UHezekheli 23

1 Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kimi lisithi:

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

2 “Ndodana yomuntu, kwakulabesifazane ababili, amadodakazi omfazi munye.

“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother.

3 Baba yizifebe eGibhithe, beqalise ubuwule kusukela ebutsheni babo. Kulelolizwe amabele abo abanjwabanjwa lengaphambili yabo yaphathwaphathwa.

They acted as prostitutes in Egypt in the time of their youth. They acted as prostitutes there. Their breasts were squeezed and their virgin nipples were fondled there.

4 Omdala wayethiwa ngu-Ohola, umnawakhe engu-Oholibha. Babengabami njalo bazala amadodana lamadodakazi. U-Ohola yiSamariya, u-Oholibha kuyiJerusalema.

Their names were Oholah—the older sister—and Oholibah—her younger sister. Then they became mine and bore sons and daughters. Their names mean this: Oholah means Samaria, and Oholibah means Jerusalem.

5 U-Ohola waqalisa ubuwule esesengowami; njalo wakhanuka izithandwa zakhe, ama-Asiriya, amabutho

But Oholah acted as a prostitute even when she was mine; she lusted for her lovers, for the Assyrians who were dominant,

6 agqoke okulifefe, ababusi kanye labalawuli bebutho, bonke babengamajaha amahle, kanye labagada amabhiza.

the governor who wore blue, and for his officials, who were strong and handsome, all of them men riding on horses.

7 Wazinikela njengesifebe kubo bonke abaphakemeyo base-Asiriya njalo wazingcolisa ngezithombe zabo bonke abakhanukayo.

So she gave herself as a prostitute to them, to all the best of Assyria's men, and she made herself unclean with everyone she lusted for—and with all their idols.

8 Kabudelanga ubufebe abuqalisa eGibhithe, lapho amajaha alala laye ebutsheni bakhe, ambambabamba ngaphambili, athululela lezinkanuko zawo phezu kwakhe.

For she had not left her prostitute behavior behind in Egypt, when they had slept with her when she had been a young girl, when they first began to fondle her virgin breasts, when they first began to pour out their promiscuous behavior on her.

9 Ngakho ngamnikela kuzithandwa zakhe, ama-Asiriya, ayewakhanuka.

Therefore I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians for whom she lusted.

10 Amnqunula, athatha amadodana lamadodakazi akhe yena ambulala ngenkemba. Waba yisiga phakathi kwabesifazane, wajeziswa.

They uncovered her nakedness, took her sons and daughters, killed her with the sword, and she became notorious among other women, so they executed judgment on her.

11 Umnawakhe u-Oholibha wakubona lokhu, kodwa ngenkanuko lobufebe bakhe wayexhwale kakhulu kulodadewabo.

Her sister Oholibah saw this, but she lusted even more passionately and acted like a prostitute even more than her sister.

12 Laye wakhanuka ama-Asiriya, ababusi labalawuli bebutho, lamabutho agqoke okupheleleyo, labagadi bamabhiza, lawo wonke amajaha amahle.

She lusted for the Assyrians, the governors and the dominating officials who dressed impressively, who were men riding horses. All of them were strong, handsome men.

13 Ngabona ukuthi laye wazingcolisa; bobabili bahamba ndlelanye.

I saw that she had made herself unclean. It was the same for both sisters.

14 Kodwa yena ubufebe bakhe bengezeleleka futhi. Wabona amadoda efanekisiwe emdulini, izithombe zamaKhaladiya ezifanekiswe ngokubomvu,

Then she increased her prostitution even more. She saw men carved on walls, figures of Chaldeans painted in red,

15 zilamabhanti ezinkalweni zazo njalo zilamaqhiye alengayo emakhanda azo; zonke zikhanya angathi yizikhulu zezinqola zempi zamaKhaladiya, inzalo yaseBhabhiloni.

wearing belts around their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads. All of them had the appearance of officers of chariot troops, the likeness of sons of Babylonia, whose native land is Chaldea.

16 Kwathi khonokho nje ebabona wahle wabafisa wasethuma isithunywa kubo eKhaladiya.

As soon as her eyes saw them, she lusted for them, so she sent out messengers to them in Chaldea.

17 Ngakho amaBhabhiloni afika kuye, alala laye, njalo ezinkanukweni zawo amngcolisa. Emva kokuba esengcoliswe yiwo, wasuka kuwo enengekile.

Then the Babylonians came to her and to her bed of lust, and they made her unclean with their promiscuousness. By what she had done she was made unclean, so she turned herself away from them in disgust.

18 Kwathi lapho esesenza ubufebe bakhe obala njalo eveza lobunqunu bakhe, ngasuka kuye nginengekile, njengoba ngangisukile kudadewabo.

When she displayed her acts of prostitution and uncovered her nakedness, I turned away from her, just as I had turned away in disgust from her sister.

19 Kodwa banda ngamandla ubuwule bakhe esekhumbula insuku zobutsha bakhe, lapho wayeyisifebe eGibhithe.

Then she increased her prostitution as she remembered the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in the land of Egypt.

20 Khonale wakhanuka izithandwa zakhe, ezazilezitho zangaphambili ezazifana lezabobabhemi, zikhihliza okufana lokwamabhiza.

So she lusted for her lovers, whose private parts were like those of donkeys, and whose reproductive emissions were like those of horses.

21 Ngakho walangazela isagweba sasebutsheni bakho, lapho okwathi useGibhithe isifuba lamabele akho kwabanjwabanjwa.

This is how you committed shameful acts of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young 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, Oholibah, the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I will turn your lovers against you. Those from whom you turned away, I will bring them against you 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 Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, strong, handsome men, governors and commanders, all of them are officers and men of reputation, all of them riding on horses.

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.

They will come against you with weapons, and with chariots and wagons, and with a great crowd of people. They will set large shields, small shields, and helmets against you all around. I will give them the opportunity to punish you, and they will punish you with their actions.

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.

For I will set my jealous anger on you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will take away your sons and your daughters, and your survivors will be devoured by fire.

26 Njalo bazakuhlubula izigqoko zakho bathathe leziceciso zakho ezinhle.

They will strip you of your clothes and take away all of your jewelry.

27 Kanjalo-ke ngizaqeda isagweba lobufebe owabuqalisela eGibhithe. Kawuyikukhangela lezizinto uzikhanuke loba ukhumbule iGibhithe futhi.

So I will remove your shameful behavior from you and your acts of prostitution from the land of Egypt. You will not lift up your eyes toward them with longing, and you will think of Egypt no longer.'

28 Ngoba nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Sekuseduze ukuba ngikunikele kulabo abakuzondayo, kulabo owasuka kubo unengekile.

For the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I will give you into the hand of the ones you hate, back into the hand of the ones from whom you had turned away.

29 Bazakuphatha ngenzondo njalo bathumbe yonke into owayisebenzelayo. Bazakutshiya unqunu uze, njalo ihlazo lobufebe bakho lizavela obala. Isagweba sakho lobufebe

They will deal with you hatefully; they will take all your possessions and abandon you naked and bare, and your nakedness will be uncovered just as when you engaged in promiscuity and prostitutions.

30 kwehlisele lokhu phezu kwakho, ngoba ufebe lezizwe, wazingcolisa wena ngokwakho ngezithombe zazo.

These things will be done to you in your acting like a prostitute, lusting after nations by which you became unclean with their idols.

31 Ulandele indlela kadadewenu; ngakho ngizabeka inkezo yakhe esandleni sakho.

You have walked in the way of your sister, so I will put her cup of punishment into your hand.'

32 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Uzanatha inkezo kadadewenu, inkezo enkulu ezikileyo futhi; izaletha ukuhlekwa lokuklolodelwa, ngoba ithwele lukhulu.

The Lord Yahweh says this, 'You will drink your sister's cup that is deep and large. You will become a laughingstock and a subject for derision—this cup contains a great amount.

33 Uzakhulelwa yikudakwa losizi, inkezo yokuchitheka lokuphundleka, inkezo kadadewenu iSamariya.

You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror and devastation; the cup of your sister Samaria.

34 Uzayinatha uyibhije; uzayiphahlaza ibe yizicucu ufucuze amabele akho. Sengikhulumile, kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.

You will drink it and drain it empty; then you will shatter it and tear your breasts with the pieces. For I have declared it—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'

35 Ngakho nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Njengoba usungikhohliwe wangifuqela ngemva kwakho, kumele uthwale imivuzo yesagweba sakho kanye lobufebe bakho.”

Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because you have forgotten me and thrown me away behind your back, so also you will bear the consequences of your shameful behavior and acts of sexual immorality.'”

36 UThixo wathi kimi: “Ndodana yomuntu, uzakwahlulela u-Ohola lo-Oholibha na? Ngakho melana labo ngezenzo zabo ezinengayo,

Yahweh said to me, “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? So present to them their disgusting actions,

37 ngoba benze ubufebe njalo lezandla zabo zilegazi. Bafeba lezithombe zabo; banikela labantwana babo ababengizalele bona, njengokudla kuzo.

since they have committed adultery, and since there is blood on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and they have even caused their sons to pass through the fire, as food for their idols.

38 Njalo benze lokhu kimi: Ngasonaleso isikhathi bangcolisa indlu yami engcwele batshaphaza lamaSabatha ami.

Then they continue to do this to me: They make my sanctuary unclean, and on the same day they defile my Sabbaths.

39 Ngalo kanye usuku abanikela ngalo abantwana babo ezithombeni zabo, bangena endlini yami engcwele bayingcolisa. Lokho yikho abakwenzayo endlini yami.

For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, then they came to my sanctuary on the same day to defile it! So behold! This is what they have done in the middle of my house.

40 Bathuma lesithunywa ebantwini ukuba beze bevela khatshana, kwathi sebefikile wabagezela, wacomba amehlo akho wasufaka leziceciso zakho.

You sent out for men who came from far away, to whom messengers had been sent—now behold. They indeed came, those for whom you bathed, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry.

41 Wahlala embhedeni omuhle, kuletafula elilungisiweyo phambi kwawo owawufake phezu kwayo impepha yami lamafutha ami.

There you sat on a beautiful bed and at a table arranged before it where you placed my incense and my oil.

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.

So the sound of a noisy crowd was around her; including all kinds of men, even Sabeans were brought in from the wilderness, and they put bracelets on their hands and beautiful crowns on their heads.

43 Lapho-ke ngalowo owayesegugiswe yibufebe ngathi, ‘Khathesi kabamsebenzise njengewule, ngoba lokho yikho konke ayikho.’

Then I said of her who was worn out by adultery, 'Now they will be sexually immoral with her, and she with them.'

44 Balala laye. Njengabesilisa belala lesifebe, ngokunjalo balala lalabobafazi abalesagweba, u-Ohola lo-Oholibha.

They went in to her and slept with her as men go in to be with a prostitute. In this way they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, who were immoral women.

45 Kodwa abantu abalungileyo bazabanika isijeziso sabesifazane abafebayo njalo bachithe legazi, ngoba bayizifebe njalo lezandla zabo zilegazi.

But righteous men will pass judgment and punish them as adulteresses, and they will punish them with the sentence for those who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.

46 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: Baletheleni ixuku limelane labo beselibanikela kukho ukwesaba lokuphangwa.

So the Lord Yahweh says this: I will raise up a company against them and give them up to be terrorized and plundered.

47 Ixuku lizabatshaya ngamatshe libajuqe ngezinkemba; lizabulala amadodana lamadodakazi abo litshise izindlu zabo ngomlilo.

Then that company will stone them with stones and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.

48 Ngizakuqeda kanjalo ukuxhwala elizweni, ukuze bonke abesifazane baxwayiseke njalo bangenzi njengani.

For I will remove shameful behavior from the land and discipline all the women so they will no longer act like prostitutes.

49 Lizajeziselwa ukuxhwala kwenu njalo lithwale lemivuzo yezono zenu zokukhonza izithombe. Lapho-ke lizakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo Wobukhosi.”

So they will set your shameful behavior against you. You will bear the guilt of your sins with your idols, and in this way you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.”