Israel Keeps On Rebelling
1 Seven years after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, some of Israel's leaders came to me on the tenth day of the fifth month. They sat down and asked for a message from the Lord. 2 Just then, the Lord God said:
3 Ezekiel, son of man, these leaders have come to find out what I want them to do. As surely as I live, I will not give them an answer of any kind.
4 Are you willing to warn them, Ezekiel? Then remind them of the disgusting sins of their ancestors.
5 Tell them that long ago I, the Lord God, chose Israel to be my own. I appeared to their ancestors in Egypt and made a solemn promise that I would be their God and the God of their descendants. 6 I swore that I would rescue them from Egypt and lead them to a land I had already chosen. This land was rich with milk and honey and was the most splendid land of all. 7 I told them to get rid of their disgusting idols and not to sin by worshiping the gods of Egypt. I reminded them that I was the Lord their God, 8 but they still rebelled against me. They refused to listen and kept on worshiping their idols and foreign gods.
In my anger, I decided to punish the Israelites in Egypt. 9 But that would have made me look like a liar, because I had already promised in front of everyone that I would lead them out of Egypt. 10 So I brought them out and led them into the desert. 11 I gave them my laws and teachings, so they would know how to live right. 12 And I commanded them to respect the Sabbath as a way of showing that they were holy and belonged to me. 13 But the Israelites rebelled against me in the desert. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath like any other day.
Then in my anger, I decided to destroy the Israelites in the desert once and for all. 14 But that would have disgraced me, because many other nations had seen me bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 15 Instead, I told them in the desert that I would not lead them into the beautiful, fertile land I had promised. 16 I said this because they had not only ignored my laws and teachings, but had disgraced my Sabbath and worshiped idols.
17 Yet, I felt sorry for them and could not let them die in the desert. 18 So I warned the children not to act like their parents or follow their evil ways or worship their idols. 19 I reminded them that I was the Lord their God and that they should obey my laws and teachings. 20 I told them to respect my Sabbath to show that they were my people and that I was the Lord their God. 21 But the children also rebelled against me. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath as any other day.
I became angry and decided to punish them in the desert. 22 But I did not. That would have disgraced me in front of the nations that had seen me bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 23 So I solemnly swore that I would scatter the people of Israel across the nations, 24 because they had disobeyed my laws and ignored my teachings; they had disgraced my Sabbath and worshiped the idols their ancestors had made. 25 I gave them laws that bring punishment instead of life, 26 and I let them offer me unacceptable sacrifices, including their first-born sons. I did this to horrify them and to let them know that I, the Lord, was punishing them.
27 Ezekiel, tell the people of Israel that their ancestors also rejected and insulted me 28 by offering sacrifices, incense, and wine to gods on every hill and under every large tree. I was very angry, because they did these things in the land I had given them! 29 I asked them where they went to worship those gods, and they answered, “At the local shrines.” And those places of worship are still called shrines.
30 Then ask the Israelites why they are following the example of their wicked ancestors 31 by worshiping idols and by sacrificing their own children as offerings. They commit these sins and still think they can ask me for a message. As surely as I am the living Lord God, I will give them no answer. 32 They may think they can be like other nations and get away with worshiping idols made of wood and stone. But that will never happen!
The Lord Promises To Restore Israel
The Lord said to the people of Israel:
33 As surely as I am the living Lord God, I will rule over you with my powerful arm. You will feel my fierce anger 34 and my power, when I gather you from the places where you are scattered 35 and lead you into a desert surrounded by nations. I will meet you there face to face. Then I will pass judgment on you 36 and punish you, just as I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt. 37 I will force each of you to obey the regulations of our solemn agreement. 38 I will separate the sinful rebels from the rest of you, and even though I will bring them from the nations where they live in exile, they won't be allowed to return to Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 Go ahead and worship your idols for now, you Israelites, because soon I will no longer let you dishonor me by offering gifts to them. You will have no choice but to obey me! 40 When that day comes, everyone in Israel will worship me on Mount Zion, my holy mountain in Jerusalem. I will once again call you my own, and I will accept your sacred offerings and sacrifices. 41 When I bring you home from the places where you are now scattered, I will be pleased with you, just as I am pleased with the smell of the smoke from your sacrifices. Every nation on earth will see that I am holy, 42 and you will know that I, the Lord, am the one who brought you back to Israel, the land I promised your ancestors. 43 Then you will remember your wicked sins, and you will hate yourselves for doing such horrible things. They have made you unacceptable to me, 44 so you deserve to be punished. But I will treat you in a way that will bring honor to my name, and you will know that I am the Lord God.
Fire from the South
45 The Lord said, 46 “Ezekiel, son of man, turn toward the south and warn the forests 47 that I, the Lord God, will start a fire that will burn up every tree, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put out the blaze of that fire as it spreads to the north and burns everything in its path. 48 Everyone will know that I started it, and that it cannot be stopped.”
49 But I complained, “Lord God, I don't want to do that! People already say I confuse them with my messages.”
Okuhadulika kwaIsrael
1 Ndele momudo omutiheyali mohani onhinhano, etimulongo lohani, ovalumenhu vomovakulunhu vomuIsrael ve uya okupula ounongo kOmwene, ndele vo va kala omutumba koshipala shange. 2 Opo nee ondjovo yOmwene ye uya kwaame, ndele tai ti: 3 “Kaana komunhu, lombwela ovakulunhu vomuIsrael u tye kuvo: Omwene Kalunga osho ta ti: nye omwe uya okupula nge ounongo? Oshili, ngaashi Ame ndi nomwenyo, oshilielela, Ame ihandi pulwa ounongo kunye, Omwene Kalunga ta ti.
4 “Kaana komunhu, ino hala oku va tokola, oku va tokola? Va hololela hano oixuna yooxe 5 u tye kuvo: Omwene Kalunga osho ta ti: Mefiku linya Ame nda hoolola Israel, onda yelulilile oludalo leumbo laJakob eke lange, ndele Ame nde liholola kuvo medu laEgipiti. Heeno, nde va yelulilile eke lange, ndele handi ti: Aame Omwene Kalunga keni. 6 Mefiku tuu linya Ame nde va yelulila eke lange, ndi va pitife mo muEgipiti noku va twala koshilongo, nde shi va kongela, oshilongo shi yadi omashini nomaadi eenyiki, osho efimano mokati koilongo aishe. 7 Ndele Ame onde va lombwela: Ekeleishi, keshe umwe, oififahoni momesho eni, ndele inamu linyateka noikalunga yomuEgipiti: Aame Omwene Kalunga keni.
8 “Ndelenee vo inava dulika kwaame ndele inava hala okupwilikina nge. Nande umwe ina ekelashi oififahoni momesho aye ile ine liteeka oikalunga yomuEgipiti. Opo nee Ame nda tya, Ame ohandi ka tilashi oupyuhandu wange kombada yavo, opo ehandu lange li wanifilwe muvo medu laEgipiti. 9 Ndelenee, Ame onde shi ningile molwedina lange, opo liha dinwe momesho oiwana yovapaani mokati kavo ova kala, nomoipafi yayo Ame nde i lishiivifila moku va pitifa medu laEgipiti. 10 Ndele Ame nde va pitifa mo medu laEgipiti nonde va eta mombuwa. 11 Ndele Ame nde va pa eenghedimhango dange, ndele nde va shiivifila omalombwelo ange, omunhu ou te a diinine, ta kala e nomwenyo molwao. 12 Nomashabata ange, Ame nde e va pa, a ninge edidiliko pokati ketu navo, opo va shiive nokutya, Aame Omwene ohandi va yapula. 13 Ndelenee eumbo laIsrael la li li nondubo naame mombuwa. Vo inava shikula eenghedimhango dange, ndele va ekelashi omalombwelo ange, oo e nokudiininwa komunhu, ye opo a kale e nomwenyo. Nomashabata ange ove a xutulifa unene. Opo nee nda tile nokutya, ohandi ka tilila kombada yavo oupyuhandu wange mombuwa, ndi va mane po. 14 Ndelenee Ame nde shi ninga molwedina lange, opo liha dinwe momesho oiwana yovapaani, moipafi yavo Ame nde mu pitifa mo.
15 “Onghee hano Ame nde va yelulilile yo eke lange mombuwa, opo Ame ndihe va twale moshilongo osho shi yadi omashini nomaadi eenyiki, osho efimano mokati koilongo aishe. 16 Osheshi va ekelashi omalombwelo ange ndele inava shikula eenghedimhango dange nova xutulifa omashabata ange. Osheshi omitima davo da shikula oikalunga yavo. 17 Ndelenee eisho lange le va tala nolukeno, onghee inandi va komba po noinandi va mana po sheke mombuwa. 18 Ndelenee nda lombwela oludalo lavo mombuwa handi ti: Inamu kala nokweenda meenghedimhango dooxo, ndele inamu kala nokudiinina omalombwelo avo, ndele inamu linyateka noikalunga yavo. 19 Aame Omwene Kalunga keni. Shikuleni eenghedimhango dange diinineni omalombwelo ange noku a wanifa, 20 ndele yapuleni omashabata ange. Ndele oo taa ka ninga edidiliko pokati ketu nanye, opo mu shiive nokutya, Aame Omwene Kalunga keni.
21 “Ndelenee oludalo la li li nondubo naame. Vo inava shikula eenghedimhango dange, inava diinina omalombwelo ange, aa e nokudiininwa komunhu, opo ye a kale e nomwenyo molwao. Vo ova xutulifa omashabata ange. Opo nee Ame nda tile nokutya, ohandi ka tilashi oupyuhandu wange kombada yavo, opo ehandu lange li wanifwe muvo mombuwa. 22 Ndelenee Ame nda alula eke lange ndele nde shi ninga molwedina lange, opo liha dinwe momesho oiwana yovapaani, moipafi yavo Ame nde va pitifa mo. 23 Ndele Ame onde va yelulilile eke lange mombuwa, opo Ame ohandi ke va undwila mokati koiwana ndele vo otave ke lihanena moilongo. 24 Osheshi vo inava diinina omalombwelo ange, ndelenee va ekelashi eenghedimhango dange, ndele va xutulifa omashabata ange ndele omesho avo a taalela oikalunga yooxe. 25 Osho hano naame yo nde va pa eenghedimhango kada li diwa nomalombwelo muwo vo itava mono omwenyo. 26 Ndele Ame onde va nyatekifa molwomayambo avo, osheshi vo va yambela omundilo oiveli aishe ei tai yeulula oshidalelo shaina, opo Ame ndi shiive oku va nyona po, vo va shiive nokutya, Aame Omwene.
27 “Onghee hano kaana komunhu, lombwela eumbo laIsrael u tye kuvo: Omwene Kalunga ta ti ngaha: ooxo ova sheka nge vali eshi ve liteeka nge. 28 Ame eshi nde va eta moshilongo, molwaasho Ame nda yelulile eke lange ndi shi va pe, vo ova taalela koikulundudu aishe ile nokomiti adishe ditalala, oko va tomena omayambo avo ndele va yamba omayambo a nyonyodolifa ndele oko va eta edimba liwa lomatwimino noko va tilashi oikunwayambo. 29 Opo nee Ame nde va lombwela: Oshikulundudu osho oshashike oko tamu i? Ndele vo ove i luka oikulundu yokuyambela fiyo onena eli.”
Etokolo neudaneko
30 “Onghee hano lombwela eumbo laIsrael u tye: Omwene Kalunga ota ti ngaha: Oshike? Nye otamu linyateke mondjila yooxo ndele mokuliteeka otamu shikula oififahoni yavo. 31 Heeno, nye omwe linyateka noikalunga yeni aishe fiyo onena eli, eshi tamu eta omayambo eni notamu yambele omundilo ovana veni ovamati: Ame ndi itavele ngeno ndi pulwe ounongo kunye, eumbo laIsrael? Oshili, ngaashi ndi nomwenyo, Omwene Kalunga ta ti, Ame ihandi shi itavele nye mu pule nge ounongo. 32 Ndele osho she uya momhepo yeni, oshili, itashi ka ningwa, osho eshi tamu ti: fye otwa hala tu kale ngaashi oiwana, ngaashi omaludi makwao, tu fimaneke oshiti nemanya. 33 Oshili ngaashi ndi nomwenyo, Omwene Kalunga ta ti, oshilielela, Ame ohandi ke mu pangela neke li neenghono nokwooko kwa nanwa noupyuhandu wa tilwashi. 34 Ndele Ame ohandi ke mu pitifa mo moiwana nohandi mu kongolola moilongo mwa halakanifilwa mo, Ame ohandi ke shi ninga neke li neenghono nokwooko kwa nanwa noupyuhandu wa tilwashi. 35 Ndele Ame ohandi ke mu eta mombuwa yoiwana, ndele oko Ame ohandi ke mu tokolela koshipala noshipala. 36 Ngaashi nda tokolele ooxo mombuwa yedu laEgipiti, nosho yo Ame ohandi ke mu tokolela, Omwene Kalunga ta ti.”
37 “Ndele Ame ohandi ke mu endifila koshi yodibo yomufita ndele handi mu eta mofipa yehangano. 38 Ndele Ame ohandi ka tongola mo mokati keni ovo ve nondubo ndele ve liteeka nge. Ame ohandi ke va pitifa mo moshilongo omo va kala ovanailongo, ndelenee vo itave ke uya medu laIsrael. Ndele vo otava ka shiiva nokutya, Aame Omwene.”
39 Ndelenee akutu, oove eumbo laIsrael! Omwene Kalunga ta ti ngaha: “Indeni mu ka fimaneke oikalunga yeni, keshe umwe. Ndelenee mefimbo tali uya, oshilielela, nye otamu ka pwilikina nge, ndele itamu dini vali edina lange liyapuki nomayambo eni noikalunga yeni. 40 Osheshi Omwene Kalunga ta ti: Komhunda yange iyapuki, komhunda ile yaIsrael, oko eumbo alishe laIsrael, vo aveshe, otava ka fimaneka nge moshilongo shavo. Oko Ame ohandi ke va hokwa, oko Ame ohandi kala nokuhala omayambo eni noipeyambo neeshali adishe deni diyapuki. 41 Ngaashi edimba liwa ohandi mu tambula, ngeenge handi mu pitifa mo moiwana ndele handi mu kongolola moilongo omo mwa halakanifilwa mo, ndele Ame ohandi ke mu lishiivifila, ngaashi Omuyapuki moipafi yoiwana.
42 “Ndele nye otamu ka shiiva nokutya, Aame Omwene, ngeenge Ame handi ke mu eta medu laIsrael, moshilongo nde shi udanekela ooxo neke la yeluka ndi shi va pe. 43 Oko nye otamu ka dimbulukwa eendjila deni noilonga yeni aishe nayo mwe linyateka, ndele nye otamu ke linyonyodola nye vene molwoinima aishe ii mwe i longa. 44 Ndele nye otamu ka shiiva nokutya, Aame Omwene, ngeenge Ame eshi nde shi ningila onde shi ninga omolwedina lange, hamolweendjila deni dii ile omolwoilonga yeni ii, akutu, oove eumbo laIsrael, Omwene Kalunga ta ti.”
45 Ondjovo yOmwene ye uya kwaame ndele tai ti: 46 “Kaana komunhu, taalelifa oshipala shoye koumbuwanhu neendjovo doye nadi kolokele ombuwanhu ndele xunganeka okuvela ombedi omufitu, nokutya, oshilongo shaumbuwanhu 47 u tye komufitu womoshilongo shaumbuwanhu: Pwilikina ondjovo yOmwene: Omwene Kalunga ta ti ngaha: Tala, ame ohandi tema mwoove omundilo, tau ka lungwinifa po keshe omuti mutalala nokeshe omuti mukukutu. Elaka lomundilo wa xwama itali ka dima po, noipala aishe tai ka lungwinifwa po kulo okudja koshilongo shoumbuwanhu fiyo okoumbangalanhu. 48 Nombelela aishe tai ka mona nokutya, Aame Omwene, nde u tema. Woo itau ka dima po.” 49 Opo nee ame nda tile: “Akutu, Omwene Kalunga, vo otava lombwele nge: ‘ou ota popi hamba alushe momakumbiko.’ ”
