¹It happened in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.

¹Zvino negore rechinomwe, nomwedzi wechishanu, nezuva regumi romwedzi, vamwe vakuru vaIsiraeri vakauya kuzobvunza Jehovha, vakagara pasi pamberi pangu.

²The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

²Shoko raJehovha rikasvika kwandiri, richiti,

³Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you.

³Mwanakomana womunhu, taura navakuru vaIsiraeri, uti kwavari, Zvanzi naIshe Jehovha, mauya kuzondibvunza ini here? Noupenyu hwangu, ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha handidi kubvunzwa nemi.

⁴Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;

⁴Chivatonga, Mwanakomana womunhu, chivatonga! Chivazivisa zvinonyangadza zvamadzibaba avo;

⁵and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am Yahweh your God;

⁵uti kwavari, Zvanzi naIshe Jehovha, nezuva randakatsanangura Isiraeri, ndikasimudzira vana veimba yaJakove ruoko rwangu, nokuzvizivisa kwavari munyika yeEgipita, musi wandakavasimudzira ruoko rwangu, ndichiti, Ndini Jehovha Mwari wenyu;

⁶in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

⁶nezuva iroro ndakavasimudzira ruoko rwangu, kuti ndichavabudisa munyika yeEgipita ndivaise kunyika yandakavatsvakira, kunoyerera mukaka nouchi, iyo yaiva hukomba bwenyika dzose.

⁷I said to them, Cast away every man the abominations of his eyes, and don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Yahweh your God.

⁷Ndikati kwavari, Rasai, mumwe nomumwe, zvinonyangadza zvameso ake, murege kuzvisvibisa nezvifananidzo zveEgipita; ndini Jehovha Mwari wenyu.

⁸But they rebelled against me, and would not listen to me; they each didn’t throw away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

⁸Asi vakandimukira simba, vakaramba kunditeerera; havana kurasa, mumwe nomumwe wavo, zvinonyangadza zvameso avo, havana kusiya zvifananidzo zveEgipita. Ipapo ndakati ndichadurura hasha dzangu pamusoro pavo, kuti ndipedze kutsamwa kwangu pamusoro pavo pakati penyika yeEgipita.

⁹But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

⁹Asi ndakazviita nokuda kwezita rangu, kuti rirege kumhurwa pamberi pamarudzi avanhu, mavakanga vagere, vandakazvizivisa kwavari pamberi pavo, ndichivabudisa munyika

¹⁰So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

¹⁰Naizvozvo ndakavabudisa munyika ndikavaisa kurenje.

¹¹I gave them my statutes, and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he shall live in them.

¹¹Ndikavapa mitemo yangu, nokuvaratidza zvandakarayira, zvinoti kana munhu achizviita ararame nazvo.

¹²Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.

¹²Ndakavapawo masabata angu, chive chiratidzo pakati pangu navo, kuti vazive kuti ndini Jehovha, ndinovaita vatsvene.

¹³But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they didn’t walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

¹³Asi imba yaIsiraeri yakandimukira simba murenje; havana kufamba nemitemo yangu, vakaramba zvandakarayira, zvinoti kana munhu achizvichengeta, achararama nazvo; vakamhura zvikuru masabata angu. Ipapo ndakati ndichadurura hasha dzangu pamusoro pavo murenje, kuti ndivapedze.

¹⁴But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

¹⁴Asi ndakazviita nokuda kwezita rangu, kuti rirege kumhurwa pamberi pamarudzi andakavabudisa pamberi pawo.

¹⁵Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

¹⁵Ndakavasimudzirawo ruoko rwangu murenje, kuti handingavaisi kunyika yandakanga ndavapa, kunoerera mukaka nouchi, iyo yaiva hukomba bwenyika dzose;

¹⁶because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

¹⁶nekuti vakaramba zvandakavarayira, vakasafamba nemitemo yangu, vakamhura masabata angu; nekuti moyo yavo yakatevera zvifananidzo zvavo.

¹⁷Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

¹⁷Kunyange zvakadaro ziso rangu rakavapembedza, ndikasavaparadza, kana kuvapedza chose murenje.

¹⁸I said to their children in the wilderness, Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

¹⁸Ndikati kuvana vavo murenje, Regai kufamba nemitemo yamadzibaba enyu, kana kuchengeta zvavakarayira, kana kuzvisvibisa nezvifananidzo zvenyu.

¹⁹I am Yahweh your God: walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them;

¹⁹Ndini Jehovha Mwari wenyu; fambai nemitemo yangu, muchengete zvandakarayira, muzviite;

²⁰and make my Sabbaths holy; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.

²⁰masabata angu ngaave matsvene kwamuri; zvigova chiratidzo pakati pangu nemi, kuti muzive kuti ndini Jehovha Mwari wenyu.

²¹But the children rebelled against me; they didn’t walk in my statutes, neither kept my ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

²¹Asi vana vakandimukira simba, havana kufamba nemitemo yangu, kana kuchengeta zvandakarayira kuti vazviite, zvinoti kana munhu akazviita, achararama nazvo; vakamhura masabata angu. Ipapo ndakati ndichadurura hasha dzangu pamusoro pavo, kuti ndipedze kutsamwa kwangu pamusoro pavo murenje.

²²Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.

²²Kunyange zvakadaro ndakadzosa ruoko rwangu, ndikaita nokuda kwezita rangu,kuti rirege kumhurwa pamberi pamarudzi, andakavabudisa pamberi pawo.

²³Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

²³Ndakavasimudzirawo ruoko rwangu murenje, kuti ndichavaparadzira pakati pamarudzi nokuvadzingira kunyika dzose;

²⁴because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

²⁴nekuti havana kuita zvandakavarayira, asi vakaramba mitemo yangu, nokumhura masabata angu, meso avo akatarira zvifananidzo zvamadzibaba avo.

²⁵Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they should not live;

²⁵Ndakavapawo mitemo yakanga isina kunaka, nezvakarayirwa zvavakanga vasingagoni kurarama nazvo;

²⁶and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that opens the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.

²⁶ndikavasvibisa nezvipo zvavo, zvavakapinza mumoto zvose zvinotanga kuzarura chizvaro, kuti ndivaparadze, vagoziva kuti ndini Jehovha.

²⁷Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

²⁷Naizvozvo Mwanakomana womunhu, taura neimba yaIsiraeri, uti kwavari, Zvanzi naIshe Jehovha, Madzibaba enyu akandimhurawo pachinhu ichi, kuti vakandidarikira.

²⁸For when I had brought them into the land, which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their pleasant aroma, and they poured out there their drink offerings.

²⁸nekuti ndakati ndavaisa kunyika, yandakavasimudzira ruoko kuti ndichavapa iyo, vakatsvaka zvikomo zvose zvirefu nemiti yose mikobvu, vakabayirapo zvibayiro zvavo, vakauyapo nezvipo zvavo zvainditsamwisa; ndipowo pavakaita bwema hwavo hunonhuhwira, vakadururirapo zvipiriso zvavo zvinodururwa.

²⁹Then I said to them, What does the high place where you go mean? So its name is called Bamah to this day.

²⁹Ipapo ndikati kwavari, Ko nzvimbo yakakwirira kwamunoenda, inoti kudiniko? Naizvozvo zita rayo rinonzi Bhama kusvikira zuva ranhasi.

³⁰Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? and do you play the prostitute after their abominations?

³⁰Naizvozvo chiti kuimba yaIsiraeri, Zvanzi naIshe Jehovha, ko munozvisvibisa sezvakaita madzibaba enyu here? Munopata muchitevera zvinonyangadza zvavo here?

³¹and when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you;

³¹Kana muchiuya nezvipo zvenyu, kana muchipinza vanakomana venyu mumoto, munozvisvibisa nezvifananidzo zvenyu kusvikira zuva ranhasi here? Zvino ndingabvunzwa nemwi here, imwi imba yaIsiraeri? Noupenyu hwangu, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Jehovha, handidi kubvunzwa nemi;

³²and that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that you say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

³²izvo zvinopinda mumirangariro yenyu hazvingatongoitiki chose, zvamunoti, Tinoda kufanana namamwe marudzi, navanhu vedzimwe nyika, vanoshumira matanda namabwe.

³³As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:

³³Noupenyu hwangu, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Jehovha. Zvirokwazvo ndichava mambo wenyu nechanza chine simba noruoko rwakatambanudzwa, uye nehasha dzakadururwa.

³⁴and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;

³⁴Ndichakubudisai pakati pamarudzi, nokukuwunganidzai kunyika kwamakanga makaparadzirwa, nechanza chine simba noruoko rwakatambanudzwa, uye nehasha dzakadururwa;

³⁵and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

³⁵ndichakuisai kurenje ramarudzi avanhu, ndigokutongaipo, tichionana nameso.

³⁶Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord Yahweh.

³⁶Sezvandakatonga madzibaba enyu murenje renyika yeEgipita, saizvozvo ndichakutongai imi, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Jehovha.

³⁷I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

³⁷Ndichakuverengai netsvimbo yomufudzi, nokukuisai muchisungo chesungano;

³⁸and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am Yahweh.

³⁸ndichabvisa pakati penyu vakandimukira simba navakandidarikira, ndichavabudisa panyika pavagere vari vatorwa, asi havangapindi munyika yaIsiraeri; zvino muchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha.

³⁹As for you, house of Israel, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Go, serve everyone his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.

³⁹Kana murimi, imba yaIsiraeri, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Jehovha endai imwi mundoshumira mumwe nomumwe zvifananidzo zvake, asi pashure muchanditeerera; hamuchazomhuri zita rangu dzvene nezvipo zvenyu uye nezvifananidzo zvenyu.

⁴⁰For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.

⁴⁰nekuti pagomo rangu dzvene, pagomo rakakwirira raIsiraeri, ndipo pandichashumirwa munyika neimba yose yaIsiraeri, ivo vose; ndipo pandichavagamuchira, ndipo pandichareva zvibayiro zvenyu, nezvitsva zvezvipo zvenyu, pamwechete nezvinhu zvenyu zvose zvitsvene.

⁴¹As a pleasant aroma will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

⁴¹Ndichakugamuchirai sobwema hunonhuhwira, panguva yandinokubudisai pakati pamarudzi avanhu, ndichikuunganidzai panyika kwamakanga makaparadzirwa; ndichazviratidza kwamuri ndiri Mutsvene pamberi pamarudzi avanhu.

⁴²You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.

⁴²Ipapo muchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha, kana ndichikuisai munyika yaIsiraeri, kunyika yandakasimudzira madzibaba enyu ruoko rwangu ndichiti ndichavapa iyo.

⁴³There you shall remember your ways, and all your doings, in which you have polluted yourselves; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

⁴³Zvino mucharangarirapo nzira dzenyu, nezvose zvamakaita, zvamakazvisvibisa nazvo; muchazvisema pamusoro pezvakaipa zvenyu zvose zvamakaita.

⁴⁴You shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel, says the Lord Yahweh.

⁴⁴Zvino muchaziva kuti ndini Jehovha, kana ndichikuitirai izvozvo nokuda kwezita rangu, ndisingaiti zvakafanira nzira dzenyu dzakaipa kana zvakafanira zvakaora zvamakaita, imwi imba yaIsiraeri, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Jehovha.

⁴⁵The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

⁴⁵Zvino shoko raJehovha rakasvika kwandiri, richiti,

⁴⁶Son of man, set your face toward the south, and drop your word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;

⁴⁶Mwanakomana womunhu, rinzira chiso chako kurutivi rwezasi, udonhedze shoko rako kurutivi rwezasi, uporofite pamusoro pedondo romusango kurutivi rwezasi;

⁴⁷and tell the forest of the South, Hear the word of Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.

⁴⁷uti kudondo kurutivi rwezasi, Inzwa shoko raJehovha, zvanzi naIshe Jehovha, tarira, ndichabatidza moto mukati mako, uchapedza muti mumwe nomumwe mutema mukati mako, nomuti mumwe nomumwe wakaoma; murazvo unopfuta haungadzimwi, asi zviso zvose kubva kurutivi rwezasi kusvikira kurutivi rwokumusoro zvichapiswa nawo.

⁴⁸All flesh shall see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.

⁴⁸Vanhu vose vachaziva kuti ini Jehovha ndini ndakaubatidza; haungadzimwi.

⁴⁹Then I said, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Isn’t he a speaker of parables?

⁴⁹Ipapo ndikati, Aiwa, Ishe Jehovha! Vanoti pamusoro pangu, Ko haazi mutauri wemifananidzo here?