Izikiel 9
1 Mgbe ahụ, a nụrụ m ka o ji oke olu kpọọ oku sị, “Bịanụ nso, unu bụ ndị ahọpụtara ilekọta obodo a, onye ọbụla jidekwa ngwa agha nʼaka ya.”
Then I heard him shout out with a loud voice, “Start the attack, you who are in charge of punishing Jerusalem! Pick up your weapons!”
2 A hụrụ m ndị ikom isii si nʼọnụ ụzọ ama nke dị nʼakụkụ ebe dị elu na-apụta, nke chere ihu nʼugwu, onye ọbụla jikwa mma agha nʼaka ya. Otu onye nʼime ha yi uwe akwa ọcha, nyarakwa nwa akpa nke ihe e ji ede akwụkwọ dị nʼime ya. Ha niile batara nʼime ụlọnsọ, guzokwa nʼakụkụ ebe ịchụ aja e ji bronz wuo.
I watched as six men approached from the upper gate that faces north. All of them were carrying battle axes. There was another man with them. He was dressed in linen and had a scribe's writing kit at his side. They entered and stood next to the bronze altar.
3 Ma ebube nke Chineke Izrel sitere nʼelu cherubim ndị ahụ, ebe ọ nọ na mbụ, bilie bịa guzokwa nʼọnụ ụzọ ụlọnsọ ahụ. Mgbe ahụ, Onyenwe anyị kpọrọ nwoke ahụ yi uwe akwa ọcha bụ onye nya akpa ahụ nke ihe e ji ede ihe dị nʼime ya,
The glory of the God of Israel rose from its usual place on the cherubim and went over to the Temple entrance. The Lord called out to the man dressed in linen with the writing kit,
4 ọ sịrị ya, “Bilie, jegharịa nʼokporoụzọ niile nke obodo Jerusalem, kakwasị akara nʼegedege ihu ndị niile na-akwa akwa na ndị niile na-asụ ude nʼihi ihe arụ niile nke a na-eme nʼime ya.”
“Go through the whole the city of Jerusalem and place a mark on the foreheads of those who sighing and mourning at all the disgusting sins that are done there.”
5 Anụkwara m ka ọ gwara ndị ọzọ, “Soronụ ya baa nʼime obodo, gbukwaanụ, unu emekwarala onye ọbụla ebere maọbụ ọmịiko.
Then I heard him tell the others, “Follow him all through the city and start killing people. Don't be kind or merciful to anyone!
6 Gbuonụ ha niile, ndị okenye, na ụmụ okorobịa, na ụmụ agbọghọbịa, na ndị inyom, na ụmụntakịrị. Ma unu emetụkwala onye ọbụla nwere akara ahụ nʼihu ya. Malitenụ nʼebe a, nʼime ụlọnsọ ukwu m.” Ya mere, ha malitere igbu ndị okenye ndị nọ nʼihu ụlọnsọ.
Kill the old men, the young men and girls, the women and children, but do not go anywhere near those who have the mark. Start at my sanctuary.” So they started by killing the elders who were in front of the Temple.
7 Ọ sịkwara ha, “Merụọnụ ụlọnsọ a! Werekwanụ ozu ndị unu gburu egbu tụjuo nʼime ogige ya! Gaanụ!” Ha pụrụ baa nʼime obodo, bido igbu ndị mmadụ.
Then he told them, “Make the Temple unclean and fill the courtyards with dead bodies. Go ahead and do it!” So they went and started killing all through the city.
8 Mgbe ha nọ na-egbu ndị mmadụ maọbụ naanị m fọdụrụ, adara m nʼala kpuchie ihu m, tie mkpu akwa, sị, “Ewoo, Onye kachasị ihe niile elu, bụ Onyenwe anyị! Ị ga-esite nʼoke iwe ị na-eweso Jerusalem bibie ihe niile fọdụrụ nʼIzrel?”
While they were busy killing people, I was left by myself. I fell facedown to the ground and cried out, “Lord God, when you pour out your anger on Jerusalem, are you going to destroy everyone who's left in Israel?”
9 Ọ sịrị m, “Mmehie niile nke ụlọ Izrel na Juda dị ukwuu rie nne. Ala niile jupụtakwara nʼọbara ndị egburu, obodo jupụtakwara nʼikpe ikpe na-ezighị ezi. Nʼihi na ha na-asị, ‘Onyenwe anyị esitela nʼala anyị wezuga onwe ya. Ọ dịghị ihe Onyenwe anyị na-ahụ.’
“The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are really terrible,” he replied. “The whole country is full of murderers, and those living in the city are criminals. They're saying, ‘The Lord has given up on our country. He can't see what we're doing.’
10 Nʼihi ya, agaghị m ahapụ ha, agakwaghị m enwe ọmịiko nʼahụ ha. Aga m akwụghachi ha nʼihi ihe ọjọọ niile ha mere.”
But I certainly won't be kind to them or have mercy on them. I will make sure they suffer the consequences of what they've done.”
11 Mgbe ahụ, nwoke ahụ yi uwe akwa ọcha, nke nya akpa nke ihe e ji ede akwụkwọ dị nʼime ya, lọghachiri sị, “Arụchaala m ọrụ i nyere m ịrụ.”
Then the man in linen with the writing kit returned and reported, “I've done what you told me to do.”
