Ezekiel 15

1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Kisha neno la Yahwe likanijia, liksema,

2 “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any other branch among the trees in the forest?

“Mwanadamu, je ni jisni gani mzabibu ulivo bora kuliko mti na matawi yaliyomo kwenye miti katika msitu?

3 Can wood be taken from it to make something useful? Or can one make from it a peg on which to hang utensils?

Je watu huwa wanachukua mbao kutoka kwenye mzabbibu kufanyia chochote? au huwa wanatengenezea vitu kutokana na huo kuning'iniza chochote juu ya huo?

4 No, it is cast into the fire for fuel. The fire devours both ends, and the middle is charred. Can it be useful for anything?

Tazama! Kama umetupwa kwenye moto kama kuni, na kama moto umezichoma ncha zake zote na katikati pia, je unafaa kwa chochote?

5 Even when it was whole, it could not be made useful. How much less can it ever be useful when the fire has consumed it and charred it!

Tazama! Wakati ulipokuwa umekamilika, haukuweza kufanya chochote; kisha hakika, wakati moto ulipouchoma, lakini bado haukuweza kutengeneza kitu chochote kwa ajili ya matumizi yoyote.

6 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the people of Jerusalem.

Kwa hiyo Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: haufanani na miti katika misitu, niliyoitoa mzabibu kama kuni kwa moto; nitatenda vivyo hivyo mbele ya wakaao Yerusalemu.

7 And I will set My face against them. Though they may have escaped the fire, yet another fire will consume them. And when I set My face against them, you will know that I am the LORD.

Kwa kuwa nitauweka uso wangu juu yao. Ingawa watatoka kutoka kwenye moto, bado moto utawala; hivyo mtajua kwamba mimi ni Yahwe, wakati nitakapoona uso wangu juu yenu.

8 Thus I will make the land desolate, because they have acted unfaithfully,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

Kisha nitaifanya nchi kuwa ukiwa kwa sababu wamefanya dhambi-hivi ndivyo Bwana Yahwe asemavyo.”