Israel Keeps On Rebelling
1 Seven years after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, some of Israel's leaders came to me on the tenth day of the fifth month. They sat down and asked for a message from the Lord. 2 Just then, the Lord God said:
3 Ezekiel, son of man, these leaders have come to find out what I want them to do. As surely as I live, I will not give them an answer of any kind.
4 Are you willing to warn them, Ezekiel? Then remind them of the disgusting sins of their ancestors.
5 Tell them that long ago I, the Lord God, chose Israel to be my own. I appeared to their ancestors in Egypt and made a solemn promise that I would be their God and the God of their descendants. 6 I swore that I would rescue them from Egypt and lead them to a land I had already chosen. This land was rich with milk and honey and was the most splendid land of all. 7 I told them to get rid of their disgusting idols and not to sin by worshiping the gods of Egypt. I reminded them that I was the Lord their God, 8 but they still rebelled against me. They refused to listen and kept on worshiping their idols and foreign gods.
In my anger, I decided to punish the Israelites in Egypt. 9 But that would have made me look like a liar, because I had already promised in front of everyone that I would lead them out of Egypt. 10 So I brought them out and led them into the desert. 11 I gave them my laws and teachings, so they would know how to live right. 12 And I commanded them to respect the Sabbath as a way of showing that they were holy and belonged to me. 13 But the Israelites rebelled against me in the desert. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath like any other day.
Then in my anger, I decided to destroy the Israelites in the desert once and for all. 14 But that would have disgraced me, because many other nations had seen me bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 15 Instead, I told them in the desert that I would not lead them into the beautiful, fertile land I had promised. 16 I said this because they had not only ignored my laws and teachings, but had disgraced my Sabbath and worshiped idols.
17 Yet, I felt sorry for them and could not let them die in the desert. 18 So I warned the children not to act like their parents or follow their evil ways or worship their idols. 19 I reminded them that I was the Lord their God and that they should obey my laws and teachings. 20 I told them to respect my Sabbath to show that they were my people and that I was the Lord their God. 21 But the children also rebelled against me. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath as any other day.
I became angry and decided to punish them in the desert. 22 But I did not. That would have disgraced me in front of the nations that had seen me bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 23 So I solemnly swore that I would scatter the people of Israel across the nations, 24 because they had disobeyed my laws and ignored my teachings; they had disgraced my Sabbath and worshiped the idols their ancestors had made. 25 I gave them laws that bring punishment instead of life, 26 and I let them offer me unacceptable sacrifices, including their first-born sons. I did this to horrify them and to let them know that I, the Lord, was punishing them.
27 Ezekiel, tell the people of Israel that their ancestors also rejected and insulted me 28 by offering sacrifices, incense, and wine to gods on every hill and under every large tree. I was very angry, because they did these things in the land I had given them! 29 I asked them where they went to worship those gods, and they answered, “At the local shrines.” And those places of worship are still called shrines.
30 Then ask the Israelites why they are following the example of their wicked ancestors 31 by worshiping idols and by sacrificing their own children as offerings. They commit these sins and still think they can ask me for a message. As surely as I am the living Lord God, I will give them no answer. 32 They may think they can be like other nations and get away with worshiping idols made of wood and stone. But that will never happen!
The Lord Promises To Restore Israel
The Lord said to the people of Israel:
33 As surely as I am the living Lord God, I will rule over you with my powerful arm. You will feel my fierce anger 34 and my power, when I gather you from the places where you are scattered 35 and lead you into a desert surrounded by nations. I will meet you there face to face. Then I will pass judgment on you 36 and punish you, just as I punished your ancestors in the desert near Egypt. 37 I will force each of you to obey the regulations of our solemn agreement. 38 I will separate the sinful rebels from the rest of you, and even though I will bring them from the nations where they live in exile, they won't be allowed to return to Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 Go ahead and worship your idols for now, you Israelites, because soon I will no longer let you dishonor me by offering gifts to them. You will have no choice but to obey me! 40 When that day comes, everyone in Israel will worship me on Mount Zion, my holy mountain in Jerusalem. I will once again call you my own, and I will accept your sacred offerings and sacrifices. 41 When I bring you home from the places where you are now scattered, I will be pleased with you, just as I am pleased with the smell of the smoke from your sacrifices. Every nation on earth will see that I am holy, 42 and you will know that I, the Lord, am the one who brought you back to Israel, the land I promised your ancestors. 43 Then you will remember your wicked sins, and you will hate yourselves for doing such horrible things. They have made you unacceptable to me, 44 so you deserve to be punished. But I will treat you in a way that will bring honor to my name, and you will know that I am the Lord God.
Fire from the South
45 The Lord said, 46 “Ezekiel, son of man, turn toward the south and warn the forests 47 that I, the Lord God, will start a fire that will burn up every tree, whether green or dry. Nothing will be able to put out the blaze of that fire as it spreads to the north and burns everything in its path. 48 Everyone will know that I started it, and that it cannot be stopped.”
49 But I complained, “Lord God, I don't want to do that! People already say I confuse them with my messages.”
Banisirayilankoolu tententa ì la balambaatooyaa la
1 Sanji woorowulanjaŋo, kari luulunjaŋo tili tanjaŋo luŋo la le, Banisirayila alifaa doolu naata n yaa, ì siita n ñaatiliŋo la ka Yaawe* la lafoo ñininkaa. 2 Wo to le Yaawe la kumoo naata n kaŋ ko: 3 “Ite hadamadiŋo, a fo ñiŋ Banisirayila alifaalu ye ko, muŋ daliila le ye a tinna ì naata ka nte la lafoo ñininkaa? A be koyiriŋ ñaameŋ ko nte be baluuriŋ ne, hani feŋ, n te wo le fo la ì ye.” Maarii Yaawe le ye a fo.
4 “Ite hadamadiŋo, i faŋo ye ì kiitindi ka ì hakiloolu bulandi ì mumuñolu ye kuu haraamuriŋolu mennu ke, 5 a fo ì ye, nte Yaawe, ì Maariyo ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: Waati meŋ na ŋa Banisirayila tomboŋ, ŋa m faŋ lankenemayandi ì ye Misira bankoo kaŋ, ŋa n kali Yaakuba koomalankoolu ye jee le to ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti, ì Maariyo. 6 Wo luŋo la, ŋa n kali ì ye le ko, m be ì bondi la naŋ Misira bankoo kaŋ ne, ŋa ì samba bankoo kaŋ, ŋa daameŋ tomboŋ ì ye, keekewo niŋ liyo ka woyi daameŋ, banku ñiimaa baa, meŋ maŋ ñoŋ soto duniyaa kono. 7 Bituŋ n naata a fo ì ye ko, ì si wo batufeŋ haraamuriŋolu fayi, ì bee kiliŋ-kiliŋ naa ka ì jikoo loo mennu kaŋ ka ì batu, aniŋ ì kana ì faŋ kosondi Misirankoolu la wo jalaŋolu la. Kaatu nte le mu Yaawe ti, ì Maariyo.
8 “Bari ì muritita m ma le, ì balanta ka n lamoyi. Hani moo kiliŋ ne maŋ soŋ ka a koo dii Misirankoolu la wo jalaŋolu la, waraŋ ka a la wo batufeŋ haraamuriŋolu fayi, ì ka ì jikoo loo mennu kaŋ ka ì batu. Bituŋ m pareeta ka n na kamfaa bee jindi ì kaŋ naŋ ka ì mantoora Misira bankoo kaŋ.
9 “Bari niŋ ŋa wo ke nuŋ, wo be ke la n ye tookuyaa le ti bankoolu ye mennu be ì dandaŋolu la, kaatu wolu ye a je le ŋa m faŋ yitandi Banisirayilankoolu la ñaameŋ ka ì bondi naŋ Misira bankoo kaŋ. 10 Bituŋ n naata ì bondi naŋ Misira bankoo kaŋ ka naa keñewuloo* kono. 11 Ŋa n na yaamaroolu niŋ saratoolu dii ì la, ŋa ì karandi ì la, fo ì si bula noo ì nooma ka baluu. 12 Wo bee koolaa, ŋa Loobula Luŋo dii ì la, ka ke ì ye kambeŋo taamanseeroo ti, fo ì si a loŋ ko, nte Yaawe faŋo le ye ì tomboŋ, ka ì jankundi.
13 “Bari Banisirayilankoolu muritita m ma keñewuloo kono le. Ì maŋ soŋ ka n na luwaalu muta, ì ye ì koo dii n na yaamaroolu la, mennu si ì balundi noo. Ì maŋ n na Loobula Luŋo fanaa horoma muumeeke. Wo to le m pareeta ka n na kamfaa baa jindi naŋ ì kaŋ ka ì kasaara wo keñewuloo kono. 14 Bari m maŋ naa wo ke, kaatu wo be ke la n ye tookuyaa le ti. Wo bantala bankoolu* bee ye a je le ŋa Banisirayilankoolu bondi naŋ Misira bankoo kaŋ ñaameŋ. 15 Bari ŋa n kali ì ye keñewuloo kono le ko, n te itolu samba la wo bankoo kaŋ, ŋa ì laahidi ka meŋ dii ì la, keekewo niŋ liyo ka woyi daameŋ, aduŋ jee le naata ke banku ñiimaa baa ti meŋ maŋ ñoŋ soto duniyaa bee kono. 16 Ŋa n kali ì ye le, kaatu ì ye ì koo dii n na yaamaroolu niŋ n na saratoolu la le, ì maŋ soŋ ka bula ì nooma, ì maŋ naa n na Loobula Luŋo fanaa horoma. Ì ye ì ñaa tiliŋ jalaŋolu le la ka ì batu. 17 Bari m balafaata ì ye le, m maŋ naa ì kasaara keñewuloo kono ka ì turoo baŋ. 18 Bituŋ n naata a fo ì diŋolu ye ko, itolu maŋ ñaŋ na bula la ì la alifaalu la siloolu nooma, waraŋ ka ì la yaamari jawoolu muta, aduŋ ì maŋ ñaŋ na ka ì faŋ kosondi niŋ ì la alifaalu la jalaŋolu la.
19 “N ko ì ye ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti, ì Maariyo. Ì si bula n na saratoolu nooma aniŋ ì ye ì hakiloolu tu n na yaamaroolu to. 20 Ì si n na Loobula Luŋolu horoma, kaatu wolu le mu n niŋ ì teema taamanseeroo ti, ka ì hakiloolu bulandi ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti, ì la Alla.
21 “Bari ì diŋolu fanaa muritita m ma le. Ì maŋ soŋ bula la n na saratoolu nooma waraŋ ka ì hakiloolu tu n na yaamaroolu to, fo ì si baluu noo. Aduŋ ì maŋ ì hakiloolu tu n na Loobula Luŋolu to ka ì horoma. Wo to le m pareeta ka n na kamfaa bee jindi naŋ ì kaŋ, ka ì mantoora keñewuloo kono jee. 22 Bari n naata wo baayi le, kaatu wo be ke la n ye tookuyaa le ti. Wo bantala bankoolu bee ye a je le, ŋa Banisirayilankoolu bondi Misira bankoo kaŋ ñaameŋ. 23 Wo to le, ŋa n kali ì ye keñewuloo kono ko, m be ì janjandi la bantala bankoolu kaŋ ne taariŋ, ì ye tara duniyaa kono wo ñaama, 24 bayiri ì maŋ soŋ ka bula n na saratoolu nooma, ì ye ì koo dii n na yaamaroolu la, ì maŋ naa n na Loobula Luŋolu horoma. Bari ì ñaalu be looriŋ ì la alifaalu la jalaŋolu le kaŋ, ì ka ì batu. 25 Ŋa saratoolu niŋ yaamaroolu mennu dii ì la, ì maŋ nafaa soto ì ye, kaatu ì keta ì ye yankankatoo le ti diina ka baluu noo ì la. 26 Ŋa ì bula le ì ye ì faŋ kosondi ì la jani sadaalu* la. Wo le ye a saabu itolu bee ye ì diŋ foloolu dii ka ì ke jani sadaalu ti. Wo duŋ mu kuu jawu baa le ti. Ŋa ñiŋ toora siifaa laa ì kaŋ ne fo ì si a loŋ ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti.
27 “Wo kamma la, ite hadamadiŋo, a fo Banisirayilankoolu ye, nte Yaawe, ì Maariyo ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: Ali mumuñolu ye n tooñee le, ka ì koo dii n na aniŋ ka foroyaabaliyaa m ma. 28 Kabiriŋ ŋa ì samba naŋ bankoo kaŋ ŋa ì laahidi ka daameŋ dii ì la, ì ye n kamfandi jee to le. Kaatu ì ka beeyaŋ sadaalu bondi jalaŋ batudulaalu le to konko jaŋolu kaŋ santo aniŋ yiri biireeriŋolu koto taariŋ. Aduŋ ì ka cuuraayi seera diimaalu le siisindi ì la jalaŋolu ye jee ka ì seewondi, ì ka miŋ feŋ sadaalu fanaa boŋ wo sadaabodulaalu* to jee le. 29 Wo to le ŋa ì ñininkaa ko, ‘Muŋ ne ye a tinna ali ka taa wo batudulaa tintiŋolu* to?’ ” Bituŋ ì ye jee toolaa Bama la, meŋ kotoo mu batudulaa tintiŋo ti, fo ka naa bula bii la.
30 “Wo kamma la, a fo Banisirayilankoolu ye, nte Yaawe, ì Maariyo ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: Muŋ ne ye a tinna alitolu be ali faŋ kosondi la ko ali mumuñolu ye a ke nuŋ ñaameŋ niŋ ì la jalaŋ haraamuriŋolu la? 31 Ali ka ali diŋolu ke jani sadaalu ti, ka ali faŋ kosondi ali la jalaŋolu la, fo ka naa bula bii la. Fo ali si naa noo ka n na lafoo ñininkaa baŋ, a ye a tara ali ka ñiŋ kuu haraamuriŋ siifaalu ke? A be koyiriŋ ñaameŋ ko nte Yaawe be baluuriŋ ne, n te ali jaabi la hani feŋ ne la, ali ka n ñininkaa mennu la.
32 “Ali ka meŋ miira, wo nene te ke la ali ye. Ali ka ñiŋ ne fo ko, ‘M̀ be ke la le ko bantala banku moolu, ì ka yiroolu niŋ beroolu dadaa ñaameŋ, ka ì batu.’ ”
Yaawe la mantooroo aniŋ a la balafaa Banisirayila ye
33 Maarii Yaawe ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: “A be koyiriŋ ñaameŋ ko nte Yaawe be baluuriŋ ne, m be n na kamfaa baa jindi la ali kaŋ ne, ŋa ali mara m bulu sembemaa baa la ko mansakewo. 34 N na kamfaa waatoo la, m be ali diyaakuyaa bondi la naŋ niŋ m bulu sembemaa baa le la bantala bankoolu bee kaŋ, ali be janjandi daamennu to taariŋ. 35 Ŋa ali samba wo bantala bankoolu la keñewuloo kono, n niŋ ali ye duŋ kiitiyo kono jee, ñaa niŋ ñaa. 36 M be ali kiitindi la le ko ŋa ali mumuñolu kiitindi ñaameŋ, kabiriŋ ŋa ì bondi naŋ Misira bankoo kaŋ, ŋa ì samba Sinayi Keñewuloo kono.” Maarii Yaawe le ye a fo. 37 “M be a ke la le, fo ali bee si tara n na maroo koto, aniŋ ali bee si soŋ n na kambeŋo saratoolu la meŋ be n niŋ ali teema. 38 M be moolu bondi la ali kono le mennu muritita m ma, aniŋ junubekelaalu. M be ì bondi la naŋ bantala bankoolu kaŋ ne, ì be mutoo kono daamennu to. Bari ì te duŋ na Banisirayila bankoo kaŋ. Niŋ wo keta ali be a loŋ na ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti.”
39 Maarii Yaawe ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: “Wo to saayiŋ, alitolu Banisirayilankoolu, niŋ a diyaata ali ye, ali si taa ka ali la jalaŋolu batu, bari ñaato siniŋ, ali be i lamoyi la n na le, ali ye soŋ n na yaamaroolu la. Kaatu nte jankuta le. Ali te horomantaŋyaa tiliŋ na n too la kotenke niŋ ali la wo jalaŋolu la, ali ka mennu batu, aniŋ ali ka ali la sadaalu bo mennu ye.” 40 Maarii Yaawe ko: “Luŋ be sii la, alitolu Banisirayilankoolu bee be m batu la n na konko senuŋo* le kaŋ santo, Banisirayila bankoo kaŋ. Ali be ali la sadaalu samba la naŋ n ye jee le to, m be seewoo la mennu la. Ñinnu le mu sadaa jankuriŋolu ti ali be mennu samba la n ye naŋ. 41 Niŋ ŋa ali bo naŋ janjandiŋ bantala bankoolu kaŋ, aduŋ ŋa ali kafu ñoo ma ali fansuŋ bankoo kaŋ, ali la kuwo be n seewondi la le, ko cuuraayi seera diimaa ka n seewondi ñaameŋ. Aduŋ bantala banku moolu bee be a seedeyaa la le ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti meŋ jankuta. 42 Aduŋ niŋ ŋa ali samba naŋ Banisirayila bankoo kaŋ, ŋa ali mumuñolu laahidi ka meŋ dii ì koomalankoolu la, niŋ wo keta le, ali be a loŋ na ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti.
43 “Wo to le ali hakiloolu be bula la ali la daajika jawoolu la aniŋ ali la kebaaroolu bee, ali ye mennu ke, ka ali faŋ kosondi. Aduŋ ali si naa nimisa ali la wo kuu jawoolu bee la. 44 N too la kuwo le be a tinna la n niŋ ali ye janjuŋ. A maŋ ke ali la kuu jawu kewo waraŋ ali la tilimbaliyaa ti. Wo to le alitolu Banisirayilankoolu, ali be a loŋ na ko, nte le mu Yaawe ti. Nte Maarii Yaawe le ye a fo.”
Taakaa meŋ be bo la naŋ bulubaa karoo la
45 Yaawe la kumoo naata n kaŋ ko: 46 “Ite hadamadiŋo, i ñaa tiliŋ bulubaa karoo maafaŋo la, i ye ì kawandi ka ì dandalaa i ye kiilaariyaa kumoo fo wo moolu ma mennu be siiriŋ sutoo bulubaa karoo maafaŋo la. Ñiŋ dandalaaroo futandi ì ma, meŋ bota nte Yaawe bulu. 47 A fo sutukononkoolu ye ko, ì ye i lamoyi nte Yaawe la kumoo la. Nte Yaawe, ali Maariyo ye ñiŋ ne fo ko: ‘A fele m be dimbaa le duŋ na sutoo ñiŋ na, meŋ be yiri kitiŋolu niŋ yiri jaaroolu bee jani la, a te feŋ tu la jee. Aduŋ moo te a dimbaa dubeŋ noo la. A be janjaŋ na karoo bee le la. A be niilamaa feŋolu bee le jani la ka bo tonkoŋ ka taa fo tonkoŋ, a te feŋ kaari la. 48 Niŋ wo keta le, duniyaa bee be a loŋ na ko, nte Yaawe le ye ñiŋ dimbaa mala, moo te meŋ dubeŋ noo la.’ ”
49 Wo to le n woosiita ko, “Hee m Maarii Yaawe! Moolu ka jutunnayaa kumoolu le fo m ma ko, n ka tu ntaaliŋ kenseŋo doroŋ ne laa la ì ye, ka ì filindi.”
