एज़ेकिएल 20

1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month: there came men of the ancients of Israel to inquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.

2And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

3Son of man, speak to the ancients of Israel, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will not answer you, saith the Lord God.

4If thou judgest them, if thou judgest, son of man, declare to them the abominations of their fathers.

5And say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand for the race of the house of Jacob: and appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and lifted up my hand for them, saying: I am the Lord your God:

6In that day I lifted up my hand for them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which excelleth amongst all lands.

7And I said to them: Let every man cast away the scandals of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

8But they provoked me, and would not hearken to me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of his eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: and I said I would pour out my indignation upon them, and accomplish my wrath against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9But I did otherwise for my name’s sake, that it might not be violated before the nations, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I made myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

10Therefore I brought them out from the land of Egypt, and brought them into the desert.

11And I gave them my statutes, and I shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them.

12Moreover I gave them also my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them: and that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.

13But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert: they walked not in my statutes, and they cast away my judgments, which if a man do he shall live in them: and they grievously violated my sabbaths. I said therefore that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, and would consume them.

14But I spared them for the sake of my name, lest it should be profaned before the nations, from which I brought them out, in their sight.

15So I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, not to bring them into the land which I had given them flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands.

16Because they cast off my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, and violated my sabbaths: for their heart went after idols.

17Yet my eye spared them, so that I destroyed them not: neither did I consume them in the desert.

18And I said to their children in the wilderness: Walk not in the statutes of your fathers, and observe not their judgments, nor be ye defiled with their idols:

19I am the Lord your God: walk ye in my statutes, and observe my judgments, and do them.

20And sanctify my sabbaths, that they may be a sign between me and you: and that you may know that I am the Lord your God.

21But their children provoked me, they walked not in my commandments, nor observed my judgments to do them: which if a man do, he shell live in them: and they violated my sabbaths: and I threatened to pour out my indignation upon them, and to accomplish my wrath in them in the desert.

22But I turned away my hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it might not be violated before the nations, out of which I brought them forth in their sight.

23Again I lifted up my hand upon them in the wilderness, to disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries:

24Because they had not done my judgments, and had cast off my statutes, and had violated my sabbaths, and their eyes had been after the idols of their fathers.

25Therefore I also gave them statutes that were not good, and judgments, in which they shall not live.

26And I polluted them in their own gifts, when they offered all that opened the womb, for their offences: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

27Wherefore speak to the house of Israel, O son of man, and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Moreover in this also your fathers blasphemed me, when they had despised and contemned me;

28And I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my hand to give it them: they saw every high hill, and every shady tree, and there they sacrificed their victims: and there they presented the provocation of their offerings, and there they set their sweet odours, and poured forth their libations.

29And I said to them: What meaneth the high place to which you go? and the name thereof was called High-place even to this day.

30Wherefore say to the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord God: Verily, you are defiled in the way of your fathers, and you commit fornication with their abominations.

31And you defile yourselves with all your: idols unto this day, in the offering of your gifts, when you make your children pass through the fire: and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not answer you.

32Neither shall the thought of your mind come to pass, by which you say: We will be as the Gentiles, and as the families of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.

33As I live, saith the Lord God, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

34And I will bring you out from the people, and I will gather you out of the countries, in which you are scattered, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35And I will bring you into the wilderness of people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36As I pleaded against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt; even so will I judge you, saith the Lord God.

37And I will make you subject to my sceptre, and will bring you into the bands of the covenant.

38And I will pick out from among you the transgressors, and the wicked, and will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord.

39And as for you, O house of Israel: thus saith the Lord God: Walk ye every one after your idols, and serve them. But if in this also you hear me not, but defile my holy name any more with your gifts, and with your idols;

40In my holy mountain, in the high mountain of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel serve me; all of them I say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there will I require your firstfruits, and the chief of your tithes with all your sanctifications.

41I will accept of you for an odour of sweetness, when I shall have brought you out from the people, and shall have gathered you out of the lands into which you are scattered, and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

42And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have brought you into the land of Israel, into the land for which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers.

43And there you shall remember your ways, and all your wicked doings with which you have been defiled; and you shall be displeased with yourselves in your own sight, for all your wicked deeds which you committed.

44And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have done well by you for my own name’s sake, and not according to your evil ways, nor according to your wicked deeds, O house of Israel, saith the Lord God.

45And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

46Son of man, set thy face against the way of the south, and drop towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field.

47And any to the south forest: Hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and will burn in thee every green tree, and every dry tree: the dame of the fire shall not be quenched: and every face shall be burned in it, from the south even to the north.

48And all flesh shall see, that I the Lord have kindled it, and it shall not be quenched.

49And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God: they say of me: Doth not this man speak by parables?

1Et factum est in anno septimo, in quinto, in decima mensis, venerunt viri de senioribus Israël ut interrogarent Dominum, et sederunt coram me.

2Et factus est sermo Domini ad me, dicens:

3Fili hominis, loquere senioribus Israël, et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Numquid ad interrogandum me vos venistis? vivo ego quia non respondebo vobis, ait Dominus Deus.

4Si judicas eos, si judicas, fili hominis, abominationes patrum eorum ostende eis.

5Et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: In die qua elegi Israël, et levavi manum meam pro stirpe domus Jacob, et apparui eis in terra Ægypti, et levavi manum meam pro eis, dicens: Ego Dominus Deus vester:

6in die illa levavi manum meam pro eis ut educerem eos de terra Ægypti, in terram quam provideram eis, fluentem lacte et melle, quæ est egregia inter omnes terras.

7Et dixi ad eos: Unusquisque offensiones oculorum suorum abjiciat, et in idolis Ægypti nolite pollui: ego Dominus Deus vester.

8Et irritaverunt me, nolueruntque me audire: unusquisque abominationes oculorum suorum non projecit, nec idola Ægypti reliquerunt. Et dixi ut effunderem indignationem meam super eos, et implerem iram meam in eis, in medio terræ Ægypti.

9Et feci propter nomen meum, ut non violaretur coram gentibus in quarum medio erant, et inter quas apparui eis ut educerem eos de terra Ægypti.

10Ejeci ergo eos de terra Ægypti, et eduxi eos in desertum.

11Et dedi eis præcepta mea, et judicia mea ostendi eis, quæ faciens homo vivet in eis.

12Insuper et sabbata mea dedi eis, ut essent signum inter me et eos, et scirent quia ego Dominus sanctificans eos.

13Et irritaverunt me domus Israël in deserto: in præceptis meis non ambulaverunt, et judicia mea projecerunt, quæ faciens homo vivet in eis, et sabbata mea violaverunt vehementer. Dixi ergo ut effunderem furorem meum super eos in deserto, et consumerem eos:

14et feci propter nomen meum, ne violaretur coram gentibus de quibus ejeci eos in conspectu earum.

15Ego igitur levavi manum meam super eos in deserto, ne inducerem eos in terram quam dedi eis, fluentem lacte et melle, præcipuam terrarum omnium:

16quia judicia mea projecerunt, et in præceptis meis non ambulaverunt, et sabbata mea violaverunt: post idola enim cor eorum gradiebatur.

17Et pepercit oculus meus super eos, ut non interficerem eos: nec consumpsi eos in deserto.

18Dixi autem ad filios eorum in solitudine: In præceptis patrum vestrorum nolite incedere, nec judicia eorum custodiatis, nec in idolis eorum polluamini.

19Ego Dominus Deus vester: in præceptis meis ambulate: judicia mea custodite, et facite ea,

20et sabbata mea sanctificate, ut sint signum inter me et vos, et sciatis quia ego sum Dominus Deus vester.

21Et exacerbaverunt me filii: in præceptis meis non ambulaverunt, et judicia mea non custodierunt ut facerent ea, quæ cum fecerit homo, vivet in eis, et sabbata mea violaverunt. Et comminatus sum ut effunderem furorem meum super eos, et implerem iram meam in eis in deserto.

22Averti autem manum meam, et feci propter nomen meum, ut non violaretur coram gentibus de quibus ejeci eos in oculis earum.

23Iterum levavi manum meam in eos in solitudine, ut dispergerem illos in nationes, et ventilarem in terras,

24eo quod judicia mea non fecissent, et præcepta mea reprobassent, et sabbata mea violassent, et post idola patrum suorum fuissent oculi eorum.

25Ergo et ego dedi eis præcepta non bona, et judicia in quibus non vivent.

26Et pollui eos in muneribus suis, cum offerrent omne quod aperit vulvam, propter delicta sua: et scient quia ego Dominus.

27Quam ob rem loquere ad domum Israël, fili hominis, et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Adhuc et in hoc blasphemaverunt me patres vestri, cum sprevissent me contemnentes,

28et induxissem eos in terram super quam levavi manum meam ut darem eis: viderunt omnem collem excelsum, et omne lignum nemorosum, et immolaverunt ibi victimas suas, et dederunt ibi irritationem oblationis suæ, et posuerunt ibi odorem suavitatis suæ, et libaverunt libationes suas.

29Et dixi ad eos: Quid est excelsum, ad quod vos ingredimini? et vocatum est nomen ejus Excelsum usque ad hanc diem.

30Propterea dic ad domum Israël: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Certe in via patrum vestrorum vos polluimini, et post offendicula eorum vos fornicamini:

31et in oblatione donorum vestrorum, cum traducitis filios vestros per ignem, vos polluimini in omnibus idolis vestris usque hodie: et ego respondebo vobis, domus Israël? Vivo ego, dicit Dominus Deus, quia non respondebo vobis.

32Neque cogitatio mentis vestræ fiet, dicentium: Erimus sicut gentes et sicut cognationes terræ, ut colamus ligna et lapides.

33Vivo ego, dicit Dominus Deus, quoniam in manu forti, et in brachio extento, et in furore effuso, regnabo super vos.

34Et educam vos de populis, et congregabo vos de terris in quibus dispersi estis: in manu valida, et in brachio extento, et in furore effuso, regnabo super vos.

35Et adducam vos in desertum populorum, et judicabor vobiscum ibi facie ad faciem.

36Sicut judicio contendi adversum patres vestros in deserto terræ Ægypti, sic judicabo vos, dicit Dominus Deus.

37Et subjiciam vos sceptro meo, et inducam vos in vinculis fœderis.

38Et eligam de vobis transgressores et impios, et de terra incolatus eorum educam eos, et in terram Israël non ingredientur: et scietis quia ego Dominus.

39Et vos, domus Israël, hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Singuli post idola vestra ambulate, et servite eis. Quod si et in hoc non audieritis me, et nomen meum sanctum pollueritis ultra in muneribus vestris et in idolis vestris:

40in monte sancto meo, in monte excelso Israël, ait Dominus Deus, ibi serviet mihi omnis domus Israël: omnes, inquam, in terra in qua placebunt mihi: et ibi quæram primitias vestras, et initium decimarum vestrarum, in omnibus sanctificationibus vestris.

41In odorem suavitatis suscipiam vos, cum eduxero vos de populis, et congregavero vos de terris in quas dispersi estis: et sanctificabor in vobis in oculis nationum.

42Et scietis quia ego Dominus, cum induxero vos ad terram Israël, in terram pro qua levavi manum meam ut darem eam patribus vestris.

43Et recordabimini ibi viarum vestrarum, et omnium scelerum vestrorum, quibus polluti estis in eis: et displicebitis vobis in conspectu vestro, in omnibus malitiis vestris quas fecistis.

44Et scietis quia ego Dominus, cum benefecero vobis propter nomen meum, et non secundum vias vestras malas, neque secundum scelera vestra pessima, domus Israël, ait Dominus Deus.

45Et factus est sermo Domini ad me, dicens:

46[Fili hominis, pone faciem tuam contra viam austri, et stilla ad africum, et propheta ad saltum agri meridiani.

47Et dices saltui meridiano: Audi verbum Domini: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Ecce ego succendam in te ignem, et comburam in te omne lignum viride, et omne lignum aridum: non extinguetur flamma succensionis: et comburetur in ea omnis facies ab austro usque ad aquilonem,

48et videbit universa caro quia ego Dominus succendi eam, nec extinguetur.]

49Et dixi: A, a, a, Domine Deus: ipsi dicunt de me: Numquid non per parabolas loquitur iste?

1And it happened that, in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, men from the elders of Israel arrived, so that they might inquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.

2And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

3“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Have you arrived in order to inquire of me? As I live, I will not answer you, says the Lord God.

4If you judge them, if you judge, O son of man, reveal to them the abominations of their fathers.

5And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: In the day when I chose Israel, and I lifted up my hand on behalf of the stock of the house of Jacob, and I appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and I lifted up my hand on their behalf, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God,’

6in that day, I lifted up my hand for their sake, so that I would lead them away from the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which was singular among all lands.

7And I said to them: ‘Let each one cast away the offenses of his eyes, and do not choose to defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’

8But they provoked me, and they were not willing to listen to me. Each one of them did not cast away the abominations of his eyes, nor did they leave behind the idols of Egypt. And so, I said that I would pour out my indignation upon them, and fulfill my wrath against them, in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be violated in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I appeared to them, so that I might lead them away from the land of Egypt.

10Therefore, I cast them out of the land of Egypt, and I led them away into the desert.

11And I gave them my precepts, and I revealed to them my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them.

12Moreover, I also gave to them my Sabbaths, so that these would be a sign between me and them, and so that they would know that I am the Lord, who sanctifies them.

13But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert. They did not walk in my precepts, and they cast aside my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they grievously violated my Sabbaths. Therefore, I said that I would pour out my fury upon them in the desert, and that I would consume them.

14But I acted for the sake of my name, lest it be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast them out, in their sight.

15And so I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, so as not to lead them into the land that I had given to them, flowing with milk and honey, the foremost of all lands.

16For they cast aside my judgments, and they did not walk in my precepts, and they violated my Sabbaths. For their heart went after idols.

17Yet my eye was lenient concerning them, so that I did not utterly destroy them, nor did I consume them in the desert.

18Then I said to their sons in the wilderness: ‘Do not choose to advance by the precepts of your fathers, nor should you observe their judgments. And do not be defiled by their idols.

19I am the Lord your God. Walk in my precepts, and observe my judgments, and accomplish them.

20And sanctify my Sabbaths, so that these may be a sign between me and you, and so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’

21But their sons provoked me. They did not walk in my precepts. And they did not observe my judgments, so as to do them; for if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they violated my Sabbaths. And so, I threatened that I would pour out my fury upon them, and that I would fulfill my wrath among them in the desert.

22But I turned aside my hand, and I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast them out, before their eyes.

23Again, I lifted up my hand against them, in the wilderness, so that I would disperse them among the nations, and scatter them among the lands.

24For they had not accomplished my judgments, and they had rejected my precepts, and they had violated my Sabbaths. And their eyes had been after the idols of their fathers.

25Therefore, I also gave them precepts that were not good, and judgments by which they shall not live.

26And I defiled them by their own gifts, when they offered everything that opened the womb, because of their offenses. And they shall know that I am the Lord.

27For this reason, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God. Yet also in this did your fathers blaspheme me, after they had spurned and despised me,

28though I had led them into the land, about which I lifted up my hand, so that I might give it to them: They saw every lofty hill and every leafy tree, and there they immolated their victims, and there they presented the provocation of their oblations, and there they stationed their sweet fragrances, and poured out their libations.

29And I said to them, ‘What is exalted about the place to which you go?’ And yet its name is called ‘Exalted,’ even to this day.

30Because of this, say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Certainly, you are defiled by the way of your fathers, and you have fornicated after their stumbling blocks.

31And you are being defiled by all of your idols, even to this day, by the oblation of your gifts, when you lead your sons through the fire. And should I respond to you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not answer you.

32And the plan of your mind will not occur, saying: ‘We will be like the Gentiles, and like the families of the earth, so that we worship what is wood and stone.’

33As I live, says the Lord God, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured forth.

34And I will lead you away from the peoples. And I will gather you from the lands into which you were dispersed. I will reign over you with a powerful hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.

35And I will lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you, face to face.

36Just as I contended in judgment against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so also will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord God.

37And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will lead you into the bonds of the covenant.

38And I will select, from among you, the transgressors and the impious. And I will lead them away from the land of their sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord.

39And as for you, house of Israel: thus says the Lord God: Walk, each one of you, after your idols and serve them. But if in this also you will not listen to me, and you continue to defile my holy name with your gifts and with your idols,

40on my holy mountain, on the exalted mountain of Israel, says the Lord God, there all the house of Israel shall serve me; all of them, I say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there I will require your first-fruits, and the foremost of your tithes, with all your sanctifications.

41I will receive from you a fragrance of sweetness, when I will have led you away from the peoples, and gathered you from the lands into which you were dispersed. And I will be sanctified in you before the eyes of the nations.

42And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have led you into the land of Israel, into the land about which I lifted up my hand, so that I would give it to your fathers.

43And there you shall remember your ways and all your wickedness, by which you have been defiled. And you will be displeased with yourselves in your own sight, over all your evil deeds which you did.

44And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have acted well toward you for the sake of my name, and not according to your evil ways, nor according to your very great wickedness, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.”

45And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

46“Son of man, set your face against the way of the south, and pour in drops toward Africa, and prophesy against the forest of the field of the meridian.

47And you shall say to the meridian forest: Listen to the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and I will burn up within you every green tree and every dry tree. The flame of the kindling will not be extinguished. And every face will be burned up within it, from the south, even to the north.

48And all flesh will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, and that it will not be extinguished.”

49And I said: “Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God! They are saying about me: ‘Does this man not speak except through parables?’ ”