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.”
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.’ ”
