1
Kisha akalia kwa sauti kuu masikioni mwangu, akisema, Waamuru wale wanaousimamia mji wakaribie, kila mmoja na awe na kitu chake cha kuangamiza mkononi mwake.
Then I heard Him call out in a loud voice, saying, “Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with a weapon of destruction in hand.”
2
Na tazama, watu sita wakaja, wakitokea kwa njia ya lango la juu, lielekealo upande wa kaskazini, kila mmoja ana kitu chake cha kufisha mkononi mwake; na mtu mmoja kati yao amevaa bafta, naye ana kidau cha wino cha mwandishi kiunoni. Wakaingia, wakasimama karibu na madhabahu ya shaba.
And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with a weapon of slaughter in his hand. With them was another man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
3
Na huo utukufu wa Bwana wa Israeli ulikuwa umepanda juu kutoka kwa kerubi, ambaye ulikuwa juu yake, mpaka kizingiti cha nyumba; akamwita mtu yule aliyekuwa amevaa bafta, mwenye kidau cha wino cha mwandishi kiunoni.
Then the glory of the God of Israel rose from above the cherubim, where it had been, and moved to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen who had the writing kit at his side.
4
Bwana akamwambia, Pita kati ya mji, kati ya Yerusalemu, ukatie alama katika vipaji vya nyuso vya watu wanaougua na kulia kwa sababu ya machukizo yote yanayofanyika kati yake.
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
5
Na hao wengine aliwaambia, nami nalisikia, Piteni kati ya mji nyuma yake, mkapige; jicho lenu lisiachilie, wala msione huruma;
And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone!
6
Waueni kabisa, mzee, na kijana, na msichana, na watoto wachanga, na wanawake; lakini msimkaribie mtu ye yote mwenye hiyo alama; tena anzeni katika patakatifu pangu. Basi, wakaanza kwa wazee waliokuwa mbele ya nyumba.
Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.
7
Akawaambia, itieni nyumba unajisi, mkazijaze nyua mizoga ya hao waliouawa; haya, enendeni. Wakaenenda, wakapiga-piga katika mji.
Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city.
8
Tena ikawa, walipokuwa wakipiga, nami nikiachwa, nalianguka kifudifudi, nikalia, nikasema, Ee Bwana MUNGU! Utaangamiza mabaki yote ya Israeli, wakati wa kumwaga ghadhabu yako juu ya Yerusalemu?
While they were killing, I was left alone. And I fell facedown and cried out, “Oh, Lord GOD, when You pour out Your wrath on Jerusalem, will You destroy the entire remnant of Israel?”
9
Ndipo akaniambia, Uovu wa nyumba ya Israeli na Yuda ni mwingi sana, nayo nchi imejaa damu, nao mji umejaa kupotosha hukumu; maana husema, Bwana ameiacha nchi hii, naye Bwana haoni.
He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’
10
Nami, jicho langu halitaachilia, wala sitaona huruma; lakini nitaleta njia yao juu ya vichwa vyao.
But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”
11
Na tazama, mtu yule aliyevaa bafta, mwenye kidau cha wino kiunoni, akaleta habari, akisema, Nimefanya kama ulivyoniamuru.
Then the man clothed in linen with the writing kit at his side reported back, “I have done as You commanded.”