ʻIsikieli 18

1 Naʻe toe hoko kiate au ʻae folofola ʻa Sihova, ʻo pehē,

Yahweh gave me another message. [He said, ]

2 “Ko e hā hono ʻuhinga ʻiate kimoutolu, ʻoku mou lea ʻaki ʻae fakatātā ki he fonua ʻo ʻIsileli, ʻo pehē, ‘Kuo kai ʻe he ngaahi tamai ʻae kālepi mahi, pea kuo maninia ʻae nifo ʻoe fānau?’

“You people quote [RHQ] this proverb [and say that it is] about Israel: ‘Parents/People eat sour grapes, but it is their children who have a very sour taste in their mouths', [which means that you think that it is not fair for you to be punished for your ancestors’ sins].

3 ‌ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova ko e ʻOtua, “ʻO hangē ʻoku ou moʻui, ʻe ʻikai toe ʻaonga ke mou ʻai ʻae lea fakatātā ko ia ki ʻIsileli.

But [I], Yahweh the Lord, declare that [as surely] as I am alive, you Israeli people will no longer quote that proverb.

4 Vakai, ʻoku ʻaʻaku ʻae laumālie kotoa pē; hangē ʻoku ʻaʻaku ʻae laumālie ʻoe tamai, ʻoku pehē foki ʻae laumālie ʻoe foha ʻoku ʻaʻaku ia: ko e laumālie ʻoku angahala ʻe mate ia.

Everyone [who is alive] belongs to me. That includes children and their parents; they all belong to me. And it is those who sin who will [because of their sins].

5 “Ka koeʻuhi, kapau ʻe angatonu ha tangata, pea ne fai ʻaia ʻoku totonu mo lelei,

[So, ] suppose there is a righteous person [always] does what is fair and right [DOU].

6 Pea kuo ʻikai kai ia ʻi he ngaahi moʻunga, pe hanga hono mata ki he ngaahi tamapua ʻi he fale ʻo ʻIsileli, pe te ne tonoʻi ʻae uaifi ʻo hono kaungāʻapi, pe te ne ofi ki ha fefine mahaki fakafefine,

He does not [meat sacrificed to idols] on the hilltops, he does not request help from idols. He does not have sex with someone else’s wife or have sex with a woman during her monthly menstrual period.

7 Pea kuo ʻikai fakamālohiʻi ʻe ia ha taha, ka kuo ne toe ʻange ʻae meʻa naʻe tuku ko e fakamoʻoni kiate ia ʻoku fai totongi, pea ʻoku ʻikai maumauʻi ʻe ia ʻi ha fai mālohi, kuo ne foaki ʻene mā ki he fiekaia, pea kuo ne fakakofu ʻae telefua ʻaki ʻae kofu;

He does not mistreat/oppress people; if [borrows money from him and gives him his cloak to guarantee that he will pay the money back], he always gives the cloak back to that [before the sun goes down]. He does not rob people. He gives food to hungry people. He gives clothing to people who need clothes.

8 Ko ia ʻoku ʻikai foaki ke toe totongi mai, pea te ne maʻu hano tupu, pea kuo ne taʻofi hono nima mei he fai kovi, pea kuo ne fai ʻae fakamaau totonu ʻae tangata ki he tangata,

When he lends money to people, he does not [do it just to] charge big interest. He does not do [SYN] things that are evil. He [always] decides things fairly.

9 Kuo ne ʻeveʻeva ʻi heʻeku ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni, pea kuo ne fai ki heʻeku ngaahi fakamaau, ke fai totonu; ko ia ia ʻoku angatonu, pea ko e moʻoni ʻe fakamoʻui ia,” ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ko e ʻOtua.

He faithfully obeys all [DOU] my laws. That man is truly righteous; he will remain alive. [That is what I, ] Yahweh the Lord, promise.

10 “Kapau te ne maʻu ha foha, ʻoku kaihaʻa, pea ʻoku ne lilingi ʻae toto, ʻo ne fai ʻo tatau ki he ngaahi meʻa ni,

But suppose that man has a son who acts violently, who murders people and does any of these other things, even though his father has not done any of them:

11 Pea ʻoku ʻikai te ne fai ha meʻa ʻi he ngaahi meʻa ʻoku totonu ni, ka kuo ne kai ʻi he ngaahi moʻunga, pea kuo ne tonoʻi ʻae uaifi ʻo hono kaungāʻapi,

He [meat sacrificed to idols] on the hilltops. He has sex with other people’s wives.

12 Kuo ne fakamālohiʻi ʻae masiva mo e paea, kuo ne maumauʻi ʻi he fai mālohi, pea ʻoku ʻikai te ne toe ʻange ʻae meʻa naʻe tuku ko e fakamoʻoni, pea kuo ne hanga hake hono mata ki he ngaahi tamapua, pea kuo ne fai fakalielia,

He mistreats/oppresses poor and needy people. He robs people. If someone gives him his cloak to [that he will pay the money back], he never gives the cloak back to [before the sun goes down]. He seeks help from idols. He does [other] detestable things.

13 Kuo ne ʻatu meʻa ke toe totongi mai, pea kuo ne maʻu ʻa hono tupu: pea ʻe moʻui ia? ʻE ʻikai te ne moʻui: kuo ne fai ʻae ngaahi fakalielia ni kotoa pē; ko e moʻoni te ne mate; ʻe ʻiate ia pe ʻa hono toto.

When he lends money, he [very big] interest. If you think that such a person [be allowed to] remain alive [RHQ], you are certainly wrong. Because he has done those detestable things, he will surely be executed, and it will be his own fault [IDM].

14 “Pea, vakai, kapau ʻe maʻu ʻe ia ha foha, ʻoku mamata ki he angahala kotoa pē kuo fai ʻe heʻene tamai, pea ʻoku ne tokanga, ka ʻoku ʻikai ke ne fai ʻo hangē ko ia,

But suppose that man has a son who sees all the sins that his father commits, but he does not do those things:

15 ‌ʻOku ʻikai te ne kai ʻi he ngaahi moʻunga, pe te ne hiki hono mata ki he ngaahi tamapua ʻoe fale ʻo ʻIsileli, pe te ne tonoʻi ʻae uaifi ʻo hono kaungāʻapi,

He does not [meat sacrificed to idols] on the hilltops. He does not request help from idols. He does not have sex with other people’s wives.

16 ‌ʻOku ʻikai te ne fakamālohiʻi ha tokotaha, pe te ne taʻofi kiate ia ʻae meʻa naʻe tuku ko e fakamoʻoni, pe te ne maumau ʻi ha fai mālohi, ka kuo ne foaki ʻa ʻene mā ki he fiekaia, pea kuo ne fakakofu ʻae telefua ʻaki ʻae kofu,

He does not mistreat/oppress people. If he lends money to someone, he does not require that person to give him his cloak to guarantee that he will pay the money back. He does not rob anyone. He gives food to those who need it. He gives clothes to those who need clothes.

17 Kuo ne taʻofi ʻa hono nima mei he masiva, pea ʻoku ʻikai te ne maʻu ha totongi taʻetotonu, pe hano tupu, ka kuo fai ʻeku ngaahi fakamaau, mo ʻeveʻeva ʻi heʻeku ngaahi tuʻutuʻuni; ʻe ʻikai mate ia koeʻuhi ko e fai kovi ʻa ʻene tamai, ko e moʻoni ʻe moʻui pe ia.

He does not commit sins, [like his father did], and does not charge big interest [DOU] when he lends money. He faithfully obeys [all] [DOU] my laws. That person will not be executed for his father’s sins; he will surely remain alive.

18 Ka ko ʻene tamai, koeʻuhi naʻa ne fakamālohi kakaha, ʻo ne maumau hono tokoua ʻi he fai mālohi, pea naʻa ne fai ʻaia naʻe ʻikai lelei ʻi he haʻohaʻonga ʻo hono kakai, vakai, ʻe mate moʻoni ia ʻi heʻene fai kovi.

But his father will be executed for the sins that he committed, because he cheated people and robbed people and did [other] things that are evil.

19 “Ka ʻoku mou pehē, ‘Ko e hā? ʻIkai ʻoku fua ʻe he foha ʻae fai kovi ʻa ʻene tamai?’ ʻOka fai ʻe he foha ʻaia ʻoku lelei mo totonu, pea kuo ne tauhi ʻeku ngaahi fekau, mo ne fai ki ai, ʻe moʻui moʻoni ia.

[If] you ask, ‘Why should the [man’s] son not (suffer/be punished) for the evil things that his father did?’, [I will answer that] the son has done what is fair and right [DOU] and has obeyed all my laws, so he will surely remain alive.

20 Ko e laumālie ko ia ʻe angahala, ʻe mate ia. ʻE ʻikai fua ʻe he foha ʻae fai kovi ʻa ʻene tamai, pea ʻe ʻikai fua ʻe he tamai ʻae fai kovi ʻae foha: ko e māʻoniʻoni ʻae māʻoniʻoni ʻe ʻiate ia pe, pea ko e fai kovi ʻae angahala ʻe ʻiate ia pē.

It is those who sin who will [because of their sins]. People will not be punished for the sins of their parents, or for the sins of their children. Good/Righteous people will be rewarded for their being good/righteous, and evil people will be punished for [doing] evil.

21 “Ka ko eni, kapau ʻe tafoki ʻae angahala mei he angahala kotoa pē kuo ne fai, pea tauhi ʻe ia ʻeku ngaahi fekau, mo ne fai ʻaia ʻoku lelei mo totonu, ko e moʻoni ʻe fakamoʻui ia, ʻe ʻikai siʻi mate ia.

But if a wicked person (turns away from/quits) doing all the evil things that he did previously, and if he starts to obey faithfully all my laws, and does what is fair and right [DOU], he will surely remain alive; he will not be executed.

22 Ko ʻene ngaahi angahala kotoa pē ʻaia kuo ne fai, ʻe ʻikai toe lau ia kiate ia: ʻe moʻui pe ia, ko e meʻa ʻi heʻene māʻoniʻoni ʻaia kuo ne fai.

He will not be punished for the sins he committed [previously]. Because of the good/righteous things that he has done [since that time], he [be allowed to] remain alive.

23 He ʻoku ou maʻu ha momoʻi fiemālie siʻi ʻi he mate ʻae angahala? ʻOku pehē ʻe Sihova ko e ʻOtua, ka ʻe ʻikai muʻa, ke tafoki ia mei hono hala, pea moʻui?

[I], Yahweh the Lord, declare that I certainly am not [RHQ] happy about wicked people dying. Instead, I am happy when they turn away from their wicked behavior, [because of that, they] remain alive.

24 Ka ʻi he liliu ʻae māʻoniʻoni mei heʻene māʻoniʻoni mo ne fai angahala, pea ne fai ʻo tatau mo e fakalielia kotoa pē ʻaia ʻoku fai ʻe he tangata angahala, ʻe moʻui ia? Ko ʻene māʻoniʻoni kotoa pē ʻaia kuo ne fai, ʻe ʻikai ha lau ki ai: ʻi he fai kovi kuo ne fai, mo e angahala, kuo ne angahala ai, ʻe mate pe ia ʻi ai.

But if a righteous person stops doing righteous things and [starts to] commit sins and does the same detestable things that wicked people do, he will certainly not [RHQ] [be allowed to] remain alive. I will not think about the righteous things that he did previously. Because he did not [do what pleases me], and because of [all] the sins that he has committed, he will be executed.

25 “Ka ʻoku mou pehē, ‘ʻOku ʻikai fai tatau ʻae anga ʻa Sihova.’ Ko eni, fanongo, ʻe fale ʻo ʻIsileli: ʻIkai ʻoku tatau ʻa ʻeku anga? ʻIkai ko hoʻomou anga ʻamoutolu ʻoku fai kehekehe?

But you say, ‘Yahweh does not act fairly!’ You Israeli people, listen to what I say: It is certainly not [RHQ] what I do that is unfair, it is what you continually do that is not fair/right!

26 ‌ʻOka liliu ʻae tangata māʻoniʻoni mei heʻene māʻoniʻoni ʻo ne fai angahala, pea mate ai ia; ko ʻene angahala kuo ne fai, ko ia ia te ne mate ai.

If a righteous person (turns away from/quits) doing what is righteous and commits sins, he will [for committing those sins].

27 Pea pehē, ʻoka liliu ʻae tangata angahala mei heʻene angahala ʻaia kuo ne fai, mo ne fai ʻaia ʻoku lelei mo totonu ʻe fakamoʻui ʻe ia ʻa hono laumālie ke moʻui.

But if a wicked person turns away from doing wicked things and does what is just and right [DOU], he will save [from being executed/punished].

28 Koeʻuhi kuo ne tokanga, mo liliu mai mei heʻene angahala kotoa pē ʻaia naʻa ne fai, ʻe moʻui moʻoni ia, ʻe ʻikai ʻaupito te ne mate.

Because he has thought about all the evil things that he did and has turned away from doing them, he will [be allowed to] live. He will not be executed [for having done evil things].

29 Ka ʻoku pehē pe ʻe he fale ʻo ʻIsileli, ‘ʻOku ʻikai fai tatau ʻae meʻa ʻa Sihova.’ ʻE fale ʻo ʻIsileli, ʻIkai ʻoku fai tatau ʻa ʻeku anga? ʻIkai ko hoʻomou anga ʻamoutolu ʻoku fai kehekehe?

But [you] Israeli people [MTY] say, ‘Yahweh does not act fairly.’ You people of Israel, my behavior is certainly not [RHQ] unfair! It is your behavior that is not right.

30 Ko ia te u fakamaau ai ʻakimoutolu, ʻe fale ʻo ʻIsileli, ʻo fakatatau ki homou hala taki taha, ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ko e ʻOtua. Fakatomala pea fakatafoki ʻakimoutolu mei hoʻomou ngaahi angahala; ko ia ʻe ʻikai hoko ai hoʻomou angahala ko homou ʻauhaʻanga.

Therefore, you Israeli people [MTY], I, Yahweh the Lord, will judge each of you according to what you have done. Repent! Turn [away] from all your wicked behavior! Then you will not be destroyed [PRS] because of your sins.

31 “Liʻaki meiate kimoutolu ʻa hoʻomou angahala kotoa pē, ʻaia kuo mou fai hala ai; pea ngaohi kiate kimoutolu ʻae loto foʻou pea mo e laumālie foʻou: he ko e hā te mou fie mate ai ʻe fale ʻo ʻIsileli?

Get rid of all your wicked behavior, and get a new way of thinking [IDM, DOU]. You Israeli people [MTY], (do you really want to be executed for your sins?/you act as though you want to be executed [for your sins]) [RHQ].

32 He ʻoku ʻikai te u fiemālie ʻi he mate ʻo ia ʻoku mate, ʻoku pehē ʻe Sihova ko e ʻOtua: ko ia fakatafoki ʻakimoutolu, pea mou moʻui.”

[I], Yahweh the Lord, declare that I am not pleased about your dying. So repent, and remain alive!”