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, on the fifteenth day of the month, there came men of the elders of the house of Israel to enquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.

2 Ilizwi leNkosi laselifika kimi lisithi:

And the word of the Lord 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 the house of Israel, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; Are you come to enquire of me? [As] I live, I will not be enquired of by you, says the Lord.

4 Uzabahlulela yini, uzabahlulela yini, ndodana yomuntu? Bazise izinengiso zaboyise;

Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities 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 you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; From the day that I chose the house of Israel, and became known to the seed of the house of Jacob, and was known to them in the land of Egypt, and helped them with my hand, saying, I am the Lord your God;

6 Ngalolusuku ngaphakamisa isandla sami kubo, ukuthi ngibakhuphe elizweni leGibhithe ngibase elizweni engangibahlolele lona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe.

in that day I helped them with my hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into the land which I prepared for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is abundant beyond every land.

7 Ngasengisithi kubo: Lahlani ngulowo lalowo izinengiso zamehlo akhe, lingazingcolisi ngezithombe zeGibhithe: NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.

And I said to them, Let every one cast away the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the devices of Egypt: I am the Lord 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 revolted from me, and would not listen to me: they cast not away the abominations of their eyes, and forsook not the devices of Egypt: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my wrath upon them in the midst of Egypt.

9 Kodwa ngakwenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa emehlweni ezizwe, ababephakathi kwazo, engazazisa kubo phambi kwamehlo azo, ukubakhupha elizweni leGibhithe.

But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they are, amongst whom I was made known to them in their sight, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10 Ngakho ngabakhupha elizweni leGibhithe, ngabangenisa enkangala.

And I brought them into the wilderness.

11 Ngabanika izimiso zami, ngabazisa izahlulelo zami, okuthi nxa umuntu ezenza, uzaphila ngazo.

And I gave them my commandments, and made known to them mine ordinances, all which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them.

12 Ngabanika futhi amasabatha ami ukuze abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami labo, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi ebangcwelisayo.

And I gave them my sabbaths, that they should be for a sign between me and them, that they should know that I am the Lord that sanctify 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.

And I said to the house of Israel in the wilderness, Walk you in my commandments: but they walked not [in them], and they rejected mine ordinances, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them; and they grievously profaned my sabbaths: and I said that 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 wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned before the Gentiles, before whose eyes I brought them out.

15 Futhi lami ngabaphakamisela isandla sami enkangala, ukuthi kangiyikubaletha elizweni engangilinike bona, eligeleza uchago loluju, eliludumo lwawo wonke amazwe;

But I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness once for all, that I would not bring them into the land which I gave them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is sweeter than all lands:

16 ngoba badelela izahlulelo zami, kabahambanga ngezimiso zami, kodwa bangcolisa amasabatha ami, ngoba inhliziyo yabo yalandela izithombe zabo.

because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my commandments, but profaned my sabbaths, and went after the imaginations of their hearts.

17 Lanxa kunjalo ilihlo lami labahawukela ukuze ngingababhubhisi, futhi kangibaqedanga enkangala.

Yet mine eyes spared them, so as [not] to destroy them utterly, and I did not make an 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 children in the wilderness, Walk not you in the customs of your fathers, and keep not their ordinances, and have no fellowship with their practices, nor defile yourselves [with them].

19 NgiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu; hambani ngezimiso zami, ligcine izahlulelo zami, lizenze.

I [am] the Lord your God; walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;

20 Lingcwelise amasabatha ami, abe yisibonakaliso phakathi kwami lani, ukuze lazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wenu.

and hallow my sabbaths, and let them be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord 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 they provoked me, and their children walked not in my commandments, and they took no heed to mine ordinances to do them, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them, and they profaned my sabbaths: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to accomplish mine anger upon them.

22 Kodwa ngabuyisa isandla sami, ngenza ngenxa yebizo lami, ukuze lingangcoliswa phambi kwamehlo ezizwe, engangibakhuphe phambi kwamehlo azo.

But I wrought so that my name might not be at all profaned before the Gentiles; and I brought them out in their sight.

23 Mina ngabaphakamisela isandla sami futhi enkangala, ukuthi ngizabahlakaza phakathi kwezizwe, ngibasabalalisele emazweni;

I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them amongst the Gentiles, [and] disperse them in the countries;

24 ngoba bengazenzanga izahlulelo zami, kodwa badelela izimiso zami, bangcolisa amasabatha ami, lamehlo abo alandela izithombe zaboyise.

because they kept not mine ordinances, and rejected my commandments, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes went after the imaginations of their fathers.

25 Ngakho mina ngabanika futhi izimiso ezazingalunganga, lezahlulelo ababengeke baphile ngazo.

So I gave them commandments [that were] not good, and ordinances in which they should not live.

26 Ngasengibangcolisa kuzo izipho zabo, ekudabuliseni kwaboemlilweni konke okuvula isizalo, ukuze ngibachithe, ukuze bazi ukuthi ngiyiNkosi.

And I will defile them by their [own] decrees, when I pass through upon every one that opens the womb, that I may destroy them.

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 you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord: Hitherto have your fathers provoked me in their trespasses in which they transgressed 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.

Whereas I brought them into the land concerning which I lifted up mine hand to give it them; and they looked upon every high hill, and every shady tree, and they sacrificed there to their gods, and offered there sweet smelling savour, and there they poured out their drink-offerings.

29 Ngasengisithi kubo: Iyini indawo ephakemeyo eliya kuyo? Lebizo layo lithiwa yiNdawo ePhakemeyo kuze kube lamuhla.

And I said to them, What is Abama, that you go in there? and they called its name Abama, until 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, Do you pollute yourselves with the iniquities of your fathers, and do you go a-whoring after 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 [do you pollute yourselves] with the first fruits of your gifts, in the offerings wherewith you pollute yourselves in all your imaginations, until this day; and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, says the Lord, I will not answer you, neither shall this thing come upon your spirit.

32 Lalokho okuvela engqondweni yenu kakuyikuba khona ngitsho, elikutshoyo ukuthi: Sizakuba njengabezizwe, njengensapho zamazwe, ukuthi sikhonze isigodo lelitshe.

And it shall not be as you say, We will be as the nations, and as the tribes of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.

33 Kuphila kwami, itsho iNkosi uJehova, isibili ngizabusa phezu kwenu ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo!

Therefore, [as] I live, says the Lord, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath:

34 Ngoba ngizalikhupha ebantwini, ngiliqoqe emazweni elihlakazekele kuwo, ngesandla esilamandla langengalo eyeluliweyo langolaka oluthululiweyo.

I will bring you out from the nations, and will take you out of the lands wherein you were dispersed, with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath.

35 Njalo ngizaliletha enkangala yabantu, ngizaphikisana lani lapho ubuso ngobuso.

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and will plead with you there face to face.

36 Njengalokhu ngaphikisana laboyihlo enkangala yelizwe leGibhithe, ngokunjalo ngizaphikisana lani, itsho iNkosi uJehova.

As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you, says the Lord.

37 Njalo ngizalidlulisa ngaphansi kwentonga, ngilingenise kusibopho sesivumelwano.

And I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will bring you in by number.

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 separate from amongst you the ungodly and the revolters; for I will lead them forth out of their place of sojourning, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord, [even] the Lord.

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.

And [as to] you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Put away each one his [evil] practices, and hereafter if you listen to me, then shall you no more profane my holy name by your gifts and by devices.

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 upon my holy mountain, on the high mountain, says the Lord, [even] the Lord, there shall all the house of Israel serve me for ever: and there will I accept [you], and there will I have respect to your first fruits, and the first fruits of your offerings, in 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 with a sweet smelling savour, when I bring you out from the nations, and take you out of the countries wherein you have been dispersed; and I will be sanctified amongst you in the sight of the nations.

42 Lizakwazi-ke ukuthi ngiyiNkosi, lapho sengilingenise emhlabathini wakoIsrayeli, elizweni engaliphakamisela isandla sami ukulinika oyihlo.

And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have brought you into the land of Israel, into the land concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it 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 you shall there remember your ways, and your devices wherewith you defiled yourselves; and you shall bewail yourselves for all your wickedness.

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 you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have done thus to you, that my name may not be profaned in your evil ways, and in your corrupt devices, says the Lord.

45 Ilizwi leNkosi lafika kimi futhi lisithi:

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

46 Ndodana yomuntu, misa ubuso bakho ngasendleleni yeningizimu, utshumayele ngaseningizimu, uprofethe umelene legusu lensimu yeningizimu;

Son of man, set your face against Thaeman, and look towards Darom, and prophesy against the chief forest of Nageb,

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 you shall say to the forest of Nageb, Hear the word of the Lord; thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Behold, I [will] kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour in you every green tree, and every dry tree: the flame that is kindled shall not be quenched, and every face shall be scorched with it from the south to the north.

48 Futhi yonke inyama izabona ukuthi mina Nkosi ngiwuphembile, kawuyikucitshwa.

And all flesh shall know that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Ngasengisithi: Hawu, Nkosi Jehova! Bathi ngami: Kakhulumi imifanekiso yini?

And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?