Ezeekyeri 20
1 Awo mu mwaka ogw’omusanvu, mu mwezi ogwokutaano ku lunaku olw’ekkumi, abamu ku bakadde ba Isirayiri ne bajja okwebuuza ku Mukama Katonda, ne batuula wansi mu maaso gange.
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 Ekigambo kya Mukama ne kinzijira, mbategeeze nti,
Then Yahweh gave me a message. [He said, ]
3 “Omwana w’omuntu, yogera eri abakadde ba Isirayiri obagambe nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti: Muzze kunneebuuzaako? Mazima nga bwe ndi omulamu temujja kunneebuuzaako, bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.’
“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 “Olibasalira omusango? Olibasalira omusango ggwe omwana w’omuntu? Kale bategeeze ebikolwa eby’ekivve bajjajjaabwe bye baakola,
If you are [RHQ] willing to warn them, remind them of the detestable things that their ancestors did.
5 era bategeeze nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti: ku lunaku lwe, neroboza Isirayiri, nalayirira bazzukulu b’ennyumba ya Yakobo, ne mbeeyabiza mu Misiri nga njogera nti, “Nze Mukama Katonda wammwe.”
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 Ku lunaku olwo nabalayirira nti ndibaggya mu nsi y’e Misiri ne mbatwala mu nsi gye nabanoonyeza, ensi ekulukuta amata n’omubisi gw’enjuki, ensi esinga mu nsi zonna obulungi.
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 Ne mbagamba nti, “Buli muntu aggyewo ebintu eby’omuzizo mu maaso ge, muleme okweyonoonyesa ne bakatonda abalala ab’e Misiri, kubanga nze Mukama Katonda wammwe.”
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 “‘Naye ne banjeemera, ne bagaana okumpuliriza; tebaggyawo bintu eby’omuzizo mu maaso gaabwe, newaakubadde okuleka bakatonda abalala ab’e Misiri. Kyenava njogera nti ndibabonerereza mu 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 Naye olw’obutavumisa linnya lyange mu maaso g’amawanga mwe baabeeranga, ne mu maaso gaabo be neeyabiza eri Abayisirayiri nga mbaggya mu Misiri, nakola bwe nti olw’erinnya lyange.
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 Kyenava mbaggya mu Misiri ne mbatwala mu ddungu.
Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert.
11 Nabawa ebiragiro byange ne mbamanyisa n’amateeka gange, omuntu yenna bw’abigoberera abeere mulamu.
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 Ne mbawa ne Ssabbiiti zange ng’akabonero wakati wange nabo, bategeere nga nze Mukama abatukuza.
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 “‘Naye era abantu ba Isirayiri ne banjeemera mu ddungu, ne batagoberera biragiro byange, ne banyooma amateeka gange, ebyandiyinzizza okulokola omuntu abigondera, ne Ssabbiiti zange ne batazitukuza. Kyenava njogera nti ndibasunguwalira ne mbazikiririza mu ddungu.
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 Naye olw’erinnya lyange nakola ekyo obutavumisibwa obuteeswaza mu maaso g’amawanga mwe nabaggya.
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 Era ne mbalayirira mu ddungu nga bwe siribaleeta mu nsi gye nnali mbawadde, ekulukuta amata n’omubisi gw’enjuki, ensi esinga endala zonna obulungi,
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 kubanga baajeemera amateeka gange ne batagoberera biragiro byange, ne batatukuza Ssabbiiti zange, kubanga emitima gyabwe gyasinzanga bakatonda abalala.
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 Naye wakati mu ebyo byonna ne mbasaasira ne sibazikiriza, newaakubadde okubasaanyaawo mu ddungu.
But, I still pitied them and did not get rid of [all of] them in the desert.
18 Ne ŋŋamba abaana baabwe mu ddungu nti, “Temugoberera biragiro bya bakitammwe, newaakubadde okukwata amateeka gaabwe, so temweyonoonyesanga ne bakatonda baabwe abalala.
I said to their children, ‘Do not do the things that your parents continually did, or defile yourselves [worshiping] their idols.
19 Nze Mukama Katonda wammwe, mugoberere ebiragiro byange era mwegendereze okukwata amateeka gange,
I am Yahweh your God. Carefully obey [DOU] my laws and commands.
20 n’okutukuza Ssabbiiti zange, era ebyo binaabanga kabonero wakati wange nammwe, olwo mulimanya nga nze Mukama Katonda wammwe.”
Respect my Sabbath days, in order that by doing that [PRS], it will remind you that you belong to me, Yahweh your God.’
21 “‘Naye abaana banjeemera; tebaagoberera biragiro byange newaakubadde okukwata amateeka gange, ebyandiyinzizza okulokola omuntu abigondera, ne Ssabbiiti zange ne batazitukuza. Kyenava njogera nti ndibasunguwalira mu ddungu.
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 Naye neekuuma olw’erinnya lyange obutaliswaza mu maaso g’amawanga mwe nnali mbaggye.
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 Era ne mbalayirira mu ddungu nti ndibasaasaanya mu mawanga, ne mbabunya mu nsi,
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 kubanga tebaagoberera mateeka gange era ne bajeemera n’ebiragiro byange, era ne batatukuza Ssabbiiti zange, naye amaaso gaabwe ne gayaayaanira bakatonda abalala aba bajjajjaabwe.
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 Kyennava mbawaayo eri ebiragiro ebitali birungi n’amateeka ebitayinza kubabeezesaawo mu bulamu;
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 ne mbaswaza nga nkozesa ebirabo byabwe, bwe baleeta omuggulanda waabwe ng’ekiweebwayo, balyoke bajjule entiisa, era bamanye nga nze Mukama.’
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 “Kale omwana w’omuntu, yogera eri abantu ba Isirayiri obagambe nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti: mu kino nakyo bajjajjammwe mwe banvumira ne banzivoola.
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 Bwe nabaleeta mu nsi gye nabalayirira ne balaba buli lusozi oluwanvu na buli muti ogwamera yo, ne baweerangayo ssaddaaka zaabwe, ne baweerangayo ebiweebwayo ebyannyiiza, ne banyookerezanga obubaane bwabwe, era ne baweerangayo n’ebiweebwayo ebyokunywa.
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 Kyenava mbabuuza nti, Ekifo ekyo ekigulumivu gye mugenda kya mugaso ki?’”
[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 “Noolwekyo gamba ennyumba ya Isirayiri nti, ‘Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, Mulyeyonoona nga bajjajjammwe bwe baakola ne mugoberera ebintu eby’ekivve?
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 Bwe muwaayo ebirabo, ne muwaayo n’abaana bammwe mu muliro ng’ebiweebwayo, mweyongera okweyonoona ne bakatonda bammwe abalala bonna. Nnyinza okubakkiriza okunneebuuzaako mmwe ennyumba ya Isirayiri? Nga bwe ndi omulamu temujja kunneebuuzaako, bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
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 “‘Mwogera nti, “Twagala okuba ng’amawanga amalala, ng’abantu ab’ensi endala, abaweereza embaawo n’amayinja,” naye ebyo bye mulowooza tebiribaawo n’akatono.
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 Nga bwe ndi omulamu, bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda, ndibafuga n’omukono ogw’amaanyi, era ndigolola omukono gwange n’obusungu bungi.
[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 Ndibaggya mu mawanga n’omukono ogw’amaanyi omugolole, nga nzijudde obusungu, ne mbakuŋŋaanya okuva mu nsi gye mwasaasaanira.
With my great power I will gather you from the places to which you have been scattered,
35 Ndibaleeta mu ddungu ery’amawanga, era eyo gye ndibasalira omusango nga tutunuuliganye amaaso n’amaaso.
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 Nga bwe nasalira bajjajjammwe omusango mu ddungu ery’ensi ya Misiri, bwe ntyo bwe ndibasalira omusango, bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.
I will punish you, like I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt.
37 Ndibeetegereza nga muyita wansi w’omuggo gwange ne mbassaako envumbo y’endagaano yange.
I will count you [MTY] as you walk by, and I will force you to obey the agreement that I made with you.
38 Ndibamaliramu ddala mu mmwe abajeemu era abansobya. Era newaakubadde nga ndibaggya mu nsi gye balimu, tebaliyingira mu nsi ya Isirayiri, mulyoke mumanye nga nze Mukama.
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 “‘Ate ggwe ennyumba ya Isirayiri, bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, Mugende muweereze bakatonda bammwe abalala, mugende, naye oluvannyuma mulimpuliriza, ne mulekayo n’okuvumisa erinnya lyange ettukuvu n’ebirabo byammwe era ne bakatonda bammwe abalala.
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 Ku lusozi lwange olutukuvu, olusozi oluwanvu olwa Isirayiri mu nsi eyo, ennyumba ya Isirayiri yonna balimpeereza, nange ndibasembeza. Era eyo gye ndibasabira ebiweebwayo byammwe, n’ebibala ebibereberye eby’ebirabo byammwe, wamu ne ssaddaaka zammwe ezitukuzibbwa.
[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 Bwe ndibaggya mu mawanga ne mbakuŋŋaanya okuva mu nsi gye mwasaasaanira, ndibakkiriza nga bwenzikiriza akaloosa ak’evvumbe eddungi, era ndibalaga obutukuvu bwange mu maaso g’amawanga.
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 Mulimanya nga nze Mukama, bwe ndibaleeta mu nsi ya Isirayiri ensi gye nalayirira bajjajjammwe n’omukono ogugoloddwa.
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 Era eyo gye mulijjuukirira enneeyisa yammwe n’ebikolwa byammwe byonna bye mweyonoonyesa, era mulyetukuza olw’ebibi byonna bye mwakola.
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 Mulimanya nga nze Mukama, bwe ndibakola ng’erinnya lyange bwe liri so si ng’ebibi byammwe bwe biri, n’ebikolwa byammwe eby’obukumpanya bwe biri, mmwe ennyumba ya Isirayiri, bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.’”
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 Ekigambo kya Mukama ne kinzijira nti,
Yahweh gave me another message. He said,
46 “Omwana w’omuntu, simba amaaso go mu bukiikaddyo, obabuulire era owe obunnabbi gye bali n’eri ekibira eky’ensi ey’Obukiikaddyo.
“You human, turn toward the south. Preach about what will happen to that dry land, to the forest there.
47 Yogera eri ekibira eky’omu bukiikaddyo nti, ‘Wulira ekigambo kya Mukama. Bw’ati bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda nti, Nnaatera okukukumako omuliro, era gulizikiriza emiti gyonna, omubisi n’omukalu. Ennimi ez’omuliro tezirizikizibwa, na buli ludda okuva mu bukiikaddyo okutuuka mu bukiikakkono bulyokebwa.
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 Buli muntu aliraba nga nze Mukama abyokezza, era tegulizikizibwa.’”
Everyone will see that it is I, Yahweh, who have lit this fire, and no one will [be able to] put it out.” '”
49 Awo ne njogera nti, “Ayi Mukama Katonda, banjogerako nti, ‘Oyo tanyumya ngero bugero.’”
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.’”
