Jerusalem the Unfaithful
1 The Lord spoke to me again. 2 “Mortal man,” he said, “point out to Jerusalem what disgusting things she has done. 3 Tell Jerusalem what the Sovereign Lord is saying to her:
“You were born in the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. 4 When you were born, no one cut your umbilical cord or washed you or rubbed you with salt or wrapped you in cloths. 5 No one took enough pity on you to do any of these things for you. When you were born, no one loved you. You were thrown out in an open field.
6 “Then I passed by and saw you squirming in your own blood. You were covered with blood, but I wouldn't let you die. 7 I made you grow like a healthy plant. You grew strong and tall and became a young woman. Your breasts were well-formed, and your hair had grown, but you were naked.
8 “As I passed by again, I saw that the time had come for you to fall in love. I covered your naked body with my coat and promised to love you. Yes, I made a marriage covenant with you, and you became mine.” This is what the Sovereign Lord says.
9 “Then I took water and washed the blood off you. I rubbed olive oil on your skin. 10 I dressed you in embroidered gowns and gave you shoes of the best leather, a linen headband, and a silk cloak. 11 I put jewels on you—bracelets and necklaces. 12 I gave you a nose ring and earrings and a beautiful crown to wear. 13 You had ornaments of gold and silver, and you always wore clothes of embroidered linen and silk. You ate bread made from the best flour, and had honey and olive oil to eat. Your beauty was dazzling, and you became a queen. 14 You became famous in every nation for your perfect beauty, because I was the one who made you so lovely.” This is what the Sovereign Lord says.
15 “But you took advantage of your beauty and fame to sleep with everyone who came along. 16 You used some of your clothes to decorate your places of worship, and just like a prostitute, you gave yourself to everyone. 17 You took the silver and gold jewelry that I had given you, used it to make male images, and committed adultery with them. 18 You took the embroidered clothes I gave you and put them on the images, and you offered to the images the olive oil and incense I had given you. 19 I gave you food—the best flour, olive oil, and honey—but you offered it as a sacrifice to win the favor of idols.” This is what the Sovereign Lord says.
20 “Then you took the sons and the daughters you had borne me and offered them as sacrifices to idols. Wasn't it bad enough to be unfaithful to me, 21 without taking my children and sacrificing them to idols? 22 During your disgusting life as a prostitute you never once remembered your childhood—when you were naked, squirming in your own blood.”
Jerusalem's Life as a Prostitute
23 The Sovereign Lord said, “You are doomed! Doomed! You did all that evil, and then 24 by the side of every road you built places to worship idols and practice prostitution. 25 You dragged your beauty through the mud. You offered yourself to everyone who came by, and you were more of a prostitute every day. 26 You let your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians, go to bed with you, and you used your prostitution to make me angry.
27 “Now I have raised my hand to punish you and to take away your share of my blessing. I have handed you over to the Philistines, who hate you and are disgusted with your immoral actions.
28 “Because you were not satisfied by the others, you went running after the Assyrians. You were their prostitute, but they didn't satisfy you either. 29 You were also a prostitute for the Babylonians, that nation of merchants, but they didn't satisfy you either.”
30 This is what the Sovereign Lord is saying: “You have done all this like a shameless prostitute. 31 On every street you built places to worship idols and practice prostitution. But you are not out for money like a common prostitute. 32 You are like a woman who commits adultery with strangers instead of loving her husband. 33 A prostitute is paid, but you gave presents to all your lovers and bribed them to come from everywhere to sleep with you. 34 You are a special kind of prostitute. No one forced you to become one. You didn't get paid; you paid them! Yes, you are different.”
God's Judgment on Jerusalem
35 Now then, Jerusalem, you whore! Hear what the Lord is saying.
36 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “You stripped off your clothes, and like a prostitute, you gave yourself to your lovers and to all your disgusting idols, and you killed your children as sacrifices to idols. 37 Because of this I will bring all your former lovers together—the ones you liked and the ones you hated. I will bring them around you in a circle, and then I will strip off your clothes and let them see you naked. 38 I will condemn you for adultery and murder, and in my anger and fury I will punish you with death. 39 I will put you in their power, and they will tear down the places where you engage in prostitution and worship idols. They will take away your clothes and jewels and leave you completely naked.
40 “They will stir up a crowd to stone you, and they will cut you to pieces with their swords. 41 They will burn your houses down and let crowds of women see your punishment. I will make you stop being a prostitute and make you stop giving gifts to your lovers. 42 Then my anger will be over, and I will be calm. I will not be angry or jealous any more. 43 You have forgotten how I treated you when you were young, and you have made me angry by all the things you did. That is why I have made you pay for them all. Why did you add sexual immorality to all the other disgusting things you did?” The Sovereign Lord has spoken.
Like Mother, Like Daughter
44 The Lord said, “People will use this proverb about you, Jerusalem: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ 45 You really are your mother's daughter. She detested her husband and her children. You are like your sisters, who hated their husbands and their children. You and your sister cities had a Hittite mother and an Amorite father.
46 “Your older sister, with her villages, is Samaria, in the north. Your younger sister, with her villages, is Sodom, in the south. 47 Were you satisfied to follow in their footsteps and copy their disgusting actions? No, in only a little while you were acting worse than they were in everything you did.
48 “As surely as I am the living God,” the Sovereign Lord says, “your sister Sodom and her villages never did the evil that you and your villages have done. 49 She and her daughters were proud because they had plenty to eat and lived in peace and quiet, but they did not take care of the poor and the underprivileged. 50 They were proud and stubborn and did the things that I hate, so I destroyed them, as you well know.
51 “Samaria did not sin half as much as you have. You have acted more disgustingly than she ever did. Your corruption makes your sisters look innocent by comparison. 52 And now you will have to endure your disgrace. Your sins are so much worse than those of your sisters that they look innocent beside you. Now blush and bear your shame, because you make your sisters look pure.”
Sodom and Samaria Will Be Restored
53 The Lord said to Jerusalem, “I will make them prosperous again—Sodom and her villages and Samaria and her villages. Yes, I will make you prosperous too. 54 You will be ashamed of yourself, and your disgrace will show your sisters how well-off they are. 55 They will become prosperous again, and you and your villages will also be restored. 56 Didn't you joke about Sodom in those days when you were proud 57 and before the evil you did had been exposed? Now you are just like her—a joke to the Edomites, the Philistines, and your other neighbors who hate you. 58 You must suffer for the obscene, disgusting things you have done.” The Lord has spoken.
A Covenant That Lasts Forever
59 The Sovereign Lord says, “I will treat you the way you deserve, because you ignored your promises and broke the covenant. 60 But I will honor the covenant I made with you when you were young, and I will make a covenant with you that will last forever. 61 You will remember how you have acted, and be ashamed of it when you get your older sister and your younger sister back. I will let them be like daughters to you, even though this was not part of my covenant with you. 62 I will renew my covenant with you, and you will know that I am the Lord. 63 I will forgive all the wrongs you have done, but you will remember them and be too ashamed to open your mouth.” The Sovereign Lord has spoken.
Jerusalem otjihinauṱakame
1 Muhona wa hungira ku ami rukwao a tja: 2 “Muatje womundu, handjaurira Jerusalem ozondjito zatjo ozondjaukise. 3 Raera Jerusalem kutja Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai ku tjo:
“Ove wa kwaterwa mehi ra Kanaan. Iho wa ri Omuamori, nu nyoko wa ri Omuhetite. 4 Ove tji wa kwatwa, kapa ri umwe ngwe ku kondere ongwa nu ngwe ku kohere nu ngwe ku hwire omongwa nu ngwe ku mangere momarapi. 5 Kape na ngwe ku ṱira ondjenda okukutjitira oviṋa mbi. Meyuva ndi wa kwatwa, kapa ri umwe ngwe ku suverere. Ove wa imbirahiwa mouhaiya wokuti.
6 “Ami mba kapita mbo nu e ku munu amo ṱundaukire mombinḓu yoye. Wa vandekerwe i ombinḓu, nami hi ku esire kutja u koke. 7 Ami mbe ku hapisa tjimuna ongara yokuti. Ove wa hara omasa no rire omure, nu wa rira ombombota. Omavere woye ya zezengerwe nawa, nozondjise zoye za hapere, nungwari ove wa ri mutundu.
8 “Ami tji mba kapita mbo rukwao, mba muna kutja omayuva wokukusuvera ye ya. Ami mba kutjira orutu rwoye ndwa ri mutundu nombanda yandje nu e ku kwizikire orusuvero. Ii, ami mba tjita omerikutiropamwe worukupo na ove, nove wa rira owandje.” Muhona Ndjambi ongwa hungire omambo nga.
9 “Tjazumba ami mba toora omeva ne ku koho ombinḓu. Ami mbe ku vavisa omaze womiṋinga morutu rwoye. 10 Mbe ku zarisa ombanda ndja wozewa nawa, ne ku pe ozongaku zomukova omuwa tjinene, nombata yokotjiuru yerapi, nombanda yorupera oruheze. 11 Ami mbe ku zareka oviwerawere, novingongo vyopomaoko, noundjendje womosengo. 12 Ami mbe ku pa ongoho yomeyuru, nozomburi zomomatwi, nekori ewa emanise okuzara. 13 Ove wa ri nomaurenga wongoldo nowosilveri, nu aruhe iyo zara ozombanda nḓa wozewa zorupera oruwa orumanise. Iyo ri omboroto ndja rungwa poruhere oruwa tjinene, nouitji wozonyutji nomaze womiṋinga wina. Ouwa woye wa ri oumanise, nove wa rira ombara oserekaze. 14 Ove wa rira omutjiukwa momihoko avihe mena rouwa woye nu ami mbe ku tjita kutja u rire omuwa omumanise.” Muhona Ndjambi ongwa hungire omambo nga.
15 “Nungwari ove we riyameka kouwa woye oumanise; nu ondjiukiro yoye ye ku wisira moukorondu pu u rarera puna auhe ngu mwa hakaene. 16 Ove wa hareka poṋa pomerikotameneno woye nomarapi woye, nu we riyandja komurumendu auhe otja omukorondu. 17 Ove wa toora ovihuze vyosilveri novyongoldo mbi mbe ku pere, no riungurire na vyo oviserekarera vyovisenginina vyovarumendu, no tjiti na vyo oruvakiro. 18 Ove wa toora ozombanda zoye zovivara nḓu mbe ku pa, no ze zarisa moviserekarera vyovisenginina, nove we vi punguhira omaze womiṋinga, novyomoro omuwa mbi mbe ku pere. 19 Ami mbe ku pa ovikurya oruhere oruwaruwa, nomaze womiṋinga, nouitji wozonyutji, nungwari ove we vi punguha otja ombunguhiro kutja u mune ondjingonekero kovisenginina.” Muhona Ndjambi ongwa hungire omambo nga.
20 “Ove wa toora ovazandu novakazona mbu we ndji kwatera no ve punguhire oviserekarera vyovisenginina ve rire ovikurya vyavyo. Kakokuvi okukara nokuhinauṱakame ku ami 21 nokutoora ovanatje vandje okukevepunguhira oviserekarera vyovisenginina are? 22 Moure wongarero yoye ondjaukise otja omukorondu ko na pu wa zemburukire indu tji wa ri okanatjona, tji wa ri muzu amo ṱundaukire mombinḓu yoye omuini.”
Ongarero ya Jerusalem youkorondu
23 Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai: “Ove wa sengwa! Wa sengwa! Ove wa tjita ouvi auhe mbwi, nu tjazumba 24 meṋe yozondjira azehe ove wa tunga po poṋa pomerikotameneno koviserekarera vyovisenginina nokutjitira po oukorondu. 25 Ove wa ṱundarisa ouwa woye oumanise mokuriyandja omuini ku ngamwa auhe ngwaa kapita mbo, nove otji wa riririra ko omukorondu eyuva arihe. 26 Ove wa yandjera ovararanganda ovanazonḓuma, imba Ovaengipte, kutja ve rare puna ove; notji we ndji pindikisa noukorondu woye.
27 “Nambano ami mba yera eke randje okukuvera nokuisa ko ondaya yandje kove. Ami mbe ku yandja kovasuko Ovafilisti mbe ku tonda nu mbe yaukisiwa i ozondjito zoye ozondjaukise.
28 “Ove tjinga au ha kovererwe, opu wa tjitira oukorondu nOvaasirie; nowo wina kave ku kovisire. 29 Ove wina wa ri omukorondu kOvababilon, imba ovarandise, nowo wina ave he ku kovisa.”
30 Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai: “Ove wa tjita oviṋa mbi avihe otja omukorondu ngu hi nohoṋi. 31 Momuvanda ngamwa auhe ove wa tunga mo poṋa pomerikotameneno kovisenginina, nu wa tjita oukorondu. Nungwari ove ko nanukire ovimariva otja omukorondu tje tjita. 32 Ove u ri otja omukazendu ngu katuka orukupo novarumendu vambangu moruveze rwokusuvera omurumendu we. 33 Omukorondu auhe u sutwa, nungwari ove wa wonda ozombarise zoye, nu we ze popa kutja ze ze akuhe okuyekurara puna ove. 34 Ove oove omukorondu womuhingo warwe. Kape na ngwe ku ṋiṋikiza kutja u rire omukorondu. Ove koo sutwa; oove nguyo ve sutu. Ii, ko sanene kovandu ovakweṋu.”
Ombanguriro ya Ndjambi kOjerusalem
35 Nambano, Jerusalem, mukorondu ove! Zuva imbi Muhona mbi ma hungire.
36 Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai: “Ove wa hukura ozombanda zoye, nu otja mukorondu ove, we riyandja omuini kozombarise zoye na koviserekarera vyovisenginina vyoye avihe oviyaukise, nu wa zepa ovanatje voye ve rire ozombunguhiro kovisenginina. 37 Mena roviṋa mbi ami me woronganisa ozombarise zoye azehe, oonḓu wa hura na nḓu wa yara. Ami me ze eta kove ze ye okukurama okukukondoroka, nu tjazumba e ku hukura ozombanda, nu e ze esa ze ku mune au ri muzu. 38 Ami me ku pangurire okukatuka orukupo nokuzepa, nu momazenge na moukoze wandje e ku vere nonḓiro. 39 Ami me ku twa mouvara wozombarise nḓa, nozo maze haṋa poṋa puyo tjitire po oukorondu nokurikotamena kovisenginina. Ozo maze nyondorora ozombanda zoye nu aze ku yeka ovihuze vyoye ovikeṋakeṋe naze ku esa muzu oparukaze.
40 “Ozo maze handjisa otjimbumba tjovandu kutja tji ku zepe nomawe, nu aze ku kondo movindimbu nomangaruvyo wazo. 41 Ozo maze nyosa ozondjuwo zoye nu aze isa otjimbumba tjovakazendu ve tarere omberero yoye. Ami otji me yandisa oukorondu woye, nu e ku tjaere okuwonda ozombarise zoye. 42 Nomapindi wandje maye yanda, nami e poro. Hi nokukara nomazenge noukoze rukwao. 43 Ove wa zemba imbi ami mbi mba tjita kove indu tji wa ri omutanda; nove we ndji pindikisa noviṋa avihe mbi wa tjita. Ami opu mbe ku sutisira avihe mbi. Okutjavi tji wa weza ko ongaro yoruvakiro koviṋa avihe ovikwao oviyaukise mbi wa tjita?” Muhona Ndjambi ongwa hungire nai.
Atji hi noihe tji noina
44 Muhona wa tja nai: “Ovandu ve ku hungira omuano mbwi, Jerusalem: ‘Atji hi noihe tji noina.’ 45 Ove, tjiri, oove omuatje omukazona wanyoko. Eye u nyengwa omurumendu we novanatje ve. Ove u ri otja ovangu voye mbe nyengwa ovarumendu novanatje vawo. Ove novihuro ovikweṋu mu na nyoko Omuhetite na iho Omuamori.
46 “Erumbi roye oSamaria tji tji ri komukuma wokeyuva kokunene puna ovirongo vyatjo. Omuangu woye oSodom tji tji ri komukuma wokeyuva kokumuho puna ovirongo vyatjo. 47 Wa ri nohange okukongorera ozondambo zavyo nokuhorera kozongarero zavyo ozondjaukise are? Ayee, kako, mokaruveze okasupi ove we ritjinda navi tjinene pu vyo moviṋa avihe mbi wa tjita.”
48 Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai: “Tjimbe tjandje, ami, ngu mbi ri Ndjambi omunamuinyo, omuangu woye Sodom puna ovirongo vyatjo kavina pu vya tjitire ouvi ounene otja imbwi ove novirongo vyoye mbu mwa tjitire. 49 Sodom novasuko vatjo ve ritongamisire, tjinga avya ri novikurya ovingi okurya nu avya ri mohange na moupore, nungwari ovyo kavi ningire ko na tja novasyona novahepe. 50 Ovyo vye ritongamisa nu vya ri ovirangaranga, nu vya tjita oviṋa mbi mbi nyengwa; opu mbe vi nakaurira otja tji mo tjiwa nawa.
51 “Samaria katji katukire nandarire pu pe ṱa ohinga yourunde ove mbu wa tjita. Ove wa tjita oviyaukise povangu voye aveyevari. Ozondjito zoye ozondjaukise za munikisa ovangu voye otja ovehinandjo tji mave sasanekwa na ove. 52 Nu nambano ove mo tjindi ondjambu yoye. Ourunde woye omavi tjinene nai pu inga wovangu voye, nga owo tji mave varwa otja ovehinandjo pendje na ove. Nambano ṱohoṋi, nu u tjinde ohoṋi yoye, orondu oove ngu wa katuka okukapitisa oruveze ovangu voye ve munikire po aayo ovasemba.”
Sodom na Samaria mavi yarurwa koupe
53 Muhona wa tja nai kOjerusalem: “Ami me yarura ko Sodom puna ovirongo vyatjo na Samaria puna ovirongo vyatjo. Ii, ami me vi yarura ko. Ami me yarura ko ove, Jerusalem, wina. 54 Ove mo ṱohoṋi na ove omuini, nomuhingo mbu wa yamburuka mau raisire ovangu voye kutja oove omunauvi tjinene pu wo. 55 Ovyo mavi yarurwa ko, nu ove novirongo vyoye mamu yarurwa ko wina. 56 Ko hembere Sodom momayuva ngena are tjiyo ritongamisa, 57 nomauvi ngu wa tjita ngunda aye hiya horoka? Nambano ove u ri otja Sodom no hembwa i Ovasirie nOvafilisti nowopopezu na ove varwe mbe ku nyengwa. 58 Ove u sokuhihamisirwa oviṋa ovinahoṋi noviyaukise mbi wa tjita!” Muhona ongwa hungire nai.
Omerikutiropamwe nge karerera nga aruhe
59 Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai: “Ami me ku vere otja pu wa sokuverwa; ove ko ningire ko na tja nomakwizikiro woye nu wa teya omerikutiropamwe. 60 Nungwari ami me zemburuka omerikutiropamwe ngu mba tjita na ove tji wa ri omutanda, nu me tjiti omerikutiropamwe wandje na ove ngu maye karerere nga aruhe. 61 Ove mo zemburuka ozondjito zoye nu mo ṱohoṋi na zo, tji wa kotorerwa erumbi roye nomuangu woye. Ami me yandjere kutja ve rire otja ovanatje voye ovakazona nandarire kutja ihi katja ri momerikutiropamwe wandje na ove. 62 Ami me yarura ko omerikutiropamwe wandje na ove koupe. Nove otji mo tjiwa kutja owami ngu mbi ri Muhona. 63 Ami me ku isire ozondataiziro zoye azehe nḓu wa tjita, nungwari ove mo ze zemburuka nu mo ṱohoṋi tjinene okupaturura otjinyo tjoye.” Muhona Ndjambi wa hungire nai.
