1
Ndipo baadhi ya wazee wa Israeli wakanijia, wakaketi mbele yangu.
Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down before me.
2
Ndipo neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema,
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
3
Mwanadamu, watu hawa wametwaa vinyago vyao na kuvitia mioyoni mwao, nao wameweka kwazo la uovu wao mbele ya nyuso zao. Je! Ni laiki yangu niulizwe na wao katika neno lo lote?
“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?
4
Basi sema nao, uwaambie, Bwana MUNGU asema hivi; Kila mtu wa nyumba ya Israeli atwaaye vinyago vyake na kuvitia moyoni mwake, na kuliweka kwazo la uovu wake mbele ya uso wake, na kumwendea nabii; mimi, Bwana, nitamjibu neno lake sawasawa na wingi wa sanamu zake;
Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him according to his great idolatry,
5
ili niwakamate nyumba ya Israeli kwa mioyo yao wenyewe, kwa sababu wamefarakana nami kwa vinyago vyao.
so that I may take hold of the hearts of the people of Israel. For because of their idols, they are all estranged from Me.’
6
Kwa sababu hiyo uwaambie nyumba ya Israeli, Bwana MUNGU asema hivi; Rudini ninyi, mkageuke na kuviacha vinyago vyenu; mkageuze nyuso zenu zisielekee machukizo yenu yote.
Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations.
7
Kwa maana kila mtu wa nyumba ya Israeli, au wa wageni wakaao katika Israeli, ajitengaye nami, na kuvitwaa vinyago vyake na kuvitia moyoni mwake, na kuliweka kwazo la uovu wake mbele ya uso wake, kisha kumwendea nabii, na kuniuliza neno kwa ajili ya nafsi yake; mimi, Bwana, nitamjibu, mimi mwenyewe;
For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.
8
nami nitaukaza uso wangu juu ya mtu yule, na kumfanya kuwa ajabu, awe ishara na mithali, nami nitamkatilia mbali, asiwe kati ya watu wangu; nanyi mtajua ya kuwa mimi ndimi Bwana.
I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9
Na nabii akidanganyika, na kusema neno, mimi, Bwana, nimemdanganya nabii yule, nami nitaunyosha mkono wangu juu yake, na kumwangamiza, asiwe kati ya watu wangu Israeli.
But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
10
Nao watauchukua uovu wao; uovu wa nabii utakuwa sawasawa na uovu wake yule amwendeaye aulize neno;
They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the inquirer will be the same as that of the prophet—
11
ili nyumba ya Israeli wasipotee mbali nami, wala wasijitie unajisi tena kwa makosa yao yote; bali wawe watu wangu, nami niwe Mungu wao, asema Bwana MUNGU.
in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God, declares the Lord GOD.’”
12
Neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema,
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
13
Mwanadamu, nchi itakapofanya dhambi na kuniasi, kwa kukosa, nikaunyosha mkono wangu juu yake, na kulivunja tegemeo la chakula chake, na kuipelekea njaa, na kukatilia mbali mwanadamu na mnyama;
“Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast,
14
wajapokuwa watu hawa watatu, Nuhu, na Danieli, na Ayubu, kuwamo ndani yake, wangejiokoa nafsi zao wenyewe tu kwa haki yao, asema Bwana MUNGU.
then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.
15
Nikipitisha wanyama wabaya ndani ya nchi ile, wakaiharibu hata ikawa ukiwa, mtu awaye yote asiweze kupita ndani yake, kwa sababu ya wanyama hao;
Or if I send wild beasts through the land to leave it childless and desolate, with no man passing through it for fear of the beasts,
16
wajapokuwamo watu hawa watatu ndani yake, kama mimi niishivyo, asema Bwana MUNGU, hawataokoa wana wala binti; wao wenyewe tu wataokoka, bali nchi ile itakuwa ukiwa.
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
17
Au nikileta upanga juu ya nchi ile, na kusema, Upanga, pita kati ya nchi hii, hata nikawakatilia mbali na nchi hiyo wanadamu na wanyama;
Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast,
18
wajapokuwamo watu hawa watatu ndani yake, kama mimi niishivyo, asema Bwana MUNGU, hawataokoa wana wala binti; bali wao wenyewe tu wataokoka.
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered.
19
Au nikipeleka tauni katika nchi ile, na kumwaga ghadhabu yangu juu yake, kwa damu; ili kuwakatilia mbali nayo wanadamu na wanyama;
Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast,
20
wajapokuwamo ndani yake Nuhu, na Danieli, na Ayubu, kama mimi niishivyo, asema Bwana MUNGU, hawataokoa wana wala binti; watajiokoa nafsi zao tu kwa haki yao.
then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.
21
Maana Bwana MUNGU asema hivi; Je! U zaidi sana nitakapoleta hukumu zangu nne zilizo kali juu ya Yerusalemu, yaani, upanga, na njaa, na wanyama wabaya, na tauni, niwakatilie mbali nayo wanadamu na wanyama?
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?
22
Lakini, tazama, watasalia mabaki watakaochukuliwa nje, wana na binti; tazama, watawatokea ninyi, nanyi mtaiona njia yao na matendo yao; nanyi mtafarijika katika habari ya mabaya niliyoleta juu ya Yerusalemu, naam, katika habari ya mambo yote niliyoleta juu yake.
Yet, behold, some survivors will be left in it—sons and daughters who will be brought out. They will come out to you, and when you see their conduct and actions, you will be comforted regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—all that I have brought upon it.
23
Nao watawafariji ninyi, mtakapoona njia yao na matendo yao; nanyi mtajua ya kuwa sikufanya bila sababu mambo yote niliyoutenda, asema Bwana MUNGU.
They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done all these things within it,’ declares the Lord GOD.”