UHezekheli 20
1 Kwasekusithi ngomnyaka wesikhombisa, ngenyanga yesihlanu, ngolwetshumi lwenyanga, abathile babadala bakoIsrayeli beza ukuzabuza iNkosi, bahlala phambi kwami.
And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.
2 Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kimi lisithi:
And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
3 Ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kubadala bakoIsrayeli, uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lize ukuzangibuza yini? Kuphila kwami, isibili kangiyikubuzwa yini, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the lord Jehovah: Is it to inquire of me that ye have come? As I live, says the lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
4 Uzabahlulela yini, uzabahlulela yini, ndodana yomuntu? Bazise izinengiso zaboyise;
Will thou judge them, son of man, will thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers,
5 uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Ngosuku engakhetha ngalo uIsrayeli, ngaphakamisa isandla sami kunzalo yendlu kaJakobe, ngazazisa kubo elizweni leGibhithe, lapho ngiphakamisa isandla sami kibo, ngisithi: NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
and say to them, Thus says the lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am Jehovah your God,
6 Ngalolusuku ngaphakamisa isandla sami kubo, ukuthi ngibakhuphe elizweni leGibhithe ngibase elizweni engangibahlolele lona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe.
I swore to them in that day, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
7 Ngasengisithi kubo: Lahlani ngulowo lalowo izinengiso zamehlo akhe, lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zeGibhithe: NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
And I said to them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Jehovah your God.
8 Kodwa bangivukela, bengavumi ukulalela kimi, kabalahlanga ngulowo lalowo izinengiso zamehlo abo, kabatshiyanga izithombe zeGibhithe. Ngasengisithi ngizathululela ukuthukuthela kwami phezu kwabo, ukuze ngiphelelise ulaka lwami ngimelene labo phakathi kwelizwe leGibhithe.
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken to me. They did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
9 Kodwa ngakwenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa emehlweni ezizwe, ababephakathi kwazo, engazazisa kubo phambi kwamehlo azo, ukubakhupha elizweni leGibhithe.
But I worked for my name's sake (that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them) in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
10 Ngakho ngabakhupha elizweni leGibhithe, ngabangenisa enkangala.
So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
11 Ngabanika izimiso zami, ngabazisa izahlulelo zami, okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo.
And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them.
12 Ngabanika futhi amasabatha ami ukuze abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami labo, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi ebangcwelisayo.
Moreover I also gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Jehovah who sanctifies them.
13 Kodwa indlu kaIsrayeli yangivukela enkangala; kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, badelela izahlulelo zami, okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo; lamasabatha ami bawangcolisa kakhulu. Ngasengisithi ngizathululela ukuthukuthela kwami phezu kwabo enkangala, ukuze ngibaqede.
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. And they greatly profaned my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14 Kodwa ngakwenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa emehlweni ezizwe, engabakhupha emehlweni azo.
But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
15 Futhi lami ngabaphakamisela isandla sami enkangala, ukuthi kangiyikubaletha elizweni engangilinike bona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe;
Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
16 ngoba badelela izahlulelo zami, kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, kodwa bangcolisa amasabatha ami, ngoba inhliziyo yabo yalandela izithombe zabo.
because they rejected my ordinances, and did not walk in my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths, for their heart went after their idols.
17 Lanxa kunjalo ilihlo lami labahawukela ukuze ngingababhubhisi, futhi kangibaqedanga enkangala.
Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them, nor did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.
18 Kodwa ngathi kubantwana babo enkangala: Lingahambi ngezimiso zaboyihlo, lingagcini izahlulelo zabo, lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zabo.
And I said to their sons in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers. Neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.
19 NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu; hambani ngezimiso zami, ligcine izahlulelo zami, lizenze.
I am Jehovah your God. Walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them,
20 Lingcwelise amasabatha ami, abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami lani, ukuze lazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.
and hallow my sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God.
21 Kodwa abantwana bangivukela; kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, kabagcinanga izahlulelo zami ukuthi bazenze; okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo; bawangcolisa amasabatha ami; ngasengisithi ngizathululela intukuthelo yami phezu kwabo, ukuthi ngiphelelise ulaka lwami ngimelene labo enkangala.
But the sons rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes, nor kept my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
22 Kodwa ngabuyisa isandla sami, ngenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa phambi kwamehlo ezizwe, engangibakhuphe phambi kwamehlo azo.
Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.
23 Mina ngabaphakamisela isandla sami futhi enkangala, ukuthi ngizabahlakaza phakathi kwezizwe, ngibasabalalisele emazweni;
Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries,
24 ngoba bengazenzanga izahlulelo zami, kodwa badelela izimiso zami, bangcolisa amasabatha ami, lamehlo abo alandela izithombe zaboyise.
because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
25 Ngakho mina ngabanika futhi izimiso ezazingalunganga, lezahlulelo ababengeke baphile ngazo.
Moreover I also gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they will not live.
26 Ngasengibangcolisa kuzo izipho zabo, ekudabuliseni kwaboemlilweni konke okuvula isizalo, ukuze ngibachithe, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.
And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Jehovah.
27 Ngakho, ndodana yomuntu, khuluma kuyo indlu yakoIsrayeli, uthi kubo: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lakulokhu oyihlo bangihlambazile, ngokuthi baphambeke isiphambeko bemelene lami.
Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the lord Jehovah: In this moreover your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
28 Lapho sengibalethe elizweni, engaphakamisela isandla sami ngalo ukuthi ngibanike lona, babona lonke uqaqa oluphakemeyo, lazo zonke izihlahla eziqatha, bahlaba khona imihlatshelo yabo, banikela khona isicunulo somnikelo wabo, bafaka khona iphunga labo elimnandi, bathulula khona iminikelo yabo yokunathwayo.
For when I had brought them into the land, which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink offerings.
29 Ngasengisithi kubo: Iyini indawo ephakemeyo eliya kuyo? Lebizo layo lithiwa yiNdawo ePhakemeyo kuze kube lamuhla.
Then I said to them, What does the high place to which ye go mean? So the name of it is called Bamah to this day.
30 Ngakho tshono kuyo indlu kaIsrayeli: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Lizazingcolisa ngendlela yaboyihlo yini, liphinge lilandela izinengiso zabo?
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the lord Jehovah: Do ye pollute yourselves according to the manner of your fathers, and play ye the harlot according to their abominations?
31 Ngoba lapho linikela izipho zenu, lapho lisenza amadodana enu adabule emlilweni, liyazingcolisa ngezithombe zenu zonke kuze kube lamuhla. Mina-ke ngizabuzwa yini na, wena ndlu kaIsrayeli? Kuphila kwami, itsho iNkosi uJehova, isibili kangiyikubuzwa yini.
And when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, do ye pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
32 Lalokho okuvela engqondweni yenu kakuyikuba khona ngitsho, elikutshoyo ukuthi: Sizakuba njengabezizwe, njengensapho zamazwe, ukuthi sikhonze isigodo lelitshe.
And that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that ye say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
33 Kuphila kwami, itsho iNkosi uJehova, isibili ngizabusa phezu kwenu ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo!
As I live, says the lord Jehovah, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.
34 Ngoba ngizalikhupha ebantwini, ngiliqoqe emazweni elihlakazekele kuwo, ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo.
And I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out,
35 Njalo ngizaliletha enkangala yabantu, ngizaphikisana lani lapho ubuso ngobuso.
and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples. And there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
36 Njengalokhu ngaphikisana laboyihlo enkangala yelizwe leGibhithe, ngokunjalo ngizaphikisana lani, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, says the lord Jehovah.
37 Njalo ngizalidlulisa ngaphansi kwentonga, ngilingenise kusibopho sesivumelwano.
And I will cause you to pass under the rod. And I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.
38 Ngihlanze ngikhuphe phakathi kwenu abavukeli lalabo abaphambeka bemelene lami, ngibakhuphe elizweni lokuhlala kwabo njengabezizwe, kodwa kabayikungena emhlabathini wakoIsrayeli. Khona lizakwazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
39 Lina-ke, ndlu kaIsrayeli, itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova, hambani likhonze, ngulowo lalowo izithombe zakhe, langemva kwalokho, uba lingangilaleli; kodwa lingangcolisi futhi ibizo lami elingcwele ngezipho zenu langezithombe zenu.
As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the lord Jehovah: Go ye. Serve each one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken to me. But ye shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts, and with your idols.
40 Ngoba entabeni yami engcwele, entabeni yengqonga yakoIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova, lapho izangikhonza indlu yonke yakoIsrayeli, bonke elizweni; khona ngizabemukela, lakhona ngibize iminikelo yenu, lezithelo zokuqala zeminikelo yenu, lazo zonke izinto zenu ezingcwele.
For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says the lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
41 Ngizalemukela ngephunga elimnandi nxa ngilikhupha ebantwini, ngiliqoqe emazweni ebelihlakazelwe kuwo; njalo ngizangcweliswa phakathi kwenu phambi kwamehlo ezizwe.
I will accept you as a sweet savor when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which ye have been scattered. And I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.
42 Lizakwazi-ke ukuthi ngiyiNkosi, lapho sengilingenise emhlabathini wakoIsrayeli, elizweni engaliphakamisela isandla sami ukulinika oyihlo.
And ye shall know that I am Jehovah when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.
43 Lapho-ke lizakhumbula izindlela zenu lezenzo zenu zonke, elazingcolisa ngazo; njalo lizazenyanya phambi kobuso benu ngenxa yazo zonke izinto ezimbi elizenzileyo.
And there ye shall remember your ways, and all your doings, by which ye have polluted yourselves. And ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.
44 Beselisazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi, nxa ngenze kini ngenxa yebizo lami, hatshi njengokwezindlela zenu ezimbi, kumbe njengokwezenzo zenu zenkohlakalo, lina ndlu kaIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
And ye shall know that I am Jehovah when I have dealt with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, says the lord Jehovah.
45 Ilizwi leNkosi lafika kimi futhi lisithi:
And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
46 Ndodana yomuntu, misa ubuso bakho ngasendleleni yeningizimu, utshumayele ngaseningizimu, uprofethe umelene legusu lensimu yeningizimu;
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South.
47 uthi kilo igusu leningizimu: Zwana ilizwi leNkosi: Itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Khangela, ngizaphemba umlilo phakathi kwakho, njalo uzaqeda phakathi kwakho sonke isihlahla esiluhlaza laso sonke isihlahla esomileyo; ilangabi elivuthayo kaliyikucitshwa, kodwa kuzatshiswa ngalo bonke ubuso kusukela eningizimu kuze kufike enyakatho.
And say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah. Thus says the lord Jehovah: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree. The flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt by it.
48 Futhi yonke inyama izabona ukuthi mina Nkosi ngiwuphembile, kawuyikucitshwa.
And all flesh shall see that I, Jehovah, have kindled it. It shall not be quenched.
49 Ngasengisithi: Hawu, Nkosi Jehova! Bathi ngami: Kakhulumi imifanekiso yini?
Then I said, Ah lord Jehovah! They say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
