UHezekheli

14 Abanye abadala bako-Israyeli babuya bafika bahlala phambi kwami,+ 2 ilizwi likaJehova laselifika kimi lathi: 3 “Ndodana yomuntu, amadoda la azimisele ukuqhubeka ekhonza izithombe zawo ezenyanyekayo* njalo afakele abantu isikhubekiso esenza bone. Manje sengingawavumela yini ukuthi azobuza kimi?+ 4 Yikho khuluma lawo uthi, ‘Nanku okutshiwo yiNkosi Enkulu uJehova: “Nxa um-Israyeli ezimisele ukuqhubeka ekhonza izithombe zakhe ezenyanyekayo futhi efakela abanye isikhubekiso esenza ukuthi bone, kodwa abesebuya ezobuza kumphrofethi, mina Jehova ngizamnika impendulo ehambelana lobunengi bezithombe zakhe ezenyanyekayo. 5 Ngizakwenza abantu bako-Israyeli besabe bathuthumele ngoba bonke bangihlamukele baqala ukukhonza izithombe zabo ezenyanyekayo.”’+

6 “Ngakho tshela abako-Israyeli uthi, ‘Nanku okutshiwo yiNkosi Enkulu uJehova: “Tshiyani izithombe zenu ezenyanyekayo liphenduke kimi, lifulathele zonke izenzo zenu ezenyanyekayo.+ 7 Phela nxa um-Israyeli loba umuntu wezizweni ohlala ko-Israyeli angangihlamukela azimisele ukukhonza izithombe zakhe ezenyanyekayo, futhi afakele abantu isikhubekiso esenza ukuthi bone, kodwa abesebuya azobuza umphrofethi wami,+ mina Jehova yimi engizamphendula. 8 Ngizamelana laye abe yisixwayiso ebantwini futhi angaphumi emilonyeni yabo, ngimsuse ebantwini bami.+ Lapho-ke lizakwazi ukuthi mina nginguJehova.”’

9 “‘Kodwa nxa umphrofethi engavuma ukuqilwa acine ebaphendulile, uyabe eqilwe yimi, mina Jehova.+ Ngizakwelulela isandla sami kuye ngimsuse ebantwini bako-Israyeli. 10 Bonke bazathwala icala labo, icala lalowo obuzileyo liyabe lifanana lelomphrofethi, 11 ukuze abako-Israyeli bangabi belokhu behlamuka kimi, bezingcolisa ngezono zonke abazenzayo. Bazakuba ngabantu bami, mina ngibe nguNkulunkulu wabo,’+ kutsho iNkosi Enkulu uJehova.”

12 Ilizwi likaJehova laphinda lafika kimi lathi: 13 “Ndodana yomuntu, nxa abantu elizweni besona futhi bengathembekanga kimi, ngizakwelulela isandla sami kubo, ngitshabalalise konke ukudla kwabo+ futhi ngilethe indlala enkulu elizweni,+ kufe abantu lezifuyo.”+ 14 “‘Lanxa amadoda la amathathu, uNowa+ loDanyeli+ loJobe+ abengabe eselizweni lelo, abezasindisa impilo zawo kuphela ngenxa yokulunga kwawo,’+ kutsho iNkosi Enkulu uJehova.”

15 “‘Nxa bengingathumela inyamazana zeganga eziyingozi elizweni zifike ziqede abantu, ilizwe lisale lingamanxiwa futhi kungabi lamuntu odlula kulo ngenxa yezinyamazana eziyingozi,+ 16 ngifunga ngami uqobo,’ kutsho iNkosi Enkulu uJehova, ‘lanxa amadoda la amathathu abengabe eselizweni lelo abengasoze asindise ngitsho lamadodana lamadodakazi awo. Abezasindisa impilo zawo kuphela, ilizwe lisale liyinkangala.’”

17 “‘Nxa bengingathumela inkemba elizweni leli+ ngithi: “Inkemba kayidabule elizweni,” ibulale abantu lezifuyo,+ 18 ngifunga ngami uqobo,’ kutsho iNkosi Enkulu uJehova, ‘lanxa amadoda la amathathu abengabe eselizweni lelo abengasoze asindise ngitsho lamadodana lamadodakazi awo, abezasindisa impilo zawo kuphela.’”

19 “‘Nxa bengingathumela umkhuhlane otshabalalisayo elizweni leli,+ ngithululele ulaka lwami phezu kwalo ngibulale abantu abanengi lezifuyo, 20 ngifunga ngami uqobo,’ kutsho iNkosi Enkulu uJehova, ‘lanxa uNowa+ loDanyeli+ loJobe+ bebengabe beselizweni lelo bebengasoze basindise ngitsho lamadodana lamadodakazi abo, bebezasindisa impilo zabo kuphela ngenxa yokulunga kwabo.’”+

21 “Ngakho nanku okutshiwo yiNkosi Enkulu uJehova: ‘Lokhu yikho okuzakwenzakala nxa sengithumela izinto ezine engizajezisa ngazo iJerusalema.+ Ngizathumela inkemba, lendlala, lezinyamazana zeganga eziyingozi kanye lesifo,+ ngibulale abantu lezifuyo.+ 22 Kodwa abanye bazasila bakhutshwe eJerusalema+ kanye lamadodana lamadodakazi abo. Bazakuza kini futhi lizathi libona ukuziphatha kwabo lezenzo zabo liduduzeke ngalokho okwehlele iJerusalema langazo zonke izinto engizenze kuyo.’”

23 “‘Lizaduduzeka nxa selibona ukuziphatha kwabo lezenzo zabo njalo lizakwazi ukuthi bengilesizatho sokwenza lokho engikwenze kuyo,’+ kutsho iNkosi Enkulu uJehova.”