The Lord Appoints Ezekiel To Stand Watch
(Ezekiel 3.16-21)1 The Lord said:
2 Ezekiel, son of man, warn your people by saying:
Someday, I, the Lord, may send an enemy to invade a country. And suppose its people choose someone to stand watch 3 and to sound a warning signal when the enemy is seen coming. 4-5 If any of these people hear the signal and ignore it, they will be killed in battle. But it will be their own fault, because they could have escaped if they had paid attention.
6 But suppose the person watching fails to sound the warning signal. The enemy will attack and kill some of the sinful people in that country, and I, the Lord, will hold that person responsible for their death.
7 Ezekiel, I have appointed you to stand watch for the people of Israel. So listen to what I say, then warn them for me. 8 When I tell wicked people they will die because of their sins, you must warn them to turn from their sinful ways. But if you refuse to warn them, you are responsible for their death. 9 If you do warn them, and they keep sinning, they will die because of their sins, and you will be innocent.
The Lord Is Always Fair
(Ezekiel 18.21-30)10 The Lord said:
Ezekiel, son of man, the people of Israel are complaining that the punishment for their sins is more than they can stand. They have lost all hope for survival, and they blame me. 11 Tell them that as surely as I am the living Lord God, I don't like to see wicked people die. I enjoy seeing them turn from their sins and live. So if the Israelites want to live, they must stop sinning and turn back to me.
12 Tell them that when good people start sinning, all the good they did in the past cannot save them from being punished. And remind them that when wicked people stop sinning, their past sins will be completely forgiven, and they won't be punished.
13 Suppose I promise good people that they will live, then later they start sinning and believe they will be saved by the good they did in the past. These people will certainly be put to death because of their sins. Their good deeds will be forgotten.
14 Suppose I warn wicked people that they will die because of their sins, and they stop sinning and start doing right. 15 For example, they need to return anything they have taken as security for a loan and anything they have stolen. Then if they stop doing evil and start obeying my Law, they will live. 16 Their past sins will be forgiven, and they will live because they have done right.
17 Ezekiel, your people accuse me of being unfair. But they are the ones who are unfair. 18 If good people start doing evil, they will be put to death, because they have sinned. 19 And if wicked people stop sinning and start doing right, they will save themselves from punishment. 20 But the Israelites still think I am unfair. So warn them that they will be punished for what they have done.
The News of Jerusalem's Fall
21 Twelve years after King Jehoiachin and the rest of us had been led away as prisoners to Babylonia, a refugee who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me on the fifth day of the tenth month. He told me that the city had fallen.
22 The evening before this man arrived at my house, the Lord had taken control of me. So when the man came to me the next morning, I could once again speak.
What Will Happen to Those Left in Israel?
23 Then the Lord said:
24 Ezekiel, son of man, the people living in the ruined cities of Israel are saying, “Abraham was just one man, and the Lord gave him this whole land of Israel. There are many of us, and so this land must be ours.”
25 So, Ezekiel, tell them I am saying:
How can you think the land is still yours? You eat meat with blood in it and worship idols. You commit murder 26 and spread violence throughout the land. Everything you do is wicked; you are even unfaithful in marriage. And you claim the land is yours!
27 As surely as I am the living Lord God, you people in the ruined cities will be killed in battle. Those of you living in the countryside will be eaten by wild animals, and those hiding in caves and on rocky cliffs will die from deadly diseases. 28 I will make the whole country an empty wasteland and crush the power in which you take such pride. Even the mountains will be bare, and no one will try to cross them. 29 I will punish you because of your sins, and I will turn your nation into a barren desert. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
The People Listen, but Don't Change
The Lord said:
30 Ezekiel, son of man, the people with you in Babylonia talk about you when they meet by the city walls or in the doorways of their houses. They say, “Let's ask Ezekiel what the Lord has said today.” 31 So they all come and listen to you, but they refuse to do what you tell them. They claim to be faithful, but they are forever trying to cheat others out of their money. 32 They treat you as though you were merely singing love songs or playing music. They listen, but don't do anything you say.
33 Soon they will be punished, just as you warned, and they will know that a prophet has been among them.
OPI ka Ezekiele Ka'da Vookwa'ba ro
(Ezekiele 3:16-21)1 OPI atate märi ekye: 2 “Ŋgwa lidri ro, nyitita lidri ri mikye ondro mezi kyila te wari aza dri oko, lidri wari na 'do ro konjiyi mano alo aza ni ànya lakosi a'done vookwa'ba ro. 3 Ondro nda kondre kyila'baazi te ikyivoya oko, nda kotre otre kyila ro miomba ozoza 'dicini ri. 4 Ondro ka'do 'diaza keri tana te, oko koti tana kote ago kyila'baazi kikyi kufu nda te, 'dooko okozina ndi nda ayani ta odra modo ndaro rota. 5 Anjioko odra ndaro orivoya taenji ndaro, tana nda eri ta miomba se ozobe ana ro ndi caoko ti tana kote. Aba ondro ka'do nda koga bi gwo tana ya, aba nda opanavo ndi. 6 Aba, ondro ka'do, vookwa'ba kondre kyila'baazi ikyivoya oko kotre otre kyilaro kote, 'dooko ozo miomba kote lidri ri, kyila'baazi ikyina tufuna ànya ndi takozi ya, 'dooko mejina ta odra ànyaro ro teni vookwa'ba sisi.
7 “Ka'do inye, Ŋgwa lidri ro, ma mi o'ba vookwa'ba ro lidri Yisaraele ro ri. Ondro nyeri ta aza teni makalasi beṛo miri miomba ozone ànyari. 8 Ondro ka'do mayotate makye endaro mano kozi aza ka oye odrane oko nyozo miomba kote ndäri liti ori ndaro ro läpine adri ndaro opazana, 'dooko nda odrana ndi 'du takozi'ba ro, oko ma'bana miŋgyina taezaro odra ndaro ro ni. 9 Ondro ka'do nyozo miomba ndi mano se koziro 'do ri takozi e'bene oko ondro nda ke'be takozi oye kote, nda odrana ndi, 'du takozi'ba ro, oko apana adri miro ndi.”
Taezaro 'Dialo ro
10 OPI atate ekye: “Ŋgwa lidri ro, nyata ta Yisaraele'bai ri tase ànya kayibe atana ekye: ‘Ama te orivoya ŋgaläŋgyi takozii amaro ndi tase koziro màyebe iyi robe ago màte rueza tana ro. Màrina lidriidriro eŋwanyeya?’ 11 Nyitita ànyari mikye endaro oso ma, OPI Mbarapara, mabe Lu lidriidriro yi ono ronye, märi a'done riyäro odra takozi'ba aza ro ya te i'do. Male ndäri takozi e'bene ago orine lidriidriro. Ami lidri Yisaraele ro nyetadri, nyè'be takozi se nyàbe loyena ono. Tana e'di mìle gwo odrane odra niya?
12 “Ka'do inye, mi ŋgwa lidri ro, nyitita Yisaraele'bai ri mikye, takado oye taŋgye'ba aza ro unina ko ndana opane ondro nda koye takozi te owo. Ondro ka'do mano se koziro 'do ke'be taoye se koziro 'do te, änina ko nda ezane, ago ondro ka'do mano se kado 'do keto takozi oye te, takado ndaro unina kote adri ndaro opane. 13 Ondro ka'do mata ca mano se kado 'do ri makye ondro ndana orina ndi lidriidriro, oko ondro ka'do nda koma bete ekye takado iro se kyeno kai opana yi ndi, nda keto takozi oye gwo, märi takado se nda koyebe 'do tana oyine te i'do. Nda odrana ndi ta takozi se nda koyebe 'do rota. 14 Ondro mozo miomba te mano se takozi'ba ro 'do ri makye endaro nda ka oye odrane, oko ondro ka'do nda ke'be takozi oye te ago koyete tase ŋgye ago kado 'do ayani, 15 taka'dana ro ni, ondro ka'do nda kologo ŋgase nda kurube yuŋgu ro nda opazana 'do te, kode kologo ŋgase nda kukugube 'do te kovole, ondro ka'do nda ke'be takozi oye te ago kosote ota se kani 'dio'ba orine lidriidriro 'do voro, ago koye takozi kote, nda orina ndi lidriidriro. Nda unina ko odrane. 16 Me'bena nda ndi ta takozi se cini nda koyebe iyi rota, ago nda orina ndi lidriidriro endaro tana nda yete tase ŋgye ago kadoro 'do ayani.
17 “Ago lidri amiro kayi ata ekye tase mabe oyena ono ko ŋgye, oko se liti ànyaro ko ni ŋgye. 18 Ondro mano se taŋgye'ba ro 'do ke'be takado oye te ago keto takozi oye te, nda odrana ndi tana ro. 19 Ondro mano se koziro 'do ke'be takozi oye te ago kate tase ŋgye ago kadoro 'do oyena ayani, orina ndi lidriidriro. 20 Oko ami Yisaraele'bai, nyà ata mìkye tase mabe oyena ono ko ŋgye. Ma oye vure ami alo alo ro opene tase nyàbe oyena ono si.”
Lazo O'de Yerusalema ro ro
21 U'du linji imba 'butealo ndroa 'butealo foritu oyi amaro vomidiro ya rosi oko, mano aza se kopavo beni Yerusalema yasi ana ikyi ititate märi ekye Yerusalema 'dete. 22 Tandrobe tandrolero teinye dri ndäri esaako, musuvo mbara a'do OPI ro lototi ana rote. Ondro mano ana kesate kyenoŋbo kinja si oko, OPI go ozo mbara ata rote kovole märi.
Takozi Lidri ro
23 OPI atate märi ekye: 24 “Ŋgwa lidri ro, lidri se kayibe ori tandro se wari Yisaraele ro roya iyi kayi ata ekye: ‘Abarayama toto mano alodi yi, oko ozo wari ono te kpeye ndäri. Oko ama orivoya amba ta'doro endaro ozo wari ono te ämäri.’
25 “Nyiti tase ma OPI Mbarapara, mabe atana ono ànyari mikye: Nyà iza se drigba kari be 'do onyana, nyà lui edeedero mätuna ago nyà 'ditufu. Inye'do ozona wari ono ndi ämiri ya? 26 Nyà taoye kyilasi ago nyà tase ya maro osoro lomvoigye oye 'Dicini ka taoye ago kode toko drisi. Inye'do ozona wari ono ndi ämiri ya?
27 “Nyiti tase ma, OPI Mbarapara, mabe atana ànyari ono ànyari mikye: endaro oso mabe Lu lidriidriro yi ono ronye, lidri se kayibe ori tandroi yasi 'do utufuna 'da. Ànya se kayibe ori 'bädri ya iyi koronyai vocowa ro onyana 'da. Ànya se kayibe ruda'do 'bereŋwai lakosi ago kugyii yasi iyi todranayi 'da ni adravo kozi ri. 28 Ma'bana 'bädri ana 'da vocowa ro ago awi, ago mbara se ànya kayibe driuŋgyi tana ro 'do okyena 'da. 'Bereŋwai Yisaraele ro a'dona 'da vocowa ro se 'diaza unina ko abane ànya lakosi. 29 Ondro ma'ba 'bädri ana te vocowa ro ago ta takozi se ànya koyebe ana rota oko ànya uninayi 'da anjioko ma ni OPI owo.”
Tase Ka'dobe ta Lazo Nebi ro rota
30 OPI atate ekye: “Oko ta miro ta ŋgwa lidri ro, lidri miro kayi ata ondro ànya kotoyikalate tiṛii 'bakici ro lomvosi kode käläsi zoi ànyaro ro kalasi owo ta miro ta ekye: ‘Mì'de mòyi tase kikyibe ni OPI resi ono erine.’ 31 Ta'dota lidri maro ikyi yi ṛiyikalate ago riyite mikandra. Ànya eriyi tase nyabe atana 'do te, caoko ànya yeyi tana kote. Ànya kayi ŋgalu amba ka'da ta ata ànyaro si oko ya ànyaro twi yagäru be. 32 Nyalaba ànyari oso loŋgo oŋgo'ba se kabe loŋgo ŋgalu ro oŋgona gboro liŋgyiekye si ago kabe o'bina kadoro lekyembe si 'do ronye. Ànya eriyi ata cini miro te oko royi alodina aza kote. 33 Oko ondro ata cini miro ka'dote ŋgye, ago kaoye ro a'done ŋgye 'dooko ànya uninayi 'da anjioko nebi aza orivoya ànya lako.”