The Lord's Will and Human Defiance
1 It was the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year of our exile. Some of the leaders of the Israelite community came to consult me about the Lord's will, and they sat down in front of me. 2 Then the Lord spoke to me. 3 “Mortal man,” he said, “speak to these leaders and tell them that the Sovereign Lord is saying: You have come to ask my will, have you? As surely as I am the living God, I will not let you ask me anything. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken.
4 “Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did. 5 Tell them what I am saying. When I chose Israel, I made them a promise. I revealed myself to them in Egypt and told them: I am the Lord your God. 6 It was then that I promised to take them out of Egypt and lead them to a land I had chosen for them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 7 I told them to throw away the disgusting idols they loved and not to make themselves unclean with the false gods of Egypt, because I am the Lord their God. 8 But they defied me and refused to listen. They did not throw away their disgusting idols or give up the Egyptian gods. I was ready to let them feel the full force of my anger there in Egypt. 9 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name, for in the presence of the people among whom they were living I had announced to Israel that I was going to lead them out of Egypt.
10 “And so I led them out of Egypt into the desert. 11 I gave them my commands and taught them my laws, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. 12 I made the keeping of the Sabbath a sign of the agreement between us, to remind them that I, the Lord, make them holy. 13 But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them. 14 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me lead Israel out of Egypt. 15 So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all. 16 I made the vow because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, and profaned the Sabbath—they preferred to worship their idols.
17 “But then I took pity on them. I decided not to kill them there in the desert. 18 Instead, I warned the young people among them: Do not keep the laws your ancestors made; do not follow their customs or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. Obey my laws and my commands. 20 Make the Sabbath a holy day, so that it will be a sign of the covenant we made, and will remind you that I am the Lord your God.
21 “But that generation also defied me. They broke my laws and did not keep my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to kill them all. 22 But I did not, since that would have brought dishonor to my name among the nations which had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt. 23 So I made another vow in the desert. I vowed that I would scatter them all over the world. 24 I did this because they had rejected my commands, broken my laws, profaned the Sabbath, and worshiped the same idols their ancestors had served.
25 “Then I gave them laws that are not good and commands that do not bring life. 26 I let them defile themselves with their own offerings, and I let them sacrifice their first-born sons. This was to punish them and show them that I am the Lord.
27 “Now then, mortal man, tell the Israelites what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them. This is another way their ancestors insulted me by their unfaithfulness. 28 I brought them to the land I had promised to give them. When they saw the high hills and green trees, they offered sacrifices at all of them. They made me angry by the sacrifices they burned and by the wine they brought as offerings. 29 I asked them: What are these high places where you go? So they have been called ‘High Places’ ever since. 30 Now tell the Israelites what I am saying: Why must you commit the same sins your ancestors did and go running after their idols? 31 Even today you offer the same gifts and defile yourselves with the same idols by sacrificing your children to them in the fire. And then you Israelites still come to ask what my will is! As surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God, I will not let you ask me anything. 32 You have made up your minds that you want to be like the other nations, like the people who live in other countries and worship trees and rocks. But that will never be.
God Punishes and Forgives
33 “As surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God, I warn you that in my anger I will rule over you with a strong hand, with all my power. 34 I will show you my power and my anger when I gather you together and bring you back from all the countries where you have been scattered. 35 I will bring you into the ‘Desert of the Nations,’ and there I will condemn you to your face. 36 I will now condemn you just as I condemned your ancestors in the Sinai Desert,” says the Sovereign Lord.
37 “I will take firm control of you and make you obey my covenant. 38 I will take away from among you those who are rebellious and sinful. I will take them out of the lands where they are living now, but I will not let them return to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
39 The Sovereign Lord says, “And now, all you Israelites, suit yourselves! Go on and serve your idols! But I warn you that after this you will have to obey me and stop dishonoring my holy name by offering gifts to your idols. 40 There in the land, on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, all you people of Israel will worship me. I will be pleased with you and will expect you to bring me your sacrifices, your best offerings, and your holy gifts. 41 After I bring you out of the countries where you have been scattered and gather you together, I will accept the sacrifices that you burn, and the nations will see that I am holy. 42 When I bring you back to Israel, the land that I promised I would give to your ancestors, then you will know that I am the Lord. 43 Then you will remember all the disgraceful things you did and how you defiled yourselves. You will be disgusted with yourselves because of all the evil things you did. 44 When I act to protect my honor, you Israelites will know that I am the Lord, because I do not deal with you as your wicked, evil actions deserve.” The Sovereign Lord has spoken.
Fire in the South
45 The Lord spoke to me. 46 “Mortal man,” he said, “look toward the south. Speak against the south and prophesy against the forest of the south. 47 Tell the southern forest to hear what the Sovereign Lord is saying: Look! I am starting a fire, and it will burn up every tree in you, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put it out. It will spread from south to north, and everyone will feel the heat of the flames. 48 They will all see that I, the Lord, set it on fire and that no one can put it out.”
49 But I protested, “Sovereign Lord, don't make me do it! Everyone is already complaining that I always speak in riddles.”
1 Meyuva oritjamurongo komueze outjatano wombura oitjahambombari tji twa ri mouhuura, ovanane tjiva wombongo yOvaisrael ve ya ku ami okundjipura ombango ya Muhona, nowo va kara pehi momurungu wandje. 2 Tjazumba Muhona wa hungira ku ami a tja: 3 “Muatje womundu, hungira novarumendu mba u ve raere kutja Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai: Eṋe mwe ya okupura ombango yandje, katjo are? Tjiri, otja ngu mbi ri Ndjambi omunamuinyo, ami hi nakumuyandjera ko okundjipura otjiṋa. Ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona Ndjambi, owami ngu mba hungire nao.
4 “Muatje womundu, ove we rirongerere okuvepangura are? Nu tjita nao. Ve zemburukisa ozondjito ozondjaukise ooihe nḓu va tjita. 5 Ve raera imbi mbi me hungire. Tji mba toorora Ovaisrael, mbe ve tjitira omakwizikiro. Ami mbe rimunikisa omuini ku wo mOengipte ne ve raere nai: Owami Muhona Ndjambi weṋu. 6 Meyuva ndo otji mbe ve kwizikira kutja meve pitisa mehi ra Engipte nokuvehongorera kehi, ndi mbe ve toororera, ehi etumbe nehapise, newa emanise pomahi aehe. 7 Ami mbe ve raera kutja ve imbirahi oviserekarera vyoomukuru vovisenginina oviyaukise mbi va suverere, nokutja ave he rizunḓa oveni noomukuru woposyo va Engipte, orondu owami ngu mbi ri Muhona, Ndjambi wawo. 8 Nungwari owo ve ndji pirukira nave panḓa okupuratena. Kave imbirahire oviserekarera vyoomukuru vovisenginina vyawo, nu kave isire oomukuru vOvaengipte. Ami mbe rimana okuveraisira omasa aehe womazenge wandje imo mOengipte. 9 Nungwari hi tjitire nao, orondu okutjita nao itjaku eta ondjambu kena randje, tjinga amba tjivisire kOvaisrael momurungu woviwaṋa mu va turire kutja ami meve pitisa mehi ra Engipte.
10 “Ami otji mbe ve pitisa mehi ra Engipte ne ve twara mokuti orunguza. 11 Mbe ve pa omazikamisiro wandje ne ve hongo omatwako wandje nge hupisa ngamwa auhe ngu ma kara nonḓuviro ku wo. 12 Ami mba tjita kutja okuṱakamisa esabata ku rire otjiraisiro tjomerikutiropamwe pokati ka ami na wo; nu mbe ve zemburukisa kutja ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, mbe ve yapura. 13 Nungwari nangarire mokuti onguza owo ve ndji pirukira. Va teya omazikamisiro wandje nave nakaura omatwako wandje nge hupisa ngamwa auhe ngu ma kara nonḓuviro ku wo. Owo va yamburura oparukaze indi esabata. Ami otji mbe rimana okutjita kutja ve mune omasa womazenge wandje imo mokuti orunguza nokuveyandeka. 14 Nungwari hi tjitire nao, orondu okutjita nao itjaku eta ondjambu kena randje mokati koviwaṋa mbyaa vi ndji munu tji me pitisa Ovaisrael mehi ra Engipte. 15 Otji mba tjita omakwizikiro mokuti onguza wokutja hi nokuvetwara kehi, ndi mbe ve pere, ehi etumbe nehapise, newa emanise pomahi aehe. 16 Ami mba tjita omakwizikiro nga, owo tjinga ava nakaura omatwako wandje nu ava teya omazikamisiro wandje nu ava yamburura esabata owo ve ri rivangera nomitima vyawo okurikotamena koomukuru vovisenginina.
17 “Nungwari ami mbe ve ṱira ondjenda. Ami mba tya kutja hi nokuvezepera avehe mokuti orunguza. 18 Moruveze rwanao, ami mba ronga omitanda vyawo e tja: Amu ṱakamisa ko omazikamisiro ooiho mukururume ngu va tjita, amu horere ko kovikaro vyawo nu amu rizunḓa ko noviserekarera vyoomukuru vovisenginina vyawo. 19 Owami Muhona, Ndjambi weṋu. Ṱakamiseye omazikamisiro nomatwako wandje. 20 Yapureye esabata, kokutja oro ri rire otjiraisiro tjomerikutiropamwe ngu twa tjita, nokutja ri mu zemburukise kutja owami ngu mbi ri Muhona, Ndjambi weṋu.
21 “Nungwari omitanda mbi wina vye ndji pirukira. Ovyo vya teya omazikamisiro wandje nu kavi ṱakamisire omatwako wandje omahupise ku ngamwa auhe ngu nonḓuviro kuwo. Ovyo vya yamburura esabata. Ami otji mbe rimana okuviraisira omasa womazenge wandje imo mokuti orunguza nokuvizepa avihe. 22 Nungwari hi tjitire nao, orondu okutjita nao itjaku eta ondjambu kena randje mokati koviwaṋa mbye ndji munine ame pitisa Ovaisrael mehi ra Engipte. 23 Otji mba tjita omakwizikiro warwe mokuti onguza. Ami mba yana kutja meve rimbi mouye auhe. 24 Mba tjita nao, tjinga ava nakaura omazikamisiro wandje nu ava katuka omatwako wandje nu ava yamburura esabata nu ave rikotamena koomukuru vovisenginina ooihe mukururume mbaa ve karere.
25 “Tjazumba otji mbe ve pa omazikamisiro ngaa e ha tjata ku wo, nomatwako nguyave ha sora okuṱakamisa. 26 Ami mbe ve yandjera kutja ve riyamburure nozombunguhiro zawo oveni, nokutja wina ve punguhe ovanatje vawo ovazandu omaveri. Ihi mba tjitira kutja mbi ve vere nokuveraisira kutja owami ngu mbi ri Muhona.
27 “Nambano, muatje womundu, raera kOvaisrael imbi ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona Ndjambi, mbi me hungire ku wo. Imbwi owo omuhingo ooihe wina mbu ve ndji yamburura na wo mouhaṱakama wawo. 28 Ami mbe ve twara kehi, ndi mba kwizikirire kutja meve pe. Tji va muna ozondunda ozonde nomiti otuhapo, otji va punguhira ozombunguhiro poṋa apehe. Owo ve ndji pindikira mokupunguha ozombunguhiro ozoningiririsiwa na mokutwimisa ozombunguhiro zovyomoro omuwa, na mokutirira ozombunguhiro zomanuwa. 29 Mbe ve pura e tja: Ozondunda ozonde nḓa ku mu yenda ozo ozatjike? Ozo ze isanewa kutja ‘Ozondunda Ozonde’ nga ku ndinondi. 30 Nambano raera nai kOvaisrael imbi ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona Ndjambi, mbi me hungire: Okutjavi tji mu tjita omauvi tjingewo nga ooiho ngu va tjitire, nokukongorera oomukuru vawo vovisenginina? 31 Nga ku ndinondi mu punguha oviyandjewa tjingevyo nu mu riyamburura oveni noomukuru tjingewo vovisenginina mokupunguha ovanatje veṋu momuriro. Nu tjazumba eṋe, Vaisrael, ingee mamu yekupura kutja ombango yandje oiṋe! Tjiri, otja ngu mbi ri Muhona Ndjambi omunamuinyo, ami hi nokumuyandjera okundjipura otjiṋa. 32 Eṋe mwa tya kutja mamu vanga okukara otja oviwaṋa vyarwe, otja ovandu mba tura momahi warwe nu mbe rikotamena komiti na komawe. Nungwari otjiṋa hi kamaatji tjitwa ko.
Ndjambi u vera nu u isira
33 “Tjiri, ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona Ndjambi omunamuinyo, me mu rongo kutja momazenge wandje me mu honaparere neke enamasa nouvara wandje auhe. 34 Ami me mu raisire omasa nouvara wandje nomazenge wandje, indu tji me mu woronganisa kumwe na tji me mu kotora okuza komahi aehe ku mwa rimbirwe. 35 Me mu twara ‘mOkuti Onguza kwOviwaṋa’, nu mu kwo omu me kemupangurira momurungu wandje. 36 Ami nambano me mu pangura otja tji mba pangurire ooiho mokuti onguza kwa Sinai.” Muhona Ndjambi ongu ma tja nao.
37 “Mamu kara kehi yondjeverero yandje, nu me mu ṋiṋikiza okukara nonḓuviro komerikutiropamwe wandje. 38 Ami me isa mo imba mbe ndji pirukira nu mba poka ku ami mokati keṋu. Meve pitisa momahi mu va tura nai, nungwari hi nokuveyarura kehi ra Israel. Notji mamu tjiwa kutja owami ngu mbi ri Muhona.”
39 Muhona Ndjambi ma tja nai: “Nambano, eṋe Vaisrael amuhe, twendeye uri mu kakarere oomukuru veṋu vovisenginina! Nungwari ami me mu raerere po kutja korusenina mamu kara nonḓuviro ku ami, nu kamu nakuyamburura ena randje eyapuke mokupunguhira oomukuru veṋu vovisenginina oviyandjewa. 40 Imo mehi kondundu yandje ondjapuke, indji ondundu onde ya Israel, eṋe amuhe otjiwaṋa tja Israel oku mamu rikotamene ku ami. Me kara nonyuṋe mu eṋe, nu me undju kutja mu ndji punguhire ozombunguhiro zeṋu, inḓa ozombwazombwa, nokundjietera oviyandjewa vyeṋu oviyapuke. 41 Tji mba zu nokumupitisa momahi mu mwa rimbwa ne mu woronganisa kumwe, me yakura ozombunguhiro zeṋu ozoningiririsiwa, noviwaṋa mavi munu kutja owami Omuyapuke. 42 Tji mbe mu yarura kehi ra Israel, indi ehi ndi mba kwizikirire kutja me ri yandja kooiho mukururume, notji mamu tjiwa kutja owami ngu mbi ri Muhona. 43 Nu mamu zemburuka ozondjito zeṋu azehe ozondjaukise nḓu mwe riyamburura na zo. Eṋe oveni mamu yaukisiwa i oviṋa avihe ovirunde mbi mwa tjita. 44 Neṋe mamu tjiwa kutja owami ngu mbi ri Muhona, tji mbe mu verere ondjozikiro yena randje, orondu ami hi mu tjiti otja kozondjito zeṋu nozondjira zeṋu zoposyo.” Muhona Ndjambi ongwa hungire nai.
Omuriro komukuma wokeyuva kokumuho
45 Muhona Ndjambi wa hungira ku ami a tja: 46 “Muatje womundu, tara komukuma wokeyuva kokumuho. Tena komukuma wokeyuva kokumuho nu u ukire ehwa rokeyuva kokumuho. 47 Raera ehwa rehi rokeyuva kokumuho kutja ri zuve imbi Muhona Ndjambi mbi ma hee, tji ma tja: Tara! Ami me yakisa omuriro, nowo mau nyosa omuti ngamwa auhe mbu ri move kutja oruhapo poo wa kukuta. Kape notjiṋa tji matji sora okuuzemisa. Owo mau tandavara okuza keyuva kokumuho nga keyuva kokunene, nomundu ngamwa auhe ma munu oupyu wotururumo twawo. 48 Ovandu avehe otji mave munu kutja ami, ngu mbi ri Muhona, owami ngu mbe u yakisa, nu kape na omundu ngu ma sora okuuzemisa.”
49 Nungwari ami mba unauna e tja: “Muhona Ndjambi, o ndji yandjere kutja mbi tjite nao! Ovandu avehe nai ve tja ami aruhe mbi hungira ovihakwa porwavyo.”
