyinye na arụsị unu niile merụọ aha nsọ m.
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 Nʼihi na ọ bụ nʼelu ugwu m dị nsọ, nke bụ elu ugwu ukwu nke Izrel, ka Izrel niile ga-anọ fee m. Nʼebe ahụ ka m ga-anọkwa nabata onyinye unu na onyinye pụrụ iche unu, na aja nsọ unu dị iche iche. Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwubiri.
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 Aga m anabatakwa unu dịka onyinye ihe nsure ọkụ na-esi isi ụtọ, mgbe m si na mba dị iche iche kpọlata unu, mgbe m ga-achịkọta unu site nʼobodo ahụ niile a chụgara unu. Mgbe ahụ, mba niile ga-amata na m dị nsọ.
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 Mgbe m mere ka unu lọta nʼala Izrel, bụ ala ahụ m weliri aka elu ṅụọ iyi inye nna nna unu ha, unu ga-amata na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị.
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 Nʼebe ahụ, unu ga-echeta obibi ndụ na omume mmehie niile unu ji merụọ onwe unu. Unu ga-asọkwa onwe unu oyi, nʼihi ihe ọjọọ niile unu mere.
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 Unu ga-amata na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị, mgbe m mesochara unu mmeso nʼihi aha m, na-agụghị ajọ omume unu maọbụ otu ụzọ ọjọọ niile unu si dị, unu bụ ụlọ Izrel. Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwupụtara.’”
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 Okwu Onyenwe anyị ruru m ntị, sị,
Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,
46 “Nwa nke mmadụ, chee ihu gị nʼụzọ ndịda. Kwuokwa okwu megide ala ahụ dị na ndịda, na oke ọhịa niile dị na ndịda.
“Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47 Sị oke ọhịa ndịda ahụ, ‘Nụrụ okwu nke Onyenwe anyị. Otu a ka Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị kwuru: Ana m akwado isunye gị ọkụ, nke ga-erechapụ osisi niile dị nʼime gị, ma ndị dị ndụ ma ndị kpọnwụrụ akpọnwụ. A pụghị imenyụ oke ọkụ ahụ, ọ ga-erechapụkwa ihu niile site na ndịda ruo nʼugwu niile.
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 Ihe niile bụ mmadụ, ga-ahụ na mụ onwe m bụ Onyenwe anyị, sunyere ọkụ ahụ. A gaghị emenyụkwa ya.’”
Then everyone will recognize that it was me, the Lord, who started the fire, and it won't be put out.”
49 Mgbe ahụ, ekwuru m sị, “Ewoo, Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị ha na-ekwu banyere m, sị, ‘Ọ bụghị naanị ilu ka ọ na-atụ?’”
But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”
