1
Tena, katika mwaka wa kenda, mwezi wa kumi, siku ya kumi ya mwezi, neno la Bwana likanijia, kusema,
In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2
Mwanadamu, liandike jina la siku hii, naam, la siku ii hii; mfalme wa Babeli ameukaribia Yerusalemu siku iyo hiyo.
“Son of man, write down today’s date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.
3
Ukawatungie mithali nyumba ya kuasi, ukawaambie, Bwana MUNGU asema hivi; Teleka sufuria, liteleke; ukatie maji ndani yake;
Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.
4
vikusanye vipande vyake ndani yake, naam, kila kipande chema, paja na bega; lijaze mifupa iliyochaguliwa.
Put in the pieces of meat, every good piece—thigh and shoulder—fill it with choice bones.
5
Uwatwae wateule wa kundi la kondoo, ukafanye chungu ya mifupa chini yake; ukalitokose sana; naam, mifupa yake itokoswe ndani yake.
Take the choicest of the flock and pile the fuel beneath it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’
6
Basi Bwana MUNGU asema hivi; Ole wake mji wa damu! Hilo sufuria ambalo kutu yake i ndani yake, ambalo kutu yake haikulitoka; litoe kipande kipande; hapana kura iliyoanguka juu yake.
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now rusted, whose rust will not come off! Empty it piece by piece; cast no lots for its contents.
7
Maana damu yake imo ndani yake; aliiweka juu ya jabali lililo wazi; hakuimwaga juu ya nchi, apate kuifunika kwa mavumbi;
For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.
8
ili ipandishe ghadhabu ya kulipa kisasi, nimeiweka damu yake juu ya jabali lililo wazi, isipate kufunikwa.
In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’
9
Basi Bwana MUNGU asema hivi; Ole wake mji wa damu! Mimi nami nitaiongeza chungu.
Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the kindling high.
10
Tia kuni nyingi, uchochee moto, itokose nyama sana, fanyiza mchuzi mzito, mifupa ikateketee.
Pile on the logs and kindle the fire; cook the meat well and mix in the spices; let the bones be burned.
11
Kisha litie juu ya makaa yake, tupu, lipate moto, na shaba yake iteketee, uchafu wake uyeyushwe, na kutu yake iteketee.
Set the empty pot on its coals until it becomes hot and its copper glows. Then its impurity will melt within; its rust will be consumed.
12
Amejidhoofisha kwa taabu, lakini kutu yake nyingi haikumtoka; kutu yake haitoki kwa moto.
It has frustrated every effort; its thick rust has not been removed, even by the fire.
13
Katika uchafu wako mna uasherati, kwa maana nimekusafisha, ila wewe hukusafika; hutasafishwa tena uchafu wako ukutoke, hata nitakapokuwa nimeituliza hasira yangu kwako.
Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
14
Mimi, Bwana, nimenena neno hili, nalo litakuwa; nami nitalifanya; sitaachilia, wala sitahurumia, wala sitajuta; sawasawa na njia zako, na sawasawa na matendo yako, ndivyo watakavyokuhukumu, asema Bwana MUNGU.
I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
15
Neno la Bwana likanijia tena, kusema,
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
16
Mwanadamu, tazama, ninakuondolea kwa pigo moja tunu, mteule wa macho yako; walakini hutaomboleza wala kulia, wala yasichuruzike machozi yako.
“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow.
17
Ugua lakini si kwa sauti ya kusikiwa; usifanye matanga kwa ajili yake yeye aliyekufa; jipige kilemba chako, ukavae viatu vyako, wala usiifunike midomo yako, wala usile chakula cha watu.
Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”
18
Basi nalisema na watu asubuhi, na jioni mke wangu akafa; nami nalifanya asubuhi kama nilivyoagizwa.
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19
Watu hao wakaniambia, Je! Hutaki kutuambia maana ya mambo haya kwetu, hata umefanya kama vile ufanyavyo.
Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”
20
Nikawaambia, Neno la Bwana lilinijia, kusema,
So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
21
Uwaambie nyumba ya Israeli, Bwana MUNGU asema hivi; Angalieni, nitapatia unajisi patakatifu pangu, fahari ya uwezo wenu, mahali pa kutamaniwa na macho yenu, ambapo roho zenu zinapahurumia na wana wenu na binti zenu, mliowaacha nyuma, wataanguka kwa upanga.
Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’
22
Nanyi mtafanya kama mimi nilivyofanya; hamtaifunika midomo yenu, wala kula chakula cha watu.
Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.
23
Na vilemba vyenu vitakuwa juu ya vichwa vyenu, na viatu vyenu miguuni mwenu; hamtaomboleza wala kulia; lakini mtafifia katika maovu yenu, na kuugua kila mtu pamoja na mwenziwe.
Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves.
24
Basi ndivyo Ezekielii atakavyokuwa ishara kwenu; ninyi mtatenda sawasawa na yote aliyoyatenda yeye; litakapokuja jambo hili, ndipo mtakapojua ya kuwa mimi ndimi Bwana MUNGU.
‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’
25
Nawe, mwanadamu, je! Haitakuwa hivi katika siku hiyo nitakapowaondolea nguvu zao, na furaha ya utukufu wao, na kilichotamaniwa na macho yao, ambacho walikiinulia mioyo yao, wana wao na binti zao,
And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy—the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls—and their sons and daughters as well,
26
kwamba katika siku iyo hiyo yeye atakayeokoka atakuja kwako, akusikize jambo hili kwa masikio yako?
on that day a fugitive will come and tell you the news.
27
Siku hiyo kinywa chako kitafumbuliwa kwake aliyeokoka, nawe utasema; hutakuwa bubu tena; ndivyo utakavyokuwa ishara kwao; nao watajua ya kuwa mimi ndimi Bwana.
On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”