Ezeekyeri 15

1 Ekigambo kya Mukama Katonda ne kinzijira, n’aŋŋamba nti,

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

2 “Omwana w’omuntu, omuti gw’omuzabbibu gusinga gutya ettabi ery’omuti ku miti egy’omu kibira?

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

3 Guvaamu omuti ogukolebwamu ekintu kyonna eky’omugaso? Kiyinzika ogukolamu eŋŋango ey’okuwanikako ekintu kyonna?

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

4 Bwe gusuulibwa mu muliro okuba enku, omuliro ne gugwokya eruuyi n’eruuyi, ne wakati ne wasiriira guba gukyaliko kye gugasa?

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?

5 Bwe guba nga tegwali gwa mugaso nga mulamba, olwo guyinza okubaako kye gugasa nga gwokebbwa mu muliro ne gusiriira?”

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!

6 Mukama Katonda kyava ayogera nti, “Nga bwe njogedde ku muzabbibu mu miti egy’omu kibira, gwe ntadde mu muliro okuba enku, bwe ntyo bwe ndyokya abatuuze ba Yerusaalemi.

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.

7 Ndikyusa amaaso gange ne mbatunuulira, era ne bwe balidduka, omuliro gulibookya, era mulimanya nga nze Mukama Katonda.

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.

8 Ndizisa ensi, kubanga tebabadde beesigwa, bw’ayogera Mukama Katonda.”

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