God Appoints Ezekiel as a Lookout
(Ezekiel 3.16-21)1 The Lord spoke to me. 2 “Mortal man,” he said, “tell your people what happens when I bring war to a land. The people of that country choose one of their number to be a lookout. 3 When he sees the enemy approaching, he sounds the alarm to warn everyone. 4 If someone hears it but pays no attention and the enemy comes and kills him, then he is to blame for his own death. 5 His death is his own fault, because he paid no attention to the warning. If he had paid attention, he could have escaped. 6 If, however, the lookout sees the enemy coming and does not sound the alarm, the enemy will come and kill those sinners, but I will hold the lookout responsible for their death.
7 “Now, mortal man, I am making you a lookout for the nation of Israel. You must pass on to them the warnings I give you. 8 If I announce that an evil person is going to die but you do not warn him to change his ways so that he can save his life, then he will die, still a sinner, and I will hold you responsible for his death. 9 If you do warn an evil person and he doesn't stop sinning, he will die, still a sinner, but your life will be spared.”
Individual Responsibility
10 The Lord spoke to me. “Mortal man,” he said, “repeat to the Israelites what they are saying: ‘We are burdened with our sins and the wrongs we have done. We are wasting away. How can we live?’ 11 Tell them that as surely as I, the Sovereign Lord, am the living God, I do not enjoy seeing sinners die. I would rather see them stop sinning and live. Israel, stop the evil you are doing. Why do you want to die?
12 “Now, mortal man, tell the Israelites that when someone good sins, the good he has done will not save him. If an evil person stops doing evil, he won't be punished, and if a good man starts sinning, his life will not be spared. 13 I may promise life to someone good, but if he starts thinking that his past goodness is enough and begins to sin, I will not remember any of the good he did. He will die because of his sins. 14 I may warn someone evil that he is going to die, but if he stops sinning and does what is right and good— 15 for example, if he returns the security he took for a loan or gives back what he stole—if he stops sinning and follows the laws that give life, he will not die, but live. 16 I will forgive the sins he has committed, and he will live because he has done what is right and good.
17 “And your people say that what I do isn't right! No, it's their way that isn't right. 18 When someone righteous stops doing good and starts doing evil, he will die for it. 19 When someone evil quits sinning and does what is right and good, he has saved his life. 20 But Israel, you say that what I do isn't right. I am going to judge you by what you do.”
The News of Jerusalem's Fall
21 On the fifth day of the tenth month of the twelfth year of our exile, someone who had escaped from Jerusalem came and told me that the city had fallen. 22 The evening before he came, I had felt the powerful presence of the Lord. When the man arrived the next morning, the Lord gave me back the power of speech.
The Sins of the People
23 The Lord spoke to me. 24 “Mortal man,” he said, “the people who are living in the ruined cities of the land of Israel are saying: ‘Abraham was only one man, and he was given the whole land. There are many of us, so now the land is ours.’
25 “Tell them what I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying: You eat meat with the blood still in it. You worship idols. You commit murder. What makes you think that the land belongs to you? 26 You rely on your swords. Your actions are disgusting. Everyone commits adultery. What makes you think that the land is yours?
27 “Tell them that I, the Sovereign Lord, warn them that as surely as I am the living God, the people who live in the ruined cities will be killed. Those living in the country will be eaten by wild animals. Those hiding in the mountains and in caves will die of disease. 28 I will make the country a desolate wasteland, and the power they were so proud of will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will be so wild that no one will be able to travel through them. 29 When I punish the people for their sins and make the country a wasteland, then they will know that I am the Lord.”
The Results of the Prophet's Message
30 The Lord said, “Mortal man, your people are talking about you when they meet by the city walls or in the doorways of their houses. They say to one another, ‘Let's go and hear what word has come from the Lord now.’ 31 So my people crowd in to hear what you have to say, but they don't do what you tell them to do. Loving words are on their lips, but they continue their greedy ways. 32 To them you are nothing more than an entertainer singing love songs or playing a harp. They listen to all your words and don't obey a single one of them. 33 But when all your words come true—and they will come true—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Enangelo
1 Ndele ondjovo yOmwene ye uya kwaame ndele tai ti: 2 “Kaana komunhu, lombwela ovana vomoshiwana shoye u tye kuvo: Ame ngeenge handi eta eongamukonda kombada yoshilongo shimwe, novanhu vomoshilongo osho tava kufa mokati kavo omulumenhu umwe ndele tave mu ningi omunangeli, 3 ndele ye ota mono eongamukonda tali uya kombada yoshilongo, ndele ta shiki enghuma ndele ta londwele ovanhu, 4 ngeenge ope na umwe, ou ta udu ondaka yenghuma, ndelenee ina hala okulondwelwa, neongamukonda tali uya ndele tali mu kufa po, opo nee ohonde yaye oi li kombada yomutwe waye. 5 Ye okwa uda ondaka yenghuma, ndelenee ina hala okulondwelwa. Ohonde yaye oi li kombada yaye. Ndelenee ye ngeenge a hala okulondwelwa, ye ota xupifa omwenyo waye. 6 Ndelenee omunangeli, ngeenge ta mono eongamukonda tali uya, ndelenee ita shiki enghuma, ovanhu opo va londolwe, neongamukonda tali uya, ndele tali kufa po omwenyo umwe mokati kavo, opo ye a kufwa po molwetimba laye ndelenee ohandi ke i pula meke lomunangeli.
7 “Ndele oove, kaana komunhu, ove nde ku tula po u ninge omunangeli weumbo laIsrael; ndele ngeenge to udu ondjovo mokanya kange u noku va londola kombinga yange. 8 Ame ngeenge handi ti komuhenakalunga: Akutu omuhenakalunga, oshilielela, u nokufya, ndele ove ito popifa omuhenakalunga oku mu londwela, opo nee ye, omuhenakalunga, ota ka fya molwetimba laye, ndelenee ohonde yaye ohandi i pula meke loye. 9 Ndelenee ove ngeenge to londwele omuhenakalunga molwondjila yaye, opo ye a aluluke, ndele ye ita aluluka kondjila yaye, opo nee ye e nokufya omolwetimba laye, ndelenee ove wa xupifa omwenyo woye.”
Ouwa nouyuki waKalunga
10 Ndele oove, kaana komunhu, lombwela eumbo laIsrael u tye: “Nye omwa tile ngaha: ‘Oshili, omatauluko etu nomatimba etu oku li kombada yetu, onghee hano hatu loloka mondjila yetu. Ohatu dulu ngahelipi okukala tu nomwenyo?’ 11 Tya kuvo: Oshili, ngaashi Ame ndi nomwenyo, Omwene Kalunga ta ti, oshilielela, Ame ndihe nohokwe nefyo lomuhenakalunga, ndelenee omuhenakalunga ne lialuluke mondjila yaye opo a kale nomwenyo. Lialulukeni! Lialulukeni keendjila deni dii! Molwashike wa hala okufya, oove, eumbo laIsrael.
12 “Ndele ove, kaana komunhu, lombwela ovana voshiwana shoye, u tye: Ouyuki womuyuki itau ke mu xupifa mefiku lokunyona kwaye; ndele omuhenakalunga ita ka wila po mefiku olo ye e lialuluka mouhenakalunga waye. Nomuyuki ita ka kala e nomwenyo molwouyuki waye mefiku olo ta nyono. 13 Ame ngeenge handi lombwele omuyuki nokutya, ye ota ka kala shili e nomwenyo, ndele ye ote lineekele ouyuki waye ndele ta longo owii, opo nee omauyuki aye aeshe itaa ka dimbulukiwa vali, ndelenee molwowii, ye te u longo, ye ota ka fya. 14 Ndele Ame ngeenge handi lombwele omuhenakalunga: ove u nokufya shili, ndele ye ote lialuluka komatimba aye ndele ta longo ouyuki naashi sha wapala, 15 ye, omuhenakalunga, ta shunifa ombabyona, ta futu oinima e i nyeka, ta ende paenghedimhango domwenyo, ita longo owii, oshili, ye ota ka kala e nomwenyo. 16 Omatimba aye aeshe e a ninga itae ke mu valulilwa vali. Ye okwa longa ouyuki naashi sha wapala, oshili, ye ota ka kala e nomwenyo.
17 “Ndelenee ovana vomoshiwana shoye hava ti: Ondjila yOmwene inai yuka, nande ondjila yavo vene inai yuka. 18 Omuyuki ngeenge ta kanduka mouyuki waye ndele ta longo owii, opo nee ye e noku u fila. 19 Ndele omuhenakalunga ngeenge te lialuluka mouhenakalunga waye ndele ta longo ouyuki naashi sha wapala, opo nee ye ote ke u kalela, e nomwenyo. 20 Ndelenee nye otamu ti: Ondjila yOmwene inai yuka. Ame ohandi ke mu tokola, keshe umwe, paendjila daye, akutu nye, eumbo laIsrael.”
Oshilando sha teka
21 Ndele momudo omutimulongo nambali woupika wetu, mohani onhimulongo mefiku etitano lohani, umwe ou a dja onhapo kuJerusalem e uya kwaame neendjovo edi: Oshilando osha teka! 22 Ndele eke lOmwene la kala kombada yange onguloshi fimbo omwiinhapo ine uya. Ndele Ye okwa makulifa okanya kange mongula pefimbo Ye e uya kwaame. Osho ngaha okanya kange ka makulwa, naame inandi fita vali ondaka.
23 Opo nee ondjovo yOmwene ye uya kwaame ndele tai ti: 24 “Kaana komunhu, oonakukala momakulukuma enya omoshilongo shaIsrael ohava popi tava ti: ‘Abraham okwa li omulumenhu omunawike ndele ye a pewa edu eli ngaashi laye mwene. Ndelenee fye otu vahapu, fye twa pewa oshilongo eshi, tu kale tu shi na shetu ovene.’ 25 Onghee hano tya kuvo: Omwene Kalunga ta ti ngaha: nye otamu li ombelela i nohonde ndele omesho eni tamu a yelulile oikalunga yeni, ndele tamu tileshi ohonde, ndele nye ngeno mu pewe nee oshilongo eshi shi ninge sheni? 26 Nye otamu lineekele eongamukonda leni, nye otamu longo oixuna ndele tamu nyateke keshe umwe, omukainhu womukwao, nye ngeno mu pewe nee oshilongo shi ninge sheni vene? 27 Ove u noku va lombwela ngaha: Omwene Kalunga ta ti ngaha: oshili, ngaashi ndi nomwenyo, ava hava kala momakulukuma, oshilielela, vo otava ka fya keongamukonda. Naau a hangika moluhaela Ame ohandi mu yandje koilyani, a liwe po. Ndele ava ve li meehotengulu nomomahondameno otava ka fya koudu u nolutapo. 28 Ndele oshilongo Ame ohandi ke shi ninga omuulu nohandi shi tokeke. Nelinenepekopangelo laye otali ka xula po. Neemhunda daIsrael tadi ka kala ngaho paha kale nande umwe ta ende ko. 29 Opo nee vo otava ka shiiva nokutya, Aame Omwene, oshilongo ngeenge handi shi ningi omuulu nohandi shi tokeke molwoixuna aishe vo ve i ninga.
30 “Ndele oove, kaana komunhu, ovana vomoshiwana shoye otave ku popi peengulu nopeenhu domaumbo, vo ohava lombwelafana, keshe umwe namumwaina, ndele tava ti: ‘Tu yeni, tu ka pwilikine ondjovo tai di kOmwene.’ 31 Ndele vo otave uya kwoove ngaashi ovanhu tava ongala ndele tava kala omutumba moipafi yoye ngaashi ovanhu vange, ndele tava udu eendjovo doye, ndelenee ihave di wanifa. Osheshi vo ohava holola ohole yavo nokanya kavo, ndelenee omitima davo tadi shikula okulikola kwavo kwoulunde. 32 Ndele tala, ove u li kuvo ngaashi eimbilo lohole, la imbwa nawa nola shikwa nawa nokaxumbafeta. Vo ohava udu eendjovo doye, ndelenee ihave di wanifa. 33 Ndelenee ngeenge tadi ka wanifwa, osheshi tadi ka wanifwa, opo nee otava ka shiiva nokutya, omuxunganeki a kala mokati kavo.”
