Ezekieli 20

1 Na mokolo ya zomi, na sanza ya mitano ya mobu oyo ya sambo, ndambo ya bakambi ya Isalaele bayaki kotuna toli ya Yawe mpe bavandaki liboso na ngai.

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 Bongo, Yawe alobaki na ngai:

Then a message from the Lord came to me, saying,

3 « Mwana na moto, loba na bakambi ya Isalaele mpe yebisa bango: ‹ Tala liloba oyo Nkolo Yawe alobi: Boni, boyei solo kotuna toli epai na Ngai? Na Kombo na Ngai, nakomitika te ete botuna toli epai na Ngai, elobi Nkolo Yawe. ›

“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 Boni, mwana na moto, okosambisa bango? Okosambisa bango solo? Tutanisa bango na misala ya mbindo ya batata na bango

Are you going to condemn them—will you do that, son of man? Remind them about the disgusting things their forefathers did,

5 mpe yebisa bango: ‹ Tala liloba oyo Nkolo Yawe alobi: Na mokolo oyo naponaki Isalaele, nalapaki ndayi, na kotombola loboko, epai ya bakitani ya libota ya Jakobi ete nakomimonisa Ngai moko epai na bango kati na Ejipito, nalapaki ndayi mpe nayebisaki bango: ‘Nazali Yawe, Nzambe na bino.’

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 Na mokolo wana, nalapaki ndayi, na kotombola loboko, ete nakobimisa bango na Ejipito mpe nakomema bango na mokili oyo nalukelaki bango, mokili oyo ebimisaka miliki mpe mafuta ya nzoyi, mokili oyo eleki mikili nyonso na kitoko.

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 Nalobaki na bango: ‘Tika ete moto na moto alongola bililingi ya mbindo oyo ezali liboso ya miso na ye! Bomikomisa mbindo te, na nzela ya banzambe ya bikeko ya Ejipito! Nazali Yawe, Nzambe na bino.’

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 Kasi batombokelaki Ngai mpe baboyaki koyokela Ngai, balongolaki te bililingi ya mbindo oyo ezalaki liboso na bango, babwakaki te banzambe ya bikeko ya Ejipito. Boye, namilobelaki ete nakotombokela bango makasi mpe nakopelisela bango kanda na Ngai, kati na Ejipito.

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 Kasi mpo na lokumu ya Kombo na Ngai, nasalaki bongo mpo ete Kombo na Ngai etiolama te na miso ya bikolo epai wapi bazalaki kovanda. Ngai moko namimonisaki epai ya bana ya Isalaele na miso ya bikolo wana, mpo na kobimisa bango na Ejipito.

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 Yango wana nabimisaki bango na Ejipito mpe namemaki bango na esobe.

So I led them out of Egypt and took them into the wilderness.

11 Napesaki bango bikateli na Ngai mpe nalakisaki bango mibeko na Ngai mpo ete moto oyo akotosa yango abika na nzela na yango.

There I gave them my laws and explained to them my regulations so that those who kept them would live.

12 Napesaki bango mpe mikolo na Ngai ya Saba lokola elembo ya boyokani kati na Ngai mpe bango, mpo bayeba ete Ngai Yawe nde nabulisaki bango.

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 Kasi bana ya Isalaele batombokelaki Ngai kati na esobe; batosaki bikateli na Ngai te, kasi babwakaki mibeko na Ngai, oyo moto oyo asengeli kotosa mpo ete abika na nzela na yango. Mpe babebisaki bosantu ya mikolo na Ngai ya Saba. Boye, namilobelaki ete nakotombokela bango makasi mpe nakobebisa bango kati na esobe.

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 Kasi mpo na lokumu ya Kombo na Ngai, nasalaki bongo mpo ete Kombo na Ngai etiolama te na miso ya bikolo oyo liboso na bango, nabimisaki bango na Ejipito.

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 Kati na esobe, nalapaki lisusu ndayi, na kotombola loboko, ete nakokotisa bango lisusu te na mokili oyo nabongiselaki bango, mokili oyo ebimisaka miliki mpe mafuta ya nzoyi, mokili oyo eleki mikili nyonso na kitoko;

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 pamba te babwakaki mibeko na Ngai, batosaki bikateli na Ngai te mpe babebisaki bosantu ya mikolo na Ngai ya Saba: mitema na bango ekangamaki na banzambe na bango ya bikeko.

because they repeatedly rejected my regulations, refused to observe my laws, and violated my Sabbaths, and because they chose to continue worshiping idols.

17 Kasi lokola natalaki bango na liso ya mawa, yango wana nabebisaki bango te mpe nasilisaki koboma bango te kati na esobe.

Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.

18 Nalobaki na bana na bango kati na esobe: ‘Bolanda bikeko ya batata na bino te, botosa mibeko na bango te to bomikomisa mbindo te na banzambe na bango ya bikeko!

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 Nazali Yawe, Nzambe na bino. Bolanda bikateli na Ngai mpe bobatela na bokebi mibeko na Ngai.

I am the Lord your God. Do what I tell you to do. Follow my regulations and make sure to practice them.

20 Bobulisa mikolo na Ngai ya Saba mpo ete ezala elembo ya boyokani kati na Ngai mpe bino. Boye, bokoyeba solo ete Ngai, nazali Yawe, Nzambe na bino.’

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 Kasi bana mpe batombokelaki Ngai, balandaki bikateli na Ngai te, babatelaki te na bokebi mibeko na Ngai, oyo moto asengeli kotosa mpo ete abika na nzela na yango, mpe babebisaki bosantu ya mikolo na Ngai ya Saba. Boye, namilobelaki ete nakotombokela bango makasi mpe nakopelisela bango kanda na Ngai kati na esobe.

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 Kasi nazongisaki loboko na Ngai sima, mpe mpo na lokumu ya Kombo na Ngai, nasalaki bongo mpo ete Kombo na Ngai etiolama te na miso ya bikolo oyo liboso na bango, nabimisaki bango na Ejipito.

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 Nzokande, kati na esobe, nalapaki ndayi, na kotombola loboko, ete nakopanza bango kati na bikolo mpe kati na mikili ya bapaya;

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 pamba te batosaki mibeko na Ngai te, kasi babwakaki bikateli na Ngai mpe babebisaki bosantu ya mikolo na Ngai ya Saba, mpe miso na bango ekobaki kotala kaka banzambe ya bikeko ya batata na bango.

For they didn't keep my regulations, instead they rejected my laws and violated my Sabbaths, always looking to worship their fathers' idols.

25 Mpe lisusu, Ngai moko napesaki bango bikateli ya malamu te mpe mibeko oyo epesaka bomoi te,

I also let them follow the regulations they wanted that weren't good; laws that wouldn't help them live.

26 natikaki ete bamikomisa mbindo na nzela ya makabo na bango, mbeka ya mwana ya liboso nyonso, mpo ete natondisa bango na somo mpe bayeba solo ete Ngai, nazali Yawe. ›

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 Yango wana, mwana na moto, loba na bana ya Isalaele mpe yebisa bango: ‹ Tala liloba oyo Nkolo Yawe alobi: Ezalaki mpe kaka boye nde batata na bino bafingaki Ngai, wana batambolaki na boyengebene te na miso na Ngai.

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 Tango nakotisaki bango na mokili oyo nalapaki ndayi, na kotombola loboko, ete nakopesa bango, mpe tango bamonaki bangomba milayi mpe banzete ya mibesu, bakomaki kobonza kuna bambeka mpe bakado oyo etumbolaki kanda na Ngai, kopesa makabo na bango ya solo kitoko mpe kosopa makabo na bango ya masanga.

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 Boye, natunaki bango: Esambelo ya likolo ya ngomba epai wapi bozali kokende elakisi nini? › Mpe babengaki yango, kino na mokolo ya lelo: ‹ Esambelo ya likolo ya ngomba. ›

So I asked them: ‘What's this high place you're going to?’ (Even today it's still called Bamah.)

30 Yango wana, loba na libota ya Isalaele: ‹ Tala liloba oyo Nkolo Yawe alobi: Boni, bomikomisi solo mbindo mpo na kolanda nzela ya batata na bino mpe kosalela banzambe na bango ya bikeko?

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 Tango bozali kobonza makabo na bino, mbeka ya bana na bino ya mibali na moto, bozali kokoba komikomisa mbindo na nzela ya banzambe na bino ya bikeko kino na mokolo ya lelo. Oh libota ya Isalaele; boni, namitika ete botuna toli epai na Ngai? Na Kombo na Ngai, elobi Nkolo Yawe, nakotika te ete botuna Ngai.

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 Bozali koloba: ‘Tolingi kozala lokola bato ya bikolo mosusu, lokola bituka ya mikili mosusu; tolingi na biso kosalaka mpo na banzete mpe mabanga.’ Kasi eloko oyo bozali kokanisa ekosalema te.

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 Na Kombo na Ngai, elobi Nkolo Yawe, nakokonza bino, na nguya ya loboko na Ngai, oyo esembolama, mpe na kanda makasi;

As I live, declares the Lord God, I will rule you with all my strength and power, and in my anger.

34 nakozongisa bino wuta na bikolo ya bapaya mpe nakosangisa bino longwa na mikili epai wapi bozalaki ya kopanzana, na nguya ya loboko na Ngai oyo esembolama mpe na kanda makasi.

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 Nakomema bino na esobe ya bikolo, mpe kuna, tokotalana na miso mpe nakopesa bino etumbu.

I will bring you before me for judgment face to face in the desert of the nations.

36 Nakopesa bino etumbu ndenge napesaki batata na bino etumbu na esobe ya mokili ya Ejipito, elobi Nkolo Yawe.

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 Nakobatela bino na se ya lingenda na Ngai mpe nakomema bino na mokili na Ngai ya boyokani.

I will decide about you as you pass under the rod and see if you kept our solemn agreement.

38 Nakolongola kati na bino bato oyo batombokelaka Ngai mpe bato oyo batelemelaka Ngai. Bongo nakobimisa bango na mokili oyo bazali kovanda lokola bapaya; kasi bakokota na mokili ya Isalaele te. Boye, bokoyeba solo ete Ngai, nazali Yawe.

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 Kasi mpo na bino, oh libota ya Isalaele, tala liloba oyo Nkolo Yawe alobi: Tika ete moko na moko kati na bino akende kosalela banzambe na ye ya bikeko! Kasi na mikolo ekoya, bokotosa Ngai kaka mpe bokotika kobebisa bosantu ya Kombo na Ngai na nzela ya makabo mpe ya banzambe na bino ya bikeko.

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 Pamba te na ngomba na Ngai ya bule, ngomba oyo eleki molayi kati na Isalaele, elobi Nkolo Yawe, kuna na mokili wana, bato nyonso ya libota ya Isalaele bakosalela Ngai, mpe Ngai nakoyamba bango kaka kuna. Kuna, nakosepela koyamba mbeka mpe makabo na bino oyo eleki kitoko mpe mbeka na bino nyonso ya bule.

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 Nakoyamba bino malamu, lokola makabo ya solo kitoko, tango nakobimisa bino longwa na bikolo mpe nakosangisa bino longwa na mikili epai wapi bozalaki ya kopanzana. Mpe Ngai moko nakomonisa bosantu na Ngai kati na bino na miso ya bikolo.

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 Boye, bokoyeba solo ete Ngai, nazali Yawe tango nakokotisa bino na mokili ya Isalaele, mokili oyo nalapaki ndayi, na kotombola loboko, ete nakopesa epai ya batata na bino.

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 Mpe kuna, bokokanisa lisusu bizaleli na bino mpe misala na bino nyonso oyo na nzela na yango, bomikosaki mbindo mpe bokokoma komiyokela nkele likolo ya mabe nyonso oyo bosalaki.

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 Bokoyeba solo ete Ngai, nazali Yawe tango nakosalela bino makambo mpo na lokumu ya Kombo na Ngai, kasi kolanda te nzela na bino ya mabe mpe misala na bino ya mbindo, oh libota ya Isalaele, elobi Nkolo Yawe. › »

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 Yawe alobaki na ngai:

Another message from the Lord came to me, saying,

46 « Mwana na moto, talisa elongi na yo na ngambo ya sude, loba mpo na kotelemela etuka ya sude mpe sakola mpo na kotelemela zamba ya mokili ya sude.

“Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.

47 Loba na zamba ya mokili ya sude: ‹ Yoka Liloba na Yawe. Tala liloba oyo Nkolo Yawe alobi: Nakopelisa moto kati na yo, mpe ekotumba banzete na yo nyonso, ezala banzete ya mobesu to ya kokawuka. Moto yango ya makasi ekotikala kokufa te mpe ekotumba bilongi nyonso, wuta na nor kino na sude.

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 Bato nyonso bakomona ete ezali Ngai Yawe nde napelisi yango; mpe ekotikala kokufa te. › »

Then everyone will recognize that it was me, the Lord, who started the fire, and it won't be put out.”

49 Bongo nalobaki: « Ah! Nkolo Yawe, bazali kotonga ngai: ‹ Ezali ye te oyo alobaka na masese? › »

But then I said, “Oh no, Lord God! People already say, ‘He's just telling stories!’”