Ezeekyeri 15

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

And 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?

And you, son of man—of all the wood, of the branches that are amongst the trees of the forest, what shall be made of the wood of the vine?

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

Will they take wood of it to make [it fit] for work? will they take of it a peg to hang any vessel upon it?

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

It is only given to the fire to be consumed; the fire consumes that which is yearly pruned of it, and it is utterly gone. Will it be useful for [any] work?

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

Not even while it is yet whole will it be [useful] for [any] work: if the fire shall have utterly consumed it, will it still be [fit] for work?

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 say, Thus says the Lord, As the vine tree amongst the trees of the forest, which I have given up to the fire to be consumed, so have I given up the inhabitants 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; they shall go forth of the fire, and [yet] fire shall devour them; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have set my face against them.

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

And I will give up the land to ruin, because they have utterly transgressed, says the Lord.