Ezekiel 17
1 A message from the Lord came to me, saying,
Neno la Yahwe likanijia, kusema,
2 “Son of man, present this riddle—share it as a parable with the people of Israel.
“Mwanadamu, tega kitendawili na sema fumbo kwa nyumba ya Israeli.
3 Tell them that this is what the Lord God says: There was a great eagle that had large wings, long feathers, and multi-colored plumage. It came to Lebanon and took off the top of the cedar.
Sema, 'Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: Tai mkubwa pamoja na mabawa makubwa na vipapatio virefu, mwenye kujaa manyoya, na aliyekuwa na rangi nyingi alienda Lebanoni na kuchukua kilele cha mti wa mkangazi.
4 He broke off its highest branch and took it to a country of merchants, and planted it in a city of traders.
Akakata ncha za matawi na kuzichukua hata nchi ya Kanaani; akaipanda katika mji wa manahodha.
5 He took some of the seed of the land and planted it in good soil beside a large river where he could grow it like a willow.
Pia akachukua mbegu ya nchi na kuipanda katika udongo wenye rutuba. Akaiweka kando ya maji mengi kama mti umeao karibu na maji.
6 The seed sprouted and grew into a low, spreading vine, with its branches facing toward him, and its roots went down into the ground beneath. So the vine developed, growing leaves and branches.
Kisha ukachipusha na mzabibu wenye kusambaa chini kwenye aridhi. Matawi yake yakamwelekea yeye, na mizizi yake ikakua chini yake. Hivyo ukawa mzabibu na kuzaa matawi na kutoa matawi.
7 But there was another great eagle that had large wings and many feathers. This vine sent out its roots toward him. It stretched out its branches to him from where it had been planted, wanting him to water it.
Lakini kulikuwa na tai mwingine mkubwa wenye mabawa makubwa na manyoya mengi. Tazama! Huu mzabibu ukabadilisha mizizi yake kumwelekea tai, na ukasamabaza matawi yake kumwelekea tai kutoka mahali ulipokuwa umepandwa basi upate kumwagiliwa.
8 Yet it had been planted in good soil beside a large river so it could grow strong, produce fruit, and become a superb vine.
Ulikuwa umepandwa kwenye udongo mzuri kando ya maji mengi hivyo ungezaa matawi na kuanza kutoa matunda, ili kuwa mzabibu mzuri kabisa.'
9 So you tell them this is what the Lord God says: ‘Will it grow well? Won't it be uprooted and its fruit ripped off so that it withers? All its leaves will dry up. You wouldn't need strong arms or lots of people to pull it up by its roots.
Waambie watu, 'Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: Je! huo utafanikiwa? Je! Haitaing'oa mizizi yake na kuyakata matunda yake ili kwamba unyauke, na majani yake yote mabichi yanyauke? Hakuna jeshi imara au watu wengi watahitajika kuivuta kwa mizizi yake.
10 Even if it's transplanted, is it going to survive? Won't it wither up completely when the east wind blows? In fact, it will wither right where it was planted.”
Basi tazama! Baada ya kuwa umepandwa, je utakuwa? Je hautanyauka wakati upepo wa mashariki utakapoupiga? Utanyauka kabisa katika kiwanja chake.”'
11 A message from the Lord came to me, saying,
Kisha neno la Yahwe likanijia, kusema,
12 “Tell these rebellious people: ‘Don't you know what this riddle means?’ Explain to them, ‘Look, the king of Babylon came to Jerusalem, made its king and officials his prisoners, and took them back with him to Babylon.
“Waambie nyumba ya uasi, 'Je! hamjui haya mambo yana gana gani? Tazama! Mfalme wa Babeli amekuja Yerusalemu na kumchukua mfalme wake na wakuu wake na kuwaleta kwake mpaka Babebli.
13 He made an agreement with one of the royal family and made him take an oath that he would be a loyal subject as king. Then he took into exile the country's leaders,
Kisha akauchukua ukoo wa kifalme, akafanya agano pamoja naye, na kumleta chini ya kiapo. Akawachukua watu wa nchi wenye nguvu,
14 so that the kingdom would be kept in subjection and wouldn't be strong enough to rebel—it would only survive by keeping its agreement with him.
basi ufalme uwe duni na usijiinue wenyewe. Kwa kulitunza agano lake nchi itaokoka.
15 However, this king did rebel against Babylon, and sent ambassadors to Egypt to ask for help by supplying horses and many soldiers. Will he do well? Would someone who acts like this succeed? Could he break an agreement and not be punished?’
Lakini mfalme wa Yerusalemu ameasi juu yake kwa kupeleka mabalozi kwenda Misri ili kujipatia farasi na jeshi. Je! Atafanikiwa? Je! yeye anayeyafanya haya mambo ataokoka?
16 As I live, declares the Lord God, ‘he is going to die in Babylon, in the country of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he disregarded and whose agreement he broke.
Kama niishivyo! -hivi ndivyo Bwana Yahwe asemavyo-atakufa hakika katika nchi ya mfalme aliyemfanya mfalme, yule mfalme ambaye aliyekidharau kiapo chake, na ambaye aliyevunja agano lake. atakufa kati ya Babeli.
17 Pharaoh with his powerful army of many soldiers won't help him in battle, when attack ramps are piled up and siege walls built and many people end up being killed.
Farao na jeshi lake lenye nguvu na kusanyiko la watu wengi kwa ajili ya vita hawatamlinda katika vita, wakati jeshi la Wababeli watakapojenga tuta la ngome na kuta za ngome ili kuyaharibu maisha ya wengi.
18 He disregarded his oath by breaking the agreement. Because he shook hands as a sign of the promise he made, yet rebelled in this way, he won't go unpunished!’
Kwa kuwa mfalme amedharau kiapo chake kwa kulivunja agano. Tazama, ameunyoosha kwa mkono wake ili kufanya ahadi na bado ameyafanya haya mambo yote. Hataokoka.
19 So this is what the Lord God says: As I live, I will punish him for disregarding my oath and for breaking my agreement.
Kwa hiyo Bwana Yahwe asema hivi: Kama niishivyo, Je! hiki hakikuwa kiapo changu kwamba alidharau agano langu alilo livunja? Basi nitaleta nitamwadhibu juu ya kichwa chake!
20 I will throw my net over him and catch him; I will trap in my snare. I will take him to Babylon and sentence him to punishment there for his treason towards me.
Nitausambaza wavu wangu juu yake, na atanaswa katika wavu wangu wa kutegea. Kisha nitamleta hata Babeli na kuzitekeleza hukumu juu yake huko kwa ajili ya uhaini wake alioufanya amenisaliti!
21 All his best soldiers will be killed in battle, and those who do survive will be scattered in all directions. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.
Wakimbizi wake wote katika majeshi yake yataanguka kwa upanga, na wale watakaobakia watatawanyika kila mahali. Kisha utajua yakwamba mimi ni Yahwe; nimesema hili litatokea.”
22 This is what the Lord God says: I'm going to break off a branch from the high top of the cedar, and I will plant it on the top of a high mountain.
Bwana Yahwe asema hivi, 'Basi mimi mwenyewe nitaichukua sehemu ya juu ya mti wa mkangazi, na nitaupanda mbali na matawi yake laini. Nitaukata, na mimi mwenyewe nitaupanda juu ya mlima mrefu.
23 I will plant it on Israel's high mountain so that it can grow branches, produce fruit and become a magnificent cedar. All kinds of birds will live in it, nesting in the shade of its branches.
Nitaupanda juu ya milima ya Israeli hivyo utazaa matawi na kuzaa matunda, na utakuwa mkangazi wa fahari ili kwamba kila ndege arukaye ataishi chini ya huo. Watajenga viota chini ya kivuli cha matawi yake.
24 All the trees in the countryside will know that I am the Lord. I can bring down the tall and have the low tree grow tall. I can make the green tree dry up, and make the withered tree become green again. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.”
Kisha miti yote ya shambani itajua kwamba mimi ni Yahwe. Nimeishusha miti mirefu na nimeiinua juu miti mifupi. Naunyausha mti mbichi na kuufanya mti mkavu kuchanua. Mimi Yahwe, nimesema hivyo hii itatokea; nami nimelifanya hili.'”
