UHezekheli 23
1 Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kimi lisithi:
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
2 “Ndodana yomuntu, kwakulabesifazane ababili, amadodakazi omfazi munye.
Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother;
3 Baba yizifebe eGibhithe, beqalise ubuwule kusukela ebutsheni babo. Kulelolizwe amabele abo abanjwabanjwa lengaphambili yabo yaphathwaphathwa.
And they played the harlot in Egypt; in their youth they played the harlot: there were their breasts pressed, and there they suffered their virgin bosoms to be touched.
4 Omdala wayethiwa ngu-Ohola, umnawakhe engu-Oholibha. Babengabami njalo bazala amadodana lamadodakazi. U-Ohola yiSamariya, u-Oholibha kuyiJerusalema.
And their names were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister; but they became mine, and they bore sons and daughters: and their names are, Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem, Aholibah.
5 U-Ohola waqalisa ubuwule esesengowami; njalo wakhanuka izithandwa zakhe, ama-Asiriya, amabutho
And Aholah played the harlot while she was mine; and she longed for her lovers, for the Assyrians that were near [her],
6 agqoke okulifefe, ababusi kanye labalawuli bebutho, bonke babengamajaha amahle, kanye labagada amabhiza.
Clothed [as they were] in blue, governors, and rulers, attractive youths all of them, horsemen riding upon horses.
7 Wazinikela njengesifebe kubo bonke abaphakemeyo base-Asiriya njalo wazingcolisa ngezithombe zabo bonke abakhanukayo.
Thus she played the harlot with them, all of them the chosen ones of the sons of Asshur: and with all for whom she longed, —with all their idols did she defile herself.
8 Kabudelanga ubufebe abuqalisa eGibhithe, lapho amajaha alala laye ebutsheni bakhe, ambambabamba ngaphambili, athululela lezinkanuko zawo phezu kwakhe.
But also her lewdness from Egypt forsook she not; for they had lain with her in her youth, and they had touched her virgin bosom, and had lavished their lewd caresses on her.
9 Ngakho ngamnikela kuzithandwa zakhe, ama-Asiriya, ayewakhanuka.
Therefore did I give her up into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the sons of Asshur, after whom she longed.
10 Amnqunula, athatha amadodana lamadodakazi akhe yena ambulala ngenkemba. Waba yisiga phakathi kwabesifazane, wajeziswa.
These were they that laid open her nakedness; her sons and her daughters did they take away, and her they slew with the sword: and she became infamous among women, when they inflicted the decreed punishments on her.
11 Umnawakhe u-Oholibha wakubona lokhu, kodwa ngenkanuko lobufebe bakhe wayexhwale kakhulu kulodadewabo.
And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her longing than she, and in her lewd acts more than her sister's lewdness.
12 Laye wakhanuka ama-Asiriya, ababusi labalawuli bebutho, lamabutho agqoke okupheleleyo, labagadi bamabhiza, lawo wonke amajaha amahle.
For the sons of Asshur did she long, the governors and rulers that were near, clothed as they were most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, attractive youths all of them.
13 Ngabona ukuthi laye wazingcolisa; bobabili bahamba ndlelanye.
Then saw I that she was defiled, that they followed both one way.
14 Kodwa yena ubufebe bakhe bengezeleleka futhi. Wabona amadoda efanekisiwe emdulini, izithombe zamaKhaladiya ezifanekiswe ngokubomvu,
But she added still more to her acts of lewdness; for when she saw men engraved upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with color,
15 zilamabhanti ezinkalweni zazo njalo zilamaqhiye alengayo emakhanda azo; zonke zikhanya angathi yizikhulu zezinqola zempi zamaKhaladiya, inzalo yaseBhabhiloni.
Bound with girdles on their loins, with hanging down colored turbans on their heads, in appearance like commanders, all of them, in the likeness of the sons of Babylon of the Chaldeans, the land of their birth:
16 Kwathi khonokho nje ebabona wahle wabafisa wasethuma isithunywa kubo eKhaladiya.
Then did she long for them as soon as she saw them with her eyes, and she sent messengers unto them to Chaldea.
17 Ngakho amaBhabhiloni afika kuye, alala laye, njalo ezinkanukweni zawo amngcolisa. Emva kokuba esengcoliswe yiwo, wasuka kuwo enengekile.
And the sons of Babylon came to her unto the couch of love, and they defiled her with their lewd caresses; and [yet] when she had been defiled with them, she tore her soul away from them.
18 Kwathi lapho esesenza ubufebe bakhe obala njalo eveza lobunqunu bakhe, ngasuka kuye nginengekile, njengoba ngangisukile kudadewabo.
And when she had laid open her lewdness, and had uncovered her nakedness: then my soul tore itself away from her, as my soul had torn itself away from her sister.
19 Kodwa banda ngamandla ubuwule bakhe esekhumbula insuku zobutsha bakhe, lapho wayeyisifebe eGibhithe.
Yet she multiplied her deeds of lewdness, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, when she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20 Khonale wakhanuka izithandwa zakhe, ezazilezitho zangaphambili ezazifana lezabobabhemi, zikhihliza okufana lokwamabhiza.
And she longed for her paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose lustfulness is like the lustfulness of horses.
21 Ngakho walangazela isagweba sasebutsheni bakho, lapho okwathi useGibhithe isifuba lamabele akho kwabanjwabanjwa.
And thou calledst to mind the incest of thy youth, when thy bosom was touched by the Egyptians for the sake of thy youthful breasts.
22 Ngakho-ke, Oholibha, nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Ngizakwenza izithandwa zakho zikuvukele, lezo owazitshiya unengekile, njalo ngizaziletha kuwe ukuba zimelane lawe zivela emaceleni wonke,
Therefore, O Aholibah, thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will wake up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy soul hath torn itself away, and I will bring them against thee from every side;
23 abaseBhabhiloni lamaKhaladiya wonke, amadoda asePhekhodi laseShowa kanye leKhowa, lama-Asiriya wonke elawo, amajaha amahle, wonke angababusi labalawuli bebutho, izinduna zezinqola zempi lamanye amadoda alezikhundla ezinkulu, bonke begade amabhiza.
The sons of Babylon, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa and Koa, and all the sons of Asshur with them, attractive youths, governors and rulers all of them, commanders and chiefs, riding upon horses all of them.
24 Bazakuzakuhlasela ngezikhali, izinqola zempi lezinqola zokuthwala, njalo belexuku elikhulu labantu; bazaviva ukulwa lawe emaceleni wonke belamahawu amakhulu lamancane njalo belezingowane. Ngizakunikela kubo ukuba bakujezise, njalo bazakujezisa ngokumayelana lemithetho yabo.
And they shall come over thee with weapons, chariots, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, buckler and shield and helmet shall they set up against thee round about: and I will give up before them the right to judge, and they shall judge thee according to their ordinances.
25 Ngizakwenza intukuthelo yobukhwele bami imelane lawe, njalo bazakuphatha ngolaka. Bazaquma impumulo zenu lezindlebe zenu, njalo abenu labo abazasala bazabulawa ngenkemba. Bazathumba amadodana enu lamadodakazi, njalo abenu labo abazasala bazaqothulwa ngumlilo.
And I will set my zealousness against thee, and they shall deal with thee in fury; thy nose and thy ears shall they cut off; and what is left of thee shall fall by the sword: thy sons and thy daughters shall they take away; and what is left of thee shall be devoured by the fire.
26 Njalo bazakuhlubula izigqoko zakho bathathe leziceciso zakho ezinhle.
And they shall strip thee of thy clothes, and take away thy ornamental attire.
27 Kanjalo-ke ngizaqeda isagweba lobufebe owabuqalisela eGibhithe. Kawuyikukhangela lezizinto uzikhanuke loba ukhumbule iGibhithe futhi.
Thus will I make thy incest to cease from thee, and thy lewdness brought from the land of Egypt: and thou shalt not lift up thy eyes unto them, and Egypt shalt thou not remember any more.
28 Ngoba nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Sekuseduze ukuba ngikunikele kulabo abakuzondayo, kulabo owasuka kubo unengekile.
For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Behold, I will give thee up into the hand of those whom thou hatest, into the hand of those from whom thy soul hath torn itself away;
29 Bazakuphatha ngenzondo njalo bathumbe yonke into owayisebenzelayo. Bazakutshiya unqunu uze, njalo ihlazo lobufebe bakho lizavela obala. Isagweba sakho lobufebe
And they shall deal with thee in hate, and shall take away all [things acquired by] thy labor, and they shall leave thee naked and bare: and thus shall be uncovered the nakedness of thy lewdness, and thy incest and thy lewd deeds.
30 kwehlisele lokhu phezu kwakho, ngoba ufebe lezizwe, wazingcolisa wena ngokwakho ngezithombe zazo.
I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone with vile lust after the nations, because thou hast defiled thyself with their idols.
31 Ulandele indlela kadadewenu; ngakho ngizabeka inkezo yakhe esandleni sakho.
On the way of thy sister hast thou walked; therefore will I place her cup into thy hand.
32 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Uzanatha inkezo kadadewenu, inkezo enkulu ezikileyo futhi; izaletha ukuhlekwa lokuklolodelwa, ngoba ithwele lukhulu.
Thus hath said the Lord Eternal, The cup of thy sister shalt thou drink, the deep and wide one: thou shalt become to be laughed to scorn and to be held in derision, more than thou canst bear.
33 Uzakhulelwa yikudakwa losizi, inkezo yokuchitheka lokuphundleka, inkezo kadadewenu iSamariya.
With drunkenness and sorrow shalt thou be filled, [out of] the cup of astonishment and confusion, the cup of thy sister Samaria.
34 Uzayinatha uyibhije; uzayiphahlaza ibe yizicucu ufucuze amabele akho. Sengikhulumile, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.
Thou shalt even drink it and drain it out, and thou shalt break in pieces its fragments, and tear thy own breasts; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord Eternal.
35 Ngakho nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Njengoba usungikhohliwe wangifuqela ngemva kwakho, kumele uthwale imivuzo yesagweba sakho kanye lobufebe bakho.”
Therefore thus hath said the Lord Eternal, Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back: therefore bear thou also thy incest and thy acts of lewdness.
36 UThixo wathi kimi: “Ndodana yomuntu, uzakwahlulela u-Ohola lo-Oholibha na? Ngakho melana labo ngezenzo zabo ezinengayo,
The Lord said moreover unto me, Son of man, wilt thou call Aholah and Aholibah to account? then tell them of their abominations;
37 ngoba benze ubufebe njalo lezandla zabo zilegazi. Bafeba lezithombe zabo; banikela labantwana babo ababengizalele bona, njengokudla kuzo.
That they have committed adultery, and there is blood on their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and also their sons whom they had born unto me have they caused to pass for them through [the fire], to devour them.
38 Njalo benze lokhu kimi: Ngasonaleso isikhathi bangcolisa indlu yami engcwele batshaphaza lamaSabatha ami.
Moreover this have they done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day, and my sabbaths have they profaned.
39 Ngalo kanye usuku abanikela ngalo abantwana babo ezithombeni zabo, bangena endlini yami engcwele bayingcolisa. Lokho yikho abakwenzayo endlini yami.
And when they had slain their children to their idols, then came they into my sanctuary on the same day to profane it: and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of my house.
40 Bathuma lesithunywa ebantwini ukuba beze bevela khatshana, kwathi sebefikile wabagezela, wacomba amehlo akho wasufaka leziceciso zakho.
And farthermore yet, because they sent for men who were to come from afar, unto whom messengers were sent; and, lo, they came, for whom thou didst bathe thyself, paint thy eyes, and deck thyself with ornaments;
41 Wahlala embhedeni omuhle, kuletafula elilungisiweyo phambi kwawo owawufake phezu kwayo impepha yami lamafutha ami.
And thou didst sit upon a stately bed, with a table spread before it, and my incense and my oil didst thou set upon it.
42 Umsindo wexuku elalithokoza wawumzungezile; amaSebhiya ayelethwe evela enkangala kanye lamadoda avela exukwini elixokozelayo, njalo bafaka amasongo ezingalweni zowesifazane lodadewabo kanye lemiqhele emihle emakhanda abo.
And the shout of a peaceful joyous multitude was [heard] within her; and with the men of the masses of the common people were brought Sabeans from the wilderness; and these women placed bracelets on their hands, and crowns of glory upon their heads.
43 Lapho-ke ngalowo owayesegugiswe yibufebe ngathi, ‘Khathesi kabamsebenzise njengewule, ngoba lokho yikho konke ayikho.’
Then thought I of her that was worn out in adulteries, Will they now [still] commit lewdness with her, when she [is thus]?
44 Balala laye. Njengabesilisa belala lesifebe, ngokunjalo balala lalabobafazi abalesagweba, u-Ohola lo-Oholibha.
But men went in unto her, as they go in unto a faithless wife: thus went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the incestuous women.
45 Kodwa abantu abalungileyo bazabanika isijeziso sabesifazane abafebayo njalo bachithe legazi, ngoba bayizifebe njalo lezandla zabo zilegazi.
Righteous men, however—these shall judge them as adulteresses are judged, and as women that shed blood are judged; because adulteresses are they, and blood is on their hands.
46 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Baletheleni ixuku limelane labo beselibanikela kukho ukwesaba lokuphangwa.
For thus hath said the Lord Eternal, I will bring up against them an assemblage of men, and I will give them up to ill-usage and plunder.
47 Ixuku lizabatshaya ngamatshe libajuqe ngezinkemba; lizabulala amadodana lamadodakazi abo litshise izindlu zabo ngomlilo.
And the assemblage shall stone them with stones, and cut them down with their swords: their sons and their daughters shall they slay, and their houses shall they burn with fire.
48 Ngizakuqeda kanjalo ukuxhwala elizweni, ukuze bonke abesifazane baxwayiseke njalo bangenzi njengani.
Thus will I cause incest to cease out of the land, that all women may be warned by example, and not do after your incestuous course.
49 Lizajeziselwa ukuxhwala kwenu njalo lithwale lemivuzo yezono zenu zokukhonza izithombe. Lapho-ke lizakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo Wobukhosi.”
And they shall lay your incest upon you, and the sins of your idols shall ye bear: and ye shall know that I am the Lord Eternal.
