Rebellious Israel purged
1In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.
2Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3‘Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: have you come to enquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you enquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
4‘Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors 5and say to them: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: on the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the Lord your God.’ 6On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands. 7And I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’
8‘ “But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt. 9But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live. 12Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.
13‘ “Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws – by which the person who obeys them will live – and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness. 14But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them – a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands – 16because they rejected my laws and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols. 17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols. 19I am the Lord your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 20Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’
21‘ “But the children rebelled against me: they did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, ‘The person who obeys them will live by them,’ and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. 22But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries, 24because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes lusted after their parents’ idols. 25So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live; 26I defiled them through their gifts – the sacrifice of every firstborn – that I might fill them with horror so that they would know that I am the Lord.”
27‘Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: in this also your ancestors blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me: 28when I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings. 29Then I said to them: what is this high place you go to?” ’ (It is called Bamah20:29 Bamah means high place. to this day.)
Rebellious Israel renewed
30‘Therefore say to the Israelites: “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images? 31When you offer your gifts – the sacrifice of your children in the fire – you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you enquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you enquire of me.
32‘ “You say, ‘We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.’ But what you have in mind will never happen. 33As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 34I will bring you from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered – with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath. 35I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment upon you. 36As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 37I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39‘ “As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: go and serve your idols, every one of you! But afterwards you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and idols. 40For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings and your choice gifts,20:40 Or and the gifts of your firstfruits along with all your holy sacrifices. 41I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations. 42Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors. 43There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done. 44You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.” ’
Prophecy against the south
45The word of the Lord came to me: 46‘Son of man, set your face towards the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland. 47Say to the southern forest: “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it. 48Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.” ’
49Then I said, ‘Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, “Isn’t he just telling parables?” ’20:49 In Hebrew texts 20:45-49 is numbered 21:1-5.
Kuwukira kwa Israeli
1Tsiku lakhumi la mwezi wachisanu, chaka chachisanu ndi chiwiri, ena mwa akuluakulu a Israeli anabwera kudzapempha nzeru kwa Yehova, ndipo anakhala pansi pamaso panga.
2Tsono Yehova anandiyankhula nati: 3“Iwe mwana wa munthu, ayankhule akuluakulu a Israeli ndi kuwawuza kuti, ‘Ambuye Yehova akuti: Kodi mwabwera kudzapempha nzeru kwa Ine? Ndithu pali Ine wamoyo, Ine sindidzakulolani kupempha nzeru kwa Ine, akutero Ambuye Yehova.’
4“Kodi uwaweruza? Iwe mwana wa munthu, kodi ugamula mlandu wawo? Uwadziwitse tsono zonyansa zimene anachita makolo awo, uwawuze kuti, 5‘Ambuye Yehova akuti: Pa tsiku limene ndinasankha Israeli, ndinalumbira kwa zidzukulu za nyumba ya Yakobo ndipo ndinadziwulula kwa iwo ku Igupto. Ndinalumbira ndi kuwawuza kuti: Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu. 6Pa tsiku limenelo ndinalumbira kwa iwo kuti ndidzawatulutsa mʼdziko la Igupto ndi kupita nawo ku dziko limene ndinawapezera, dziko la mwana alirenji, dziko lokongola kwambiri kupambana mayiko ena. 7Ndipo ndinawawuza kuti, ‘Aliyense ataye zinthu zonse zonyansa zimene ankasangalala nazo, ndipo musadziyipitse ndi mafano a Igupto, Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu.’
8“ ‘Koma iwo anandiwukira ndipo sanafune kundimvera. Palibe amene anataya zonyansa zonse zimene ankasangalala nazo. Panalibenso amene anasiya mafano a ku Igupto. Tsono ndinaganiza zowakhuthulira ukali wanga ndi kuwaonetsa mkwiyo wanga mʼdziko la Igupto momwemo. 9Koma sindinachite zimenezi chifukwa cha dzina langa, kuti lisayipitsidwe pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina amene ankakhala pakati pawo. Paja ndinali nditaonetsa mphamvu zanga pamaso pa mitunduyo potulutsa Aisraeli mʼdziko la Igupto. 10Choncho ndinawatulutsa mʼdziko la Igupto ndi kubwera nawo mʼchipululu. 11Ndinawapatsa malangizo anga ndi kuwadziwitsa malamulo anga amene munthu aliyense akawamvera adzakhala ndi moyo. 12Ndinawapatsanso Masabata ngati chizindikiro pakati pathu, kuti adziwe kuti Ine Yehova ndinawapatula.
13“ ‘Komabe anthu a Israeli anandiwukira mʼchipululu. Iwo sanatsatire malangizo anga koma anakana malamulo anga amene munthu aliyense akawamvera adzakhala ndi moyo. Ndipo anayipitsa kotheratu Masabata anga. Choncho, ndinaganiza zowakhuthulira ukali wanga ndi kuwawononga mʼchipululu. 14Koma sindinachite zimenezi chifukwa cha dzina langa, kuti lisayipitsidwe pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina amene anandiona ndikutulutsa Aisraeliwo mu Igupto. 15Ndinalumbiranso kwa iwo mʼchipululu muja, nditakweza dzanja, kuti sindidzawalowetsanso mʼdziko limene ndinawapatsa, dziko la mwana alirenji, lokoma kwambiri kuposa mayiko ena onse. 16Paja anakana malamulo anga, sanatsatire malangizo anga ndipo anayipitsa masabata anga. Mitima yawo inakonda mafano. 17Komabe ndinawamvera chisoni ndipo sindinawawononge kapena kuwatheratu mʼchipululu. 18Tsono kwa ana awo mʼchipululu ndinati, ‘Musatsatire malangizo a makolo anu kapena kusunga malamulo awo kapena kudziyipitsa ndi mafano awo. 19Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu; tsatirani malangizo anga ndipo sungani malamulo anga. 20Masabata anga muziwasunga ngati opatulika kuti akhale chizindikiro pakati pa Ine ndi inu. Mukatero mudzadziwa kuti Ine ndine Yehova Mulungu wanu.’
21“ ‘Koma ana awo anandiwukira. Iwo sanatsatire malangizo anga, sanamvere malamulo anga, ngakhale kuti amapereka moyo kwa munthu amene amawamvera. Ndiponso anayipitsa Masabata anga. Choncho ndinaganiza zowakhuthulira ukali wanga ndi kuwawonongeratu mʼchipululu momwemo. 22Koma sindinatero chifukwa cha dzina langa kuti lisayipitsidwe pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina amene anandiona ndikutulutsa Aisraeliwo mu Iguptomo. 23Choncho ndinalumbira mʼchipululu, nditakweza dzanja langa, kuti ndidzawabalalitsa pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndi kuwamwazira ku mayiko akutali, 24chifukwa sanamvere malamulo anga, anakana malangizo anga, nayipitsa masabata anga, ndi kupembedza mafano a makolo awo. 25Ine ndinawapatsanso malangizo amene sanali abwino ndi malamulo amene sakanatha kupeza nawo moyo. 26Ndinawalekerera kuti adziyipitse ndi mphatso zawo zomwe, makamaka popereka ana awo oyamba kubadwa ngati nsembe zopsereza. Ndinatero kuti ndiwadetse nkhawa ndi kuti adziwe kuti Ine ndine Yehova.’
27“Tsono iwe mwana wa munthu, yankhula nawo Aisraeli ndipo uwawuze kuti, ‘Ambuye Yehova akuti makolo anu anandinyozanso posaonetsa moyo wokhulupirika. 28Nditawalowetsa mʼdziko limene ndinachita kulumbirira kuti ndidzawapatsa, iwo tsono ankapita kulikonse kumene anaona chitunda chachitali ndi mtengo wa masamba ambiri kukapereka kumeneko nsembe ndi zopereka zawo zimene zinkandikwiyitsa. Kumeneko ankapereka nsembe za fungo lokoma ndiponso nsembe za zakumwa. 29Tsono ndinawafunsa kuti: Kodi chitunda chimene mukupitako nʼchotani? Chitundachi chakhala chikutchedwa mpaka lero kuti ‘Chitunda cha Chipembedzo.’
Chiweruzo ndi Kubwezeretsa
30“Tsono uwawuze Aisraeli kuti, ‘Ine Ambuye Yehova ndikuti: Kodi mudzadziyipitsa nokha monga anachitira makolo anu ndi kuchita chigololo ndi milungu yawo yonyansa? 31Pamene mubwera kudzapereka mphatso zanu ndi kudzapereka ana kuti akhale ngati nsembe zopsereza mumadziyipitsa ndi mafano anu mpaka lero. Kodi Aisraeli, ndingathe kukulolani bwanji kuti mulandire malangizo kwa Ine? Ndithu pali Ine wamoyo, akutero Ambuye Yehova, sindidzalola kuti mupemphe nzeru kwa Ine.
32“ ‘Inu munanena kuti, ‘Tikufuna tikhale ngati anthu a mitundu ina, ngati anthu adziko lapansi, amene amapembedza mtengo ndi mwala.’ Koma zimene mukuganizazo sizidzachitika. 33Ndithu pali Ine wamoyo, akutero Ambuye Yehova, ndi dzanja langa lamphamvu, nditasamula mkono wanga mokwiya kwambiri, Ine ndidzakhala wokulamulani. 34Ndidzakuchotsani pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndikukusonkhanitsani kuchokera ku mayiko kumene munamwazikirako, ndi dzanja langa lamphamvu ndi lotambasuka ndili wokwiya kwambiri. 35Ndidzakulowetsani mʼchipululu cha anthu a mitundu ina ndipo kumeneko, moonana maso ndi maso, ndidzakuzengani mlandu. 36Monga ndinawalangira makolo anu mʼchipululu cha dziko la Igupto, motero ndidzakulangani, akutero Ambuye Yehova. 37Ndidzakuwerengani ndi ndodo ya mʼbusa, kukulowetsani mʼchimango cha pangano langa. 38Ndidzakuchotserani anthu amene anandigalukira ndi kundiwukira. Ngakhale ndidzawatulutsa mʼdziko limene akukhalamo, koma sadzalowamo mʼdziko la Israeli. Pamenepo mudzadziwa kuti Ine ndine Yehova.
39“ ‘Koma inu Aisraeli, zimene ndikunena Ine Ambuye Yehova ndi izi: Pitani katumikireni mafano anu onse, aliyense wa inu! Koma mʼtsogolo mwake mudzandimvera ndithu ndipo simudzayipitsa dzina langa lopatulika popereka mphatso zanu kwa mafano. 40Pakuti pa phiri langa lopatulika, phiri lalitali la ku Israeli, akutero Ambuye Yehova, Aisraeli onse adzanditumikira, ndipo kumeneko Ine ndidzawalandira. Kumeneko ndidzayembekeza zopereka zanu ndi mphatso zanu zopambana, pamodzi ndi nsembe zanu zonse zopatulika. 41Ndidzakulandirani ngati nsembe ya fungo lokoma ndikadzakutulutsani pakati pa anthu a mitundu ina ndi kukusokhanitsani kuchokera ku mayiko kumene munabalalitsidwirako. Motero ndidzadzionetsa pakati panu kuti ndine woyera ndipo mitundu ya anthu idzaona. 42Tsono mudzadziwa kuti ndine Yehova ndikadzabwera nanu ku dziko la Israeli, dziko limene ndinalumbira kuti ndidzapereka kwa makolo anu. 43Kumeneko mudzakumbukira makhalidwe anu ndi machitidwe anu onse amene munadziyipitsa nawo, ndipo mudzanyansidwa nokha chifukwa cha zoyipa zimene munachita. 44Inu mudzadziwa kuti Ine ndine Yehova, ndikadzakuchitirani zabwino chifukwa cha dzina langa koma osati molingana ndi njira zanu zoyipa ndi machitidwe anu okhota, inu Aisraeli, akutero Ambuye Yehova.’ ”
Uneneri Wotsutsa Kummwera
45Yehova anandiyankhula nati: 46“Iwe mwana wa munthu, tembenuka uyangʼane kummwera; ndipo lalika mawu odzudzula anthu akummwera ndipo unenere zodzudzula dziko la nkhalango ya kummwera. 47Iwuze nkhalango yakummwera kuti, ‘Imvani mawu a Yehova! Ambuye Yehova akuti: Ndikuyatsa moto ndipo motowo udzapsereza mitengo yako yonse yayiwisi ndi yowuma yomwe. Malawi ake sadzazimitsika ndipo aliyense kuchokera kummwera mpaka kumpoto adzapsa nawo. 48Aliyense adzadziwa kuti Ine Yehova ndi amene ndayatsa motowo, ndipo sudzazimitsidwa.’ ”
49Ndipo ine ndinati, “Aa, Ambuye Yehova! Anthu akungondinena kuti, ‘Kodi suja amangonena nthano chabe ameneyu!’ ”
