UHezekeli 14:1-23
14 Amanye amadoda amadala akwa-Israyeli eza afike ahlala phansi phambi kwami. +
2 Kwabe sekufika izwi likaJehova kimi, lathi:
3 “Ndodana yomuntu, la madoda azimisele ukulandela izithixo zawo ezinyanyisayo,* abeke isikhubekiso esibangela ukuba abantu bone. Ingabe kufanele ngiwavumele abuze ngami? +
4 Manje khuluma nawo uthi kuwo, ‘Yilokhu iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ekushoyo: “Uma umIsrayeli ezimisele ukulandela izithixo zakhe ezinyanyisayo, abeke isikhubekiso esibangela ukuba abantu bone bese ebuza kumprofethi, mina Jehova, ngiyomphendula ngendlela efanele ngokuvumelana nezithixo zakhe eziningi ezinyanyisayo.
5 Ngiyobangela ukwesaba okukhulu ezinhliziyweni zendlu ka-Israyeli ngoba yonke ingishiyile yalandela izithixo zayo ezinyanyisayo.” ’ +
6 “Ngakho yithi endlini ka-Israyeli, ‘Yilokhu iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ekushoyo: “Buyani nifulathele izithixo zenu ezinyanyisayo, niphendule ubuso benu bufulathele yonke imikhuba yenu enengekayo. +
7 Ngoba uma noma yimuphi umIsrayeli noma umuntu oyisifiki ohlala kwa-Israyeli ezihlukanisa nami futhi ezimisele ukulandela izithixo zakhe ezinyanyisayo, abeke isikhubekiso esibangela ukuba abantu bone bese eza azobuza kumprofethi wami, + mina Jehova, ngizomphendula mathupha.
8 Ngiyokwenza ubuso bami bumfulathele lowo muntu ngimenze abe yisixwayiso nesaga, ngiyomnquma kubantu bami; + niyokwazi ukuthi nginguJehova.” ’
9 “ ‘Kodwa uma umprofethi ekhohlisiwe bese enikeza impendulo, yimina Jehova engimkhohlisile lowo mprofethi. + Ngiyobe sengilulela isandla sami kuye, ngimqothule kubantu bami u-Israyeli.
10 Bayothwala icala labo; icala lobuzayo liyofana necala lomprofethi,
11 ukuze indlu ka-Israyeli ingabe isaduka ichezuke kimi futhi iyeke ukuzingcolisa ngazo zonke iziphambeko zabo. Bayoba abantu bami mina ngibe uNkulunkulu wabo,’ + kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova.”
12 Izwi likaJehova laphinde lafika kimi, lithi:
13 “Ndodana yomuntu, uma izwe lenza isono kimi ngokwenza ngokungathembeki, ngiyokwelulela isandla sami kulo nginqamule ilungiselelo lalo lokudla, *+ ngithumele indlala kulo, + nginqume kulo umuntu nesilwane.” +
14 “ ‘Ngisho noma ngabe la madoda amathathu—uNowa, + uDaniyeli + noJobe +—abekulo, abeyozisindisa wona wodwa ngenxa yokulunga kwawo,’ + kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova.”
15 “ ‘Noma ake sithi ngenza ukuba kudlule izilwane zasendle eziyingozi ezweni futhi zibulale abantu abaningi,* zilenze libe ihlane eliyincithakalo kungadluli muntu ngenxa yalezo zilwane zasendle. +
16 Ngiyafunga,’ kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova, ‘ngisho noma ngabe la madoda amathathu abekulo, abengeke akwazi ukusindisa amadodana namadodakazi awo; abeyozisindisa wona kuphela, nezwe beliyoba incithakalo.’ ”
17 “ ‘Noma ake sithi ngiletha inkemba kulelo zwe, + bese ngithi: “Inkemba mayidlule kulelo zwe,” inqume kulo kokubili umuntu nesilwane, +
18 ngisho noma ngabe la madoda amathathu abekulo, ngiyafunga,’ kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova, ‘abengeke akwazi ukusindisa amadodana namadodakazi awo; abeyozisindisa wona kuphela.’ ”
19 “ ‘Noma ake sithi ngithumela isifo esiwumshayabhuqe kulelo zwe + futhi ngithululele ulaka lwami kulo kanye nokuchitheka kwegazi, ukuze nginqume kulo umuntu kanye nesilwane,
20 ngisho noma ngabe uNowa, + uDaniyeli + noJobe + bebekulo, ngiyafunga,’ kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova, ‘bebengeke bakwazi ukusindisa amadodana namadodakazi abo; bebeyozisindisa bona kuphela ngenxa yokulunga kwabo.’ ” +
21 “Ngoba yilokhu iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova ekushoyo: ‘Kuyoba njalo lapho ngithumela izijeziso zami ezine *+—inkemba, indlala, izilwane zasendle eziyingozi nesifo esiwumshayabhuqe +—eJerusalema ukuze nginqume kulo umuntu nesilwane. +
22 Nokho, abanye abasele kulo bayophunyuka bakhishwe kulo, + amadodana namadodakazi. Beza kini futhi lapho nibona izindlela zabo nezenzo zabo, nakanjani niyoduduzwa ngenhlekelele engayiletha eJerusalema, ngakho konke engakwenza kulo.’ ”
23 “ ‘Bayoniduduza lapho nibona izindlela zabo nezenzo zabo, niyokwazi ukuthi angikwenzanga ngaphandle kwesizathu lokho okwakumelwe ngikwenze kulo,’ + kusho iNkosi EnguMbusi uJehova.”
Imibhalo yaphansi
^ Lena yinkulumo yesiHebheru okungenzeka ihlobene negama elisho “ubulongwe,” isetshenziswa njengenkulumo yokwedelela.
^ NgesiHebheru, “ngiphule izinduku zalo zezinkwa.” Kungenzeka libhekisela ezindukwini ezazisetshenziselwa ukugcina izinkwa.
^ Noma, “ziliphuce abantwana.”
^ Noma, “izenzo zami ezine zokwahlulela ezilimazayo.”
