1
Neno la Bwana likanijia tena, kusema,
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2
Je! Maana yake ni nini hata mkatumia mithali hii katika Israeli, mkisema, Baba wamekula zabibu mbichi, nao watoto wakatiwa ganzi la meno?
“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?
3
Kama mimi niishivyo, asema Bwana MUNGU, hamtakuwa na sababu ya kuitumia tena mithali hii katika Israeli.
As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel.
4
Tazama, roho zote ni mali yangu; kama vile roho ya baba ni mali yangu, ndivyo ilivyo roho ya mwana mali yangu; roho ile itendayo dhambi itakufa.
Behold, every soul belongs to Me; both father and son are Mine. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
5
Bali kama mtu ni mwenye haki, na kuyatenda yaliyo halali na haki;
Now suppose a man is righteous and does what is just and right:
6
hakula juu ya milima, wala hakuviinulia macho vinyago vya nyumba ya Israeli, wala hakumtia unajisi mke wa jirani yake, wala hakumkaribia mwanamke wakati wa kutengwa kwake;
He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.
7
wala hakumdhulumu mtu, bali amemrudishia mdeni wake rehani yake, wala hakumnyang'anya mtu mali yake kwa nguvu, naye amewapa wenye njaa chakula chake, na kuwavika nguo walio uchi;
He does not oppress another, but restores the pledge to the debtor. He does not commit robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
8
ambaye hakumkopesha mtu ili apate faida, wala hakupokea ziada ya namna yo yote; naye ameuepusha mkono wake na uovu, na kufanya hukumu ya haki kati ya mtu na mwenzake;
He does not engage in usury or take excess interest, but he withholds his hand from iniquity and executes true justice between men.
9
tena ikiwa amezifuata sheria zangu, na kuzishika hukumu zangu; mtu huyu ni mwenye haki; hakika ataishi, asema Bwana MUNGU.
He follows My statutes and faithfully keeps My ordinances. That man is righteous; surely he will live, declares the Lord GOD.
10
Walakini akizaa mwana aliye mnyang'anyi, mmwaga damu, atendaye mambo hayo mojawapo;
Now suppose that man has a violent son, who sheds blood or does any of these things,
11
wala hakutenda mojawapo la mambo hayo yampasayo, bali amekula juu ya milima, na kumtia unajisi mke wa jirani yake,
though the father has done none of them: Indeed, the son eats at the mountain and defiles his neighbor’s wife.
12
na kuwadhulumu maskini na wahitaji, na kuwanyang'anya watu mali yao kwa nguvu, wala hakurudisha rehani, naye ameviinulia macho vinyago, na kufanya machukizo,
He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not restore a pledge. He lifts his eyes to idols; he commits abominations.
13
naye amekopesha watu ili apate faida, na kupokea ziada; je! Ataishi baada ya hayo? La, hataishi; amefanya machukizo hayo yote; hakika atakufa; damu yake itakuwa juu yake.
He engages in usury and takes excess interest. Will this son live? He will not! Since he has committed all these abominations, he will surely die; his blood will be on his own head.
14
Na kama yeye huyo akizaa mwana, naye ameona dhambi zote za baba yake alizozitenda, akaogopa, asifanye neno lo lote kama hayo;
Now suppose this son has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed, considers them, and does not do likewise:
15
hakula juu ya milima, wala hakuviinulia macho vinyago vya nyumba ya Israeli, wala hakumtia unajisi mke wa jirani yake,
He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife.
16
wala hakumdhulumu mtu, wala hakutwaa kitu kiwekwe rehani, wala hakumnyang'anya mtu mali yake kwa nguvu, bali amewapa wenye njaa chakula chake, na kuwafunika nguo walio uchi;
He does not oppress another, or retain a pledge, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing.
17
tena ikiwa ameuzuia mkono wake asimwonee maskini, wala hakupokea faida na ziada, naye amezifanya hukumu zangu, na kuzifuata sheria zangu; hatakufa huyu kwa sababu ya uovu wa baba yake, hakika ataishi.
He withholds his hand from harming the poor and takes no interest or usury. He keeps My ordinances and follows My statutes. Such a man will not die for his father’s iniquity. He will surely live.
18
Kwa habari za yule baba yake, kwa sababu aliwaonea watu kwa ukali mwingi, na kumnyang'anya ndugu yake mali yake kwa nguvu; na kuyatenda yasiyo mema kati ya watu wake, tazama, atakufa katika uovu wake.
As for his father, he will die for his own iniquity, because he practiced extortion, robbed his brother, and did what was wrong among his people.
19
Lakini ninyi mwasema, Kwani yule mwana asiuchukue uovu wa baba yake? Yule mwana atakapofanya yaliyo halali na haki, na kuzishika amri zangu na kuzitenda, hakika ataishi.
Yet you may ask, ‘Why shouldn’t the son bear the iniquity of his father?’ Since the son has done what is just and right, carefully observing all My statutes, he will surely live.
20
Roho itendayo dhambi, ndiyo itakayokufa; mwana hatauchukua uovu wa baba yake, wala baba hatauchukua uovu wa mwanawe, haki yake mwenye haki itakuwa juu yake, na uovu wake mwenye uovu utakuwa juu yake.
The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
21
Lakini mtu mbaya akighairi, na kuacha dhambi zake zote alizozitenda, na kuzishika amri zangu zote, na kutenda yaliyo halali na haki, hakika ataishi, hatakufa.
But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
22
Dhambi zake zote alizozitenda hazitakumbukwa juu yake hata mojawapo; katika haki yake aliyoitenda ataishi.
None of the transgressions he has committed will be held against him. Because of the righteousness he has practiced, he will live.
23
Je! Mimi ninafurahia kufa kwake mtu mwovu? Asema Bwana MUNGU; si afadhali kwamba aghairi, na kuiacha njia yake, akaishi?
Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?
24
Bali mwenye haki atakapoghairi, na kuiacha haki yake, na kutenda uovu, na kufanya machukizo yote kama yale afanyayo mtu mwovu, je, ataishi? Katika matendo yake yote ya haki aliyoyatenda halitakumbukwa hata mojawapo. Katika kosa lile alilolikosa, naam, katika dhambi yake aliyoitenda, atakufa.
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.
25
Lakini ninyi mwasema, Njia ya Bwana si sawa. Sikilizeni sasa, Enyi nyumba ya Israeli; Je! Njia yangu siyo iliyo sawa? Njia zenu sizo zisizo sawa?
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is it My way that is unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
26
Mwenye haki atakapoghairi, na kuiacha haki yake, na kutenda uovu, akafa katika uovu huo; katika uovu wake alioutenda atakufa.
If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, he will die for this. He will die because of the iniquity he has committed.
27
Tena, mtu mwovu atakapoghairi, na kuuacha uovu wake alioutenda, na kutenda yaliyo halali na haki, ataponya roho yake, nayo itakuwa hai.
But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
28
Kwa sababu atafakari, na kughairi, na kuyaacha makosa yake yote aliyoyatenda, hakika ataishi, hatakufa.
Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.
29
Lakini nyumba ya Israeli husema, Njia ya Bwana si sawa. Ee nyumba ya Israeli, je! Njia zangu sizo zilizo sawa? Njia zenu sizo zisizo sawa?
Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are My ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?
30
Basi, nitawahukumu ninyi, nyumba ya Israeli, kila mmoja kwa kadiri ya njia zake, asema Bwana MUNGU. Rudini, mkaghairi, na kuyaacha makosa yenu yote; basi hivyo uovu wenu hautakuwa uharibifu wenu.
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.
31
Tupilieni mbali nanyi makosa yenu yote mliyoyakosa; jifanyieni moyo mpya na roho mpya; mbona mnataka kufa, enyi nyumba ya Israeli?
Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel?
32
Maana mimi sikufurahii kufa kwake afaye, asema Bwana MUNGU; basi ghairini, mkaishi.
For I take no pleasure in anyone’s death, declares the Lord GOD. So repent and live!